Honda Prelude Common Car Problems by Generation

At a Glance

The Honda Prelude has 16 identified common problems across 5 generations, with the 4th Gen (1991-1996) being the most affected generation and brakes the most common problem category. Based on 112K MOT tests from DVSA data.

Problems are patterns in the DVSA data that occur significantly more often on a specific model than the UK average — confirmed at 99% statistical confidence. Read our DVSA MOT data methodology →

Below: generation-by-generation comparison of Honda Prelude common problems, MOT failure types, and pass-rate data drawn from DVSA records. Click any generation to see fuel- and engine-specific fault patterns, mileage-banded repair guidance, and the most common MOT failures testers record.

MOT Tests & Failures by Generation

Honda Prelude generations by MOT tests, failures, and identified problems from DVSA data

Hover over each bar for a full breakdown. Tap any bar to view that generation's problems.

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Showing total MOT tests, failures, and known problems per make. Hover over each bar for a full breakdown.

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Browse Honda Prelude Generations

Select a generation to see its specific problems, MOT failures and advisories

1st Gen

MOT failure data available

1978–1982139 tests

Most common MOT failure: Brake performance below minimum

2nd Gen

MOT failure data available

1982–19872K tests

Most common MOT failure: Suspension component mounting corroded

3rd Gen

4 problems

1987–19919K tests

Top issue: Suspension component mounting corroded

4th Gen

8 problems

1991–199646K tests

Top issue: Steering rack fault

5th Gen

5 problems

1996–200155K tests

Top issue: Brake performance below minimum

Most Common Honda Prelude MOT Failures

Every reason Honda Prelude vehicles fail their MOT, ranked by frequency. Select an individual year to see only that year’s failures, or stay on ‘All time’ for the combined picture across our 20 years of DVSA data. Scroll inside the table for the full list.

View:

