The 1988 Honda Prelude has 3 recalls, the most serious being a power steering hose that can leak fluid onto the exhaust manifold and start an engine fire.
Two other recalls involve throttle and accelerator control. On certain vehicles, the accelerator pedal stopper can bend if pressed with too much force, and once bent, the edge of the pedal can catch on the stopper and hold the throttle open, leaving the driver without control of engine speed and raising the risk of a crash. On Prelude SI models, the throttle body casting can be slightly porous, allowing coolant to seep through and leave a residue on the throttle valve over time. That buildup can cause the throttle valve to return to idle more slowly than it should after the driver lifts off the accelerator, meaning the engine may continue to pull the car forward longer than expected.
At a glance
What can fail
The accelerator pedal stopper can bend when you press the pedal hard after it hits the stopper. In rare cases, the bent stopper can catch and hold the pedal down, causing sudden loss of control.
What the fix does
A support bracket will be installed to prevent the stopper from bending.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
The power steering hose connector clamp seal may leak. Leaking fluid could contact the hot exhaust manifold and cause a fire.
What the fix does
Install a reinforced rubber power steering hose assembly to prevent leaks.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The throttle body casting may have tiny pores that allow coolant to seep through. Over time, coolant residue builds up on the throttle valve, slowing its return to idle when you release the accelerator pedal.
What the fix does
The throttle body assembly will be replaced with a new one.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
