IllustrationWHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND WHILE DRIVING IT STAYS ON. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
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
What owners actually said
460 reportsCONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
PENSKE TIRES ARE SPLITTING AT SIDEWALLS.
PER CONSUMER, AFTER THE DEALERSHIP SUPERIOR HONDA; ORANGEBURG SC; 803-531-6161, HAD THE VEHICLE FOR OVER A WEEK THE RECALL FOR THE IGNTION SWITCH 02 V 070 000 WAS NOT DONE. TS
NO PARTS AVAILABLE. RECALL #02120000 IGNITION SWITCH. ATAMAN HONDA 978-851-4356 PLEASE PROVIDE THE ADDRESS. TS
CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND DEALER STATED THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY. TS AIRBAG MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. PROBLEM RESOLVED. *TT *JB
AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL. WAS FORCED TO DOWNSHIFT TO MAKE THE CAR MOVE; D3/D4 WERE NOT WORKING AND ENGINE MERELY REVVED AS THOUGH I WAS IN NEUTRAL. PROBLEM OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM AND DID NOT REPAIR. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE TR…
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AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL. WAS FORCED TO DOWNSHIFT TO MAKE THE CAR MOVE; D3/D4 WERE NOT WORKING AND ENGINE MERELY REVVED AS THOUGH I WAS IN NEUTRAL. PROBLEM OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM AND DID NOT REPAIR. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE TRANSMISSION HAS BLOWN OUT COMPLETELY AND MOST GEARS DO NOT WORK OR PRODUCE LOUD GRIDING NOISES ALONG WITH SEVERE JOLTING. DT
IN A SHORT DISTANCE THE VEHICLE IS LIKELY TO HAVE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, JUMPED A CONCRETE CURB, AND STRUCK A TREE. THE DECEASED HAD A BROKEN ANKLE, WHICH WAS LIKELY CAUSED BY ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE. OTHER INJURIES INCLUDED BROKEN JAW AND SEVER INTERNAL INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY SINCE THE CAR HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN…
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IN A SHORT DISTANCE THE VEHICLE IS LIKELY TO HAVE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, JUMPED A CONCRETE CURB, AND STRUCK A TREE. THE DECEASED HAD A BROKEN ANKLE, WHICH WAS LIKELY CAUSED BY ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE. OTHER INJURIES INCLUDED BROKEN JAW AND SEVER INTERNAL INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY SINCE THE CAR HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN A SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENT. HOWEVER THE CAR WAS DRIVEN BY ME AND MY WIFE FOR OVER 25K MILES DURING WHICH TIME WE HAD NO PROBLEMS. RECENTLY THERE WAS A CLAIM STATING A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH A RUN-AWAY HONDA ACCORD ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL AND I BELIEVE MY WIFE'S ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN. THANK YOU, [XXX] DT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WAS ANY RECALL REPORTED ON CATALYTIC CONVERTER. DT
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER CONCERNING THE INSTALLATION OF AN IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE HE HAD AN ALARM SYSTEM, HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO RECIEVE THE RECALL. *SCC
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.