#	Failure	Category	% of failures
1	Brake performance below minimum	Brakes	8.85%
2	Exhaust system fault	Exhaust	7.54%
3	Tyre tread depth below limit	Tyres & Wheels	6.84%
4	Wiper blades deteriorated	Bodywork	6.02%
5	Catalytic converter efficiency low	Exhaust	5.71%
6	Suspension joint or bush worn	Suspension	5.48%
7	Front lamp not working	Electrical	4.85%
8	Headlamp aim defect	Electrical	4.49%
9	Tyre condition	Tyres & Wheels	4.14%
10	Number plate lamp not working	Electrical	4.10%
11	Driveshaft fault	Suspension	3.90%
12	Windscreen washer not working	Bodywork	3.01%
13	Brake pads or linings worn	Brakes	2.78%
14	Brake disc or drum worn	Brakes	2.57%
15	Stop lamp not working	Electrical	2.29%
16	Fog lamp not working	Electrical	2.00%
17	Coil spring broken or corroded	Suspension	1.82%
18	Brake hydraulic component worn	Brakes	1.81%
19	Parking brake condition	Brakes	1.67%
20	Suspension mounting corroded	Suspension	1.59%
21	Steering rack fault	Steering	1.34%
22	Rear lamp not working	Electrical	1.15%
23	Body corrosion or damage	Bodywork	1.07%
24	Indicator fault	Electrical	1.05%
25	ABS fault	Brakes	0.86%
26	Track rod end worn	Steering	0.85%
27	Spark ignition emissions above threshold	Exhaust	0.84%
28	Ball joint dust cover split	Suspension	0.66%
29	Chassis condition	Bodywork	0.61%
30	Front suspension joint worn	Suspension	0.55%
31	Parking brake performance below minimum	Brakes	0.54%
32	Rear suspension fault	Suspension	0.46%
33	Horn not working	Electrical	0.46%
34	Windscreen damage affecting view	Bodywork	0.44%
35	Position lamp not working	Electrical	0.44%
36	Headlamp fault	Electrical	0.37%
37	Battery loose or leaking	Electrical	0.35%
38	Suspension linkage fault	Suspension	0.35%
39	Mirror damaged or missing	Bodywork	0.34%
40	Seat belt condition	Bodywork	0.31%
41	Brake pedal movement restricted	Brakes	0.29%
42	Tyre size or type not matched	Tyres & Wheels	0.29%
43	Shock absorber worn or leaking	Suspension	0.28%
44	Dashboard warning lamp fault	Electrical	0.25%
45	Fuel cap damaged or missing	Fuel System	0.25%
46	Brake pedal fault	Brakes	0.23%
47	Power steering pipe or hose leaking	Steering	0.22%
48	Subframe mounting corroded	Suspension	0.21%
49	Steering lock fault	Steering	0.19%
50	CV joint worn	Suspension	0.19%
51	Brake caliper fault	Brakes	0.18%
52	Exhaust emissions above threshold (non-catalyst)	Exhaust	0.17%
53	Front suspension fault	Suspension	0.16%
54	Rear fog lamp not working	Electrical	0.15%
55	Suspension retaining or locking device fault	Suspension	0.15%
56	Vehicle structure corrosion	Bodywork	0.13%
57	Airbag warning light on	Bodywork	0.13%
58	Electrical switch fault	Electrical	0.12%
59	Anti-roll bar worn or corroded	Suspension	0.12%
60	Fuel pipe corroded or damaged	Fuel System	0.11%
61	Body security fault	Bodywork	0.11%
62	Brake fluid leak	Brakes	0.10%
63	Rigid brake pipe corroded or damaged	Brakes	0.09%
64	Fuel tank corroded or leaking	Fuel System	0.08%
65	Bonnet catch or hinge fault	Bodywork	0.07%
66	Handbrake cable fault	Brakes	0.06%
67	Steering free play excessive	Steering	0.06%
68	Electrical wiring fault	Electrical	0.05%
69	Tyre valve stem damaged	Tyres & Wheels	0.05%
70	Rear reflector damaged or missing	Electrical	0.05%
71	Suspension arm worn or corroded	Suspension	0.05%
72	Spring mounting corroded	Suspension	0.04%
73	Steering arm worn	Steering	0.04%
74	Steering operation fault	Steering	0.04%
75	Electric power steering fault	Steering	0.04%
76	Flexible brake hose damaged	Brakes	0.04%
77	Power steering ram fault	Steering	0.04%
78	Engine oil leak	Engine	0.04%
79	Fuel hose damaged or leaking	Fuel System	0.03%
80	Steering wheel damaged or insecure	Steering	0.03%
81	Compression ignition emissions above threshold	Exhaust	0.03%
82	MacPherson strut worn	Suspension	0.03%
83	Brake lever fault	Brakes	0.03%
84	Brake fluid warning light on	Brakes	0.03%
85	Tie bar or rod worn or corroded	Suspension	0.03%
86	Wheel bearing worn	Suspension	0.03%
87	Steering column fault	Steering	0.02%
88	Drag link end worn	Steering	0.02%
89	Brake fluid level low or contaminated	Brakes	0.02%
90	Headlamp levelling device fault	Electrical	0.02%
91	Subframe corrosion or damage	Suspension	0.02%
92	Bumper damaged or insecure	Bodywork	0.02%
93	Brake back plate corroded or damaged	Brakes	0.02%
94	Bonded suspension condition	Suspension	0.01%
95	Brake cable, rod, lever or linkage fault	Brakes	0.01%
96	Power steering pump fault	Steering	0.01%
97	Handbrake lever fault	Brakes	0.01%
98	Access panel damaged or insecure	Bodywork	0.01%
99	Speedometer fault	Bodywork	<0.01%
100	Driver airbag fault	Bodywork	<0.01%
101	Driver door fault	Bodywork	<0.01%
102	Steering drive system fault	Steering	<0.01%
103	Brake clevis joint worn	Brakes	<0.01%
104	Front passenger door fault	Bodywork	<0.01%
105	Steering coupling worn	Steering	<0.01%
106	Boot lid damaged or insecure	Bodywork	<0.01%
107	Propshaft fault	Transmission	<0.01%
108	Brake linkage mounting fault	Brakes	<0.01%
109	Transmission oil leak	Exhaust	<0.01%
110	Vehicle floor corroded	Bodywork	<0.01%
111	Additional braking device fault	Brakes	<0.01%
112	Brake air or vacuum system fault	Brakes	<0.01%
113	Exhaust leak	Exhaust	<0.01%
114	King pin or swivel pin worn	Suspension	<0.01%
115	Electronic stability control fault	Brakes	<0.01%
116	Suspension coupling worn	Suspension	<0.01%
117	Trailing arm worn or corroded	Suspension	<0.01%
118	Indicator warning light fault	Electrical	<0.01%
119	Passenger seat fault	Bodywork	<0.01%
120	Steering box fault	Steering	<0.01%
121	Steering shaft fault	Steering	<0.01%
122	Brake fluid reservoir fault	Brakes	<0.01%
123	Brake master cylinder fault	Brakes	<0.01%
124	Rear fog lamp warning light fault	Electrical	<0.01%
125	Spare wheel fault	Bodywork	<0.01%
126	Suspension unit fault	Suspension	<0.01%
127	Torque or reaction arm worn	Suspension	<0.01%
128	Window damaged or won't operate	Bodywork	<0.01%
129	Brake servo fault	Brakes	<0.01%
130	Dip switch fault	Electrical	<0.01%
131	Engine mounting worn or broken	Bodywork	<0.01%
132	Full power hydraulic brake fault	Brakes	<0.01%
133	Hand-operated brake valve condition	Brakes	<0.01%
134	Handbrake mechanism or mounting fault	Brakes	<0.01%
135	Hydraulic brake cylinder fault	Brakes	<0.01%
136	Main beam warning light fault	Electrical	<0.01%
137	Radius arm worn or corroded	Suspension	<0.01%
138	Semaphore indicator fault	Electrical	<0.01%
139	Stub axle worn	Suspension	<0.01%
140	Torsion bar worn or corroded	Suspension	<0.01%
141	Brake master cylinder or servo mounting fault	Brakes	<0.01%
142	Brake relay lever fault	Brakes	<0.01%
143	Brake wheel cylinder fault	Brakes	<0.01%
144	Electronic parking brake fault	Brakes	<0.01%
145	Exhaust heat shield or sound insulation damaged	Exhaust	<0.01%
146	Front fog lamp not working	Electrical	<0.01%
147	Hinged tailboard damaged or insecure	Bodywork	<0.01%
148	Hydraulic fluid leak	Exhaust	<0.01%
149	Leaf spring broken or corroded	Suspension	<0.01%
150	Loading door damaged or insecure	Bodywork	<0.01%
151	Panhard rod worn or corroded	Suspension	<0.01%
152	Steering damper fault	Steering	<0.01%
153	Steering intermediate drop arm worn	Steering	<0.01%
154	Steering lock stop fault	Steering	<0.01%
155	Suspension linkage attachment bracket or mounting corroded	Suspension	<0.01%
156	Suspension rod worn or corroded	Suspension	<0.01%
157	Tailgate damaged or insecure	Bodywork	<0.01%
158	Towbar fault	Bodywork	<0.01%

