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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

What owners actually said

460 reports
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

80,000 miles · Feb 5, 2005
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT 80,000 MILES. SERVICE PERFORMED PRIOR TO NORMAL CYCLE PER OWNERS MANUAL AT 45,000 MILES. LOCAL HONDA CAR DEALER PERFORMED SERVICE NOTED ON A SERVICE BULLETIN (5 FLUSHINGS) AND DID NOT WORK. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10109903

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 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 ON THREE DIFFERENT VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. …

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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 ON THREE DIFFERENT VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10108016

Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 2005
Electrical SystemSuspension

I HAVE A 1997 HONDA ACCORD, WITH BALL JOINT PROBLEMS. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE BALL JOINT RECALL AND THE AIR CONDITION RECALL ON THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS SOLD TO HER. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED BECAUSE THE BALL JOINT FAILED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10109728

Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2005
Air Bags

THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG MODULE WHICH CAUSED THE SRS LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *NM *TC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10109729

92,190 miles · Jan 3, 2005
Power TrainSuspension

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL CAME OFF. VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS SEPARATED, AND THE AXLE CRACKED. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE BALL JOINT NHTSA RECALL 99V069000. *AK....AS ARESULT, OF BROKEN LOWER BALL JOINT R…

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CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL CAME OFF. VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS SEPARATED, AND THE AXLE CRACKED. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE BALL JOINT NHTSA RECALL 99V069000. *AK....AS ARESULT, OF BROKEN LOWER BALL JOINT RIGHT FRONT WHEEL DETACHED AND WAS LODGED UNDENEATH THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT END WAS ON THE GROUND, AND FLUID WAS LEAKING ALL OVER THE ROAD. CONSUMER CALLED AAA AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED T A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A BROKEN RIGHT SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT. HOWEVER, IT WAS OBVIOUS TO THE MECHANIC THAT THIS WAS NOT A TYPICAL PROBLEN, AND WAS NOT THE RESULT OF NAURAL WEAR. THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVIC EBULLETIN WHICH APPLIED TO THIS VEHICLE. MECHANIC REPLACED LOWER BALL JOINT AND CRACKED AXLE. IN ADDITION, HAD THE BALL JOINT ON THE OTHER SIDE REPLACED, EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMED TO BE TIGHT, AS A PRECAUTION SO THAT THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10106653

Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

EMISSIONS RECALL ON VEHICLE. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. *TC EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM THEY REPLACED THE EVAP CANISTER VENT VALVE. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS CLOSE TO IT'S 150,000 MILE WARRANTY AND IS CONCERNED THAT THE PROBLEM WILL PERSIST AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10105278

151,000 miles · Oct 6, 2004
Electrical System

A RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS ISSUED. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE OF AN AFTER MARKET ANTI-THEFT DEVICE THAT WAS ADDED BY THE MANUFACTURER UPON DELIVERY OF VEHICLE TO CONSUMER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10095177

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 2004
Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE FRONT AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10094188

36,500 miles · Sep 20, 2004
Equipment

MY 1997 ACCORD HAS HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER EVERY YEAR ATLEAST TWO TIMES, I NEED TO HAVE SOME PART OF THE AC REPAIRED OR REPLACED, CONTACTED HONDA USA AND ALL I GOT WAS A SORRY, THIS IS THE 7TH HONDA/ACURA VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED AND NEVER HAD THIS TYPE OF ISSUE W/ ANY OTHER ONE. HAVE A SPENT WELL OVER 3,000 D…

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MY 1997 ACCORD HAS HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER EVERY YEAR ATLEAST TWO TIMES, I NEED TO HAVE SOME PART OF THE AC REPAIRED OR REPLACED, CONTACTED HONDA USA AND ALL I GOT WAS A SORRY, THIS IS THE 7TH HONDA/ACURA VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED AND NEVER HAD THIS TYPE OF ISSUE W/ ANY OTHER ONE. HAVE A SPENT WELL OVER 3,000 DOLLORS SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR ON AC ISSUES ALONE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10091357

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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