IllustrationI RECEIVED A NEW MOTOR FOR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW, BUT THAT SEEMS TO BE CAUSING ME PROBLEMS AGAIN. *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
Visibility complaints
33 reportsDRIVER'S SIDEAND PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOWS WERE GETTING STUCK DOWN DUE TO WINDOW REGULATOR FAILURE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED BOTH WINDOWS. *AK
FIRST THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP ALL THE WAY AND IT SEEMED TO OFF OF IT'S TRACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURED. I NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM AND WAS CHARGED ALMOST THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED. TWO MONTHS LATER THE SAME THIG HAPPENED TO THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR …
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FIRST THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP ALL THE WAY AND IT SEEMED TO OFF OF IT'S TRACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURED. I NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM AND WAS CHARGED ALMOST THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED. TWO MONTHS LATER THE SAME THIG HAPPENED TO THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND I HAVE HAD A CAR MECHANIC ROLL THE WINDOW UP FOR ME BUT IT IS NOT FIXED.I ALSO KNOW OF ANOTHER PERSON WHO PURCHASED A 1997 HONDA CIVIC FROMA DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP AND HIS DRIVER SIDE WINDOW HAS DONE THE SAME THING. I COULD NOT FIND A RECALL ON THIS MODEL FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK
DRIVER WINDOW KEEPS JUMPING OFF TRACK. *AK
VEHICLE WOULD NOT START IN NOVEMBER OF 2000. DEALERSHIP TESTED BATTERY TO SEE IF THIS WAS CAUSE. MECHANIC REPLACED BATTERY, AND VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT START. MECHANICS THEN REPLACED ENTIRE ALTERNATOR, AND THIS CORRECTED DEFECT. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000 MILES ON ALTERNATOR WHEN THIS OCCURRED. *AK RUN CHANNEL A…
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VEHICLE WOULD NOT START IN NOVEMBER OF 2000. DEALERSHIP TESTED BATTERY TO SEE IF THIS WAS CAUSE. MECHANIC REPLACED BATTERY, AND VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT START. MECHANICS THEN REPLACED ENTIRE ALTERNATOR, AND THIS CORRECTED DEFECT. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000 MILES ON ALTERNATOR WHEN THIS OCCURRED. *AK RUN CHANNEL AND REGULATOR FOR THE POWER WINDOW WAS REPLACED. HOOD RELEASE SNAPPED OFF WHEN CONSUMER PULLED IT. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRMENT OF THE ALTERNATOR. *SLC
WINDOWS ON BOTH SIDES CONTINUE TO GET OFF TRACK AND WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW KEPT JUMPING OFF THE TRACK INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER'S SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. CURRENTLY INFORMED THAT TRACK NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO WEAR. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
1) FRONT BRAKE DISCS WARPED AFTER ONLY 34,000 MILES. SHUDDERING FELT UPON BRAKING. CAREFUL DRIVER DID NOT ABUSE BRAKES, AND THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH ALLOY WHEELS ALLOWING PLENTY OF COOLING AIRFLOW TO BRAKE DISCS. BRAKE DISCS ARE OF POOR QUALITY AND WARP T
POWER WINDOW BROKE
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.