IllustrationTHE SEAT BELT IS NOT BIG ENOUGH. THE DEALER HAS INFORM ME THAT HONDA DOES NOT HAVE AN EXTENSION FOR THE SEAT BELT, IT IS ILLEGLE TO DRIVE ANYWHERE BUT MY STATE WITHOUT THE SEAT BELT FASTEN. *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
What owners actually said
460 reportsI HAVE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY A/C DRAINING INTO THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AND REAR OF MY CAR. THE WATER FROM MY A/C DRAINS INTO THE CAR AS A RESULT OF BLOCKAGE OF THE DRAIN HOSE ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND ANOTHER DEALERSHIP ABOUT 6 TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR. ON 3/14/2000, AFTE…
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I HAVE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY A/C DRAINING INTO THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AND REAR OF MY CAR. THE WATER FROM MY A/C DRAINS INTO THE CAR AS A RESULT OF BLOCKAGE OF THE DRAIN HOSE ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND ANOTHER DEALERSHIP ABOUT 6 TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR. ON 3/14/2000, AFTER REPAIRING THE SERVICE REP. STATED MY A/C SHOULD BE OPERATED IN THE RE-CIRCULATION MODE VICE THE FRESH AIR MODE. I EXPLAINED WE HAVE 4 OTHER CARS PARKING IN THE SAME AREA AS I DO, AND NONE ARE EXPERIENCING AC DRAINAGE PROBLEMS. I ASK THE REP. DOES THAT MEANS ALL HONDA MUST BE OPERATED IN THE RE-CIRCULATION MODE? HER RESPONSE WAS YES, THEY HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT TO ALL THEIR HONDA ACCORDS OWNERS. THE SERVICE REP. STATED THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT TO OPERATE THE AC IN RE-CIRCULATION MODE. *AK
I HAVE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY A/C DRAINING INTO THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AND REAR OF MY CAR. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR INTO THIS DEALER AND ANOTHER DEALER ABOUT 4 TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR. THE SERVICE REP. STATED I SHOULD ONLY OPERATE THE AC IN THE RE-CIRCULATION MODE VICE FRESH AIR MODE. I EXPLAINED WE HAVE ABOUT 4 OTHER…
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I HAVE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY A/C DRAINING INTO THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AND REAR OF MY CAR. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR INTO THIS DEALER AND ANOTHER DEALER ABOUT 4 TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR. THE SERVICE REP. STATED I SHOULD ONLY OPERATE THE AC IN THE RE-CIRCULATION MODE VICE FRESH AIR MODE. I EXPLAINED WE HAVE ABOUT 4 OTHER CARS PARKING IN THE SAME AREA AS I DO, AND NONE ARE EXPERIENCING AC DRAINAGE PROBLEMS. I ASK THE REP. DOES THAT MEAN ALL HONDA MUST BE OPERATED IN THE RE-CIRCULATION MODE? HER RESPONSE WAS YES, THEY HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT TO ALL OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. THE SERVICE REP. STATED THIS IS NOT AN UNSUAL SITUATION FOR HONDA. IS THAT TRUE? *AK
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL (99V-069) OF THE LOWER BALL JOINT REPAIR, EIGHT MONTHS LATER CUMSUMER RECIEVED REMINDER CARD STATING REPAIR HAD NOT BEEN PERFORMED YET. NLM
THE ONBOARD COMPUTER/BRAIN IS MALFUNCTIONING. A CERTIFIED MECHANIC HAS ADVISED ME THAT THE ABS/BRAKE SYSTEM AND THE SRS/AIR BAG SYSTEM COULD DEPLOY AT ANY TIME DUE TO THE COMPUTER MALFUNCTION. I AM CONCERED THAT A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD RESULT IF THE BRAKES FAIL OR THE AIR BAGS PREMATURELY DEPLOY WHILE I AM DRIVING. *AK
INTERNAL PIECES OF THE HEATER FAN ARE FALLING OFF, GOING INTO THE FAN ITSELF, CAUSING THE FAN TO BE INOPERATIVE. PROBLEM COULD CREATE A FIRE HAZARD DUE TO THE MATERIAL GOING INTO THE FAN. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE WAS COMING TO STOP WHEN IT WAS REARENDED AND PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, THEN HITTING A GUARDRAIL WHERE NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED. ALSO, DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED, FALLING BACKWARD WHERE A CHILD CAR SEAT WAS LOCATATED, VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH WANDERING TO THE LEFT WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 50 OR MORE MPH. PROBELM WAS CORRECTED BY DEALERSHIP. *AK *ML
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.
VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 25 TO 30MPH, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S NOR PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *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.