HONDA ACCORD · model year

1997 HONDA ACCORD

546 NHTSA complaints, 51 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1997HONDAACCORD carries 546 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 51 crashes, 12 fires, 38 injuries, and 9 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 ACCORD is air bags with 66 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (32) and electrical system:ignition:switch (32). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 11 investigation files overlapping the 1997 ACCORD, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

546
Complaints
51
Crashes
12
Fires
38
Injuries
9
Deaths

Total Complaints

546 filings

Crashes Reported

51 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS66
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL32
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH32
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM32
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL27
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE19
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP17
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE17
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION16
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE14
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION13
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER13
POWER TRAIN13
TIRES11
UNKNOWN OR OTHER10

Recent Complaints

20230907ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 1997 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH and attempting to slow down, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality however, the failure became a persistent failure. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. However, the contact stated that the battery, carburetor, and alternator were replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 02V120000 (Electrical System) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

Mileage: 200,000

20230518ENGINE

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

20230518EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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

20230518WHEELS

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

20230407SUSPENSION

SEVERE frame rust where suspension bolts to. Safety hazard.

20210930FirePOWER TRAIN

While driving car speed starts to fall soon there is no pedal at all and smoke and fire come from underneath dashboard transmission hesitates to shift now currently un safe to drive.

20210930FireFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

While driving car speed starts to fall soon there is no pedal at all and smoke and fire come from underneath dashboard transmission hesitates to shift now currently un safe to drive.

20210930FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

While driving car speed starts to fall soon there is no pedal at all and smoke and fire come from underneath dashboard transmission hesitates to shift now currently un safe to drive.

20210505FireENGINE

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.

20200614SERVICE BRAKES

I TEST DRIVE 1997 HONDA ACCORD AND YOU HAD TO PUMP THE BREAK PADDLE TO SLOW IT DOWN WITHIN 4 BLOCK RADIUS WHEN RETURNING THE GARAGE THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING THIS WAS LAST WEEK THIS MONTH JUNE 2020. THEY SELLING THE FOR $1600. THE BLUE BOOK SHOW IT WORTH $800. TO 1200. THIS VEHICLE SERIOUS MECHANICAL ISSU

20200614ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I TEST DRIVE 1997 HONDA ACCORD AND YOU HAD TO PUMP THE BREAK PADDLE TO SLOW IT DOWN WITHIN 4 BLOCK RADIUS WHEN RETURNING THE GARAGE THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING THIS WAS LAST WEEK THIS MONTH JUNE 2020. THEY SELLING THE FOR $1600. THE BLUE BOOK SHOW IT WORTH $800. TO 1200. THIS VEHICLE SERIOUS MECHANICAL ISSU

20200614SUSPENSION

I TEST DRIVE 1997 HONDA ACCORD AND YOU HAD TO PUMP THE BREAK PADDLE TO SLOW IT DOWN WITHIN 4 BLOCK RADIUS WHEN RETURNING THE GARAGE THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING THIS WAS LAST WEEK THIS MONTH JUNE 2020. THEY SELLING THE FOR $1600. THE BLUE BOOK SHOW IT WORTH $800. TO 1200. THIS VEHICLE SERIOUS MECHANICAL ISSU

20190528CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

Mileage: 171,000

20180807ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN PROMPTED. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AS THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

Mileage: 131,000

20180807ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I AM HEARING ELECTRICAL SPARKING SOUND WHEN I TURN IGNITION SWITCH TO START POSITION. THE CAR STARTS ONLY AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. CAR WAS STATIONARY.

Mileage: 131,377

20180410ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE CAR DIES WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES IN MOTION, SOMETIMES STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. THE MECHANIC SAID IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH. THIS WAS THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL PREVIOUSLY IN 2002. I CAN'T TELL IF MY CAR WAS LISTED OR REPAIRED THEN.

20171130AIR BAGS

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND MY SRS LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS NOT WENT OFF. I HAVE NOT HIT ANYTHING AND I WAS JUST DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN IT JUST CAME ON.

Mileage: 25

20170207FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY CAR SPONTANEOUSLY BLEW UP ON MONDAY. HADN'T DRIVEN IT IN OVER 2 HOURS. BELIEVE IT FALLS UNDER RECALL NUMBER 98V231000. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS AND REGULARLY MAINTENANCED.

Mileage: 234,000

20160316CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM

HONDA DEALERSHIP REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH. THE ORIGINAL IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED IN THE 2002 RECALL. THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH WAS REPLACED IN 2016 AFTER EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS THAT LED TO THE ORIGINAL RECALL: SILENT STALL. THE FAULTY SWITCH LED TO A STALL AT A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I WAS REAR ENDED AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE CAR. I HAD TO REACH OUT TO HONDA ASKING THEM TO VERIFY THE PROBLEM AND REPLACE AT NO CHARGE.

Mileage: 201,300

20160208VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

Mileage: 255,015

Compare 1997HONDAACCORD to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1997 HONDA ACCORD have?
The 1997 HONDA ACCORD has 546 NHTSA complaints, 51 crashes, 12 fires, 38 injuries, and 9 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 HONDA ACCORD?
The most-complained component for the 1997 HONDA ACCORD is AIR BAGS with 66 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH.
Is the 1997 HONDA ACCORD safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.