RoadVitals

1997 Honda Accord Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints 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.
38
Latest May 28, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 460 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
17
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
15

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Honda Accord submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 38 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

The 25 most recent of 38, in the owner's own words

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
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
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
Driver assistanceFuel systemOther / unspecified
Filed Apr 8, 2014

I HAVE NOTICED THIS PROBLEM FOR THE PAST 2+ WINTERS ON MY CAR. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS GOING HOME FROM WORK ON A COLD WINTER NIGHT. I GOT THE FREEWAY AND ACCELERATED TO 55 MPH. I THEN SET THE CRUISE CONTROL (AS I NORMALLY DO IN LIGHT TRAFFIC). I NOTICED THAT THE CAR'S ENGINE WAS STILL REVVING A LOT MORE THAN IT SHOULD. I LOOKED DOWN AND NOTICED THAT I WAS DOING 70 MPH. I IMMEDIATELY STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. I CONTINUED TO NOTICE THIS ISSUE ALL WINTER. I SET THE CRUISE AT 40 MPH AND NOTICED THAT IT WENT UP BY ABOUT 20 MPH ABOVE THE SETTING BEFORE IT FINALLY STOPPED ACCELERATING AND SETTLED BACK TO THE CRUISE SET SPEED (OR CLOSE TO IT). IN THE WARM WEATHER THIS PROBLEM DISAPPEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10578369
Incident
Jan 7, 2013
Mileage
192,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 1, 2012
Crash reported2 injuries reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS TO HIS HANDS DUE TO THE AIR BAG AND WAS ALSO SUFFERING FROM BACK PAIN. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN RIB AND PAIN TO HER ENTIRE BODY. THE CONTACT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WERE UNDERGOING PHYSICAL THERAPY TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID
10478120
Incident
Sep 18, 2012
Mileage
160,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 24, 2012
Crash reported2 injuries reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN AN ALLEY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE WALL BEFORE INDEPENDENTLY COMING TO A STOP. THE CONTACT AND HIS WIFE SUSTAINED INJURIES AS A RESULT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 160,000. UPDATED 10/24/12*LJ UPDATED 10/25/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID
10476884
Incident
Sep 18, 2012
Mileage
160,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Aug 30, 2012

PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL ON MY CAR, AND THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING AND THE GAS PEDAL GOT HARD I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK TO STOP IT FROM HITTING A CAR IN FRONT OF ME ALL WHILE THE ENGINE KEPT REVVING, I THEN TURNED OF THE CAR AND WHEN I TURNED IT ON IT WAS STILL DOING THE SAME THING UNTIL I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL AGAIN IT WENT BACK TO NORMAL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10472989
Incident
Aug 29, 2012
Mileage
93,850 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalSteering
Filed Feb 14, 2012

ON MY WAY HOME ON I-295 MY CAR LOST ALL POWER AND WAS HARD TO STEER AND BRAKES DID NOT WORK. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP IN THE EMERGENCY LANE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS A BAD IGNITION SWITCH. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP AND THE PART WAS UNDER RECALL. THE HONDA TECH CALLED ME YESTERDAY AND TRIED TO TELL ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE FUSE BOX. MY MECHANIC ALREADY KNEW IT WAS THE SWITCH AND HONDA TOLD ME THE SAME THING WHEN I DROPPED THE CAR OFF. IM NOT SURE IF THEY WERE TRYING TO UPSELL ME OR DENY RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10447971
Incident
Feb 11, 2012
Mileage
144,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jan 24, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD SE (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SET ON CRUISE CONTROL AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 45 DEGREES, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUOUSLY ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 180,000.

NHTSA ID
10378497
Incident
Dec 1, 2008
Mileage
180,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 23, 2010

TWICE DURING REGULAR DRIVING - ONCE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55MPH AND ONCE WHILE PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY - THE CAR ENGINE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN - BRAKING DID NOT HELP. HAD TO PUT IN NEUTRAL AND TAP BRAKES 3-4 TIMES. NO INJURIES/ACCIDENTS BUT IT IS WORRISOME. AND I WAS NOT EVEN PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL DOWN MORE - OTHER THAN MAINTAINING SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10313397
Incident
Jan 10, 2010
Mileage
110,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 26, 2009
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE ROAD DECREASED. THE CONTACT DECIDED TO DECELERATE, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE AND A TREE. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED ANKLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,600 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000. UPDATED 03/17/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/17/09. *JB

NHTSA ID
10260061
Incident
Feb 25, 2009
Mileage
107,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 11, 2006
Crash reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 71 MPH AND ENTERING HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS SHUT OFF IN ORDER TO DECELERATE, BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT RESPONSIVE AT ALL. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO REAR-END ANOTHER VEHICLE, BOUNCE OFF, AND HIT A THIRD. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE, BUT WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER. UPDATED 2/9/2007 - *NM

NHTSA ID
10175756
Incident
Dec 7, 2006
Mileage
86,500 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 14, 2006
Crash reported1 injury reported

