NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
460 reports70,000 miles · Nov 2, 2012
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC RESET THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND STATED THAT IF THE FAILURE PERSISTED, THE SRS MODULE WOULD HAVE TO BE REP…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC RESET THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND STATED THAT IF THE FAILURE PERSISTED, THE SRS MODULE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT RE-ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
NHTSA ODI #10482958
160,000 miles · Oct 1, 2012
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS TO HIS HANDS DUE TO THE AIR …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS TO HIS HANDS DUE TO THE AIR BAG AND WAS ALSO SUFFERING FROM BACK PAIN. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN RIB AND PAIN TO HER ENTIRE BODY. THE CONTACT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WERE UNDERGOING PHYSICAL THERAPY TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
NHTSA ODI #10478120
160,000 miles · Sep 24, 2012
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN AN ALLEY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE WALL BEFORE INDEPENDENTLY COMING TO A STOP. THE CONTACT AND HIS WIFE SUSTAINED INJURIES AS A RESULT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN AN ALLEY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE WALL BEFORE INDEPENDENTLY COMING TO A STOP. THE CONTACT AND HIS WIFE SUSTAINED INJURIES AS A RESULT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 160,000. UPDATED 10/24/12*LJ UPDATED 10/25/2012 *JS
NHTSA ODI #10476884
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
93,850 miles · Aug 30, 2012
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control
PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL ON MY CAR, AND THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING AND THE GAS PEDAL GOT HARD I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK TO STOP IT FROM HITTING A CAR IN FRONT OF ME ALL WHILE THE ENGINE KEPT REVVING, I THEN TURNED OF THE CAR AND WHEN I TURNED IT ON IT WAS STILL DOING THE SAME THING UNTIL I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL AGAIN IT WENT B…
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PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL ON MY CAR, AND THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING AND THE GAS PEDAL GOT HARD I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK TO STOP IT FROM HITTING A CAR IN FRONT OF ME ALL WHILE THE ENGINE KEPT REVVING, I THEN TURNED OF THE CAR AND WHEN I TURNED IT ON IT WAS STILL DOING THE SAME THING UNTIL I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL AGAIN IT WENT BACK TO NORMAL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10472989
12,000 miles · Aug 15, 2012
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V120000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH REPAIR WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION FAILURE CAUSED TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V120000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH REPAIR WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION FAILURE CAUSED THE MUFFLER TO FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
NHTSA ODI #10470713
Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2012
Seat Belts
ONE OF THE SEAT BELT AT THE BACK DOESNT RETRACT. ITS JUST DANGLING. I HAVE HARDLY USED THIS SEAT BELT HOWEVER WHEN USED SPARINGLY THE SEAT BELT GOT STUCK DIDNT RETRACT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10469259
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
130,000 miles · May 18, 2012
Suspension
THE LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATED --THE FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED, BREAKING THE AXLE AND RIM OF FRONT LEFT TIRE AND TURNED THE LEFT TIRE SIDEWAYS. UPON RESEARCHING THE COST OF THE BALL JOINTS ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL DATED 5/10/99 FOR 1997 HONDA ACCORDS FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM...MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDE…
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THE LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATED --THE FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED, BREAKING THE AXLE AND RIM OF FRONT LEFT TIRE AND TURNED THE LEFT TIRE SIDEWAYS. UPON RESEARCHING THE COST OF THE BALL JOINTS ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL DATED 5/10/99 FOR 1997 HONDA ACCORDS FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM...MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10458906
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
Official recalls
3May 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.
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.
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 ↗