RoadVitals

1997 Honda Civic Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure 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.
18
Latest Dec 8, 2017
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.
5%
of 373 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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Honda Civic submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 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 body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Dec 8, 2017

TAKATA RECALL? WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD BOULEVARD I FELL ASLEEP, CAUSING ME TO QUICKLY ACCELERATTE AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE WITNESSES AND EMERGENCY RESPONDERS. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THE CAR. MY FACE AND BODY HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, RESULTING IN 4 TEETH KNOCKED OUT, 8 SPINE DISC HERNIATIONS AND INJURIES, A HEART CONTUSION, WHIPLASH, CONCUSSION, CRACKED COLLAR BONE, AND MUCH BRUISING, AND BROKEN EYE GLASSES, RETRIEVED BY AN ATTENDING NEIGHBOR WITNESS. I WAS TOLD BY AN ATTENDING EMT THAT IF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED THESE INJURIES WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. WHEN I ASKED MY INSURANCE AGENT HOW TO RETRIEVE MY PERSONAL ITEMS FROM THE CAR I WAS TOLD HE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS AND, WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE, MY INSURANCE CO. TRANSFERED MY HONDA TO THE WRECKING YARD TO BE FLATTENED. I SPOKE TO THE ACCIDENT ATTENDING RESCUE RESPONDERS AND FIREMEN. THEY SAID BASED ON THE WAY MY CAR HIT THE TREE HEAD ON AND THE IMPACT SPEED, THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AND IF THE AIRBAGS WERE PRESENT IN THE CAR THEY MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE. I HAVE KEPT ALL WRITTEN PAPERWORK RESULTING FROM THIS ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
11053584
Incident
Aug 15, 2007
Mileage
158,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 4, 2016

THE ROOF AND DRIVERS SIDE DOOR BLACK PAINT PEELING. I HAVE SEEN A FEW OTHER SAME CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10863008
Incident
Nov 30, 2015
Mileage
130,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalEngine
Filed May 2, 2016

I HAD CAR COMPUTER PROBLEMS, AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEM AND PAINT ON CAR BODY IS CRACKING. THESE PROBLEMS STARTED TO HAPPEN GRADUALLY, COMPUTER PROBLEMS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD IN THE CITY; THE PAINT STARTED TO CRACK FOR MANY YEARS AND THE CAR LOOKS MISERABLE. THE AIR CONDITIONING BROKE DOWN DURING A SUMMER TIME, WHEN I HAD NO MONEY TO REPAIR IT AND HAD TO SUFFER DUE TO THE HIGH HEAT WEATHER. THERE IS ALSO A CRACK SOMEWHERE IN THE ENGINE, NOT SURE WHERE, WHICH CAN MAKE THINGS WORSE.

NHTSA ID
10862668
Incident
May 15, 2010
Mileage
45,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 29, 2005
1 injury reported

MY 75-YEAR OLD MOTHER HAS A 1997 HONDA CIVIC EX. THE TRUNK LID IS CONSTANTLY FALLING FROM THE OPEN POSITION AND THIS EVENING CAUGHT HER RIGHT ACROSS THE BRIDGE OF HER NOSE, RESULTING IN A DEEP LACERATION. HONDAS ARE SO CHEAPLY MADE, THAT I SEE NO WAY OF ADJUSTING THE TRUNK LID. PERHAPS I WILL FILE A LAWSUIT!!*AK

NHTSA ID
10108227
Incident
Jan 29, 2005
Body & structure
Filed Jun 17, 2003

1997 HONDA CIVIC 4 DOOR DX, BOTH REAR DOORS LOCKED UP, UNABLE TO OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10023206
Incident
May 8, 2003
Body & structureSteering
Filed Aug 14, 2001

