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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
38,500 miles · Jan 11, 2005
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

IN 1987 I PURCHASED A NEW HONDA ACCORD. ABOUT 7-1/2 YEARS LATER THIS WHAT OCCURRED. I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AT A RAPID PACE AND IT HIT A BUILDING. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING AND THE CAR. NO ONE WAS INJURED. I DROVE THE CAR 3 YEARS AFTER THAT. THEN I GAVE THE CAR TO MY S…

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IN 1987 I PURCHASED A NEW HONDA ACCORD. ABOUT 7-1/2 YEARS LATER THIS WHAT OCCURRED. I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AT A RAPID PACE AND IT HIT A BUILDING. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING AND THE CAR. NO ONE WAS INJURED. I DROVE THE CAR 3 YEARS AFTER THAT. THEN I GAVE THE CAR TO MY SON AND IN ABOUT 1999 THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIM WITH THE 1987 HONDA. IN 1997 I BOUGHT A HONDA CIVIC (NO BELLS OR WHISTLES). ABOUT 7-1/2 YEARS LATER THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED. I WAS PARKING THE CAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SURGED FORWARD AT AN UNCONTROLLABLE SPEED THE SAME AS IT DID IN THE 1987 HONDA ACCORD. I HIT THE SIDE OF A BUILDING, TURNED THE WHEEL TO AVOID GOINIG THROUGH THE WINDOWS OF THE BUILDING, HIT ANOTHER CAR, THEN FINALLY THE CAR SLOWED DOWN SOME AND I PUT THE CAR IN PARK. SINCE THIS HAS HAPPED TO ME TWO TIMES I AM PETRIFIED TO DRIVE MY CAR AGAIN. NO ONE WAS INJURED. PLEASE DO NOT THINK I STEPPED ON GAS.THIS IS RIDICULOUS, WHEN PARKING A CAR YOU SLOW DOWN AND USE THE BRAKE. AS THIS CAR WAS SURGING FORWARD, I HAD MY BRAKE TO THE FLOOR. I COULD NOT STOP WHAT WAS HAPPENING. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS SITUATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I SEARCHED THE NHTS - OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION - I FOUND 10 INCIDENTS OF THIS HAPPENING WITH THE 1987 HONDA ACCORD. WHAT IS TO SAY THIS CAN ALSO BE TRUE OF THE 1997 HONDA CIVIC. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10106135

38,500 miles · Jan 7, 2005
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

IN 1987 I PURCHASED A NEW HONDA ACCORD. SEVEN AND 1/2 YEARS LATER THIS IS WHAT OCCURRED. I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AT A RAPID PACE AND IT HIT A BUILDING. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING AND THE CAR. NO ONE WAS INJURED. I DROVE THE CAR 3 YEARS AFTER THAT. THEN I GAVE THE CAR TO…

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IN 1987 I PURCHASED A NEW HONDA ACCORD. SEVEN AND 1/2 YEARS LATER THIS IS WHAT OCCURRED. I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AT A RAPID PACE AND IT HIT A BUILDING. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING AND THE CAR. NO ONE WAS INJURED. I DROVE THE CAR 3 YEARS AFTER THAT. THEN I GAVE THE CAR TO MY SON AND IN 1999 THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIM WITH THE SAME CAR. IN 1997 I BOUGHT A HONDA CIVIC (NO BELLS OR WHISTLES). SEVEN AND HALF YEARS LATER THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED. I WAS PARKING THE CAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SURGED FORWARD LIKE THE LAST TIME. I HIT THE SIDE OF A BUILDING, TURNED THE WHEEL TO AVOID GOING THROUGH THE WINDOWS OF THE BUILDING, HIT ANOTHER CAR, THEN FINALLY THE CAR SLOWED DOWN, AND I PUT THE CAR IN PARK. SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWO TIMES I AM PETRIFIED TO DRIVE MY CAR AGAIN. NO ONE WAS INJURED, THANK GOODNESS. PLEASE DO NOT THINK I STEPPED ON THE GAS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, WHEN PARKING A CAR YOU SLOW DOWN AND PUT ON YOUR BRAKE. AS THIS CAR WAS SURGING FORWARD, I HAD MY BRAKE TO THE FLOOR. I COULD NOT STOP WHAT WAS HAPPENING. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS SITUATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10105920

36,060 miles · Dec 7, 2004
Tires

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, WITH THE DRIVER ONLY, VEHICLE COMMENCED TO VIBRATE/SHAKE FROM THE BACK. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE MAIN FREEWAY, AND NOTICED THAT RIGHT REAR TIRE SHOWED THAT TREAD WAS COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL. AFTER MARKET TIRES INSTALLED AT 36,060 MILES, TIRE SIZE P185/65R14, DOT# AC7…

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WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, WITH THE DRIVER ONLY, VEHICLE COMMENCED TO VIBRATE/SHAKE FROM THE BACK. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE MAIN FREEWAY, AND NOTICED THAT RIGHT REAR TIRE SHOWED THAT TREAD WAS COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL. AFTER MARKET TIRES INSTALLED AT 36,060 MILES, TIRE SIZE P185/65R14, DOT# AC763JD2500. THE TIRE WAS MOUNTED ON A HONDA CIVIC 1997 VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS THE TIRE AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS, AND THE TIRE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10103279

Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2004
Visibility

BOTH WINDOWS DO NOT OPEN ALL THE WAY. IN 2000 DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW CAME OFF THE RUBBER TRACK. REPLACED CHANNEL AND REGULATOR IN 2000. 11/18/04 DRIVER SIDE WINDOW CAME OFF THE RUBBER TRACK AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10100233

118,070 miles · Oct 27, 2004
Air Bags

IN DECEMBER 2002, WE REPLACED THE AIR BAG SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE IN OUR 1997 AFTER THE SRS WARNING SYSTEM LIGHT ACTIVATED AND THE COMPUTER CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. LESS THAN TWO YEARS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED (AUGUST 2004), AND AMERICAN HONDA IS REFUSING TO REPLACE THE PART ($400+) BECAUSE THE ONE-YEAR WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED…

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IN DECEMBER 2002, WE REPLACED THE AIR BAG SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE IN OUR 1997 AFTER THE SRS WARNING SYSTEM LIGHT ACTIVATED AND THE COMPUTER CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. LESS THAN TWO YEARS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED (AUGUST 2004), AND AMERICAN HONDA IS REFUSING TO REPLACE THE PART ($400+) BECAUSE THE ONE-YEAR WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. IT TOOK NEARLY 95,000 MILES FOR THE FIRST UNIT TO FAIL, AND LESS THAN 20,000 FOR THE SECOND ONE TO FAIL. THIS IS MY THIRD AND, WILL BE MY LAST, HONDA.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10096475

68,069 miles · Oct 15, 2004
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeat BeltsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STRUCK A POT HOLE, AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. HOWEVER, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK, AND PASSENGER STRUCK HIS FACE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT OPEN AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ON. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10092582

136,647 miles · Oct 5, 2004
Tires

ON 10/2/2003 I PURCHASED FOUR DUNLOP G/T QUALIFIER TIRES SIZE P205/40R-16 FROM DISCOUNT TIRE, SEE INVOICE ENCLOSED. ON 9/27/2004 I WAS HAVING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE DONE ON MY CAR AT RIGHT HONDA SCOTTSDALE ARIZONA WHEN THE FOLLOWING WAS DISCOVERED. THREE OUT OF THE FOUR TIRES HAD CRACKING ON THE INSIDE BEAD WHICH IF NOT CAUG…

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ON 10/2/2003 I PURCHASED FOUR DUNLOP G/T QUALIFIER TIRES SIZE P205/40R-16 FROM DISCOUNT TIRE, SEE INVOICE ENCLOSED. ON 9/27/2004 I WAS HAVING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE DONE ON MY CAR AT RIGHT HONDA SCOTTSDALE ARIZONA WHEN THE FOLLOWING WAS DISCOVERED. THREE OUT OF THE FOUR TIRES HAD CRACKING ON THE INSIDE BEAD WHICH IF NOT CAUGHT IN TIME COULD HAVE CAUSED A BLOW OUT. PLEASE LOOK AT THE RIGHT HONDA INVOICE UNDER TECH NOTES THAT WILL DOCUMENT WHAT I AM DESCRIBING. I HAVE TALKED TO DISCOUNT TIRE AND DUNLOP THEY PRORATED MY TIRES CHARGING ME $214.88 FOR NEW TIRES AND A DIFFERENT BRAND OF TIRE. I KEPT THE TIRES PROPERLY INFLATED ALIGNED ROTATED AND BALANCED AND HAVE ALL MY RECEIPTS SO I KNOW I DID EVERYTHING CORRECT ON MY END. MY MAIN CONCERN FOR WRITING TO THE CONSUMER INFORMATION AND COMPLAINTS DEPARTMENT IS THE FOLLOWING. THESE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. ALSO, MORE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THESE TIRES COULD UNKNOWINGLY BE AT RISK. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF YOUR FINDINGS, JEFFREY J. UDDO 6755 E. PHELPS RD. SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85254 480-699-9916 DISCOUNT TIRE CORPORATION 20225 N. SCOTTSDALE RD. SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA 85255 ATTENTION: CONSUMER AFFAIRS 480-606-6000 DUNLOP 1144 E. MARKET STREET AKRON, OHIO 44316 ATTENTION: CUSTOMER SERVICE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10093636

Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO THE FACT THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY O2 SENSOR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE IT WE NOTICED A CRACK IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE SHOP WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HONDA CIVICS. APPARENTLY THEY SEE THE MANIFOLDS START TO CRACK AROUND 110,000 MILES. THE COST W…

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MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO THE FACT THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY O2 SENSOR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE IT WE NOTICED A CRACK IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE SHOP WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HONDA CIVICS. APPARENTLY THEY SEE THE MANIFOLDS START TO CRACK AROUND 110,000 MILES. THE COST WAS NEARLY $700 TO REPLACE IT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10086743

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE CONSUMER HIT A GUARD RAIL. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO HIS CHEST. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10082082

Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2004
Air Bags

SRS (AIRBAG) LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON.HIS HAPPENED ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO DURING NORMAL USE. I NEED TO GET THIS FIXED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10080363

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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