IllustrationERRATIC 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
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
What owners actually said
373 reportsSRS 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
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…
Read full complaint
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
PE00 020; CONSUME RWAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDERS AND NOTICED THAT REAR DRIVERSIDE TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. FIRESTONE TIRE, 18565R14. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO REPORT. *AK
AFTER GETTING 4 INCHES OF WATER IN THE TRUNK OF MY CAR AND 2 INCHES AT FRONT, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPORTED THAT THE SEALS WERE "OLD" AND THEY NEEDED TO CHANGE THEM. FOR THE REAR ONES THEY CHARGED ME $128 TO GET THEM REPLACE. THEN THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME AROUND $800 TO REPLACE THE FRONT ONES. I COMPLAINT…
Read full complaint
AFTER GETTING 4 INCHES OF WATER IN THE TRUNK OF MY CAR AND 2 INCHES AT FRONT, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPORTED THAT THE SEALS WERE "OLD" AND THEY NEEDED TO CHANGE THEM. FOR THE REAR ONES THEY CHARGED ME $128 TO GET THEM REPLACE. THEN THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME AROUND $800 TO REPLACE THE FRONT ONES. I COMPLAINT AND ASKED THEM TO CONTACT THE REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER OF HONDA TO HAVE HONDA COVER THE REPAIR SINCE IT WAS SUCH A WEIRD SITUATION. SEALS DON'T GET OLD IN A 4 YEAR OLD CAR. *AK
SRS LIGHTS STAYS ON. CJ
AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND WON'T GO OFF. THIS MEANS THAT AIRBAG WON'T DEPLOY. TOOK TO VEHICLE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THERE WOULD BE A CHARGE. CONSUEMR FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING 45MPH CONSUMER BROADSIDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK
SRS LIGHT STAYS ON INDICATING A DEFECT WITHIN AIRBAG SYSTEM EVEN THOUGH IT IS NEVER BEEN USED OR DEPLOYED, POSSIBLY CAUSED BY COMPUTER WHICH COULD RESULT IN INOPERATIVE AIRBAGS. *AK *SLC
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, DEALER SAID THE AIR BAG SYSTEM CONTROL UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NOT SAFELY DEPLOY IN CAS OF AN ACCIDENT.
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.