IllustrationCONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND HEARD A THUMPING NOISE, AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. SHE WAS ABLE TO USE THE HAND BRAKE TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN AND GO OVER TO THE SIDE. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED / REPAIRED AND REPLACED BRAKE BOOSTER. *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 reportsVEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES TO 4000 TO 5000 RPMS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE THAN HAS TO BE PUT IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHEN DRIVING THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, AND CONSUMER HAD A FUSE REPLACED AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS STILL COMING ON. *AK
AT 24,000 MILES THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE PREMATURLEY WORN OUT, AND THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED OR CUT DUE TO PULSATION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
HEADLAMPS/DASHLIGHT VOLTAGE FLUCTUATES.
WINDOWS HAVE COME OFF TRACK, NOISY CLUTCH, BRAKES AND ENGINE. VEHICLE ALSO HAS A RATTLING AND BUZZING SOUND WHEN RUNNING.
WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, THE ACCELERATOR STUCK FLAT TO THE FLOOR CAUSING VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE; THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND.
EXPERIENCED REPETITIVE POWER SURGES WHILE ACCELERATING IN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS BETWEEN 2400 AND 4000 RPM.
BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARP AND CONTINUALLY NEED REPLACING.
HORN BUTTON PLACEMENT DESIGN IS POOR, DUE TO DELAY IN LOCATING BUTTON TWO ACCIDENTS OCCURRED.
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.