Honda Prelude Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda Prelude car check
Is the Honda Prelude reliable? We analysed 156,010 real MOT tests across 20,321 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda Prelude? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda Prelude is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Prelude.
Honda Prelude Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda Prelude. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda Prelude MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda Prelude to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda Prelude Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda Prelude fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda Prelude Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda Prelude owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda Prelude MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Prelude year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 80 | 61.3% | 104,224 | 129,002 | 177,603 |
| 2008 | 204 | 66.2% | 102,145 | 121,392 | 144,709 |
| 2007 | 332 | 70.8% | 67,756 | 84,059 | 107,993 |
| 2006 | 309 | 71.2% | 78,964 | 121,831 | 147,068 |
| 2005 | 549 | 66.7% | 85,748 | 107,755 | 133,515 |
| 2004 | 788 | 68.0% | 84,447 | 109,322 | 138,904 |
| 2003 | 956 | 66.1% | 92,383 | 114,596 | 140,016 |
| 2002 | 1,084 | 66.9% | 83,186 | 111,363 | 140,325 |
| 2001 | 1,431 | 65.0% | 95,335 | 122,371 | 155,773 |
| 2000 | 13,472 | 70.2% | 64,273 | 90,257 | 122,318 |
| 1999 | 16,987 | 69.2% | 70,482 | 97,136 | 126,521 |
| 1998 | 22,137 | 68.4% | 72,930 | 97,670 | 124,662 |
| 1997 | 22,187 | 68.5% | 75,799 | 98,287 | 122,098 |
| 1996 | 7,578 | 67.9% | 78,981 | 100,432 | 124,754 |
| 1995 | 10,982 | 66.4% | 82,774 | 106,488 | 131,078 |
| 1994 | 10,586 | 65.8% | 85,929 | 109,728 | 134,853 |
| 1993 | 13,673 | 64.9% | 87,955 | 113,157 | 140,407 |
| 1992 | 10,488 | 65.3% | 84,860 | 111,640 | 138,396 |
| 1991 | 6,667 | 65.7% | 81,582 | 106,735 | 135,389 |
| 1990 | 6,092 | 65.7% | 78,955 | 102,451 | 127,044 |
How Long Does a Honda Prelude Last?
Based on 20,321 Honda Prelude vehicles on UK roads.
Honda Prelude Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda Prelude MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Prelude
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
72.5% MOT pass rate from 109 tests
61.3% MOT pass rate from 80 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda Prelude is 1981, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 72.5% across 109 tests. The 2009 model year has the lowest pass rate at 61.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda Prelude Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Prelude THIS CAR | 67.3% | 156,010 | 101,636 mi | 38 yrs |
| Honda Civic | 73.7% | 9,391,580 | 74,987 mi | 34 yrs |
| Honda Jazz | 81% | 5,740,892 | 48,635 mi | 24 yrs |
| Honda Cr-v | 78.5% | 4,177,643 | 80,499 mi | 29 yrs |
| Mercedes-benz C 320 | 75.2% | 72,432 | 80,039 mi | 26 yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Prelude trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda Prelude you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Honda PreludeShould you buy a used Honda Prelude?
The Honda Prelude has an overall MOT pass rate of 67.3% across 156,010 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Honda Prelude are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (9,727 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (8,857), and exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (6,253). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Honda Prelude owner drives around 4,249 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Honda Prelude models stay on UK roads for around 38 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.