1997 Honda Accord Engine Problems

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

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

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

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

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

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

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE STALLED/FAILED, WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING AND IT FELT LIKE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. HEADLIGHTS WERE WORKING ALONG WITH THE DASH LIGHTS. DURING THE STALLING PERIOD - I PULLED OVER AND CAME TO A STOP ON THE HIGHWAY. SOON THERE AFTER, THE ENGINE CAME ON AND I BEGAN TO DRIVE AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED TWICE DURING A 30 MINUTE RIDE WHILE IT WAS RAINING. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10663287

Incident

Dec 9, 2014

Mileage

101,398 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. AS THE VEHICLE SPEED DECELERATED THE CONTACT SWITCHED THE SHIFTER INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,500.

NHTSA ID

10627376

Incident

Aug 6, 2014

Mileage

200,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10564179

Incident

Feb 12, 2014

1997 HONDA ACCORD. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE RE-BUILT MOTOR FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE RE-BUILT MOTOR HE PURCHASED, STARTED KNOCKING AND THEN FAILED. THE ESTABLISHMENT WHERE HE PURCHASED THE MOTOR FROM, OFFERED HIM $4,000, WHEN HE PAID $6,000. THEY REFUSED TO FIX OR REPLACE THE MOTOR. UPDATED 06/24/13 THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UPDATED 10/17/13

NHTSA ID

10508031

Incident

Apr 1, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE AND PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 152,587. UPDATED 08/24/11 *BF UPDATED 08/29/11

NHTSA ID

10386075

Incident

Feb 20, 2011

Mileage

152,587 mi

1997 HONDA ACCORD VEHICLE WITH A LEAKING AND CORRODED RADIATOR. CONSUMER STATES THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED IN 2008 AND NOW IT IS LEAKING AGAIN. THERE IS CORROSION ON THE BACK AND FRONT OF THE RADIATOR. *KB THE THERMOSTAT WAS STUCK OPEN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10368977

Incident

Jan 5, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME HOT AND THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT AND A GASKET WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET, WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT AND TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10360441

Incident

Aug 3, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY. NO WARNING LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE. ON OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART IMMEDIATELY AND OTHER TIMES, IT WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY RECALLS AND HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER ADVISED HAVING A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED AND ALSO REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ALSO ADVISED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL AND HE WOULD BE LIABLE FOR ANY REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,500.

NHTSA ID

10352257

Incident

May 22, 2010

Mileage

126,500 mi

I HAVE HAD MY 1997 HONDA ACCORD LX 4CYL FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS. I HAVE SEARCHED THIS PROBLEM JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE, AND WHILE I'VE SEEN THE PROBLEM REPORTED IN HUNDREDS OF HONDA OWNERS, I HAVE YET TO SEE A SOLID SOLUTION. PROBLEM: CAR SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING, STRONG FUEL/GAS SMELL WHEN THIS HAPPENS, DASH LIGHTS SHUTTING OFF AND GOING BLACK, DOOR LOCKS JUMPING UP AND DOWN MY CAR IS SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING - WHETHER I'M ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET, OR GOING 75 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE BEEN BLESSED NOT TO BE HIT BY ANOTHER CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT SOMETIMES STARTS RIGHT BACK UP, BUT AFTER A FEW TIMES, IT TAKES ABOUT 20 MINUTES TO BE ABLE TO START. THE ENGINE WILL STIR AROUND, BUT IT WON'T FIRE UP AND ACTUALLY START. TWENTY MINUTES LATER OR SO, IT STARTS.. AND THEN WE MAY MAKE IT TO OUR DESTINATION WITHOUT STALLING AGAIN. OH, AND I CAN'T FORGET THE STRONG SCENT OF FUEL IN THE AIR WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT STARTED AS A SPORADIC THING THAT HAPPENED WHENEVER I DROVE LONG DISTANCE (AN HOUR OR MORE) OR WHENEVER I WAS AT 1/4 OF A TANK. MORE RECENTLY, I CAN HARDLY DRIVE AT ALL. I TRIED TO LEAVE TODAY, AND I DIDN'T MAKE IT DOWN THE STREET WITHOUT THE CAR SHUTTING OFF TWICE. THE CAR IS NOT OVERHEATING, THERE'S PLENTY OF GAS IN THE TANK... YET WHEN I DRIVE, THE DASH LIGHTS GO OUT, THE RPM JUMPS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND FINALLY TO 0. THE CAR WORKS FINE WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD (FIRST THING IN THE MORNING), BUT AS SOON AS THE ENGINE WARMS TO A NORMAL LEVEL, THIS HAPPENS. I'VE BEEN STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY MORE TIMES THEN I CARE TO ADMIT... BY MYSELF, WITH MY CHILDREN, IN 101 DEGREE HEAT.. ETC. WHAT WE'VE DONE (UNSUCCESSFULLY): * I ALREADY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY RAN MY VIN AND SAID THAT THE RECALLS HAVE ALL BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AND REPLACED ON MY CAR PRIOR TO ME PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. * REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES * MAJOR TUNE-UP * REPLACED RELAY SWITCH * REPLACED FUEL FILTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10343779

