RoadVitals

1997 Honda Accord Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
460
Latest Sep 7, 2023
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
52
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Dec 6, 1996

What this page shows

Our database holds 460 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Honda Accord. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 460 · page 1 of 19

Electrical
Filed Sep 7, 2023

The contact owns a 1997 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH and attempting to slow down, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality however, the failure became a persistent failure. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. However, the contact stated that the battery, carburetor, and alternator were replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 02V120000 (Electrical System) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

NHTSA ID
11543180
Incident
Jan 15, 2023
Mileage
200,000 mi
EngineExterior lightingOther / unspecified
Filed May 18, 2023

I bought this car from a private owner about 2 months ago ever since I had it the car shuts off I think it O2 sensor is not working or it's gone the CV joint went out on the right side I had it replaced and it still messed up it's something with the suspension and stuff the front end alignments out real bad it ate up my tires really bad to where it keeps eating up tires every time I put them on here badly real fast too the left side CV joint I believe is about to go out cuz it's knocking the lights are messed up the wiring in this car is bad with the lighting system because the left headlight is out and it won't stay on it blinks on and off the cigarette lighter is not working sometimes this car will not crank it'll turn over and show the lights but it won't crank the radiator fans are not working I don't know what's going on with that and it's a lot of other things I believe that's not properly working right and I really need this checked out because I'm low income with children and I like that I had a bad accident two days ago in this car during the rain because my car slid right and it kept going right instead of turning left on the interstate around the curve in the curve it went right and I'm scared of this car right now cuz it almost killed me and my kids if it would have hit that guardrail we would have went off the in Bank of the interstate I just now today on May 18th 2023 had a tire put on here and I'm going to have another one put on here again these tires cost money because I was sold a car that is not properly stable for this road and I was lied to about it and the guy got my $1,000 and he told me this car was drivable and stable when it's not and my windows don't automatically roll down in the front with the power button but the back one was rolled down when you roll them down from the back please help me understand this car thank you. my email address is [XXX] and once again I'm low income practically homeless and I'm trying to do gig. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION A

NHTSA ID
11522681
Incident
Mar 1, 2023
Suspension
Filed Apr 7, 2023

SEVERE frame rust where suspension bolts to. Safety hazard.

NHTSA ID
11516052
Incident
Apr 7, 2023
ElectricalFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 30, 2021
Fire reported

While driving car speed starts to fall soon there is no pedal at all and smoke and fire come from underneath dashboard transmission hesitates to shift now currently un safe to drive.

NHTSA ID
11434991
Incident
Sep 30, 2021
Engine
Filed May 5, 2021
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30- 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND SMOKE WAS DETECTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT LET THE VEHICLE COOL DOWN HOWEVER EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE REOCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11415315
Incident
Apr 16, 2021
BrakesElectricalSuspension
Filed Jun 14, 2020

I TEST DRIVE 1997 HONDA ACCORD AND YOU HAD TO PUMP THE BREAK PADDLE TO SLOW IT DOWN WITHIN 4 BLOCK RADIUS WHEN RETURNING THE GARAGE THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING THIS WAS LAST WEEK THIS MONTH JUNE 2020. THEY SELLING THE FOR $1600. THE BLUE BOOK SHOW IT WORTH $800. TO 1200. THIS VEHICLE SERIOUS MECHANICAL ISSU

NHTSA ID
11328759
Incident
Jun 4, 2020
Driver assistance
Filed May 28, 2019
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD LX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH (THE CRUSE CONTROL ON), WHEN ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO AVOID THE VEHICLES IN FRONT, WENT IN TO AN EMBANKMENT, AND THEN CAME OUT ONTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT GOT STRIKED BY A PICK UP TRUCK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PASSENGER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE, TREATED AND RELEASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000. *BF*JB

NHTSA ID
11210337
Incident
May 21, 2019
Mileage
171,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 7, 2018

I AM HEARING ELECTRICAL SPARKING SOUND WHEN I TURN IGNITION SWITCH TO START POSITION. THE CAR STARTS ONLY AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. CAR WAS STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID
11118385
Incident
Aug 4, 2018
Mileage
131,377 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 7, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN PROMPTED. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AS THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

NHTSA ID
11118383
Incident
Aug 4, 2018
Mileage
131,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 10, 2018

THE CAR DIES WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES IN MOTION, SOMETIMES STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. THE MECHANIC SAID IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH. THIS WAS THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL PREVIOUSLY IN 2002. I CAN'T TELL IF MY CAR WAS LISTED OR REPAIRED THEN.

NHTSA ID
11084278
Incident
Apr 7, 2018
Airbags
Filed Nov 30, 2017

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND MY SRS LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS NOT WENT OFF. I HAVE NOT HIT ANYTHING AND I WAS JUST DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN IT JUST CAME ON.

NHTSA ID
11051464
Incident
Nov 17, 2017
Mileage
25 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 7, 2017
Fire reported

MY CAR SPONTANEOUSLY BLEW UP ON MONDAY. HADN'T DRIVEN IT IN OVER 2 HOURS. BELIEVE IT FALLS UNDER RECALL NUMBER 98V231000. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS AND REGULARLY MAINTENANCED.

