IllustrationWHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND ENGINE SHUTS DOWN INCLUDING THE DASH LIGHTS, CREATING A DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION.
1997 Honda CR-V
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Honda CR-V are lower than the model-year median of 400.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all CR-V 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: 25 of 108 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seats. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
31 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) AND 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) AND 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE LOCAL DEALER AUTONATION HONDA HOLLYWOOD (2400 N STATE RD 7, HOLLYWOOD, FL 33021) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
CAR WILL STOP SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ALL LIGHTS WILL COME ON POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT AND CAR WILL NOT RUN I WILL TURN IT OFF AND A FEW MINUTES LATER IT WILL START AGAIN USUALLY BUT THIS LAST TIME IT STOPPED AND WOULDNT START AGAIN IV HAD THE BATTERY ALTOGETHER AND STARTER CHECKED AT AUTO ZONE AND ALL ARE STRONG I…
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CAR WILL STOP SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ALL LIGHTS WILL COME ON POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT AND CAR WILL NOT RUN I WILL TURN IT OFF AND A FEW MINUTES LATER IT WILL START AGAIN USUALLY BUT THIS LAST TIME IT STOPPED AND WOULDNT START AGAIN IV HAD THE BATTERY ALTOGETHER AND STARTER CHECKED AT AUTO ZONE AND ALL ARE STRONG IV HAD THEM RUN A DEVICE ON IT TO SEE IF IT HAS ANY ERROR CODES AND IT HAS NON THEY SAID IT WAS THE FUEL FILTER AND IT WASNT IV CHANGED MY MAIN RELAY AND RAN FINE FOR 2 DAYS THEN IT STOPPED AGAIN WITH NO WARNING AND THAT'S WHEN IT WOULDNT START AGAIN ALL LIGHTS COME ON STEREO WORKS BUT CAR WONT TURN OVER
ENGINE DIED SUDDENLY AT HIGHWAY SPEED. AFTER PULLOVER OFF OF ROADWAY, THE VECHICLE WAS SUCCESSFULLY RESTARTED AND TRAVEL RESUMED.
IGNITION PROBLEMS
CAR STARTS AND RUNS AND SHUTS DOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND STARTS RIGHT BACK UP NO CODES HAS ALWAYS RESTARTED.
MY CR-V WILL STOP RUNNING SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. I FOUND THAT OTHER CR-V'S HAD A RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS WHAT MY CAR HAS.(A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS 200500 MILES IT HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND SERVICED REGULARLY AND IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. IT SEEMS THAT MY CAR HAV…
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MY CR-V WILL STOP RUNNING SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. I FOUND THAT OTHER CR-V'S HAD A RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS WHAT MY CAR HAS.(A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS 200500 MILES IT HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND SERVICED REGULARLY AND IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. IT SEEMS THAT MY CAR HAVING THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS OF THE SAME YEAR IGNITION SWITCH RECALLS SHOULD BE COVERED AS WELL. WHILE DRIVING ANYWHERE BETWEEN 30 AND 55 M.P.H. THE CAR STALLS BECAUSE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND IT STARTS RIGHT BACK UP. IT WILL KEEP DOING THE EXACT SAME THING ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK NOW. IT STARTED OUT ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH. *TR
MY 1997 HONDA CR-V IS CUTTING OFF 5 OR MORE TIMES A DAY, GOING DOWN THE FREE WAY,IN MID TURNS, WHILE SETTING STILL, IT IS A VERY HUGE CONCERN OF MINE FOR THE SAFETY OF MY 3 CHILDREN AND I. EVERYTIME I NEED TO ROLL MY WINDOWS UP TO HAVE TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH A NOTCH FURTHER THAN NEEDED...ALMOST STARTING IT AGAIN FOR IT TO R…
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MY 1997 HONDA CR-V IS CUTTING OFF 5 OR MORE TIMES A DAY, GOING DOWN THE FREE WAY,IN MID TURNS, WHILE SETTING STILL, IT IS A VERY HUGE CONCERN OF MINE FOR THE SAFETY OF MY 3 CHILDREN AND I. EVERYTIME I NEED TO ROLL MY WINDOWS UP TO HAVE TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH A NOTCH FURTHER THAN NEEDED...ALMOST STARTING IT AGAIN FOR IT TO REGISTER..ON THE MIDDLE NOTCH THE DASH LIGHTS WON'T EVEN TURN ON..AND WHEN IT'S GOING TO CUT OFF THE GAUGES GO HAYWIRE...AND I CHECKED MY VIN # BUT NO RECALLS BUT FOR THE YEAR MAKE MODEL THERE IS...
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE PLACED THE IGNITION KEY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH AND TURNED IT, THE VEHICLE DID NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
1997 HONDA CRV. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF, WHILE DRIVING.
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.
02V120000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
May 16, 2002
ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: WORN CONTACTS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.