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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 →

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 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 1999
Visibility

EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH REARVIEW MIRROR; WHENEVER MIRROR IS ADJUSTED FROM DAY TO NIGHT AND RETURNED BACK TO DAY, THE WHOLE MIRROR HAS TO BE READJUSTED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED MIRROR ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THIS CAN LEAD TO A VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO ADJUSTING MIRROR. ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MAT…

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EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH REARVIEW MIRROR; WHENEVER MIRROR IS ADJUSTED FROM DAY TO NIGHT AND RETURNED BACK TO DAY, THE WHOLE MIRROR HAS TO BE READJUSTED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED MIRROR ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THIS CAN LEAD TO A VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO ADJUSTING MIRROR. ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #851296

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 1999
Air BagsCrash

WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH CONSUMER HAD A HEAD-ON COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #851257

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

IGNITER PROBLEM, VEHICLE IS ISSUED EMISSION WARRANTY EXTENSION DUE TO PROBLEM. YH

NHTSA ODI #549114

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 1999
Visibility

I HAD THIS PROBLEM FIXED TWICE IN TWO YEARS..AT MY EXPENCE(OVER $500)

NHTSA ODI #713177

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BOTH FRONT DISC WHEELS HAVE WARPED THREE TIMES IN 60,000 MILES. MY CAR HAS BEEN PRIMARILY A COMMUTER AUTO, TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY; THEREFORE, I SELDOM USE MY BRAKES FOR THE NUMBER OF MILES ON MY CAR. DEALER HAS FIXED MY BRAKES TWICE.

NHTSA ODI #712665

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Unknown Or Other

ENGINE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON.

NHTSA ODI #609727

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Structure

WEATHER STRIP, MOLDING DEFORMED.

NHTSA ODI #609608

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 1999
Equipment

THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE HAD NOTICED THAT THE OUTPUT OF THE AIR CONDITIONER HAD BEEN DIMINISHING OVER SEVERAL WEEKS. THEN ONE DAY, A LOUD AND RATTLING SOUND CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON. SEVERAL PEOPLE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD BRIEFLY FOR THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE WITH NO SUCCESS. LATER IN THE DAY THE OWN…

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THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE HAD NOTICED THAT THE OUTPUT OF THE AIR CONDITIONER HAD BEEN DIMINISHING OVER SEVERAL WEEKS. THEN ONE DAY, A LOUD AND RATTLING SOUND CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON. SEVERAL PEOPLE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD BRIEFLY FOR THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE WITH NO SUCCESS. LATER IN THE DAY THE OWNER OF THE CAR PARKED IT IN HIS GARAGE AND BEGIN TO INVERSTIGATE THE PROBLEM. WITH THE MOTOR ON AND THE HOOD UP, THE OWNER COULD SEE NO CLEAR SOURCE OF THE NOISE. HE RETURNED TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT AT WHICH TIME A LOUD EXPLOSION OCCURED ACCOMPANIED BY A CLOUD OF REFRIGERANT. A LATER INVESTIGATION REVEALED A LARGE OPENING IN THE FORWARD FACE OF THE AIR COMPRESSOR THAT HAD BEEN THE RESULT OF AN EXPLOSION. ONE LARGE PIECE REMAINED IN THE CAVITY WHILE SEVERAL OTHER PIECES WERE STREWN ON THE FLOOR. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO OBTAINED PERMISSION TO REPLACE THE A/C SYSTEM UNDER WARRANTY. THE POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS INJURY TO ANYONE PEERING UNDER THE HOOD AT THE TIME OF THIS EXPLOSION IS OBVIOUS. THE DEALER WAS QUICK TO HAVE THE SYSTEM REPLACED WITH NO DELAYS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #710829

Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES PULSATE,.WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES, AND CONSUMER GETS LESS THAN IDEAL BRAKING. DEALER HAS DONE VARIOUS THINGS TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM, INCLUDING TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF ALL HARDWARE. THERE CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM EVERY 4,000 MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #845920

Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline

GAS TANK IS LEAKING CAUSING FUMES WHICH RESULTS IN DISCOMFORT TO PASSENGERS IN VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #844260

Official recalls

2

20V026000 · 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

1

SQ98012 · 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.

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