Showing all 158 reasons — scroll inside the table for the full list.

Honda Prelude MOT Failures by Category

Total MOT failure occurrences for the Honda Prelude, grouped by category. Same data as the failures table above — just sliced by category instead of fault title. Hover a slice for the top failures in each category.

137,554total items

Electrical30,53922.2%Brakes27,82620.2%Suspension22,20916.1%Exhaust19,68514.3%Bodywork16,97912.3%Tyres & Wheels15,57711.3%Steering4,0252.9%Fuel System6550.5%Engine490.0%Transmission100.0%

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common Honda Prelude problems?

Based on analysis of 112K Honda Prelude MOT tests from DVSA data, we have 16 identified common problems across 5 generations. The most frequently flagged issue is "Brake performance below minimum". Brakes is the most common problem category.

Which Honda Prelude generation has the most problems?

The Honda Prelude 4th Gen (1991-1996) (1991–1996) has the highest number of identified common problems (8). Click the generation card above for the full breakdown.

How is this data calculated?

We analyse anonymised DVSA MOT test records under the Open Government Licence. An issue is classified as a "Common Problem" when it occurs significantly more often on a specific model than the UK average, confirmed at 99% statistical confidence. Read the full methodology page for details.

Can I report a problem with my Honda Prelude?

Yes — use the "Tell Us About Your Problem" form on this page. Your report helps other Honda Prelude owners spot problems early. All submissions are reviewed before being added to the public database.

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Common Car Problems by Generation