IllustrationVEHICLE LOST BRAKING ABILITY AND STOPPED BY SCRATCHING THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL TO THE ROAD DIVIDER. THE CAUSE WAS A FAULTY MASTER CYLINDER.
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 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 …
Read full complaint
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
THE VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO GO IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY DRIVING UP STEEP GRADES.
WHEN GOING UP A SUBSTANTIAL GRADE (HILL),CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT MAINTAIN SPEED AND DOES NOT DOWNSHIFT THE TRANSMISSION. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED. *AK
CONSUMER WENT TO ADJUST ELECTRICAL DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT, HEARD LOUD NOISE, AND CAUSED THE SEAT TO COME OFF TRACK. SEAT MOVES IN ALL DIRECTIONS WHEN PRESSURE IS APLLIED TO GAS OR BRAKE PEDAL. *AK
VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THIS CONTINUOUS PROBLEM, CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. *AK
DRIVING W/DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT; NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM VENT AREA AND FLAMES NEAR LEG/HANDS AREA; PULLED OFF FWY INTO GAS STATION; FIRE DEPT ARRIVED & PUT OUT FLAMES; FLAMES REAPPEARED & PUT OUT AGAIN; FIRE DEPT SAID IT WAS ELECTRICAL. AT DEALERSHIP, IT WAS 3RD ONE THAT BURNED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, ESPERIENCING WIND NOISE, WIND NOISE IS SO LOUD AND ANNOYING. *AK
RECALL WORK CAN NOT BE PERFORMED ON THE AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.
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.