IllustrationCONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 30 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *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 reports1) 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
FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE WOULD NOT STAY LATCHED, LEAVING OCCUPANT WITHOUT ANY RESTRAINT IF INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE CRASH. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
TREAD SEPARATED FROM BODY OF TIRE( DOT NUMBER: W27J TIRE SIZE: P185/65R14 )
I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON I95 AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND TUNED OFF AT EXIT 74 WENT NORTH AT 35 MILES PER HOUR AND TIRE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT AFTER DRIVING ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF. NO DAMAGE TO CAR. CHANGED TIRE MYSELF. NATIONAL TIRE CO 252 FLANDERS ROAD, NIANTIC, CONNECTICUT. WAS TWO MILES SOUTH ON SAME ROADD( DOT NUMBER: W27J, MNB TIRE SIZE…
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I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON I95 AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND TUNED OFF AT EXIT 74 WENT NORTH AT 35 MILES PER HOUR AND TIRE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT AFTER DRIVING ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF. NO DAMAGE TO CAR. CHANGED TIRE MYSELF. NATIONAL TIRE CO 252 FLANDERS ROAD, NIANTIC, CONNECTICUT. WAS TWO MILES SOUTH ON SAME ROADD( DOT NUMBER: W27J, MNB TIRE SIZE: FR 680,185 )
WHILE DRIVING ON FL I-95 NEAR BOCA RATON, TREAD ON LEFT FRONT TIRE SEPARATED FROM TIRE DOWN TO THE CASING. FIRESTONE REFUSES TO REIMBURSE FOR A NEW TIRE BECAUSE IT IS NOT ON THE DESIGNATED RECALL. WHEN THE HONDA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT CHECKED THE OTHER 3 TIRES THEY WERE ALL SHOWING SIGNS OF IMPENDING TREAD SEPARATION.( DOT …
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WHILE DRIVING ON FL I-95 NEAR BOCA RATON, TREAD ON LEFT FRONT TIRE SEPARATED FROM TIRE DOWN TO THE CASING. FIRESTONE REFUSES TO REIMBURSE FOR A NEW TIRE BECAUSE IT IS NOT ON THE DESIGNATED RECALL. WHEN THE HONDA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT CHECKED THE OTHER 3 TIRES THEY WERE ALL SHOWING SIGNS OF IMPENDING TREAD SEPARATION.( DOT NUMBER: 200 TIRE SIZE: P185/65-R1 )
FAILED INSPECTION @ 21,000 MILES BALD TREADS UNSAFE- SUPPOSE TO BE A 50,000 MILE TIRE( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 1856514 )
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
DEALER DIDNOT DISCLOSE ACCIDENT DAMAGE PRIOR TO SAIL MAY HAVE CAUSED AIR BAG FAILURE BY IMPROPER REPAIR FROM MAJOR ACCDENT BEFORE MY PURCHASE
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.