← New search

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 →

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

Steering complaints

11 reports
Clear category filter
144,000 miles · Feb 14, 2012
Electrical SystemSteeringVehicle Speed Control

ON MY WAY HOME ON I-295 MY CAR LOST ALL POWER AND WAS HARD TO STEER AND BRAKES DID NOT WORK. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP IN THE EMERGENCY LANE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS A BAD IGNITION SWITCH. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP AND THE PART WAS UNDER RECALL. THE HONDA TECH CALLED M…

Read full complaint

ON MY WAY HOME ON I-295 MY CAR LOST ALL POWER AND WAS HARD TO STEER AND BRAKES DID NOT WORK. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP IN THE EMERGENCY LANE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS A BAD IGNITION SWITCH. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP AND THE PART WAS UNDER RECALL. THE HONDA TECH CALLED ME YESTERDAY AND TRIED TO TELL ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE FUSE BOX. MY MECHANIC ALREADY KNEW IT WAS THE SWITCH AND HONDA TOLD ME THE SAME THING WHEN I DROPPED THE CAR OFF. IM NOT SURE IF THEY WERE TRYING TO UPSELL ME OR DENY RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10447971

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2002
Steering

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE THEM TO RECONNECT THE ALARM SYSTEM TO PERFORM THE RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. HONDA OF PRINCETON PRINCETON, NJ 609-683-0840 MR

NHTSA ODI #8021483

Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2002
SteeringCrashInjury

1ST ACCIDENT OF 2 INVOLVING HONDA ACCORD. BOTH ACCIDENTS HAPPENED WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF EACH OTHER IN DIFFERENT TOWNS. BOTH DRIVERS OF THE 97 AND 98 ACCORDS SAID WHEN THEY WERE PASSING A VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. STEERING LINKAGES AND SUSPENSION PARTS WERE INSPECTED AND CHECKED OUT FINE. UNKNOWN I…

Read full complaint

1ST ACCIDENT OF 2 INVOLVING HONDA ACCORD. BOTH ACCIDENTS HAPPENED WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF EACH OTHER IN DIFFERENT TOWNS. BOTH DRIVERS OF THE 97 AND 98 ACCORDS SAID WHEN THEY WERE PASSING A VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. STEERING LINKAGES AND SUSPENSION PARTS WERE INSPECTED AND CHECKED OUT FINE. UNKNOWN IF STEERING COLUMN HAS A INTERMITTENT PROBLEM OF LOCKING UP. STEERING COLUMN WAS TURNING FINE AT INVESTIGATION. NLM

NHTSA ODI #759924

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2001
Electrical SystemSteering

THE VEHICLE POWER STEERING FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #9004997

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2001
Steering

THE POWER STEERING FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #9004996

Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2001
Exterior LightingSteeringSuspensionCrash

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JUNE 2000. AS CERTIFIED VEHICLE FROM DEALERSHIP,, CERTIFIED FOR SAFETY INSPECTIONS 150 POINT? I NOTICED WHEN TEST DRIVING VEHICLE. FRONT OF VEHICLE HAD SEVERE VIBRATION, I NOTICED THAT THE TIRES WERE LOW ON AIR PRESSURE. PROBLEM CONTINUED, I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIME TO RESOLVE THE MATT…