Incident

Jul 17, 2010

Mileage

186,000 mi

HONDA RECOMMENDS REPLACING TIMING BELT, BALANCER BELT AND WATER PUMP AT 7 YEARS OR 105,000 MILES ON THE 1997 HONDA ACCORD. I HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THEM ALL AT 7 YEARS AND 36,139 MILES, IN 2004. THE REPLACEMENT WATER PUMP FAILED PREMATURELY IN JUST OVER FIVE YEARS AND 39,618 MILES LATER. EARLIER THIS YEAR I KEPT SEEING COOLANT UNDER THE CAR. I HAD THE DEALER INSTALL NEW BELTS AND A NEW WATER PUMP. THE NEW PUMP FAILED RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX SPILLING COOLANT ON THE NEW BELTS. SO, THE DEALER REMOVED THE NEW BELTS, INSTALLED ANOTHER NEW WATER PUMP AND THEN REINSTALLED THE SAME BELTS. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS WILL AFFECT TO THE LONGEVITY OF THE NEW BELTS. ALSO, MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT THE TIMING BELT IS DRIVING THE WATER PUMP, AND THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY IS HIDDEN UNDER A COVER. IF THE WATER PUMPS STARTS FAILING, HOT COOLANT WILL SPILL ON THE TIMING AND THE BALANCER BELTS CAUSING THEM TO WEAKEN OVER TIME, AND THEY CAN EITHER SLIP OR BREAK CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE SEE RELATED PHOTOS: HTTP://WWW.HONDA-TECH.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=1908944 I BELIEVE THIS IS A POOR DESIGN THAT CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO FAIL SUDDENLY. IT SEEMS THAT HONDAS FROM 1992 TO 2002 USE THE SAME BASIC CONCEALED PUMP DESIGN. NOTE: THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED AT 36,139 (PREVENTIVE MEASURE) AND IT FAILED AT 75,757 OR LESS THAN 40,00 LATER!!! UPDATED 05/11/10.8JB

NHTSA ID

10327619

Incident

Mar 22, 2010

Mileage

75,757 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING ABOVE 40MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY TEMPORARILY SHUT OFF AND THEN BACK ON. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 118000.

NHTSA ID

10280629

Incident

Jun 25, 2009

Mileage

118,000 mi

DT: 1997 HONDA ACCORD. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT HONORING EXTENDED WARRANTY. AMERICAN HONDA SENT THE CONSUMER CAMPAIGN I 98-081 FOR EXTENDED WARRANTY. WENT ONLINE FOR A RECALL THAT NHTSA HAD FOR LOWER BALL JOINTS. AMERICAN HONDA RAN CONSUMER'S VIN ON WEBSITE AND THEY SAID THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE THE OIL. VEHICLE WOULD BE READY ON TOMORROW BY NOON. THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS CONFIRMED AND THERE WAS NO ISSUE WITH THEM. THE ISSUE WAS FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO HONOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT HONDA ISSUED. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS NOT IN THEIR INTEREST TO LET OTHER CUSTOMERS KNOW ABOUT SAFETY NEEDS. *SC. *AK

NHTSA ID

10138269

Incident

Sep 30, 2005

EMISSIONS RECALL ON VEHICLE. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. *TC EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM THEY REPLACED THE EVAP CANISTER VENT VALVE. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS CLOSE TO IT'S 150,000 MILE WARRANTY AND IS CONCERNED THAT THE PROBLEM WILL PERSIST AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. *NM

NHTSA ID

10105278

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

THE AIR BAG MODULE FAILED CAUSING THE SENSOR LIGHT TO STAY ON. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. *AK *SC THE VEHICLE HAD AN ENGINE OIL LEAK, THE DEALER REPLACED THE VALVE COVER GASKET. *JB

NHTSA ID

10075536

Incident

Apr 30, 2004

Mileage

61,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR A RECALL REPAIRS FOR A BALANCER SHAFT OIL SEAL LEAK. HONDA REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. HONDA INSISTED THEIR RESPONSIBILITY ENDED IN JANUARY 2003. HOWEVER, CONSUMER CALLED IN SEPTEMBER 2002 TO GET THIS WORK DONE. IT WASN'T MENTIONED AT THAT TIME. FILE WASN'T UPDATED, RESULTING IN REFUSAL OF RECALL REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10053983

Mileage

57,900 mi

WHILE DRIVING SMELLED A STRANGE ODOR ENTERING PASSENGER CABIN. CONSUMER INSPECTED AND DISCOVERED THAT 1 OF THE ENGINE COOLING FANS IS CONTAINED IN A PLASTIC HOLDER BEHIND THE RADIATOR. THE PLASTIC HOLDER COMPLETELY MELTED WHILE FAN WAS IN OPERATION AND ALMOST STARTED A FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10030215

Incident

Jul 26, 2003

REFUSE TO FIX HIS VEHICLE::: THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT FIX HIS VEHICLE DUE TO HIS SON WAS IN MILITARY. AND THE RECALL EXPIRED FOR A SEAL TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP IS HONDA HE SPOKE WITH A SERVICE MANAGER 889 991 9009 WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE REPAIR. *CB

NHTSA ID

10019952

Incident

May 15, 2003

Mileage

70,000 mi

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, MR. DAN OLSON, FLOOR MANAGER, INDICATED THAT MANUFACTURER HAS SEND A BULLETIN #100 CONTAINING INFORMATION ON THE SEAL CRACK BLOCK EXHAUST MANIFOLD. SO HE HAD TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR OVER $400.00. *AK

NHTSA ID

10022946

Incident

Jun 12, 2003

Mileage

794,000 mi

THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE EGR VALVE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10019511

Incident

May 8, 2003