NHTSA ID
10949961
Incident
Jan 30, 2017
Mileage
234,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 16, 2016
Crash reported1 injury reported

HONDA DEALERSHIP REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH. THE ORIGINAL IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED IN THE 2002 RECALL. THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH WAS REPLACED IN 2016 AFTER EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS THAT LED TO THE ORIGINAL RECALL: SILENT STALL. THE FAULTY SWITCH LED TO A STALL AT A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I WAS REAR ENDED AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE CAR. I HAD TO REACH OUT TO HONDA ASKING THEM TO VERIFY THE PROBLEM AND REPLACE AT NO CHARGE.

NHTSA ID
10850118
Incident
Feb 29, 2016
Mileage
201,300 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 8, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE IF THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10824841
Incident
Feb 8, 2016
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 8, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SEVERELY HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 255,015. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10824806
Incident
Feb 10, 2014
Mileage
255,015 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 3, 2015

THIS CAR RANDOMLY SHUTS DOWN AS I AM DRIVING HAVE TAKEN IT TO NUMEROUS PLACES AND NOTHING IS FOUND. SHUT DOWN 6 TIMES IN A ROW LAST TIME WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR ON A DARK HIGHWAY COLD AND RAINING. VERY DANGEROUS!!! THE INSIDE LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF ALL OF THE TIME MOSTLY TURNING CURVES, WASTING BATTERY. NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEELS/TIRES/AXLES LIKE SOMETHING IS WAITING TO BREAK OFF AS YOU ARE DRIVING. OVERHEATED LAST YEAR FOR NO APPARENT REASON COSTING TON OF MONEY. I HAVE REPLACED THE COMPRESSOR TWICE AND STILL THE AIR CONDITIONER DOESN'T COOL. I LEAVE THE "AIR" BUTTON ON TO KEEP THE FANS RUNNING SO IT DOESN'T OVERHEAT AS I'M DRIVING. NOT TO MENTION IN THE SUMMER IT IS BLOWING OUT HEAT AND ALL THE WINDOWS DO NOT ROLL DOWN. THIS CAR IS A MESS AND I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER HONDA. THANKS-

NHTSA ID
10808163
Incident
Nov 29, 2015
Mileage
230,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 24, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.

NHTSA ID
10806619
Incident
Nov 24, 2015
Mileage
185,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 21, 2015

THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY ARE CHARGING A LOT TO REPAIR IT. I HAVE NOT DONE THE REPAIR . HOW COME AIR BAG RELATED SRS LIGHT CAN COME WHILE JUST DRIVING AND WHY DO I NEED TO PAY FOR IT ? IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY MANUFACTURER

NHTSA ID
10750414
Incident
Aug 15, 2014
Mileage
150,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 26, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,899. UPDATED 09/03/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR WAS REPLACED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. UPDATED 12/8/2015*JS

NHTSA ID
10730700
Incident
Jun 26, 2015
Mileage
155,899 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE REVERSING, THERE WAS A LOUD METALLIC NOISE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE MOTOR MOUNT FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.

NHTSA ID
10722786
Incident
Aug 30, 2013
Mileage
170,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed May 17, 2015

MY CAR ENGINE SOME TIMES USED TO SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND STOP ABRUPTLY, WHILE SLOWING OR BRAKING. AT TIMES, IT WILL START RIGHT AWAY AFTER CRANKING THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT, SOME TIMES, REQUIRED SEVERAL TRIES. ABRUPT STOPPING CAUSED EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AS THE DRIVERS BEHIND HAD TO MAKE VERY HARD STOPS AND NARROWLY MISSED HITTING REAR END OF MY HONDA. SINCE THE PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING INTERMITTENTLY, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE AND TOOK ALMOST ONE YEAR. FIRST MY MECHANIC THOUGHT IT WAS CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE IDLING SPEED CONTROL RELAY, THEN DUE TO BAD IGNITION RELATED RELAY, WHICH WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAULT PERSISTED AND STALLING BECAME MORE FREQUENT. ACTUALLY, THE DEFECT WAS DUE TO WORN OR DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH, WHICH USE TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF WHILE SLOWING OR BRAKING. AFTER REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO, CAR HAS NEVER STALLED.

NHTSA ID
10716909
Incident
May 15, 2013
Mileage
235,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed May 5, 2015

ENGINE STALLED SUDDENLY, WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. SINCE FIRST OCCURRENCE IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY, SOMETIMES ON THE HIGHWAY AND SOMETIMES WHILE STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. IS VERY DIFFICULT TO RESTART. *TR

NHTSA ID
10714555
Incident
Apr 28, 2015
Mileage
198,500 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 18, 2015
Fire reported

I WAS BACKING UP. I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE THEN IT DIED AND STARTED TO SMOKE I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND LOOKED UNDER HOOD, SAW FLAMES FROM BOTTOM OF CAR, TOLD MY DAUGHTER THE CAR IS ON FIRE. WE GOT OUR THINGS AND OUT AND I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10676271
Incident
Jan 12, 2015
Mileage
22,536 mi
ElectricalSeat belts
Filed Jan 7, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO LATCH IN PLACE WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY DISENGAGED WHILE IN THE ON POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10670595
Incident
Sep 1, 2014
Body & structure
Filed Dec 23, 2014

CLEAR COAT PEELING AWAY FROM PAINT ON HOOD ROOF TRUNK AND DOORS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10668074
Incident
Mar 12, 2012
Mileage
120,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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