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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.

About this comparison →

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

Electrical System complaints

96 reports
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115,000 miles · Aug 10, 2010
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION ON THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT LOCK. HE HAD TO TURN IT COMPLETELY OFF IN ORDER FOR THE KEY TO COME OUT OF THE IGNITION WITHOUT BEING IN PARK. THE FAILURE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE VEHICLE ROLL AWAY AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH TO OCCUR. HONDA STATED THAT TH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION ON THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT LOCK. HE HAD TO TURN IT COMPLETELY OFF IN ORDER FOR THE KEY TO COME OUT OF THE IGNITION WITHOUT BEING IN PARK. THE FAILURE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE VEHICLE ROLL AWAY AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH TO OCCUR. HONDA STATED THAT THEY COULD OFFER NO ASSISTANCE AND THE REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 115,000. UPDATED 11/12/10 *CN UPDATED 11/16/10*JB

NHTSA ODI #10348437

180,000 miles · Jul 18, 2010
Electrical System

MY 1997 HONDA ACCORD DIES WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343816

186,000 miles · Jul 17, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE HAD MY 1997 HONDA ACCORD LX 4CYL FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS. I HAVE SEARCHED THIS PROBLEM JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE, AND WHILE I'VE SEEN THE PROBLEM REPORTED IN HUNDREDS OF HONDA OWNERS, I HAVE YET TO SEE A SOLID SOLUTION. PROBLEM: CAR SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING, STRONG FUEL/GAS SMELL WHEN THIS HAPPENS, DASH LIGHTS SHUTTING OFF AN…

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I HAVE HAD MY 1997 HONDA ACCORD LX 4CYL FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS. I HAVE SEARCHED THIS PROBLEM JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE, AND WHILE I'VE SEEN THE PROBLEM REPORTED IN HUNDREDS OF HONDA OWNERS, I HAVE YET TO SEE A SOLID SOLUTION. PROBLEM: CAR SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING, STRONG FUEL/GAS SMELL WHEN THIS HAPPENS, DASH LIGHTS SHUTTING OFF AND GOING BLACK, DOOR LOCKS JUMPING UP AND DOWN MY CAR IS SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING - WHETHER I'M ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET, OR GOING 75 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE BEEN BLESSED NOT TO BE HIT BY ANOTHER CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT SOMETIMES STARTS RIGHT BACK UP, BUT AFTER A FEW TIMES, IT TAKES ABOUT 20 MINUTES TO BE ABLE TO START. THE ENGINE WILL STIR AROUND, BUT IT WON'T FIRE UP AND ACTUALLY START. TWENTY MINUTES LATER OR SO, IT STARTS.. AND THEN WE MAY MAKE IT TO OUR DESTINATION WITHOUT STALLING AGAIN. OH, AND I CAN'T FORGET THE STRONG SCENT OF FUEL IN THE AIR WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT STARTED AS A SPORADIC THING THAT HAPPENED WHENEVER I DROVE LONG DISTANCE (AN HOUR OR MORE) OR WHENEVER I WAS AT 1/4 OF A TANK. MORE RECENTLY, I CAN HARDLY DRIVE AT ALL. I TRIED TO LEAVE TODAY, AND I DIDN'T MAKE IT DOWN THE STREET WITHOUT THE CAR SHUTTING OFF TWICE. THE CAR IS NOT OVERHEATING, THERE'S PLENTY OF GAS IN THE TANK... YET WHEN I DRIVE, THE DASH LIGHTS GO OUT, THE RPM JUMPS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND FINALLY TO 0. THE CAR WORKS FINE WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD (FIRST THING IN THE MORNING), BUT AS SOON AS THE ENGINE WARMS TO A NORMAL LEVEL, THIS HAPPENS. I'VE BEEN STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY MORE TIMES THEN I CARE TO ADMIT... BY MYSELF, WITH MY CHILDREN, IN 101 DEGREE HEAT.. ETC. WHAT WE'VE DONE (UNSUCCESSFULLY): * I ALREADY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY RAN MY VIN AND SAID THAT THE RECALLS HAVE ALL BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AND REPLACED ON MY CAR PRIOR TO ME PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. * REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES * MAJOR TUNE-UP * REPLACED RELAY SWITCH * REPLACED FUEL FILTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343779

135,000 miles · Jul 7, 2010
Electrical SystemPower Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY SHOULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE UNLESS THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WAS IN PARK. HE STATED THAT THE KEY CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING WHICH CAUSED UNSAFE CONDITIONS. UPDATED 08/24/10. *LJ UPDATED 08/25/10*JB

NHTSA ODI #10341770

136,000 miles · Jun 24, 2009
Electrical SystemFire

THE VEHICLE WAS STOP AND THE HORN STARTED WITH A REALLY LOUD NOISE THAT HURT MY EARS THEN I TRIED TO STOPPED WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR IT WAS FULL OF SMOKE IT REALLY SMELLED BAD MY HEAD FELT KIND OF WEAR WITH THE SMOKE IT MADE ME KIND OF DIZZY AND SLEEPY FROM THEN MY CAR DOESN'T WORK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10274894

109,000 miles · Jun 10, 2009
Electrical System

ENGINE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. OCCURS UNEXPECTED AND WITH OUT ANY WARNING. INSTANCE OCCURS AT ALL SPEEDS AND LEAVES DRIVER IN POSSIBLE DEADLY SITUATION. FAILURE CORRECTED ON SIMILAR HONDA VEHICLES ON RECALL 02V120000 (IGNITION SWITCH) BUT NOT ALL MODELS INCLUDED AS IN MY VIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10273503

50,000 miles · Jun 1, 2009
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHEN HE PLACED THE IGNITION IN THE LOCK POSITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. HE HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THE DEALER STATED THAT A NEW IGNITION SWITCH WOULD COST $500. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE W…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHEN HE PLACED THE IGNITION IN THE LOCK POSITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. HE HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THE DEALER STATED THAT A NEW IGNITION SWITCH WOULD COST $500. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS 12 YEARS OLD AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH). THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10272583

135,000 miles · May 29, 2009
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. IN 2004, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO A RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. IN 2004, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO A RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 143,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ODI #10272351

175,000 miles · Apr 16, 2009
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AS IF THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF HERSELF. SHE STEERED THE VEHICLE INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND RESTARTED IT AFTER A FEW MINUTES. THE FIRST FAILURES OCCURRED 1-2 MONTHS APART. MOST RECENTLY, THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING EVERY OTHE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AS IF THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF HERSELF. SHE STEERED THE VEHICLE INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND RESTARTED IT AFTER A FEW MINUTES. THE FIRST FAILURES OCCURRED 1-2 MONTHS APART. MOST RECENTLY, THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING EVERY OTHER DAY. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC FRIEND, WHO STATED THAT THE ISSUE MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V120000 REGARDING THE IGNITION; HOWEVER, A FORMAL DIAGNOSIS WAS NEVER RECEIVED. THE LATEST OCCURRENCE WAS ON APRIL 16, 2009 WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 183,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 175,000.

NHTSA ODI #10265662

98,000 miles · Jun 5, 2008
Electrical SystemEquipment

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE. A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT CAUSED THE FUSE TO BLOW AND THE AIR COMPRESSOR TO FAIL. SECONDLY, A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACC…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE. A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT CAUSED THE FUSE TO BLOW AND THE AIR COMPRESSOR TO FAIL. SECONDLY, A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V231000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD); THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ABLE TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 98,000.

NHTSA ODI #10230055

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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