FaultScore

Lexus ES 330 vs Honda Prelude

Both cars' complete complaint records, side by side.

Read the totals carefully. NHTSA publishes no sales figures, so the car that sold more collects more complaints regardless of quality. The rows worth weighing are the proportions — the share of complaints that involved harm, and which part dominates.

Measure Lexus ES 330 Honda Prelude
Complaints on file 188 463
Model years covered 2004–2004 1981–2001
Worst model year 1997
Best model year 2000
Crashes reported 38 52
Fires reported 5 15
Injuries reported 19 29
Deaths reported 0 2
Most complained-about part Transmission & Drivetrain Transmission & Drivetrain
Share of complaints involving harm 33% 21.2%

Lexus ES 330 by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Brakes 16 8.5%
Airbags 14 7.4%
Engine & Cooling 10 5.3%
Electrical System 6 3.2%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 4 2.1%
Seat Belts 4 2.1%

Honda Prelude by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Engine & Cooling 53 11.4%
Seat Belts 35 7.6%
Steering 33 7.1%
Airbags 26 5.6%
Suspension 25 5.4%