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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.

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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

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

1 reports
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5,000 miles · Mar 5, 2015
EngineFuel/propulsion System

DATE AND MILEAGE ARE APPROXIMATE. THIS WAS MY WIFE'S CAR WHICH I VERY SELDOM DROVE. NOT LONG AFTER THE CAR WAS NEW, I DROVE IT AND THE FOLLOWING HAPPENED (THE DATE I'VE LISTED IS ONLY APPROXIMATE): I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 20MPH AND HAD TO STOP FOR A RED LIGHT. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR AND STEPPED ON THE BR…

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DATE AND MILEAGE ARE APPROXIMATE. THIS WAS MY WIFE'S CAR WHICH I VERY SELDOM DROVE. NOT LONG AFTER THE CAR WAS NEW, I DROVE IT AND THE FOLLOWING HAPPENED (THE DATE I'VE LISTED IS ONLY APPROXIMATE): I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 20MPH AND HAD TO STOP FOR A RED LIGHT. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ENGINE RPM DID NOT SLOW DOWN TO IDLE, AND TRIED TO KEEP MOVING THE CAR FORWARD. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION TO KEEP FROM HAVING A CRASH. THIS IS NOT AN ACCELERATOR PEDAL PROBLEM AS I SHALL EXPLAIN LATER. I CALLED THE HONDA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN TO BRING THE CAR IN. I TOLD MY WIFE WHAT TO DO IF IT HAPPENED TO HER. EITHER IT NEVER HAPPENED TO HER OR IT DID AND SHE NEVER TOLD ME. MY WIFE DIED AT THE END OF JANUARY 2015. SINCE THEN, I HAVE SOMETIMES DRIVEN HER CIVIC. ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS AGO THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED: I HAD DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES AND HAD TO STOP. THE ENGINE RPM DID NOT SLOW! I IMMEDIATELY PUT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE RPM IMMEDIATELY SLOWED TO IDLE. THIS IS NOT A STUCK ACCELERATOR PROBLEM BECAUSE, IF IT WERE, THE ENGINE RPM WOULD HAVE INCREASED WHEN I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. IT IS NOT A BRAKE PROBLEM UNLESS THE BRAKES ARE SOMEHOW PHYSICALLY OR ELECTRONICALLY CONNECTED TO THE ENGINE RPM. YESTERDAY, MARCH 4, 2015, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED TWICE AGAIN AFTER I HAD DRIVEN ONLY ABOUT 3 BLOCKS. IN BOTH CASES I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED HONDA USA ABOUT THIS SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. NOTE: I HAVE SPENT ALMOST ALL OF MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE IN THE AREA OF SAFETY ANALYSIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10692288

Official recalls

2

20V026000 · 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

1

SQ98012 · 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.

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