IllustrationVEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON TWO OCCASIONS RESULTING IN COLLISIONS.
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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
9 reportsVEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION.
SPEED CONTROL FAILURE. SPEED CONTROL WILL NOT KEEP THE ENGINE UP TO SPEEED WHEN GOING UP A HILL. ALSO, AT SPEEDS ABOVE 52 MPH, TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DOWSHIFT.
CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATES WITHOUT WARNING. PROBLEM OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALERS CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. OWNER VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY. *AK
WAS DRIVING 65MPH WHEN ACCELERATOR STUCK. TRIED BRAKING & THEY LOCKED UP. WHEN VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL THE ENGINE REVVED UP. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER & MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE ANYTHING WRONG. *AK
WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED IT DECLINES IN SPEED WHILE GOING ON AN INCLINE DIRECTION - VIA - UPHILL.
CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH, SPEED BEGAN TO DECREASE TO 52 AND CONTINUED DROPPING WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED. *AK
CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT MAINTAIN SPEED WHILE DRIVING UP INCLINES. HONDA STATED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO LIMITED VACUUM AVAILABILITY. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK
WHEN USING THE CRUISE CONTROL THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MAINTAIN SPEED GOING UP OR DOWN HILL. THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED ON 9/2/97. *AK
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.