Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1979 Prelude.
The 1979 Honda Prelude anchors the earliest data point in a complaint history that spans 1990 to 2006, beginning with just 4 owner reports logged in 1990 and reaching a peak of 74 complaints in 1997. As the founding model year of the surveyed range, the 1979 Prelude's minimal 1990 figure establishes a baseline against which every subsequent year is measured, providing a useful reference for tracking how owner-reported reliability evolved across the platform's life. The stark contrast between the inaugural cohort's quiet showing and the 1997 peak underscores the wide variability in the model's real-world standing during the years researchers have on file.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 159.4 in |
| Overall width | 65 in |
| Overall height | 49.2 in |
| Wheelbase | 90.2 in |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Prelude of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Coupe 1.8L I-4 | 10.70 sec | 16.80 sec | 100 hp | FWD |
| 1988 | Si 4WS Coupe 2.0L I-4 | 9.00 sec | 17.00 sec | 135 hp | FWD |
| 1988 | Si 4WS Coupe 2.0L I-4 | 9.30 sec | 16.80 sec | 135 hp | FWD |
| 1989 | Si Coupe 2.0L I-4 | 8.60 sec | 16.50 sec | 135 hp | FWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
PROLONGED CONTACT WITH ROAD SALT MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, CAUSE SERIOUS RUSTING. THIS CAN WEAKEN CERTAIN UNDERCARRIAGE COMPONENTS: LATERAL SUSPENSION ARMS, FRONT CROSSBEAM AND STRUT COIL SPRING LOWER SUPPORTS. Remedy: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND, IF NECESSARY, TREATED WITH A RUST PREVENTIVE COATING. IN SOME CASES, REPLACEMENT OF COMPONENTS WILL BE PERFORMED, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.