RoadVitals

1997 Honda Civic 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 Aug 30, 2006
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.
10%
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.
6
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

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 Civic 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 Aug 30, 2006

THROTTLE CABLE STICKS AT LOW SPEEDS - WHEN PRESSED, IT "SNAPS LOSE" GOING TO 1/2 THROTTLE, JERKING CAR FORWARD, SNAPPING NECKS OF DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. IS A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM - COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BY SLAMMING VEHICLE INTO BACK OF LEAD VEHICLE. REF: CAMPAIGN ID 99I002000. HONDA DEALER SAYS THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY OR PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN ITEM. *NM

NHTSA ID
10167106
Incident
Aug 30, 2006
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 24, 2006
Crash reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED WITH THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE INTERFERENCE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR MAT WITH THE ACCELERATOR. THERE IS A RECALL #99E015000 PERTAINING TO THE ACCESSORY DRIVER-SIDE FLOOR MATS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED WHO REFUSES TO HONOR THE RECALL. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ID
10163348
Incident
Jul 12, 2006
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 6, 2006

I AM CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCING THE ISSUE LISTED IN CAMPAIGN ID 99I002000 ON MY 1997 CIVIC. THE DEFECT REPORT INDICATES THAT 1997 CIVICS ARE COVERED. WHEN I CALL HONDA TO ARRANGE RESOLUTION OF DEFECT, THEY TELL ME ONLY 1996 CIVICS ARE COVERED. THIS IS FRUSTRATING CONSIDERING I AM EXPERIENCING THE ISSUE AND 99I002000 LISTS MY YEAR. I'M NERVOUS THAT THE ROUGHNESS OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WILL CAUSE ME TO REAR-END SOMEONE EVENTUALLY. PLEASE CONVINCE HONDA THAT MY 1997 SHOULD BE COVERED. THANK YOU. *NM

NHTSA ID
10152040
Incident
Mar 6, 2006
Mileage
1 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 25, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SLOWLY ACCELERATES WHILE APPLYING FIRM PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER. THERE IS A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN, # 99I002000, REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CAMPAIGN DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA ID
10148588
Incident
Jan 25, 2005
Mileage
159,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 6, 2005

MY NEWLY ACQUIRED 1997 HONDA CIVIC HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS PEDAL. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO SMOOTHLY ACCELERATE, THE PEDAL HAS A CHOPPY FEELING AND IS VERY JERKY AT SLOW SPEEDS. WHEN I GO TO PRESS ON THE PEDAL IT WONT MOVE AND THEN WHEN IT DOES MOVE IT MOVES TOO FAR. I LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE DEALER I TALKED TO AND THE HONDA COMPANY STATED THAT MY CAR DID NOT QUALIFY. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 99I002000. THE PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC, AND I HAVE NEARLY REAR ENDED PEOPLE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. I HOPE THERE IS SOME WAY I CAN GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR SO THE INCIDENT DATE I AM GOING TO PUT IS GENERALLY WHEN WE ACQUIRED THE CAR. THANK YOU. *NM

NHTSA ID
10138936
Incident
Jul 1, 2005
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 22, 2005

A VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 99I002000) RELATED TO MY VEHICLE IS POSTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. I HAVE THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THIS RECALL. HOWEVER, BOTH THE HONDA DEALER AND MANUFACTURER SAID THEY DID NOT FIND SUCH A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE AND REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE FIX. MY VEHICLE MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR: MAKE : HONDA MODEL : CIVIC YEAR : 1997 THE POSTED RECALL MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR: MAKE : HONDA MODEL : CIVIC YEAR : 1997 THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER IS 99I002000 I FEEL THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL RECALL POSES A RISK TO MY SAFETY AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF NHTSA WOULD ASSIST ME IN GETTING THE ISSUE RESOLVED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.

NHTSA ID
10133804
Incident
Aug 17, 1997
Mileage
116,500 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 11, 2005
Crash reported

IN 1987 I PURCHASED A NEW HONDA ACCORD. ABOUT 7-1/2 YEARS LATER THIS WHAT OCCURRED. I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AT A RAPID PACE AND IT HIT A BUILDING. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING AND THE CAR. NO ONE WAS INJURED. I DROVE THE CAR 3 YEARS AFTER THAT. THEN I GAVE THE CAR TO MY SON AND IN ABOUT 1999 THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIM WITH THE 1987 HONDA. IN 1997 I BOUGHT A HONDA CIVIC (NO BELLS OR WHISTLES). ABOUT 7-1/2 YEARS LATER THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED. I WAS PARKING THE CAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SURGED FORWARD AT AN UNCONTROLLABLE SPEED THE SAME AS IT DID IN THE 1987 HONDA ACCORD. I HIT THE SIDE OF A BUILDING, TURNED THE WHEEL TO AVOID GOINIG THROUGH THE WINDOWS OF THE BUILDING, HIT ANOTHER CAR, THEN FINALLY THE CAR SLOWED DOWN SOME AND I PUT THE CAR IN PARK. SINCE THIS HAS HAPPED TO ME TWO TIMES I AM PETRIFIED TO DRIVE MY CAR AGAIN. NO ONE WAS INJURED. PLEASE DO NOT THINK I STEPPED ON GAS.THIS IS RIDICULOUS, WHEN PARKING A CAR YOU SLOW DOWN AND USE THE BRAKE. AS THIS CAR WAS SURGING FORWARD, I HAD MY BRAKE TO THE FLOOR. I COULD NOT STOP WHAT WAS HAPPENING. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS SITUATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I SEARCHED THE NHTS - OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION - I FOUND 10 INCIDENTS OF THIS HAPPENING WITH THE 1987 HONDA ACCORD. WHAT IS TO SAY THIS CAN ALSO BE TRUE OF THE 1997 HONDA CIVIC. *AK

NHTSA ID
10106135
Incident
Jan 3, 2005
Mileage
38,500 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 7, 2005
Crash reported

IN 1987 I PURCHASED A NEW HONDA ACCORD. SEVEN AND 1/2 YEARS LATER THIS IS WHAT OCCURRED. I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AT A RAPID PACE AND IT HIT A BUILDING. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING AND THE CAR. NO ONE WAS INJURED. I DROVE THE CAR 3 YEARS AFTER THAT. THEN I GAVE THE CAR TO MY SON AND IN 1999 THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIM WITH THE SAME CAR. IN 1997 I BOUGHT A HONDA CIVIC (NO BELLS OR WHISTLES). SEVEN AND HALF YEARS LATER THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED. I WAS PARKING THE CAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SURGED FORWARD LIKE THE LAST TIME. I HIT THE SIDE OF A BUILDING, TURNED THE WHEEL TO AVOID GOING THROUGH THE WINDOWS OF THE BUILDING, HIT ANOTHER CAR, THEN FINALLY THE CAR SLOWED DOWN, AND I PUT THE CAR IN PARK. SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWO TIMES I AM PETRIFIED TO DRIVE MY CAR AGAIN. NO ONE WAS INJURED, THANK GOODNESS. PLEASE DO NOT THINK I STEPPED ON THE GAS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, WHEN PARKING A CAR YOU SLOW DOWN AND PUT ON YOUR BRAKE. AS THIS CAR WAS SURGING FORWARD, I HAD MY BRAKE TO THE FLOOR. I COULD NOT STOP WHAT WAS HAPPENING. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS SITUATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *AK

NHTSA ID
10105920
Incident
Jan 3, 2005
Mileage
38,500 mi
Driver assistance
Filed May 23, 2004
Crash reported

