IllustrationTHE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. DEALER HAS SET THE SENSOR PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED.*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 reportsINTERMITTENTLY 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
AIR BAG LIGHT SENSOR WAS REMAINING ON. VEHICLE HIT A DOG AT 50 MPH, AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT INFLATING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
BAD POWER WINDOW REGULATOR AND RUN CHANNEL PREVENTED WINDOWS FROM OPERATING CORRECTLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW AS WELL AS THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW.*AK
BRAKE ROTORS FAILED TWO TIME IN 20,000 MILES, FIRST REPAIR AT 9,000 MILES, ROTORS WARPED CAUSING EXTREME VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING. *MJS
THE FRONT ROTORS HAVE NOW TWICE FAILED IN 21,000 MILES, DUE TO EXCESSIVE WARPING. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED AT 9,000 MILES; THE SECOND BEGAN AT APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES AND BECAME INCREASINGLY MORE SEVERE. HONDA HAS PROVIDED NO COLORABLE EXPLANATION FOR WHY THIS WOULD OCCUR. WITH RESPECT TO DRIVING, THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER …
Read full complaint
THE FRONT ROTORS HAVE NOW TWICE FAILED IN 21,000 MILES, DUE TO EXCESSIVE WARPING. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED AT 9,000 MILES; THE SECOND BEGAN AT APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES AND BECAME INCREASINGLY MORE SEVERE. HONDA HAS PROVIDED NO COLORABLE EXPLANATION FOR WHY THIS WOULD OCCUR. WITH RESPECT TO DRIVING, THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER CLAIMS THAT THIS POSES NO SAFETY ISSUE. I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE. THE WARPING HAS RESULTED IN SEVERE SHIMMYING IN THE CAR (AND, AT SOME SPEEDS, A HARD AND SUDDEN PULL) UPON APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES, AFFECTING BOTH STEERING AND STOPPING, AND OVERALL HANDLING. DESPITE THE CAR'S RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE, THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER (SF HONDA) HAS DEEMED THIS TO BE A "REGULAR" WEAR AND TEAR ITEM, AND THUS ONLY MACHINED DOWN THE ROTORS TO RESOLVE THE MOST RECENT WARPING. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF (OR EXPERIENCED) SUCH ROTOR WARPING IN 15 YEARS OF DRIVING. I AM ALSO CONFIRMING BY LETTER (COPIED TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER) THE SUBSTANCE OF THIS QUESTIONNAIRE. I FURTHER NOTE THAT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN ISSUED WITH RESPECT TO THE 1997 CIVIC'S BRAKES. *AK
THE AIR BAG FALSLY DEPLOYED WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO CRASH INTO A UTILITY POLE. CONSUMER ESCAPED WITH ONLY A FEW BRUISES. NLM
INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING SECOND DEGREE BURNS NEAR WRIST, POSSIBLY DUE TO GUN POWDER IN THE AIRBAG. *AK
WHEN VEHICLE HIT A GUARDRAIL HEAD-ON THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED. VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. *AK *ML
APPARENT CRANKSHAFT/PULLEY BAD. UPON REMOVING PULLEY, BOLT, KEY AND CRANKSHAFT FOUND WORN, STRIPPED AND CHEWED UP. ALSO POSSIBLE TIMING GEAR PROBLEM.
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.