IllustrationWHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE TURNED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF VEHICLE NEEDED TO VE REPLACED.*JB
1997 Honda Civic
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Civic years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Honda Civic are substantially higher than the model-year median of 183.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Civic 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
Limited mileage data: 93 of 373 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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 140 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
67 crash reports2 fire reports42 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
140 reportsWHILE STOPPING AT STOP SIGN BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR REASON. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED ANTI-FREEZE DRIPPED ON SENSOR, AND MADE AIRBAG DEPLOY. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK
MY SON SWERVED TO MISS A DEER, RAN OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD ON, AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AFTER THE CAR WAS INSPECTED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY WRECKED AND THE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED, HOWEVER, THE AIRBAGS WERE NOT PROPERLY REINS…
Read full complaint
MY SON SWERVED TO MISS A DEER, RAN OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD ON, AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AFTER THE CAR WAS INSPECTED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY WRECKED AND THE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED, HOWEVER, THE AIRBAGS WERE NOT PROPERLY REINSTALLED AFTER THE ACCIDENT. WE PURCHASED THE CAR USED FROM HARRISONBURG HONDA AND THE SALESMAN TOLD US THE CAR HAD NEVER BEEN WRECKED.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF CONSUMERS VEHICLE RESULTING IN A FRONT END CRASH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *NOTE: 2 INJURIES WERE RELATED TO THIS INCIDENT, MUSCLES PULLED.*AK *JB
AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING AUTO COLLISON, INJURIES TO CONSUMERS. *JB
SRS LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT PROBLEM; HOWEVER, TWO WEEKS LATER PROBLEM REOCCURRED.*AK
CONSUMER WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISON WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURIES (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). *JB
ERRATIC OPERATION OF AIR BAG DEPOYMENT WHEN VEHICLE BUMPED A CURVE (HARD ENOUGH TO BEND THE FRONT RIM). PASSENGER'S SIDE DEPOYED PROPERLY, BUT DRIVER'S SIDE CAME OUT AND JUST HUNG DOWN STEERING WHEEL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
SRS LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER SAYS BAD CONTROLLER FOR AIRBAG SYSTEM AND IS NOT COVERED BY ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY, ESTIMATE TO REPAIR $350. THIS IS A SAFETY COMPONENENT OF THE VEHICLE. LIKE A SEATBELT IT SHOULD WORK AS LONG AS THE CAR RUNS. *AK
SRS LIGHTS STAYS ON. CJ
Official recalls
220V026000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Jan 17, 2020
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999 Isuzu Oasis vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138 or Isuzu customer service at 1-800-255-6727.
97V193000 · Air Bags:frontal
Nov 1, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULES HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED. THE CLOTH FLAPS COVERING THE FOLDED AIR BAG MAY HAVE BEEN TUCKED IN TOO FAR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD PREVENT PROPER DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. IN A CRASH, AN IMPROPER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE FRONT PASSENGER'S AIR BAG MODULE TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM FROM OCCURRING.
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
1SQ98012 · Condenser Fan Motor Inoperative
Opened Jun 30, 1998 · Closed Nov 2, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner
SEE RESUME FOR DETAILS.