IllustrationTHE LOCK ACTUATOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE MAKES A NOISE AND AT TIMES I AM UNABLE TO GET INTO MY VEHICLE. I HAVE 4 FRIENDS WITH ACCORDS BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 1995-1997 AND THEY ALL ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAMPLE PROBLEM. IS THIS RECALLED BY HONDA? *NLM
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Accord years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
60–25K
725–50K
2450–75K
2275–100K
32100–150K
37150K+
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 reportsWHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED SEVERELY. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS NORMAL. *JB THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD HER THE PROBLEM WAS THE ROTORS, HOWEVER AFTER THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE DEALER STATED THE VIBRATION WAS NORMAL AND TO JUST GET A ALIGNMENT. *JB …
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WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED SEVERELY. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS NORMAL. *JB THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD HER THE PROBLEM WAS THE ROTORS, HOWEVER AFTER THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE DEALER STATED THE VIBRATION WAS NORMAL AND TO JUST GET A ALIGNMENT. *JB *NM
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON/OFF. VEHICLE WAS ASSESSED BY HONDA. THE CONTROL UNIT IN THE STEERING MALFUNCTIONED, THUS DISABLING THE AIR BAGS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY.*AK
AS OTHERS HAVE STATED, THE SRS LIGHT RECENTLY CAME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. MY 97 ACCORD LX WAGON HAS 72000 MILES. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED A YEAR AGO (AT ABOUT 65,000), AND I PAID ABOUT $40 TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT, AND RESET THE LIGHT. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THIS SHOULDN'T BE AN EXPENSE THE…
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AS OTHERS HAVE STATED, THE SRS LIGHT RECENTLY CAME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. MY 97 ACCORD LX WAGON HAS 72000 MILES. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED A YEAR AGO (AT ABOUT 65,000), AND I PAID ABOUT $40 TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT, AND RESET THE LIGHT. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THIS SHOULDN'T BE AN EXPENSE THE OWNER SHOULD HAVE TO BEAR. OBVIOUSLY, I AM NOT ALONE IN HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *LA
SRS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINS ON. *AK
RECALL 02V120000 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THIS RECALL LAST YEAR. HOWEVER, THE STALLING PROBLEM RECURRED. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE REPAIRS WERE DONE, AND HE WAS NOT OBLIGATED TO REPAIR IT AGAIN. *AK
THE "SRS" LIGHT HAS REPEATEDLY COME ON. HONDA SERVICE SAYS THE SENSOR/MODULE IS BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACE AT A COST OF $715.00. THE AIR BAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. HONDA SHOULD WARRANT THIS SAFETY EQUIPMENT ITEM AT NO CAST TO THE OWNER. THE WARNING LIGHT IS CURRENTLY "ON" AND CANNOT BE RESET ACCORDING TO HONDA SERVICE D…
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THE "SRS" LIGHT HAS REPEATEDLY COME ON. HONDA SERVICE SAYS THE SENSOR/MODULE IS BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACE AT A COST OF $715.00. THE AIR BAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. HONDA SHOULD WARRANT THIS SAFETY EQUIPMENT ITEM AT NO CAST TO THE OWNER. THE WARNING LIGHT IS CURRENTLY "ON" AND CANNOT BE RESET ACCORDING TO HONDA SERVICE DEPARTMENT. *LA
SRS LIGHT/SENSOR UNIT. WE OWN A 1997 ACCORD. IN 2002, THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON, AND WE BROUGHT IT TO HONDA DEALER. THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE LIGHT TO TURN OFF. THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN RECENTLY, AND AS LAST YEAR THEY WERE ABLE TO TURN THE LIGHT OFF. THEY SAID IF IT COMES ON AGAIN, WE WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE SENSOR FO…
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SRS LIGHT/SENSOR UNIT. WE OWN A 1997 ACCORD. IN 2002, THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON, AND WE BROUGHT IT TO HONDA DEALER. THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE LIGHT TO TURN OFF. THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN RECENTLY, AND AS LAST YEAR THEY WERE ABLE TO TURN THE LIGHT OFF. THEY SAID IF IT COMES ON AGAIN, WE WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE SENSOR FOR $825. WELL, A WEEK LATER, THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. WE ONLY HAVE 39K MILES ON THE CAR. ACCORDING TO HONDA, IT'S NOT THE AGE, OR MILEAGE, BUT HOW MANY TIMES YOU START YOUR VEHICLE THAT WEARS AWAY AT THIS EXPENSIVE UNIT. I PROBABLY START MY CAR 2 TIMES A DAY, SOMETIMES LESS. IF WE DON'T REPLACE THE UNIT. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEEPLY (ACCORDING TO HONDA). NUMEROUS HONDA OWNERS HAVE BEEN FACED WITH THIS PROBLEM. WHY ARE HONDA OWNERS BEING SACKED WITH THE COST OF A DEFECTIVE PART? WHAT IS BEING DONE TO MAKE THIS PART MORE DURABLE? MY FRIEND BOUGHT A NEW 2002 ODYSSEY, AND ALREADY HAD THE LIGHT GO ON AFTER 7 MONTHS. OBVIOUSLY, NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED. *JB
THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. *AK *JB
ABS SYSTEM WASL LEAKING COST$ 640 TO REPAIR. THEN FOUND THAT ABS MODULATOR HAD FAILED WHICH COST OVER $940 TO REPLACE. WHAT KIND OF BRAKE DESIGN IS THIS? TOTAL RIPOFF. NEVER AGAIN HONDA.
Official recalls
302V120000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.