Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1986 Honda Prelude
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Fuel & Propulsion
650.0%
Seat Belts
325.0%
Engine & Cooling
216.7%
Seats
18.3%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Feb 1995peak 2Oct 2001
NHTSA investigations into the 1986 Honda Prelude
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA89005Opened 16 Nov 1988Closed 30 Nov 1989VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
FUEL SYSTEM VENTING
===
Recalls on the 1986 Honda Prelude
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 1995086423,467 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
On certain vehicles, the platic front seatbelt release buttons may break allowing plastic pieces to fall into the buckle assembly. If this should happen, a no latch, false latch or failure to unlatch condition could occur creating the risk of personal injury in the event of a crash or sudden stop. Correction: Front seatbelt buckles will be repaired or replaced as necessary.
Recall 1992025107,190 units in Canada
Fuel System
On certain vehicles, road salt may cause the fuel filler and/or breather pipe to rust through, resulting in fuel leakage. In the presence of an igntion source a vehicle fire could occur. Correction: Vehicles will be inspected and repaired if necessary.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Indianapolis, IN
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
THIS DEFECT IS COVERED BY NHTSA CAMAIGN ID 92V028001 AND IS A FIRE HAZARD. THIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN AND AS SUCH DEALERS WILL NOT REPAIR AT NO CHARGE. THE WARRANTY STATES "EXCEPT AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY LAW, THIS VEHICLE HAS NO WARRANTY IN THE 50 UNITED STATES, D.C., PUERTO RICO OR THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS." MY QUESTION: IS THIS RECALL REQUIRED BY U.S. LAW AND THEREFORE SHOULD BE PERFORMED AT NO CHARGE? IF SO HOW DO I PROCEED?
NHTSA complaint #752602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Branford, CT
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
HONDA RECALLED THIS CAR IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE GAS TANK FILLER PIPE DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION, HOWEVER, THE SURROUNDING MOUNTS AND THE FILL PIPE BOWL ON THE FILLER DOOR ARE ALSO EXCESSIVELY CORRODED, AND ARE FAILING TO HOLD THE FILLER PIPE IN PLACE, AND ALLOW EXCESSIVE FUMES TO BUILD UP WITHIN THE CAR. THE STAMPED METAL BOWL SURROUNDING THE FILLER PIPE AT THE GAS DOOR HAS FAILED, AND SHOULD BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE FILLER PIPE THAT WAS RECALLED.
NHTSA complaint #747176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Nahant, MA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
DEFECT IN FUEL FILLER PIPES--CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE CORROSION. OWNER WANTS TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL, BEING THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE HONDA ACCORD OF THE SAME YEAR FOR THE SAME DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #508347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OAK Park, MI
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
VEHICLE LEAKING FUEL FROM TANK AFTER RECALL REPAIRS MADE FOR THAT SYSTEM CAUSING LOWER MILAGE PER TANK. NLM
NHTSA complaint #547824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OAK Park, MI
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
VEHICLE FUEL SYSTEM EXPERIENCED FAILURE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE AND AFTER RECALL REPAIR (92V028001).
NHTSA complaint #547637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dunegin, FL
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
RECALL 92V028001; FUEL FILLER AND CAP RUSTED THROUGH WHICH MAY CAUSE A FUEL LEAK AND A FIRE. THERE IS A RECALL, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS MADE ACCORDING TO CANADIAN STANDARDS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #835497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alameda, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE DOES NOT IDLE VERY WELL WHEN WARM OR VERY COLD. CAR SEEMS TO LOSS POWER ON THE FREEWAY. CAR TENDS TO OVEHEAT AFTER LONG DRIVING STINTS. FAN DOES NOT GO ON WHEN ENGINE IS OVER HEATING.
NHTSA complaint #701107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OAK Park, MI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STOP RUNNING/LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #535669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Laude, FL
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE NOT LONG ENOUGH TO FASTEN WHEN SEATS ARE IN FORWARD POSITION. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #489712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bellevue, WA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE REAR DRIVE SIDE RETRACTOR IS LOCK UP PURCHASE CAR USED. TT
NHTSA complaint #962791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Arnold, MD
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
RECLINING MECHANISM FAILED ON DRIVERS SEAT. TT
NHTSA complaint #962125 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brookfield, WI
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE METAL FASTNER DOESN'T ENGAGE INTO SEAT BELT LOCKING MECHANISM PROPERLY. TT
NHTSA complaint #960400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.