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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Power Train complaints

33 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2021
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainFire

While driving car speed starts to fall soon there is no pedal at all and smoke and fire come from underneath dashboard transmission hesitates to shift now currently un safe to drive.

NHTSA ODI #11434991

230,000 miles · Dec 3, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior LightingPower Train

THIS CAR RANDOMLY SHUTS DOWN AS I AM DRIVING HAVE TAKEN IT TO NUMEROUS PLACES AND NOTHING IS FOUND. SHUT DOWN 6 TIMES IN A ROW LAST TIME WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR ON A DARK HIGHWAY COLD AND RAINING. VERY DANGEROUS!!! THE INSIDE LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF ALL OF THE TIME MOSTLY TURNING CURVES, WASTING BATTERY. NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEE…

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THIS CAR RANDOMLY SHUTS DOWN AS I AM DRIVING HAVE TAKEN IT TO NUMEROUS PLACES AND NOTHING IS FOUND. SHUT DOWN 6 TIMES IN A ROW LAST TIME WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR ON A DARK HIGHWAY COLD AND RAINING. VERY DANGEROUS!!! THE INSIDE LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF ALL OF THE TIME MOSTLY TURNING CURVES, WASTING BATTERY. NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEELS/TIRES/AXLES LIKE SOMETHING IS WAITING TO BREAK OFF AS YOU ARE DRIVING. OVERHEATED LAST YEAR FOR NO APPARENT REASON COSTING TON OF MONEY. I HAVE REPLACED THE COMPRESSOR TWICE AND STILL THE AIR CONDITIONER DOESN'T COOL. I LEAVE THE "AIR" BUTTON ON TO KEEP THE FANS RUNNING SO IT DOESN'T OVERHEAT AS I'M DRIVING. NOT TO MENTION IN THE SUMMER IT IS BLOWING OUT HEAT AND ALL THE WINDOWS DO NOT ROLL DOWN. THIS CAR IS A MESS AND I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER HONDA. THANKS-

NHTSA ODI #10808163

170,000 miles · Jun 1, 2015
EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE REVERSING, THERE WAS A LOUD METALLIC NOISE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE MOTOR MOUNT FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE REVERSING, THERE WAS A LOUD METALLIC NOISE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE MOTOR MOUNT FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.

NHTSA ODI #10722786

88,000 miles · Jul 12, 2014
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING UPHILL IN THE MOUNTAINS OF NC ON I-26, WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, TRANSMISSION SLIPPING OF MY 97 HONDA ACCORD WITH 88,000 ORIGINAL MILES, CAUSED TRAFFIC TO BACK-UP BEHIND ME IN THE RAIN. WAS FINALLY ABLE TO REMOVE FROM FREEWAY OUT OF DANGER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610049

69,550 miles · Sep 14, 2012
Power Train

COMPLETE HONDA ACCORD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 69,550 MILES BELOW INCIDENT ALMOST RESULTED IN REAR END COLLISION ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE ONTO ENTRANCE RAMP AND VEHICLE BEHIND REQUIRED EVASIVE ACTION TO PREVENT REAR END COLLISION WITH MY VEHICLE DUE TO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, FAILIN…

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COMPLETE HONDA ACCORD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 69,550 MILES BELOW INCIDENT ALMOST RESULTED IN REAR END COLLISION ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE ONTO ENTRANCE RAMP AND VEHICLE BEHIND REQUIRED EVASIVE ACTION TO PREVENT REAR END COLLISION WITH MY VEHICLE DUE TO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, FAILING TO ACCELERATE MORE THAN 20 MPH. FOUR SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED FOR MY 1997 HONDA ACCORD LX, 4-DOOR, WITH ONLY 69,550 MILES. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHILE THE "D4" AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INDICATOR FLASHED OFF AND ON AT SAME TIME. HONDA WOULDN'T DRIVE IN FOURTH GEAR AND ACTED AS IT WAS SLIPPING. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO ED VOYLES HONDA, MARIETTA, GEORGIA ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2011 FOR DIAGNOSIS. HONDA TECHNICIAN(S) ADVISED THAT THE "ECM CODE" DISCLOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD COMPLETELY FAILED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10475458

69,550 miles · Jun 11, 2012
Power Train

FOUR SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED FOR MY 1997 HONDA ACCORD LX, 4-DOOR, WITH ONLY 69,550 MILES. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHILE THE "D4" AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INDICATOR FLASHED OFF AND ON AT SAME TIME. HONDA WOULDN'T DRIVE IN FOURTH GEAR AND ACTED AS IT WAS SLIPPING. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO ED VOYLES…

