MY 1997 HONDA ACCORD WOULD OCCASIONALLY NOT START. THEN WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE WILL QUIETLY SHUTOFF WITHOUT STALLING OR MISFIRING. NOW CAR WILL SHUT OFF AFTER STARTING WHEN IGNITION SWITCH GOES BACK TO "RUN' OR "ON" POSITION. *TR
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
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.
What owners actually said
460 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME HOT AND THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT AND A GASKET WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME HOT AND THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT AND A GASKET WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET, WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT AND TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE CONTACT TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING PLACED IN PARKED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE BUT THERE WERE NO DAMAGES. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE HAS H…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE CONTACT TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING PLACED IN PARKED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE BUT THERE WERE NO DAMAGES. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE HAS HAPPENED 4 OR 5 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,348 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000. UPDATED 01/21/11 *BF UPDATED 04/04/11
MY 1997 HONDA ACCORD EX WITH 107,000 MILES THAT I HAD OWNED SINCE BRAND NEW AND HAD SERVICED ROUTINELY DEVELOPED AN ABS BRAKING PROBLEM. MY BRAKES WERE DETERMINED TO BE OK AND THE ABS LIGHT DID NOT COME ON, BUT WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES THEY WOULD MAKE A LOUD AND SLOW "CLICK CLICK" SOUND, THE ABS BUZZING SOUND OCCURRED, THE B…
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MY 1997 HONDA ACCORD EX WITH 107,000 MILES THAT I HAD OWNED SINCE BRAND NEW AND HAD SERVICED ROUTINELY DEVELOPED AN ABS BRAKING PROBLEM. MY BRAKES WERE DETERMINED TO BE OK AND THE ABS LIGHT DID NOT COME ON, BUT WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES THEY WOULD MAKE A LOUD AND SLOW "CLICK CLICK" SOUND, THE ABS BUZZING SOUND OCCURRED, THE BRAKES WOULD PUSH UP AND THE CAR WOULD LURCH FORWARD. DEALER REPLICATED THE ISSUE AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS LIKELY THE MODULATOR NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE ON HERE- PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS! *TR
1997 HONDA ACCORD COUPE, 2.2L, DX TRIM IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. FIANCE' AND HER DAUGHTER WERE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WHEN THE ENGINE JUST "DIED", NO POWER, NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATIONS, ETC. VEHICLE DID/DOES RESTART AT THIS TIME. THIS IS IDENTICAL TO THE HONDA CAMPAIGN RECALL #02V120000 WHICH COVERS SOME HONDAS OF THIS YEAR/M…
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1997 HONDA ACCORD COUPE, 2.2L, DX TRIM IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. FIANCE' AND HER DAUGHTER WERE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WHEN THE ENGINE JUST "DIED", NO POWER, NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATIONS, ETC. VEHICLE DID/DOES RESTART AT THIS TIME. THIS IS IDENTICAL TO THE HONDA CAMPAIGN RECALL #02V120000 WHICH COVERS SOME HONDAS OF THIS YEAR/MODEL. I CONTACTED HONDA AND WAS BASICALLY BLOWN OFF... "SORRY, THIS RECALL DOESN'T COVER YOUR PARTICULAR VEHICLE'S VIN." FAILURE OCCURS FREQUENTLY, AT RANDOM, NO PARTICULAR INDICATORS THAT IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. CONSEQUENCES COULD BE FATAL IF THIS FAULT OCCURRED IN AN INTERSECTION, WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE, ETC. BECAUSE HONDA WOULD NOT MAKE SAFE THEIR FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH, I REPLACED THE SWITCH AT MY EXPENSE AT APPROXIMATELY $60/PART, PLUS MY TIME. HONDA CHARGES $211 TO REPAIR THIS, SO THE "TOTAL" REPAIR COST WITH MY PARTS/LABOR IS $211. I DID NOT SAVE THE PART UNFORTUNATELY, NOT THINKING OF NOTIFYING YOU UNTIL TOO LATE. THE FINAL "DYING" THAT OCCURRED ON 9/18/2010 WAS THE LAST STRAW. IT WOULD BE GREAT IF OTHERS SUFFERING FROM THIS OBVIOUS FAULT COULD BE REIMBURSED OR PREVENTED FROM HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR
1997 HONDA ACCORD. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS NOT APART OF 2002 RECALL BUT HAS A PROBLEM CONCERNING THE IGNITION SWITCH *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE KEY WOULD COME OUT OF THE IGNITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE OR NEUTRAL. ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE SLIGHTLY ROLLED IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE…
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1997 HONDA ACCORD. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS NOT APART OF 2002 RECALL BUT HAS A PROBLEM CONCERNING THE IGNITION SWITCH *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE KEY WOULD COME OUT OF THE IGNITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE OR NEUTRAL. ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE SLIGHTLY ROLLED IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WAS NOT MUCH OF AN INCLINE, SO NEITHER VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE DEALER REPLACED A FAULTY IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY. NO WARNING LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE. ON OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART IMMEDIATELY AND OTHER TIMES, IT WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT HIS VIN WA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY. NO WARNING LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE. ON OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART IMMEDIATELY AND OTHER TIMES, IT WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY RECALLS AND HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER ADVISED HAVING A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED AND ALSO REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ALSO ADVISED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL AND HE WOULD BE LIABLE FOR ANY REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,500.
I HAVE NOTED THAT I CAN REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION OF MY 1997 HONDA ACCORD WITHOUT BEING IN PARK. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT THE DRIVER TURN OFF THE ENGINE, REMOVE THE KEY (NOT IN PARK), LEAVE THE CAR AND THE CAR CAN THEN ROLL AWAY. THIS IS THE SAME SAFETY DEFECT THAT IS NOW BEING RECALLED ON THE 2003 HONDA. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THE KEYS BECAME LODGED IN THE IGNITION AND WOULD NOT RELEASE UNLESS THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1997 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK GEAR THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 10V364000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1997 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK GEAR THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 10V364000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 10/21/10. *LJ UPDATED 10/26/10*JB
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.
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