IllustrationSRS (AIRBAG) LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON.HIS HAPPENED ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO DURING NORMAL USE. I NEED TO GET THIS FIXED.*AK
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 reportsHONDA CIVIC EX - SRS LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON.
THE SRS LIGHT KEEPS ON! CHECKED 1 TIME AND GOT CLEARED OFF BY HONDA DEALER. 10 TEN DAYS LATER, THE LIGHT WAS BACK ON. CHECK IT AGAIN AND LIGHT AGAIN? 70 BUCKS FOR CHECKING EVERY TIME. WHAT IS A JUCK! NOW I DROVE WITHOUT THE AIR BAG WORKING!*AK
VEHICLE HAS A SUBTLE LIGHT THAT WILL NOT GO OFF. IT'S AN INDICATION THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. *AK *LA
AIR BAG INDICATIOR KEPT ON ALL THE TIME. *AK
WHILE DRIVING HIT A DEER, RAN OFF A SIX FOOT EMBANKMENT, AND HIT TWO BRICK WALLS. UPON IMPACT, FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL THE END OF THE CRASH. DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE CHEST AND KNEE, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. *AK
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. *PH THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG HAD APPARENTLY DEPLOYED PRIOR TO THE CONSUMER OWNING THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD THE CONSUMER TO CONTACT NHTSA TO OBTAIN PERMISSION TO HAVE THE AIR BAGS TURNED OFF. *NM
AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATOR FLASHED, THEN IT STAYED ON THE DASHBOARD. DEALER INDICATED IT WILL COST $75.00 TO DIAGNOSE WHAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE SRS LIGHT WAS ON AFTER THE ACCIENT JBUT THE MANUFACUTRE REFUSED TO INSPECT THE AIR BAG. THEY JUST INDICATED BY OBSERVATION THAT THE WAY THE VEHCILE WAS HIT THAT IT DIDN'T IMPACT THE SENSOR TO TRIGGER THE AIR…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE SRS LIGHT WAS ON AFTER THE ACCIENT JBUT THE MANUFACUTRE REFUSED TO INSPECT THE AIR BAG. THEY JUST INDICATED BY OBSERVATION THAT THE WAY THE VEHCILE WAS HIT THAT IT DIDN'T IMPACT THE SENSOR TO TRIGGER THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN ANOTHER HEAD ON COLLISION A YEAR LATER. UPON IMPACT THE WINDSHIELD CRACK AND THE INTERIROR REAR VIEW MIRROW DETACHED. ALSO SEVERAL ENGINE COMPONENTS WERE MANGALED UPON IMPACT. THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED.*AK
SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE AIR BAGS. *AK
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.