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1997 Honda Accord

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Honda Accord do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 356.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

128 reports with mileage · 332 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 113 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 96 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

42 crash reports10 fire reports24 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

113 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2007
Air Bags

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED HONDA ACCORD AND NOTICED THE SRS LIGHT WAS ON. SUBSEQUENT RESEARCH REVEALED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE IS DEFECTIVE AND HONDA DOES NOT COVER ITS REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY WITH THE SRS LIGHT ON. HONDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL. THI…

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I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED HONDA ACCORD AND NOTICED THE SRS LIGHT WAS ON. SUBSEQUENT RESEARCH REVEALED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE IS DEFECTIVE AND HONDA DOES NOT COVER ITS REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY WITH THE SRS LIGHT ON. HONDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR SEVERAL YEARS--OBVIOUSLY, THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN MEETING THE SAFETY STANDARDS THAT THE NHTSA OR DOT SETS AND DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR PASSENGERS. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE PEOPLE DIE UNNECESSARILY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10197708

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2006
Air Bags

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON. DUE TO A MALFUNCTION. COMPANY REFUSES TO REPAIR. HONDA CO. THEY KNOW THAT BY LAW THEY NEED TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM, BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, THEY WANT CLIENTS TO REPAIR THEIR CARS AT OWNERS EXPENSE BREAKING THE LAW. THE NHTSA IS NOT ENFORCING THE LAW WHEN THEY KNOW HONDA CO HAS TO COVER THIS TYPE …

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AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON. DUE TO A MALFUNCTION. COMPANY REFUSES TO REPAIR. HONDA CO. THEY KNOW THAT BY LAW THEY NEED TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM, BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, THEY WANT CLIENTS TO REPAIR THEIR CARS AT OWNERS EXPENSE BREAKING THE LAW. THE NHTSA IS NOT ENFORCING THE LAW WHEN THEY KNOW HONDA CO HAS TO COVER THIS TYPE OF REPAIR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10174728

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2006
Air Bags

AIR BAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS ON. THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT. THIS PUTS THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS AT RISK OF DEATH AND OR SERIOUS INJURY. THIS FALLS UNDER NHTSA LIST OF SAFETY RELATED DEFECTS. THIS ITEM NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED ASAP. THE DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR AT NO COST TO ME. ALSO CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. THEY …

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AIR BAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS ON. THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT. THIS PUTS THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS AT RISK OF DEATH AND OR SERIOUS INJURY. THIS FALLS UNDER NHTSA LIST OF SAFETY RELATED DEFECTS. THIS ITEM NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED ASAP. THE DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR AT NO COST TO ME. ALSO CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. THEY STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT COVER ANY AMOUNT TO FIX THE AIR BAGS. EVEN AFTER I INFORMED THEM THAT THIS WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES PLUS IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT I AM AT HIGH RISK OF DEATH OR BEING CRITICALLY INJURED. THEY HAVE LEFT ME WITH OUT ANY OTHER OPTION BUT TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. I HOPE THAT THEY WILL FOLLOW NHTSA PROCEDURES BY DOING WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES AND STOP IGNORING THERE RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT CRITICAL SAFETY RELATED DEFECTS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10168713

88,000 miles · Jan 24, 2006
Air Bags

SRS COMPUTER FAILED. AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL NOT OPERATE. DEALER ADVISED THAT THE DEFECT IS IN THE COMPUTER MODULE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10148503

Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2006
Air Bags

THE SRS LIGHT IN THE CONSUMER'S 1997 HONDA ACCORD ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TS *NM

NHTSA ODI #10149764

75,500 miles · Oct 5, 2005
Air Bags

SRS LIGHT ON 1997 HONDA ACCORD COMING ON. DIAGNOSED FOR $85. BATTERY REPLACED. A WEEK LATER IT CAME BACK ON AND STAYED ON. AFTER ANOTHER $85, TOLD THAT SRS SYSTEM IS BAD, AND IT WILL BE $830 TO REPLACE. I SEE ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND LEARN THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS UPGRADED. I BOUGHT THE HONDA …

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SRS LIGHT ON 1997 HONDA ACCORD COMING ON. DIAGNOSED FOR $85. BATTERY REPLACED. A WEEK LATER IT CAME BACK ON AND STAYED ON. AFTER ANOTHER $85, TOLD THAT SRS SYSTEM IS BAD, AND IT WILL BE $830 TO REPLACE. I SEE ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND LEARN THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS UPGRADED. I BOUGHT THE HONDA BECAUSE OF ITS HIGH RELIABILITY AND WOULD APPRECIATE BEING REFUNDED BY HONDA. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10138723

47,112 miles · Sep 28, 2005
Air BagsEquipment

CONSUMER SRS LIGHT CAME ON AND AIR CONDITION WAS LEAKING. *TS THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT. SHE MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD TAKE 7-10 DAYS FOR THE PART TO ARRIVE. WHEN THE AC LEAKED THE CARPET, FRONT AND REAR, BECAME SOAKED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10138844

47,000 miles · Aug 1, 2005
Air Bags

DT: THE SRS AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE FAILED, HOWEVER, THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN EARLY FEBRUARY 2005. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS A DEFECTIVE CONTROL MODULE. CONSUMER STATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. NO REPLACEMENT BECAUSE IT WOULD COST $800. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10127024

97,132 miles · Apr 14, 2005
Air BagsInjury

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY TYPE OF COLLISION, DID NOT RUN OVER ANYTHING IN THE ROAD. HOWEVER, CONSUMER SUSTAINED KNEE, NECK, AND BACK INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10118878

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2005
Air Bags

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE RESET, AND RESET IT THREE TIMES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED T…

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CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE RESET, AND RESET IT THREE TIMES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10101711

Official recalls

3

02V120000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

May 16, 2002

ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: WORN CONTACTS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.

99V069000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

May 10, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH BALL JOINTS THAT CAN PREMATURELY WEAR OUT AND, IN THE WORSE CASE, THE BALL JOINT WOULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.

98V231000 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood

Sep 22, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SEDAN, COUPE AND WAGON PASSENGER VEHICLES EXCEPT THE DX MODEL AND MODELS WITH V6 ENGINES. THE FACTORY INSTALLED AIR CONDITIONER WIRE HARNESS WAS IMPROPERLY ROUTED ALLOWING SOME WIRES TO RUB AGAINST EACH OTHER, EVENTUALLY CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE SHORT CIRCUIT CANPOSSIBLY CAUSE THE UNDERHOOD WIREING TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE, CAUSING A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A SHORT CIRCUIT CAN ALSO RESULT IN A BLOWN FUSE OR DEAD BATTERY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR PROPER ROUTING OF THESE WIRES. ANY HARNESS IMPROPERLY ROUTED WILL BE INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE AND THE ROUTING WILL BE CORRECTED. IF ANY INSULATION IS WORN THROUGH AND THE COPPER WIRES ARE EXPOSED, THE HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSTALL PLASTIC TUBING TO PROTECT THE HARNESS.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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