Consumer Complaint Detail

HONDA / PRELUDE / 1991

Recalls
0 Injured
Investigations
0 Death
Complaints
No Fire
Components - Details
NHTSA Complaint Number: 996233642 Incident Date: May, 03 1996
Consumer's City: CALABASAS Consumer's State: CA
Vehicle Transmission Type: AUTO Manufacturers Name: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Model Name: PRELUDE Model Year: 1991
Vehicle Involved in a Crash: No Component's Description: Engine and engine cooling
Vehicle Involved in a Fire: No Persons Injured: 0
Vehicle's VIN#: JHMBA4236MC Date added to File: May, 25 2021
Date Complaint Received: Sep, 02 2003 Complaint Type: IVOQ
Incident Reported To Police: No Purchase Date: Jul, 21 1991
Was Original Owner: Yes Anti-lock Brakes: No
Number of Cylinders: 4 Date of Manufacturer: -
Was Vehicle Towed: - Description of the Complaints: Air conditioner system failure: eight (8) dealer attempted repairs; four (4) new compressors and complete systems installed; thousands of dollars spent (approx. $6,000.00); and a/c remains dead.*ak vehicle is 1991 honda prelude si, vin [xxx], purchased new 7/22/91 from woodland hills honda, 6111 topanga canyon boulevard, woodland hills, ca., 91365. a/c problem began may, 1996 at 68,000 miles, and last attempted repair ended october, 2001 at 142,000 miles. we have four (4) honda accords (1991 and 93 models), all over 160,000 miles, with no a/c problems. the bad a/c seems limited to prelude only. it is very hot in san fernando valley of los angeles, california for 6 months of the year. on october 10, 2001, woodland hills honda recommended another complete a/c compressor and system replacement. the service manager there, [xxx] (now gone), stated there was a " complete system problem" and asked honda regional hq for honda authorization to replace the entire a/c system without charge, or to share the costs. assistance denied. this seems to be a product-liability manufacturing failure specific to the prelude a/c system and the compressor in particular. we see many prelude drivers with windows open. we do not want to spend thousands of dollars more for what we think honda should be responsible to fix. does honda know it has bad a/c compressors in preludes and is ignoring or evading the problem? information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr