IllustrationNHTSA# 02 V 120 000/IGNITION SWITCH: ISLAND HONDA, MANAHAWKIN, NJ WAS UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL. NOT ENOUGH PARTS AVAILABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
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 reportsCONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS SYSTEM ON HER VEHICLE WHICH IT HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND NOW SHE IS EXPIRIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND HAS STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ALREADY REPLACED THEREFORE THEY WON'T WORK ON THE VEHICLE AGAIN. TS
SRS LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS STAYED ON. DEALER ADVISED THAT WARRANTY IS EXPIRED AND BRING IT IN TO HAVE THEM DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM COST $75.00. MORE THAN LIKELY $500.00 - 600.00 TO CORRECT. I ADVISED THAT I READ AN ARTICLE WHERE IN MOST CASED THE BUSHINGS COUNLD BE CLEANED AND REPLACED AT A CHARGE OF $50.00 - 75.00. SERVICE CLER…
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SRS LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS STAYED ON. DEALER ADVISED THAT WARRANTY IS EXPIRED AND BRING IT IN TO HAVE THEM DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM COST $75.00. MORE THAN LIKELY $500.00 - 600.00 TO CORRECT. I ADVISED THAT I READ AN ARTICLE WHERE IN MOST CASED THE BUSHINGS COUNLD BE CLEANED AND REPLACED AT A CHARGE OF $50.00 - 75.00. SERVICE CLERK CLAIMS NOT TO HAVE EVER HEARD THAT. I HAVE READ, ON YOUR WEB SITE, MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS MALFUNCTION ON MANY HONDA'S. DT
THE CONSUMER IS CONCERN BECAUSE THE LUG WRENCH JACK DOES NOT FIT THE AFTER MARKET RIM. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE THEM TO RECONNECT THE ALARM SYSTEM TO PERFORM THE RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. HONDA OF PRINCETON PRINCETON, NJ 609-683-0840 MR
WHEN VEHICHLE STARTED THE SRS LIGHT DID NOT GO OFF. TOOK IT IN AND THEY RESET IT, BUT SAID THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE PART. LIGHT CAME BACK ONE DAY WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED AFTER ABOUT TWO WEEKS. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HAVING TO PAY TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE PART. THE DRIVERS MANUAL SAYS THAT THE AIR BAGS DO NOT NEED TO BE S…
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WHEN VEHICHLE STARTED THE SRS LIGHT DID NOT GO OFF. TOOK IT IN AND THEY RESET IT, BUT SAID THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE PART. LIGHT CAME BACK ONE DAY WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED AFTER ABOUT TWO WEEKS. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HAVING TO PAY TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE PART. THE DRIVERS MANUAL SAYS THAT THE AIR BAGS DO NOT NEED TO BE SERVICED UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS TEN YEARS OLD. DT
CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR AN IGNITION KIT TO BE REPLACED FOR VEHICLE NOT CRANKING. CONSUMER STATES AFTER THE REPAIR CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM SEEMED TO HAVE GOTTEN WORSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 02V120000 IGNITION SWITCH; THE OWNER DOES NOT AGREE WITH THE PROCESS THAT HONDA MANUFACTURE HAS INSTRUCTED THE DEALERSHIP TO CHARGE THE OWNERS TO REMOVE WIRES FOR REMOTE ENTRY/ALARM SYSTEM. HE WANTED THE HONDA MANUFACTURE TO SEND HIM A LETTER STATING THIS PROCESS IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE RECALL. THE PHO…
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NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 02V120000 IGNITION SWITCH; THE OWNER DOES NOT AGREE WITH THE PROCESS THAT HONDA MANUFACTURE HAS INSTRUCTED THE DEALERSHIP TO CHARGE THE OWNERS TO REMOVE WIRES FOR REMOTE ENTRY/ALARM SYSTEM. HE WANTED THE HONDA MANUFACTURE TO SEND HIM A LETTER STATING THIS PROCESS IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE RECALL. THE PHONE NUMBERS THAT WAS GIVEN TO HIM BY THE CORPORATION ARE EITHER NOT WORKING OR THEY WILL NOT TRANSFER HIM TO THE CONTACT PERSON WHICH HE SPOKE TO WHEN FIRST CALLED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. MR
THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK DUE TO AN ENGINE BLOCK CRACK. *YH
NO PARTS AVAILABLE RECALL#02V120000IGNITION SWITCH. HONDA AUTO DRIVE SANTA ANA, CA 714-547-3555. NLM
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.