IllustrationVEHICLE WAS AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE REARENDED IT AFTER TRAVELING 40MPH & PUSHED IT INTO ANOTHER. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. NO EMERGENCY TREATMENT. HAS POLICE REPORT. *AK
1997 Honda Civic
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Civic years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Honda Civic are substantially higher than the model-year median of 183.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Civic 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
Limited mileage data: 93 of 373 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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 140 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
67 crash reports2 fire reports42 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
140 reportsCONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND TIRE HIT A ROCK , AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUFFERED A BURN ON THE LEFT ARM. HE HAS CONTACTED A HONDA DEALERSHIP. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 30 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
DEALER DIDNOT DISCLOSE ACCIDENT DAMAGE PRIOR TO SAIL MAY HAVE CAUSED AIR BAG FAILURE BY IMPROPER REPAIR FROM MAJOR ACCDENT BEFORE MY PURCHASE
THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. DEALER HAS SET THE SENSOR PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED.*AK
AIR BAG LIGHT SENSOR WAS REMAINING ON. VEHICLE HIT A DOG AT 50 MPH, AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT INFLATING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
THE AIR BAG FALSLY DEPLOYED WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO CRASH INTO A UTILITY POLE. CONSUMER ESCAPED WITH ONLY A FEW BRUISES. NLM
INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING SECOND DEGREE BURNS NEAR WRIST, POSSIBLY DUE TO GUN POWDER IN THE AIRBAG. *AK
WHEN VEHICLE HIT A GUARDRAIL HEAD-ON THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED. VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. *AK *ML
WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON AT ALL TIMES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Official recalls
220V026000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Jan 17, 2020
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999 Isuzu Oasis vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138 or Isuzu customer service at 1-800-255-6727.
97V193000 · Air Bags:frontal
Nov 1, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULES HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED. THE CLOTH FLAPS COVERING THE FOLDED AIR BAG MAY HAVE BEEN TUCKED IN TOO FAR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD PREVENT PROPER DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. IN A CRASH, AN IMPROPER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE FRONT PASSENGER'S AIR BAG MODULE TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM FROM OCCURRING.
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
1SQ98012 · Condenser Fan Motor Inoperative
Opened Jun 30, 1998 · Closed Nov 2, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner
SEE RESUME FOR DETAILS.