1998 Honda Prelude: complete transmission failure

Filed Jun 22, 2023 · Electrical, Transmission · CA

This is the first time I had to replace the transmission at 65867 miles on it, Well I was driving down to the street one day and then it's started to Slip In. and out of a gear And the next day I tried to pull out Of. my driveway The transmission is bad and Honda knows this, the second time it is now 186573 miles on the second transmission.

Filed Feb 15, 2009 · Transmission · 150,000 miles · OH

The transmission seemed to stop working in d(drive) mode. I had to use the manual/ autostick to get the car to drive. There was no improvement in the shifting. I had to pay to have a 5 speed swap done at a performance shop. This is my 3rd honda that has had transmission failure.

Filed Aug 23, 2008 · Transmission · 65,000 miles · CA

The automatic sport shift transmission is starting to fail. The transmission is shifting hard (jolts) throughout all the gears. I was told by a mechanic that I need a new transmission. My car only has 65,000 miles on it and this is a premature malfunction of the transmission. This car is meticulously cared for, regularly maintained, oil changed regularly; transmission oil changed every third oil change to avoid transmission problems. The car is never raced or redlined. I also don't feel comfortable replacing a transmission that will fail once again as with many prelude owners. The honda prelude costs about $25,000 and thus a $4,000 transmission job is 20% of the car. Just plain unreasonable!!! This has become a financially burdensome situation. Furthermore, honda has recalled all 1997 preludes in turkey and has replaced the transmissions with updated mh6a units. This is not an isolated case!!! Please, your help in this matter is greatly needed. Thanks

Filed Feb 25, 2008 · Transmission · 134,000 miles · CT

1998 honda prelude w/ sequential shift automatic. The vehicle has 135,000 miles on it when purchased. After some online research, I found many people reporting transmission failures in this vehicle with this transmission. I even found that honda has recalled the prelude's in turkey for this same issue, but has not in the us. The repairs cost approximately $2,800. Why was this recall facilitated on the same vehicle in another country, but not in the us?

Filed Mar 14, 2006 · Transmission · 86,000 miles · UT

The automatic sport shift transmission failed in august of 05, and it was replaced with the same transmission, which is starting to fail again, I do not have the financial support to replace this transmission again if it fails. This car has been very well taken care of and never red-lined, always oil changed at 3000 miles, etc. I feel this transmission is a safety hazard and that honda should replace this transmission with one that is safe and reliable, not the current one, which I feel is a danger to all prelude owners.

Filed Jan 5, 2005 · Transmission · 35,250 miles · CA

Car is 1998, with only 35,255 miles. According to mechanic, transmission is bad. Need to replace transmission. Called honda of america to see if goodwill will be made due to low mileage with transmission problem. Read in forums, seems like preludes have had a history of transmission problems with the models of 1997 - 2002 years.

Filed Jul 12, 2004 · Transmission · 96,580 miles · OH

I have a 1998 honda prelude with a automatic with the sport shift transmission. The one that comes with the base model prelude. I was driving my car and I felt the transmission not pulling no more then the engine rev high and then I let my foot of the gas and the transmission slapped back into gear. I had the transmission rebuilt and it is starting to do it again. I took the car to honda and they said there was nothing for them to do but put a new transmission in the car and it would be very costly and I have talk to people with the car and they have the same problems . So I would think there would be a recall because it is a very hazardous to the driver.

Filed Aug 5, 2003 · Transmission · 85,170 miles · LA

While driving, my car will over rev, and jerk into gear. If I let off of the gas it will slip into gear less harshly. I brought my car to honda of covington in covington, la, and they informed me that the transmission was failing due to the installation of aftermarket parts, such as a cold-air intake, header, and exhaust muffler. My local mechanic sais this is ludicrous, and that a simple additon of 10-15 hp would not cause a transmission failure. I have not modified or altered in any way the internal components of the car. Each modification was a simple bolt-on and at the time of purcahse was in accordance with honda. I called honda techinical service many times and asked if I put a certain aftermarket part on my car would it void my warranty. Each time honda told me that asd long as the internal components of my car remained intact, I would not be in trouble. They alos informed me of buying an axle-back exhaust instead of a full cat-back, to better insure the safety of my warranty. Now I am informed that my tranny would ned to be replced or overhualed at a cost of more than $5000, and now honda has gone back on their word, and decided to null my warranty based on the addition of aftermarket components. I have since contacted a lawyer and plan to sue honda.

Filed Feb 24, 2003 · Transmission · IL

The vehicle experienced transmission failure.

Filed Feb 17, 2003 · Transmission · 91,000 miles · NJ

In january of 2000 after 3 trips to the honda telling them that I had a transmission problem (and being told their was nothing wrong), my transmission failed. The symptom was that it would intermittently hard shift into 4th gear from 3rd while at highway speeds and loose power. The unit had these symptoms for approximately 24000 miles, but was first brought to honda with 9000 miles on. Honda refused to deal with the problem and told me their was nothing wrong. At the time, I indicated that I was concerned about safety with merging into and out of traffic, but my concerns fell on death ears. After the original transmission finally failed (2 days after the last time I took the car to the dealer and complained of the problem), a new transmission was finally installed a month later. The replacement transmission has 58,000 miles on it and has begun to exhibit exactly the same symptoms as the original transmission. Being concerned about getting the run around, I decided not to take the car to the original dealer (madison honda, madison, nj) but to paramus honda, paramus, nj. I explained the problem and the specific symptom (that can be recreated every time), they diagnosed the unit and told me nothing was wrong with it. Additionally, he unit has begun to intermittently jitter while driving in 4th gear, causing a loss of power. Honda seems content to ignore this problem. The dealers appear to have been told by honda of america not to replace the transmissions until they completely fail. This policy is putting honda's customers as severe risk. Driving in northern nj requires being able to merge into the traffic and so on. Failure of the transmission to produce power has almost gotten me killed once. Honda does not seem to care. Once again I'm getting the run around even though it could lead to my death.