IllustrationVEHICLE EXPERIENCED HEAD ON COLLISION AT 40 MPH, NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH AIR BAGS. MJS
1997 Honda Accord
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Honda Accord do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 356.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Accord years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
60–25K
725–50K
2450–75K
2275–100K
32100–150K
37150K+
128 reports with mileage · 332 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 113 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 96 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
42 crash reports10 fire reports24 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
113 reportsCONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPORX. 35-40 FROM A DEAD STOP, BOTH AIR BAGS FAIL TO DEPLOYED. DEALER / MFR. WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.
DRIVER SIDE SRS AIR BAG COMPLETELY FAILED. (UNSPECIFIED REASONS) YH
WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE/ PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. THE DEALER DOESN'T KNOW WHY THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK
JUST FINISHED WASHING CAR AT THE TOUCHLESS CAR WASH. PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, WENT OVER A METAL BUMP AT THE END OF THE CAR WASH AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WASN'T EVEN GOING 1 MPH.
CJONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35-45MPH WHEN THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON . CONSUMER HAD THE RECALL #98-V-321 FOR AIR CONDITIONER WIRING HARNESS, REPAIRED EARLY IN NOVEMBER 98. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT 65 MPH TO 70 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, AND THE CONSUMER REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID'NT DEPLOY. *AK
WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 35 MPH AND 40 MPH STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHERE THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT ALREADY, AND CONSUMER SAW VEHICLE THAT STOPPED IN FRONT OF HIS VEHICLE AND COULDN'T STOP ON TIME. CONSUMER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
CONSUMER WAS IN DRIVEWAY PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE, CAUSING IT HIT A TREE AND AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE DEPLOYED AIR BAGS CAUSED INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THINKS THAT THE AIR BAG IS GOING TO DEPLOY. DOES NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE GOVERNMENT HAS THE RIGHT TO TELL CONSUMERS WHAT THEY CAN OR CANNOT DO TO VEHICLES THAT THE HAVE PAID FOR. THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON, AND THAT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE SAFE. *AK
Official recalls
302V120000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
May 16, 2002
ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: WORN CONTACTS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
99V069000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
May 10, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH BALL JOINTS THAT CAN PREMATURELY WEAR OUT AND, IN THE WORSE CASE, THE BALL JOINT WOULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.
98V231000 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood
Sep 22, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SEDAN, COUPE AND WAGON PASSENGER VEHICLES EXCEPT THE DX MODEL AND MODELS WITH V6 ENGINES. THE FACTORY INSTALLED AIR CONDITIONER WIRE HARNESS WAS IMPROPERLY ROUTED ALLOWING SOME WIRES TO RUB AGAINST EACH OTHER, EVENTUALLY CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SHORT CIRCUIT CANPOSSIBLY CAUSE THE UNDERHOOD WIREING TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE, CAUSING A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A SHORT CIRCUIT CAN ALSO RESULT IN A BLOWN FUSE OR DEAD BATTERY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR PROPER ROUTING OF THESE WIRES. ANY HARNESS IMPROPERLY ROUTED WILL BE INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE AND THE ROUTING WILL BE CORRECTED. IF ANY INSULATION IS WORN THROUGH AND THE COPPER WIRES ARE EXPOSED, THE HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSTALL PLASTIC TUBING TO PROTECT THE HARNESS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.