ON SATURDAY, MAY 8TH 2004, WHEN I WAS COMING HOME FROM MY COLLEGE GRADUATION, I SLIGHTLY ACCELERATED IN MY 1997 HONDA CIVIC EX FROM 25 TO 35 MPH ON 26TH STREET IN MINNEAPOLIS, MN AROUND 5:30 MPH. FOR SOME UNSEEN, ODD AND POSSESSIVE REASON, MY GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE TO 65 MPH ON A 30 MPH ROAD. NORMALLY IVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A FAN OF HONDA AUTOMOBILES AND PRODUCTS. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAVE A CLEAN DRIVING RECORD. THANK GOD THERE WASN'T ANY TRAFFIC, BECAUSE FOR 6 BLOCKS I'VE NEVER BEEN SO SCARED IN MY LIFE. WHILE I WAS DRIVING, MY CAR WAS RED LINING (BECAUSE OF THE BLOWN SPEED SENSOR OR THROTTLE GAUGE ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT FIXED MY VEHICLE), IT CAUSED ME TO QUESTION WHY I DRIVE. AS I CAME ACROSS A FAIRLY BUSY ROAD, I TRIED TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN BY PRESSING AS HARD AS POSSIBLE ON THE BRAKE AND PUTTING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL (WHICH DID SLOW THE CAR DOWN SLIGHTLY), BUT ONLY TO 10-15MPH. I WAS THEN FORCED WITH HITTING AND POSSIBLY INJURING/KILLING PEOPLE ON THE FORTHCOMING STREET IN MINNEAPOLIS (26TH AND HENNEPIN), BUT INSTEAD WAS ABLE TO USE A DUMPSTER IN A PRE-EXISTING ALLEYWAY AS A BUFFER TO SLOW MY CAR DOWN TO A SAFE SPEED WHERE I COULD PULL THE E-BRAKE, PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND THEN TURN THE CAR OFF. I DO HAVE INSURANCE AND WASN'T INJURED, BUT I WILL NEED A NEW BUMPER, FRONT BUMPER SIDE SKIRT AND NEW RIM/TIRE TOTALING OVER $2000. I'M TRYING TO FIND IF ANYONE KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM OR OF ANY POSSIBLE RECALLS/DEFECTS? AS THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS ERROR AS PER THE COMPANY WHO FIXED MY HONDA (TOWN AND COUNTRY DODGE IN HOPKINS, MN), I AM VERY NERVOUS ABOUT PURCHASING OTHER HONDA AUTOMOBILES  AS IS MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH. MY CIVIC WAS KEPT IN FLAWLESS CONDITION, WAS GIVEN ALL MECHANICAL UPDATES BASED ON SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE (AS REQUIRED BY HONDA) AND HAS CURRENTLY HAS A YOUTHFUL 105,000 MILES. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.*AK

NHTSA ID
10073031
Incident
May 8, 2004
Mileage
105,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 25, 2003

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS INTERMITTENTLY AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATES. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WAS SCARED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10048666
Incident
Nov 25, 2003
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 1, 2003

HONDA OF AMERICA WILL NOT HONOR REPLACEMENT OF THROTTLE CABLE PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 99I002000 DESPITE LOCAL HONDA DEALER CONFIRMING PROBLEM WITH CABLE. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS CAMPAIGN AND ONLY LEARNED OF IT BY PROACTIVELY SEARCHING RECALL NOTICES ON THE WEB.

NHTSA ID
10041032
Incident
Oct 1, 2003
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 4, 2003

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FEELS ROUGH OR NOTCHY WHEN YOU PRESS IT. THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND PROPERLY WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS AND ARE REQUIRED TO MOVE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO MAKE SLIGHT SPEED ADJUSTMENTS. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED FOR 1996 HONDA CIVIC. I HAVE IT ON MY 1997 CIVIC. HONDA WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM ON MY 1997 CIVIC. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFTEY HAZARD. IF THE THROTTLE CABLE STICKING PROBLEM BECOMES WORSE, IT COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO STICK WIDE OPEN.

NHTSA ID
10005293
Incident
Feb 4, 2003
Mileage
20,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 17, 2002

VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE, LOSES POWER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8014162
Incident
Jul 1, 2002
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 15, 2002

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND FAILURE OF DEALER TO CORRECT SITUATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
764257
Incident
Jun 8, 2001
Driver assistance
Filed May 20, 2002

VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN ABOUT 12-20 TIMES AT ANY SPEED. CONSUMER WILL APPLY BRAKES, AND DEPRESS CLUTCH TO SLOW VEHICLE. RPMS GO UP TO 7000. MECHANIC CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK

NHTSA ID
8010136
Incident
Feb 20, 2002
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 15, 2002

ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS HARD TO PUSH WHEN MOVING AT LOW SPEEDS OR SITTING IN TRAFFIC, AND IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PUSH ON THE PEDAL SO HARD, THE CAR JUMPS FORWARD IN TRAFFIC.*AK

NHTSA ID
758277
Incident
Jun 1, 2001
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 31, 2002

WHEN I ACCELLERATED THE THROTTLE GOT STUCK. *AK

NHTSA ID
757604
Incident
Jan 26, 2002
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Jan 21, 2002

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WILL NOT GO OUT, THE DEALER SAYS IT IS NOT A RECALL ITEM .THE GAS PEDAL IS VERY ROUGH AND HARD TO PUSH DOWN FEELS LIKE IT IS CATCHING ON SOMETHING THE DEALER SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. *AK

NHTSA ID
757125
Incident
Feb 20, 2000
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 10, 2001

WHILE CONSUMER PLACED HER FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
563014
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 2, 2001
Crash reported

WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT, FOOT ON BRAKE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE. AS SOON AS VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, IT SURGED AGAIN. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO COME TO A STOP, AND REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO INJURIES.*AK

NHTSA ID
891803
Incident
Jun 27, 2001
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 12, 2001

ACCELERATOR PEDAL FEELS ROUGH AND NOTCHY WHEN PRESSED. UNABLE TO ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY.*AK

NHTSA ID
746733
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 18, 2001

THROTTLE CABLE STICKS AT LOW SPEEDS - WHEN PRESSED, IT "SNAPS LOSE" GOING TO 1/2 THROTTLE, JERKING CAR FORWARD, SNAPPING NECKS OF DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. IS A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM - COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BY SLAMMING VEHICLE INTO BACK OF LEAD VEHICLE. REF: CAMPAIGN ID 99I002000. HONDA DEALER SAYS THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY OR PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN ITEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
744230
Incident
Feb 1, 2001
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 16, 2001

WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS SET IT SPEEDS UP TO SPEED BEFORE ENGAGING. CRUISE CONTROL ON THIS MODEL IS SUPPOSE TO WORK THIS WAY. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE'S SPEED DROPS VERY QUICKLY BETWEEN FIVE AND SEVEN MPH CAUSING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN HER VEHICLE AND THE ONE BEHIND TO BE VERY CLOSE, DEALER STATES THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
883265
Incident
Oct 1, 1996
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 2, 2001

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS APPLIED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
877211
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 27, 2000

WHEN CAR COMES TO STOP SIGN OR LIGHT, IN IDEL/DRIVE, ENGINE SURGES. CAR HAS TO BE PUT IN NEUTRAL TO STOP SURGING. WHEN SHIFTED BACK TO DRIVE, CAR LEAPS FORWARD. GRACE HONDA HAS BEEN ASKED REPEATED OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS TO INVESTIGATE AND REPAIR. THEY RESPOND BY SAYING THEY CANNOT DEMONSTRATE CONDITION ON TEST DRIVE AND HAVE NEVER HEARD OF IT (STRANGE, AS YOU HAVE REPORTS ON YOUR COMPLAINTS SITE). THEY ARE DISMISSIVE OF MY CONCERNS THAT THIS IS AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. I AM CURRENTLY IN CORRESPONDENCE ABOUT THIS WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. IN TORRANCE.*AK

NHTSA ID
732606
Incident
Nov 23, 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.

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