1) AS PER DESCRIPTION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 99I002000. THE THROTTLE CABLE DID NOT RESPOND PROPERLY AT SLOW SPEED FOR 97 HONDA ACCORD AND RESULTED IN TO A COLLISION IN A PARKING. 2) AMERICAN HONDA DO NOT ACCEPT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 99I002000. AS PER AMERICAN HONDA THIS IS NOT A VALID CAMPAIGN. THEY REFUSED TO HONOR THE REQUEST. PLEASE LET ME KNOW THE FURTHER COURSE OF ACTION THAT I NEED TO DO SO THAT THIS CAMPAIGN ID CAN BE INVESTIGATED AND VALIDATED BY HONDA. FOR A 97 HONDA ACCORD. 3) AS PER LETTER FROM AMERICAN HONDA, DATED JANUARY 24TH 2006 BEARING FILE # N012006-01-2300700, THEY DENIED THE CAMPAIGN ID 99I002000. 4) THIS RESULTED INTO A COLLISION IN PARKING AND REPORTED TO GEICO. *JB

NHTSA ID
10150254
Incident
Dec 14, 2005
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 17, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING INTO GARAGE THE VEHICLE SURGED AND WENT THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR AND WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT IT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. NO POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THERE HAS BEEN NO DETERMINATION ON THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE GARAGE DOOR AND PART OF THE HOUSE.*AK UPDATED 12/22/2005. *NM

NHTSA ID
10143025
Incident
Nov 15, 2005
Mileage
80,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 21, 2004
Crash reported

THROTTLE CABLE STUCK WHILE PARKING AT WORK. MOTOR REVVED UP AND CAR JUMPED OVER MEDIAN AND STRUCK PARKED CAR ON OTHER SIDE OF MEDIAN. I WAS BRAKEING ALL THE TIME. CAR CONTINUED REVVING AFTER CRASH UNTIL MOTOR TURNED OFF.*AK

NHTSA ID
10067606
Incident
Apr 21, 2004
Mileage
71,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 28, 2003

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED. DEALER FOUND THAT ACCELERATOR CABLE BROKE. BUT DEALER DID NOT WANT TO PERFORM ANY REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10037896
Incident
Feb 1, 2003
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 13, 2003

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10006225
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 18, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported1 death reported

IN A SHORT DISTANCE THE VEHICLE IS LIKELY TO HAVE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, JUMPED A CONCRETE CURB, AND STRUCK A TREE. THE DECEASED HAD A BROKEN ANKLE, WHICH WAS LIKELY CAUSED BY ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE. OTHER INJURIES INCLUDED BROKEN JAW AND SEVER INTERNAL INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY SINCE THE CAR HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN A SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENT. HOWEVER THE CAR WAS DRIVEN BY ME AND MY WIFE FOR OVER 25K MILES DURING WHICH TIME WE HAD NO PROBLEMS. RECENTLY THERE WAS A CLAIM STATING A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH A RUN-AWAY HONDA ACCORD ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL AND I BELIEVE MY WIFE'S ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN. THANK YOU, [XXX] DT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
769871
Incident
Oct 25, 2002
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Aug 30, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, AND WHEN DOING SO, VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND NOT SLOW DOWN AT ALL. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ID
8017680
Incident
Jan 2, 2002
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 28, 2002

WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE. AND WAS HARD TO STOP. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
8012952
Incident
Jun 14, 2002
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 30, 2002
Crash reported

WHILE PARKING INSIDE OF THE PARKING LOT AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WENT FORWARD WITH SPEED AND HIT A POLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
8008889
Incident
Apr 29, 2002
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 30, 2002
Crash reported

ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK FOR THE SECOND TIME, FIRST WHILE PULLING IN TO PARK ENGINE REVVED AND BRAKE WAS APPLIED, VEHICLE RAN INTO LARGE BOULDER, CAUSING $ 4000.00 DAMAGE. ALSO, ON 5 APRIL 2002 AT SLOW SPEED ENGINE REVVED, BRAKE WAS APPLIED, AND CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE. VEHICLE HIT A CEMENT POST, CAUSING $ 6100.00 DAMAGE. VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME.*AK

NHTSA ID
8008872
Incident
Jul 5, 2001
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 19, 2002
Crash reported

ON APRIL 9, 2002 AS I WAS PARKING INTO MY APARTMENT COMPLEX DRIVE, GOING ABOUT 5 MPH PARKING IN A SPACE. MY 1997 HONDA ACCORD SE ACCELERATED FORWARD INSTEAD OF STOPPING. THE CAR JUMPED THE PARKING MEDIAN AND I ENDED UP IN SOME BRUSHES AND ON ONE OF THE APARTMENT PATIO BALCONIES. PRAISE GOD, THE BRUSHES WAS THERE WHICH SLOWED THE SPEED AND DID NOT CAUSE MORE DAMAGE THAN IT DID. THE CAR PICKED ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED, I WOULD SAY ABOUT 30-45 OR MORE MPH. IT SOUNDED LOUD LIKE AN ACCELERATOR JUST PICKED UP VERY HIGH SPEED.*AK

NHTSA ID
760889
Incident
Apr 9, 2002
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 10, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE BRAKING TO PARK, ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND TOOK OFF OUT OF CONTROL, FORCING VEHICLE INTO SOME BUSHES AND A PRIVATE PATIO DECK BEFORE STOPPING. ONE INJURY WAS SUSTAINED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK ONE PERSON WAS INJURED. *TT

NHTSA ID
8007319
Incident
Apr 9, 2001
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Feb 7, 2002

VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHEN ABS BRAKES WERE APPLIED. DRIVER USED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
8003704
Incident
Feb 4, 2002

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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