Model year guide

1981 Honda Prelude

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1981 Honda Prelude is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 1 on record.

1981 Honda Prelude — representative photo
Representative photo

1981 Honda Prelude at a glance

Safety recalls1
Owner complaints2

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1981 Honda Prelude recalls 1

Structure:frame And Members NHTSA Campaign #84V086000 · 18/07/1984

THE SPRINGS ARE HELD UP BY A METAL SUPPORT AROUND EACH SHOCK ABSORBER. VEHICLES DRIVEN REGULARLY IN AREAS WHERE ROADS ARE SALTED DURING WINTERTIME ARE SUBJECT TO RUSTING OF THESE SUPPORTS. RUSTING MAY EVENTUALLY ALLOW THE SPRING TO BREAK THROUGH THE SUPPORT.

Fix: THE SPRING SUPPORTS AND SHOCKS WILL BE INSPECTED; DEPENDING ON CONDITION, THE COMPONENTS WILL BE RUSTPROOFED OR REPLACED, IF NECESSARY.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1981 Honda Prelude common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Tires
Check tread depth, the DOT age date, and that all four tires match with even wear. Look for bulges or cracks.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.
Fuel System
Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.
Gasoline
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

Dimensions & weight

Length
161.4 in
Width
64.6 in
Height
51.2 in
Wheelbase
91.3 in
Curb weight
2,132 lb

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1981 Honda Prelude. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Canadian recalls 1

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1981 Honda Prelude. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Suspension

On certain vehicles, prolonged contact with road salt may, under certain conditions, cause eventual corrosion which could weaken the front and rear strut coil spring support brackets. Failure of the strut coild spring support brackets could result in loss of vehicle control and possible crash.

Transport Canada #1984088 · Jul 1984

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Honda Prelude

The Honda Prelude is a sport compact car produced by the Japanese company Honda. It was produced over five generations from 1978 to 2001, and reintroduced in 2025.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1981 Honda Prelude vehicles on record

1981 Honda Prelude 1981 Honda PreludeJHMASN5220C105045

Other Honda Prelude model years

2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982

1981 Honda Prelude — frequently asked questions

Does the 1981 Honda Prelude have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1981 Honda Prelude. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1981 Honda Prelude?

Across all 2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are tires, suspension, fuel system.

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.