IllustrationWHEN STARTING UP VEHICLE CONSUMER CAN SMELL FUEL OR VAPORS WITHIN THE VEHICLE. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE THE SMELL GETS INTO VEHICLE, AND CONSUMER CAN'T DETERMINE WHERE FUEL OR VAPORS ARE COMING FROM. DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
48 reportsOIL PLUG THAT ON THE OIL PAN FELL OFF, CAUSING THE OIL TO SPRAY UNTO ENGINE, RESULTING IN DAMAGES AND ALMOST A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN 4 TIMES AND THEY JUST RESET IT. THEY KEEP ON TELLING THAT THERE'S NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM YET. THEY CONTACTED THE HEADQUARTERS, AND THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO SATISFY ME. I DO NOT FEEL CONFORTABLE ABOUT MY CAR BECAUSE I HAVE TO MISS WORK AND SCHOOL SO MUCH FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND YET THEY DO NOT DO ANYTHI…
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HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN 4 TIMES AND THEY JUST RESET IT. THEY KEEP ON TELLING THAT THERE'S NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM YET. THEY CONTACTED THE HEADQUARTERS, AND THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO SATISFY ME. I DO NOT FEEL CONFORTABLE ABOUT MY CAR BECAUSE I HAVE TO MISS WORK AND SCHOOL SO MUCH FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND YET THEY DO NOT DO ANYTHING. THEY DON'T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I THINK I HAVE A LEMON AND I DON'T LIKE THE WAY THEY ARE TREATING THIS SITUATION. *AK
GAS MILEAGE REDUCED AFTER 30000 MILE SERVICE.USED TO GET 30-32 MPG ON HIGHWAY DRIVING 70 MPH. CURRENTLY, GETS 29 MPG ON HIGHWAY AT SAME SPEED.
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO TURN OFF WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON TURNED OFF. BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED TO SLOW OR STOP VEHICLE. ONLY WHEN PARKING BRAKE WAS APPLIED DID VEHICLE SLOW.
WHILE STARTING VEHICLE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT REMAINS ON. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED FIVE TIMES. ENGINE MISFIRES, BUT DEALER CANNOT CORRECT PROBLEM. *AK
DESIGN OF THE OIL FILTER (LOCATION) WHICH IS OVER EXHAUST SYSTEM AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER ALLOWS OIL TO BE RELEASED ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHILE CHANGING FILTER. THIS RESULTS IN SMOKE FROM BURNING OFF OF UNIT.
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT WHEN BUMPER HIT THE POLE THAT POSTS HANDICAP SIGNS, VERY SLIGHTLY DENTED THE BUMPER OF VEHICLE. ALSO BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER WAS WEARING SEAT BELT. ALSO BURNED HER RIGHT ARM AND BROKE HER GLASSES. *AK CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER …
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CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT WHEN BUMPER HIT THE POLE THAT POSTS HANDICAP SIGNS, VERY SLIGHTLY DENTED THE BUMPER OF VEHICLE. ALSO BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER WAS WEARING SEAT BELT. ALSO BURNED HER RIGHT ARM AND BROKE HER GLASSES. *AK CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER.*JB
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.