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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

Other model years Selected year
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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 reports
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135,500 miles · Nov 2, 2011
Electrical System

THE CAR STALLED AT 35 MPH AND THEN RESTARTED. IT DOES THIS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM, I FEEL THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10434046

85,000 miles · Aug 11, 2009
Electrical System

IGNITION SWITCH FOR A 1997 HONDA CRV WITHOUT WARNING OR ANY INDICATION THE CAR WILL STOP THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION DRIVING ON ANY ROAD TODAY. HONDA SHOULD HAVE ACKNOWLEDGE WAY BEFORE IT EVER GOT STARTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10280068

125,000 miles · Aug 26, 2008
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA CR-V. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MANY TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SHIFTED, AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. INITIALLY, HE WOULD BE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA CR-V. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MANY TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SHIFTED, AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. INITIALLY, HE WOULD BE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER 2 OR 3 ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED AND TOOK 20-30 ATTEMPTS TO START AGAIN AND WOULD ONLY DRIVE A FEW FEET AFTERWARDS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 20 TIMES; THEREFORE, HE STOPPED USING THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER AND FUEL PUMP, WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE DEALER REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH), BUT THEY DID NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL. INSTEAD, THE CONTACT WAS CHARGED OVER $300. HE SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A CASE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,500.

NHTSA ODI #10239770

Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2007
Electrical System

VEHICLE WILL STALL AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING AND ALSO WHILE IDLE. TYPICALLY, THERE IS NO WARNING BUT IN SOME CASES THE RPM'S WILL DROP AND THEN RETURN TO CURRENT RATE, WITH THE WHOLE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTTING OFF SECONDS LATER. TURN SIGNALS, RADIO, POWER STEERING ARE ALL DISABLED. HEADLIGHTS STAY ON, EMERGENCY FLASHERS STIL…

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VEHICLE WILL STALL AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING AND ALSO WHILE IDLE. TYPICALLY, THERE IS NO WARNING BUT IN SOME CASES THE RPM'S WILL DROP AND THEN RETURN TO CURRENT RATE, WITH THE WHOLE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTTING OFF SECONDS LATER. TURN SIGNALS, RADIO, POWER STEERING ARE ALL DISABLED. HEADLIGHTS STAY ON, EMERGENCY FLASHERS STILL WORK, AND HEATER, IF ON, STILL WORKS AS WELL. IT USUALLY TAKES ABOUT 5 OR 6 TRYS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. IN SOME CASES, IT WILL REOCCUR IMMEDIATELY AFTER CONTINUING TO DRIVE. REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE AND THAT STILL DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS PRESENTLY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10181727

70,000 miles · Jan 12, 2005
Electrical System

"RECALL CAMAIGN" CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH/ELECTRICAL: CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS WAS REPLACED UNDER A SAFETY RECALL. HOWEVER, I COULD NOT FIND THAT RECALL NUMBER. THE PROBLEM EMERGED AGAIN. VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. *AK NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 02V120000. THE ORIGINAL IGNITION WAS REPLACE AND THE NEW…

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"RECALL CAMAIGN" CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH/ELECTRICAL: CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS WAS REPLACED UNDER A SAFETY RECALL. HOWEVER, I COULD NOT FIND THAT RECALL NUMBER. THE PROBLEM EMERGED AGAIN. VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. *AK NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 02V120000. THE ORIGINAL IGNITION WAS REPLACE AND THE NEW IGNITION WAS THE ONE THAT FAILED. HONDA DID NOT CARE TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER BECAUSE THEIR OBLIGATION WAS FULFILLED. *TC

NHTSA ODI #10107242

Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2004
Electrical System

SEVERAL TIMES THE CAR HAS STALLED WITH NO WARNING. MOST OF THE TIME IT HAS BEEN WHILE STOPPED BUT YESTERDAY IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AT NORMAL SPEED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10080497

Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 2003
Electrical System

A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS ISSUED; HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE DEFECT. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO DISCONNECT ALARM SYSTEM, AND WILL ONLY RECONNECT THE ALARM SYSTEM AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK THE DEFECT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO SIT FOR A WHILE BEFORE IT COULD BE …

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A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS ISSUED; HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE DEFECT. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO DISCONNECT ALARM SYSTEM, AND WILL ONLY RECONNECT THE ALARM SYSTEM AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK THE DEFECT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO SIT FOR A WHILE BEFORE IT COULD BE RESTARTED. BOTH DEALERS REFUSED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH UNLESS THE CONSUMER PAID TO HAVE THE ALARM REINSTALLED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER NOT TO REINSTALL THE ALARM. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10042045

Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2003
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

CONSUMER WAS CHARGED TO HAVE ALARM RECONNECTED AFTER RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED.*MR THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER TO HAVE RECALL 02V-120000 PERFORMED (IGNITION SWITCH). THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A CALL STATING THAT THERE WOULD BE A CHARGE TO RECONNECT THE ALARM. THE CONSUMER REFUSED REPAIRS UNDER THOSE CONDITION.…

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CONSUMER WAS CHARGED TO HAVE ALARM RECONNECTED AFTER RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED.*MR THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER TO HAVE RECALL 02V-120000 PERFORMED (IGNITION SWITCH). THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A CALL STATING THAT THERE WOULD BE A CHARGE TO RECONNECT THE ALARM. THE CONSUMER REFUSED REPAIRS UNDER THOSE CONDITION. THE VEHICLE'S POWER OUTLET WAS CONSTANTLY LOOSE. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10048484

Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2003
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHICH FORCED THE CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10042275

56,000 miles · Jul 14, 2003
Electrical System

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH ENGINE STALLS. CONSUMER HAS TO STOP AND RESTART ENGINE. MECHANIC STATES PROBLEM IS DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10027231

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Honda CR-V problems