Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1981 Prelude.
The 1981 Honda Prelude marks an early entry in Honda’s line of compact coupes, arriving with the brand’s characteristic front‑engine, front‑wheel‑drive layout. While the model recorded only two owner complaints overall, the sole recall and the most frequent issue—tire‑related concerns—highlight a modest, isolated area of attention. Compared with the broader complaint record that spans 1990‑2006, where complaints peaked at 74 in 1997 and fell to a low of four in 1990, the inaugural year’s minimal trouble count underscores its relatively strong reliability foundation within the Prelude’s history.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 161.4 in |
| Overall width | 64.6 in |
| Overall height | 51.2 in |
| Wheelbase | 91.3 in |
| Curb weight | 2132 lb |
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.
Owner complaints about the 1981 Honda Prelude dominate in one area — the tires, 1 of 2 reports (50%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 1 recall campaigns target the tires, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the tires pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.
All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
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… Remedy: THE SPRING SUPPORTS AND SHOCKS WILL BE INSPECTED; DEPENDING ON CONDITION, THE COMPONENTS WILL BE RUSTPROOFED OR REPLACED, IF NECESSARY.
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.