The 1999 Honda Prelude has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,486,659 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE INTERLOCK OPERATION OF THE IGNITION SWITCH MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY TO THE "OFF" POSITION AND REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO PARK.
Consequence
IF THE DRIVER DOES NOT SHIFT TO PARK BEFORE REMOVING THE KEY AND FAILS TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL PERFORM AN INSPECTION PROCEDURE THAT CONFIRMS INTERLOCK FUNCTION. VEHICLES WILL BE UPDATED WITH A REDESIGNED INTERLOCK LEVER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 7, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.
Consequence
WORN CONTACTS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
3
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
3
1crashes1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
2
EQUIPMENT
2
POWER TRAIN
2
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
2
Total complaints40
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The contact owns a 1999 honda prelude. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact became aware that the failure was due to the ignition switch. The contact replaced the part himself. The contact also noticed that while the…”
“The contact owns a 1999 honda prelude. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact became aware that the failure was due to the ignition switch. The contact replaced the part himself. The contact also noticed that while the…”
“Starting in june 2017, my 1999 honda prelude sh has been stalling without warning while I am driving. This happens mostly on hot days. The car can not be re-started for 5-10 minutes afterward. The engine is not overheating. My mechanic ran tests for two days and says that the ignition switch must…”
“1999 honda prelude. Consumer states engine failure while driving *tgw the consumer referenced the ignition switch recall and is requesting $2,350.19 for repairs. *jb the consumer stated he received a small refund from honda. Updated 09/29/11*jb”
“1999 honda prelude. Consumer states engine failure while driving *tgw the consumer referenced the ignition switch recall and is requesting $2,350.19 for repairs. *jb the consumer stated he received a small refund from honda. Updated 09/29/11*jb”
“The sportshift automatic transmission m6ha in my 1999 honda prelude started to slip and while going down the freeway the car lost all power to the wheels and would just rev up the engine when I pressed the gas pedal down and would not move the car while in all drive gears. It cost me $2,396.75 to…”
“Richard c. Yuen poway, ca 92064 may 5, 2008 american honda motor co., inc. Honda automobile customer service 1919 torrance boulevard mail stop: 500 - 2n - 7d torrance, ca 90501-2746 re: 1999 honda prelude vin #j013 dear sir: we are very pleased with honda automobiles performance and reliability.…”
“Richard c. Yuen poway, ca 92064 may 5, 2008 american honda motor co., inc. Honda automobile customer service 1919 torrance boulevard mail stop: 500 - 2n - 7d torrance, ca 90501-2746 re: 1999 honda prelude vin #j013 dear sir: we are very pleased with honda automobiles performance and reliability.…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationPE05002 Opened 2005-01-13 · closed 2005-02-02
IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK
THE ABOVE FAILURE REPORT COUNTS ARE FOR MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 - 2001 HONDA ACCORD MODELS THAT WERE NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF A RELATED HONDA RECALL ACTION (NHTSA 03V423); THESE VEHICLES WERE INVESTIGATED BY ODI UNDER DEFECT PETITION (DP) 04-006.COMPLAINT INFORMATION FOR OTHER MODELS AND MODEL YEARS WAS NOT OBTAINED BY…
InvestigationPE05002 Opened 2005-01-13 · closed 2005-02-02
IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK
THE ABOVE FAILURE REPORT COUNTS ARE FOR MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 - 2001 HONDA ACCORD MODELS THAT WERE NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF A RELATED HONDA RECALL ACTION (NHTSA 03V423); THESE VEHICLES WERE INVESTIGATED BY ODI UNDER DEFECT PETITION (DP) 04-006.COMPLAINT INFORMATION FOR OTHER MODELS AND MODEL YEARS WAS NOT OBTAINED BY…
InvestigationPE05002 Opened 2005-01-13 · closed 2005-02-02
IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK
THE ABOVE FAILURE REPORT COUNTS ARE FOR MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 - 2001 HONDA ACCORD MODELS THAT WERE NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF A RELATED HONDA RECALL ACTION (NHTSA 03V423); THESE VEHICLES WERE INVESTIGATED BY ODI UNDER DEFECT PETITION (DP) 04-006.COMPLAINT INFORMATION FOR OTHER MODELS AND MODEL YEARS WAS NOT OBTAINED BY…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1999 Honda Prelude as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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