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FOUR SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED FOR MY 1997 HONDA ACCORD LX, 4-DOOR, WITH ONLY 69,550 MILES. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHILE THE "D4" AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INDICATOR FLASHED OFF AND ON AT SAME TIME. HONDA WOULDN'T DRIVE IN FOURTH GEAR AND ACTED AS IT WAS SLIPPING. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO ED VOYLES HONDA, MARIETTA, GEORGIA ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2011 FOR DIAGNOSIS. HONDA TECHNICIAN(S) ADVISED THAT THE "ECM CODE" DISCLOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD COMPLETELY FAILED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND/OR OFFERED ANY INFORMATION REGARDING HONDA EXTENDING THE TRANSMISSION WARRANTY FOR THIS 1997 HONDA ACCORD LX. AT TIME OF INCIDENT, WAS INTERSTATE 285 ON RAMP WHEN VEHICLE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING, ALLOWING MAXIMUM SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 MPH. VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY IN THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE HAD TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION TO PREVENT REAR END COLLISION. PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE CREATED A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD TO MYSELF AND OTHER VEHICLES TO MY REAR. PLEASE NOTE, HONDA ACCORD WITHIN SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE AND AFTER THE 1997 YEAR MODEL HAS A SIGNIFICANT HISTORY OF EARLY TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN WHICH HONDA HAS FAILED TO INITIATE A PRODUCT RECALL, DESPITE NUMEROUS WEBSITE POSTS.. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10461282

65,000 miles · Mar 12, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO LUNGE FORWARD SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO LUNGE FORWARD SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10451237

69,500 miles · Sep 14, 2011
Power Train

1997 HONDA ACCORD LX, 4-DOOR, 4-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 69,500 MILES, SEPTEMBER 09, 2011. TRANSMISSION SLIPPING IN FOURTH/THIRD GEAR, WITH LITTLE ACCELERATION. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME "ON," WHILE AT THE SAME TIME THE "D4" AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT INDICATOR WAS "BLINKING" ON AND …

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1997 HONDA ACCORD LX, 4-DOOR, 4-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 69,500 MILES, SEPTEMBER 09, 2011. TRANSMISSION SLIPPING IN FOURTH/THIRD GEAR, WITH LITTLE ACCELERATION. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME "ON," WHILE AT THE SAME TIME THE "D4" AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT INDICATOR WAS "BLINKING" ON AND OFF. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO ED VOYLES HONDA, MARIETTA, GEORGIA ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2011, WHERE HONDA TECHNICIAN(S) CHECKED DIAGNOSTIC CODE(S) FOR "ECM." HONDA TECHNICIAN(S) STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION, WITH ONLY 69,500 MILES HAD COMPLETELY FAILED AND REQUIRED A NEW AND/OR REBUILT TRANSMISSION, DESPITE ALL PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE HAVING BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. REPLACEMENT COST EXPECTED TO BE $2,400.00 FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION, OR $5,500.00 FOR A NEW OEM HONDA REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. ACCORDING TO HONDA SERVICE ADVISOR, HONDA HAS HAD PREVIOUS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURES INVOLVING THIS MODEL AND YEAR. HOWEVER, NO MENTION OF ANY EXTENDED WARRANTY BY HONDA WAS MENTIONED, IF ANY. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10425505

215,000 miles · Nov 21, 2010
Power Train

HONDA ACCORD 1997, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LOOSING GEARS, UNABLE TO MAINTAIN SAFE HIGHWAY SPEED AND ASSOCIATED HIGH RISK MANEUVERS TO EXIT THE DRIVE LANES ONTO A SHOULDER. THIRD INCIDENT, THIRD REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION FOR THE SAME REASON. ALL HAD SUGGESTED MANUFACTURES MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE PERFORMED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10366999

130,000 miles · Aug 18, 2010
Electrical SystemPower Train

I HAVE NOTED THAT I CAN REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION OF MY 1997 HONDA ACCORD WITHOUT BEING IN PARK. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT THE DRIVER TURN OFF THE ENGINE, REMOVE THE KEY (NOT IN PARK), LEAVE THE CAR AND THE CAR CAN THEN ROLL AWAY. THIS IS THE SAME SAFETY DEFECT THAT IS NOW BEING RECALLED ON THE 2003 HONDA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10350345

Official recalls

3

02V120000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Honda Accord problems