HONDA GUILTY OF BREACH OF WARRANTY AND IGNORING RECALL ISSUE. PAINT REPAIR DONE 4 TIMES INCLUDING 1 OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY DEFECTIVE PAINT PROBLEMS. SUNVISOR INTERMITTENTLY COMES OUT WHEN DRIVING WHICH SUDDENLY IS A HINDRANCE IN DRIVING. HORRIBLE RUST PROBLEMS THAT WILL CAUSE DEFECTS IN EQUIPMENT. CRUISE CONTROL FAILED UNDER WARRANTY HONDA DID NOT REPAIR ALTHOUGH THEY CLAIMED THEY WOULD INITIALLY.*AK

NHTSA ID
750402
Body & structure
Filed Mar 13, 2001

AFTER GETTING 4 INCHES OF WATER IN THE TRUNK OF MY CAR AND 2 INCHES AT FRONT, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPORTED THAT THE SEALS WERE "OLD" AND THEY NEEDED TO CHANGE THEM. FOR THE REAR ONES THEY CHARGED ME $128 TO GET THEM REPLACE. THEN THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME AROUND $800 TO REPLACE THE FRONT ONES. I COMPLAINT AND ASKED THEM TO CONTACT THE REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER OF HONDA TO HAVE HONDA COVER THE REPAIR SINCE IT WAS SUCH A WEIRD SITUATION. SEALS DON'T GET OLD IN A 4 YEAR OLD CAR. *AK

NHTSA ID
742338
Incident
Feb 28, 2001
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Sep 15, 2000

PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR CANNOT MANUALLY OR BY USING THE ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS TO BE OPENED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND THEY WANTED TO REPLACED EVERYTHING.*AK THE DEALER HAS FIXED THE DOOR. *YH

NHTSA ID
870678
Incident
Sep 7, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Feb 23, 2000

RIGHT SIDE OF TRUNK LEAKS ,CAUSING THE OWNER TO PUT EVERYTHING IN THE BACK SEAT INSTEAD OF THE TRUNK. POSSIBLE HAZARD IF AN ACCIDENT WERE TO OCCUR AND ITEMS IN BACK SEAT WERE TO FLY FORWARD. *AK

NHTSA ID
719110
Body & structure
Filed Feb 23, 2000

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK (IN 5:00 PM RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC) ATTEMPTED TO USE THE SUNVISOR. THE SUNVISOR BROKE OFF AND DEBRIS WAS TEMPORARILY LODGED IN LEFT EYE. *AK

NHTSA ID
719109
Incident
Jan 1, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Feb 17, 2000

FENDER LINER REPLACED 8 MONTHS AGO DUE TO ACCIDENT. WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, PART OF FENDER LINER CAME APART AND GOT STUCK ON FRONT LEFT TIRE, CAUSING CAR TO ALMOST GO OFF ROAD. CONTACTED HONDA BODYSHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN HONDA PROBLEM. NOT THEIR FAULT, AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF. CONTACTED HONDA DEALERSHIP WHERE CAR WAS BOUGHT, AND THEY COULDN'T TELL ME ANYTHING. *AK

NHTSA ID
718882
Incident
Feb 13, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Feb 11, 2000

ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AT LEAST SIX TIMES SINCE OWNERSHIP. *MJS

NHTSA ID
9000888
Incident
Nov 1, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Sep 8, 1999

WEATHER STRIP, MOLDING DEFORMED.

NHTSA ID
609608
Incident
Nov 1, 1998
Body & structureSuspensionVisibility
Filed Feb 26, 1999

FRONT END NOISY AND SHAKES WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND UP. ALSO,WINDOW FELL OUT ON DRIVER'S SIDE, AND DOOR PANEL IS FALLING OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID
835256
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Feb 1, 1999

SUNVISOR BROKE OFF. MJS

NHTSA ID
608015
Body & structure
Filed Feb 1, 1999

PAINT FAILURE. *YC

NHTSA ID
607898
Body & structure
Filed Oct 23, 1997

WHILE LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD, IT BENT IN HALF AND FELL WHILE DRIVER WAS UNDER IT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
817445
Incident
Sep 23, 1997
Body & structure
Filed Oct 23, 1997

HOOD ASSEMBLY FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID
526259
Incident
Sep 3, 1997

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .