RoadVitals

1997 Honda Inspire Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
9
Latest Mar 1, 2010
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
6
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.
0

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1997 Honda Inspire, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Airbags440.0%
  • Tires & wheels220.0%
  • Body & structure110.0%
  • Electrical110.0%
  • Engine110.0%
  • Exterior lighting110.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

SRS LIGHT ON 97 HONDA ACCORD STAYS ON, INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING. *NM

NHTSA ID 10138961 · filed Oct 6, 2005

THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH OUR HONDA: THE SRS INDICATOR CAME ON IN OUR 1997 HONDA ACCORD SOON AFTER WE BOUGHT IT NEW IN 1997. WE WERE TOLD IT HAD TO DO WITH A LOW BATTERY AND IT WAS RESET. IT CONTINUED TO COME ON AND IT WAS RESET EACH TIME WE BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICING. WHEN WE REPLACED THE BATTERY, THE SRS INDICATOR CONTINUED TO COME ON, HOWEVER HONDA REFUSED TO REPLACE IT SAYING THAT IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NO WAY THEY COULD DETERMINE IF THE PROBLEM EXISTED BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD IT RESET MULTIPLE TIMES. THE COST TO HAVE IT FIXED IS NEARLY $500 AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF AN ACCIDENT DOES OCCUR. THANKFULLY WE HAVEN'T BEEN IN ONE YET. I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT HONDA WITH ITS CONSUMER SATISFACTION REPUTATION, WOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DEFECT IN THE CAR, BUT THEY WERE COMPLETELY UNCOOPERATIVE. I WONDER IF OTHERS ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH THEIR SRS.

NHTSA ID 10124989 · filed Jun 11, 2005

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I PURCHACED 4 NEW EPIC TOUR (LL600) TIRES AND IN LESS THAN A WEEK ONE HAD THE TREAD PEEL OFF WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. I DID NOT HIT OR RUN OVER ANYTHING PRIOR TO TREAD LOSS. THE TIRE WAS STILL ENFLATED. WHEN I BROUGHT IT BACK TOTHE TIRE PEOPLE THEY GAVE ME ANOTHER NEW TIRE TO MATCH THE OTHER 3. IN A WEEK THIS NEW TIRE ALSO LOST ITS TREAD, EXACTLY LIKE THE FIRST. I WISH I STILL HAD THE FIRST TIRE BUT I DO NOT. I HAVE THE CURRENT PROBLEM TIRE AND CAN SEND PHOTOS OR IT IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. THE TREAD JUST PEELED OFF AS IF IT WERE A RETREAD. EVERYONE (INCLUDING PROFESSIONALS) THAT HAVE SEEN THIS TIRE THINKS THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL SITUATION DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECTS. THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT ON THE LIST, BUT THE COOPERATE OFFICE TOLD ME THEY WERE YANTI TYRE IN CHINA OR COOPER? DOT CODE: 2WUNFTS DATE: 3007.

NHTSA ID 10206306 · filed Oct 19, 2007

WAS TRAVELING DOWN INTERSTATE AT THE SPEED OF 70 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE INNER TIRE MOLD---THE BLACK PLASTIC TIRE MOLD THAT IS OVER THE TIRE, FELL OFF AT THE SPEED I WAS TRAVELING AND HIT THE PERSON'S CAR BEHIND US. IT CAUSE US TO LOSE CONTROL, BUT WE REGAINED IT. BUT IT DID CAUSE ALL OF THE WIRING THAT IS USUALLY CONNECTED TO THE FENDER PULL OUT. SO WHEN IT FELL OFF IT PULLED ALL OF THE WIRING THAT RUNS MY WHOLE CAR IT WAS DRAGGING ON THE GROUND. IT PULLED MY HEAD LIGHT OUT OF THE SOCKET, IT PULL THE WIRING OUT OF MY RADIATOR. NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE MY WHOLE WIRING IN MY CAR. *JB

NHTSA ID 10140313 · filed Oct 20, 2005

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WAS TRAVELING DOWN INTERSTATE AT THE SPEED OF 70 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE INNER TIRE MOLD---THE BLACK PLASTIC TIRE MOLD THAT IS OVER THE TIRE, FELL OFF AT THE SPEED I WAS TRAVELING AND HIT THE PERSON'S CAR BEHIND US. IT CAUSE US TO LOSE CONTROL, BUT WE REGAINED IT. BUT IT DID CAUSE ALL OF THE WIRING THAT IS USUALLY CONNECTED TO THE FENDER PULL OUT. SO WHEN IT FELL OFF IT PULLED ALL OF THE WIRING THAT RUNS MY WHOLE CAR IT WAS DRAGGING ON THE GROUND. IT PULLED MY HEAD LIGHT OUT OF THE SOCKET, IT PULL THE WIRING OUT OF MY RADIATOR. NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE MY WHOLE WIRING IN MY CAR. *JB

NHTSA ID 10140313 · filed Oct 20, 2005

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

AS STATED BELOW, PROBLEMS THAT I ENCOUNTERED SUCH AS BLOWN FUSE (MAIN CONCERN), DEAD BATTERY (FIXED), AND FAN/AIR CONDITIONER MALFUNCTION (PRODUCES IRRITATING SOUND) MIGHT BE ATTRIBUTED TO THIS WIRING PROBLEM. YOUR 1997 HONDA IS INCLUDED IN THE 1995-97 ACCORD A/C WIRE CAMPAIGN. DESCRIPTION 1995-97 ACCORD A/C WIRE DATE9/17/1998 TYPE SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN STATUS OPEN HAVING MORE THAN 10X OF BLOWN FUSE (FAILURES) THAT CRIPPLED MY TAIL AND PARKING LIGHTS AND UPON THE ADVICE OF HONDA (THRU OWNER LINK), I WENT TO ONE OF ITS DEALERS HERE IN BATON ROUGE, RICHARDS HONDA. I PROMPTED THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THAT I ENCOUNTERED AND THE RECALL THAT WAS STATED IN THE OWNER LINK. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO THE RECALL BUT IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL THEN I HAVE TO PAY A CERTAIN CHARGE. IF THEY ARE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR ANNOUNCED RECALL, IS THIS A GOOD WAY OF ADMITTING THEIR FAULT? I CERTAINLY DOUBT! TO CONTINUE MY UNFORTUNATE QUEST TO FIX MY CAR'S PROBLEM, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. IT IS DUE TO THE BAD SWITCH COMBINATION (I COULD NOT ARGUE, HEAVEN KNOWS.)! FOR 1.5 HRS LABOR ($135.00) AND SWITCH,LIGHTING($64.94), I PAID THEM A TOTAL $199.94. THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. A DAY AFTER, THE FUSE GOT BUSTED AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY TESTED THE CAR FOR THE WHOLE DAY AND THE FUSE WAS OK. SO I GOT THE CAR AND SADLY, I STILL EXPERIENCED THE INCIDENT OF BLOWN FUSES. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THEM AND LET IT STAY THERE FOR 2 WEEKS AND STILL THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED. WAS IS IT REALLY FIXED ? WHAT WAS THAT CHANGING THE SWITCH FOR? INSTEAD OF BEING ANGRY WITH THE EMPLOYEES, I THINK THIS IS THE BEST VENUE FOR MY CONCERN. I HOPE MY $199.94 WOULD BE RETURNED (IT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM SINCE CHANGING IT DOES NOT SOLVED FUSES GETTING BUSTED. ) AND MY CARS PROBLEM (BUSTED FUSES THAT AFFECT THE TAIL AND PARKING LIGHTS) WOULD BE FIXED AT NO COST. *TR

NHTSA ID 10196792 · filed Jul 19, 2007

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

1997 HONDA ACCORD LX DIES UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. IT CAN RESTART, BUT DIES AGAIN IN 2 SECOND. CALLED AAA, A HALF HOUR LATE, WHEN AAA TRUCK CAME, THE CAR CAN START WITHOUT THE PROBLEM. AAA PERSON CHECKED ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY, BOTH ARE GOOD. *TR

NHTSA ID 10315042 · filed Mar 1, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHEN I ATTEMTPED TO TURN ON THE HIGH BEAMS ON MY 1997 HONDA ACCORD, THE DRIVERS SIDE WOULD NOT TURN ON. I WENT TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE TO REPLACE THE BULB, BUT THE BULB HAD NOT BURNED OUT. AFTER INVESTIGATING, I HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM LIES WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND IS NOT FROM A BLOWN FUSE. THE PASSENGER SIDE HIGH BEAM WORKS FINE.

NHTSA ID 10127105 · filed Jun 30, 2005

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .