IllustrationACCELERATOR PEDAL FEELS ROUGH AND NOTCHY WHEN PRESSED. UNABLE TO ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY.*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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
38 reportsTHROTTLE CABLE STICKS AT LOW SPEEDS - WHEN PRESSED, IT "SNAPS LOSE" GOING TO 1/2 THROTTLE, JERKING CAR FORWARD, SNAPPING NECKS OF DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. IS A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM - COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BY SLAMMING VEHICLE INTO BACK OF LEAD VEHICLE. REF: CAMPAIGN ID 99I002000. HONDA DEALER SAYS THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY OR PR…
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THROTTLE CABLE STICKS AT LOW SPEEDS - WHEN PRESSED, IT "SNAPS LOSE" GOING TO 1/2 THROTTLE, JERKING CAR FORWARD, SNAPPING NECKS OF DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. IS A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM - COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BY SLAMMING VEHICLE INTO BACK OF LEAD VEHICLE. REF: CAMPAIGN ID 99I002000. HONDA DEALER SAYS THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY OR PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN ITEM.*AK
WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS SET IT SPEEDS UP TO SPEED BEFORE ENGAGING. CRUISE CONTROL ON THIS MODEL IS SUPPOSE TO WORK THIS WAY. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE'S SPEED DROPS VERY QUICKLY BETWEEN FIVE AND SEVEN MPH CAUSING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN HER VEHICLE AND THE ONE BEHIND TO BE VERY CLOSE, DEALER STATES THERE IS NOTHING TH…
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WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS SET IT SPEEDS UP TO SPEED BEFORE ENGAGING. CRUISE CONTROL ON THIS MODEL IS SUPPOSE TO WORK THIS WAY. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE'S SPEED DROPS VERY QUICKLY BETWEEN FIVE AND SEVEN MPH CAUSING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN HER VEHICLE AND THE ONE BEHIND TO BE VERY CLOSE, DEALER STATES THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. *SLC
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS APPLIED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
WHEN CAR COMES TO STOP SIGN OR LIGHT, IN IDEL/DRIVE, ENGINE SURGES. CAR HAS TO BE PUT IN NEUTRAL TO STOP SURGING. WHEN SHIFTED BACK TO DRIVE, CAR LEAPS FORWARD. GRACE HONDA HAS BEEN ASKED REPEATED OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS TO INVESTIGATE AND REPAIR. THEY RESPOND BY SAYING THEY CANNOT DEMONSTRATE CONDITION ON TEST DRIVE AND HAVE NE…
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WHEN CAR COMES TO STOP SIGN OR LIGHT, IN IDEL/DRIVE, ENGINE SURGES. CAR HAS TO BE PUT IN NEUTRAL TO STOP SURGING. WHEN SHIFTED BACK TO DRIVE, CAR LEAPS FORWARD. GRACE HONDA HAS BEEN ASKED REPEATED OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS TO INVESTIGATE AND REPAIR. THEY RESPOND BY SAYING THEY CANNOT DEMONSTRATE CONDITION ON TEST DRIVE AND HAVE NEVER HEARD OF IT (STRANGE, AS YOU HAVE REPORTS ON YOUR COMPLAINTS SITE). THEY ARE DISMISSIVE OF MY CONCERNS THAT THIS IS AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. I AM CURRENTLY IN CORRESPONDENCE ABOUT THIS WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. IN TORRANCE.*AK
CONSUMERS VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN 99I-002 TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE CABLE WHICH CAUSES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO FEEL ROUGH, WHEN CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER FOR REPAIR HE WAS DENIED SERVICES. NLM
WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE OVER THE CURB. THE CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING HITTING A FENCE AND A TREE BEFORE RETURNING TO THE PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE STOPPED ONLY WHEN EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED. DURING THE …
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WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE OVER THE CURB. THE CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING HITTING A FENCE AND A TREE BEFORE RETURNING TO THE PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE STOPPED ONLY WHEN EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED. DURING THE INCIDENT ALL SYSTEMS IN THE CAR APPEARED TO BE INEFFECTIVE INCLUDING BRAKING SYSTEMS. THE BEST ANALOGY IS TO THAT OF AN AMUSEMENT PARK RIDE. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS FOUND WITH THE CAR AFTERWARDS. THE CAR WAS RECALLED PREVIOUSLY FOR FLOOR MAT/ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS AND WAS FIXED ACCORDING TO HONDA'S SPECIFICATIONS. THIS ACCIDENT OCCURED WELL AFTER THESE ALTERATIONS WERE MADE.*AK
EACH TIME I AM STOPPED AND THE CAR IS IN DRIVE THE IDLE FLUCTUATES RAPIDLY BETWEEN 0 AND 1000 RPM. WHEN THE GAS IS PRESSED THE CAR WILL JERK INTO DRIVE AND WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY ACCELERATOR STUCK WHEN DEPRESSED IMMEDIATELY AFTER A STOP. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE'S MAKE/ MODEL; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK
WHILE DRIVIN VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCLERATED AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN VEHICLE. OCCUPANT HAD TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. ONLY ONE OCCURRENCE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *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.