What else can go wrong from an unreported accident - Honda Prelude Forum

X-15 · 05-18-2010, 10:19 PM

The 01 prelude I purchased recently has about 70k miles on it and Carfax reports no accident. I let a mechanic checking on it and was told that the rear right body appears to be repainted. He suspected that rear right was hit. Sure enough, jacked it up the tire rod is a aftermarket part ... the tire is a little tilted, and it rides bumpy when I go fast. Other than that he says it looks fine.

Someone is working on the alignment...ordered the parts. But I don't know what are other potential problems associate with the accident?
Thanks!

lude4lifeh22 · 05-19-2010, 08:38 AM

Depends on how well it was repaired. My carfax was clear when I bought mine, but it had been in two accidents. One impact front drivers side corner, and one in the opposite corner at the rear.

My issues, non factory welds are rusting a little. Rear tailights dont line up quite as they should from factory but Im the only one that notices that. And in the front, I seem to have water issue. As both my left headlight and jdm fog constantly have condensation and water issues (at least abnormally so).

It really depends though, and having a qualified tech look it completely over can give you good recap on the quality of the repair.

Shimee · 05-19-2010, 02:21 PM

To give you a perspective, my first Prelude was in three serious accidents that went unreported (one was mine) and the car looked like it was new.

First one the car went head on into something. Luckily it hit in the middle so only the bumper and cover had to be replaced. Next accident the car slammed into something, or something slammed into the passenger side rear quarter, so hard that the quarter panel had to be replaced along with the glass and the rim, probably some parts of the spindle and knuckle. Third time the car hit a tree head on. It hit directly on the drivers side headlight so there was no frame damage and only part of the rad support had to be replaced.

Each time the car was fixed it looked like nothing happened to it and it drove perfectly fine. Including after my accident which me and my cousin fixed for ~$1000. Just depends on how good the mechanic is.