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JUNE 2000. AS CERTIFIED VEHICLE FROM DEALERSHIP,, CERTIFIED FOR SAFETY INSPECTIONS 150 POINT? I NOTICED WHEN TEST DRIVING VEHICLE. FRONT OF VEHICLE HAD SEVERE VIBRATION, I NOTICED THAT THE TIRES WERE LOW ON AIR PRESSURE. PROBLEM CONTINUED, I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIME TO RESOLVE THE MATTER. AT THE TIME OF SALE THE INSPECTION WAS TO BE FINAL. I LATER FOUND OUT THE INSPECTION WAS NEVER COMPLETED PROPERLY, THER ARE TWO ACTIVE TITLES CURRENTLY ON VEHICLE, OHIO AND CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA IS NOW SALVAGED TITLE AS OF 2/04/2001. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIME REGARDING THE FINDINGS ON THE BUMPER COVER THAT HAD MEDICAL TAPE HOLDING THE SIDE SECURE FASTNERS TOGETHER. AND BUMPER COVER OUT OF ALLIGNMENT. RADIATOR SUPPORT HAD BEEN BUCKLED AND NOT REPAIRED CORRECTLY, PRIMER ON THE INSIDE OF RIGHT FRONT HOOD, HEAD L IGHT ASSEMBLY UNIT NOT COMPLETE AND OUT OF ALLIGNMENT, UNEVEN TIRE WEAR, NO OWNERS MANUAL, TIRES SWITCHED AT TIME ALLIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED BY DEALERSHIP, DEALERSHIP RENTED VEHICLE FOR 10 DAYS., DEALERSHIP REPRESENTED PREFERRED BODY SHOP AMERICAN AUTOBODY AND PAINT AS BOAR OFFICIAL THAT WAS MISREPRESENTATION, CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA AS WELL AS HONDA CARE REGARDING THIS VEHICLE AND DEALERSHIP? I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP WHAT THE CERTIFICATION APPLIED TO? IT WAS TO BE WARRANTIED JUST LIKE A NEW VEHICLE..VEHICLE WARRANTY DOCS WERE INCOMPLETE AND NOT VOLUNTARILY SUBMITTED? DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEE PUSHED HUSBAND AGAINST WALL? NO OWNERS MANUAL? MICHELLON WARRANTY CAME WITH VEHICLE DOCS. BUT AT TIME OF ALLIGNMENT FEDERAL TIRES WERE REPLACED WITHOUT WARRANTY? I WAS TOLD THE NEW TIRES WERE MAGICAL? I TOTALLED THE VEHICLE AND LATER FOUND ON CCC REPORT FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY, THAT VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUS DAMAGE DONE.. AND ALL THE ABOVE PROBLEM PERTAINING TO PREVIOUS DAMAGE?*AK

NHTSA ODI #746278

Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2001
Steering

WHILE DRIVING ALARM WILL CAME ON, AND COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TAKEN TO SHOP WHER IT WAS INSTALLED. THEN, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. DEALER FOUND OUT THAT DEFECT WAS DUE TO CIRCUIT BOARD. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD TO BUY ANOTHER ALARM SYSTEM. *YH

NHTSA ODI #884231

Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2000
Steering

THE STEERING HAS FOR 4 STEMS TO THE CENTRAL SHAFT. THE HORN IS A SMALL BUTTON ON 2 OF THESE STEMS (THE UPPER STEMS WHEN THE STEERING IS NOT TURNED; WHEN THE STEERING IS TURNED, IT IS ANYBODY'S GUESS). CAN'T FIND HORN QUICKLY ENOUGH.

NHTSA ODI #717551

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1999
SteeringSuspension

VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED 5/97. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 99V069000 RECALLED SIMILAR MODEL FOR DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS, FOR UNITS MANUFACTURED FROM 7/97 TO 8/97. I BELIEVE MY MODEL, MANUFACTURED 5/97, HAS SAME PROBLEM. CAR MAKES "GROANING" NOISE WHEN WHEEL IS TURNED AT STARTUP, AND AROUND CURVES. FEAR UNSAFE CONDITION COULD LEAD TO ACC…

Read full complaint

VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED 5/97. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 99V069000 RECALLED SIMILAR MODEL FOR DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS, FOR UNITS MANUFACTURED FROM 7/97 TO 8/97. I BELIEVE MY MODEL, MANUFACTURED 5/97, HAS SAME PROBLEM. CAR MAKES "GROANING" NOISE WHEN WHEEL IS TURNED AT STARTUP, AND AROUND CURVES. FEAR UNSAFE CONDITION COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENT. PLEASE IMMEDIATELY EXTEND RECALL #99V069000 TO COVER HONDA ACCORD 1997 MODELS MANUFACTURED IN MONTHS PRIOR TO JULY 1997!!! I ASKED DEALER TO CHECK BALL JOINTS DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, WAS TOLD THAT MY MODEL WAS NOT AFFECTED BY RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #712523

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 1998
Electrical SystemSteering

BATTERY WENT OUT, AND TWO FUSES HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE AIR CONDITIONER IS BLOWING OUT HEAT, MAKING THE VEHICLE HOT, AND THE DEALER CAN'T FOUND THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #830012

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