IllustrationFRONTAL COLLISION NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS.
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 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED, DRIVER STRUCK THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER AND MAY HAVE BEEN STRUCK FROM BEHIND. AIR BAG DEPLOYED, DRIVER SUSTAINED THERMAL 2ND DEGREE BURNS TO THE MEDIAL ASPECT OF BOTH HANDS, WRISTS/BICEPS AND CHIN. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 30 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT. DLR HAS SEEN VEHICLE.
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 35 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 30-35 MPH, AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS. CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN FOUND. *AK
WHILE EXITING A PARKING LOT IN AN ACCELERATING RIGHT-HAND TURN, VEHICLE WENT OVER A SMALL CURB AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, TEMPORARILY IMPAIRING THE DRIVER'S VISION AND KNOCKING HIS HANDS FROM STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE LOST CONTROL, HIT CINCRETE CURB OF MEDIAN, BENDING RIMS OF THREE WHEELS AND FLATTENING THE TIRES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 40-50 MPH ON THE FREEWAY HAD DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT WHERE THE DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS SYSTEM DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS ACCIDENT. MANUFACTURER SAID AIRBAG SENSOR IS MOVING BACK TOWARDS THE VEHICLE DUE TO EARLIER CIVIC MODEL HAVING INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENTS. *AK
DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DURING FRONT END COLLISION. IMPACT FROM DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG CAUSED OPEN WOUNDS/BURNS FROM CHIN TO CHEST, FORCE OF PASSENGER'S AIRBAG SHATTERED FRONT WINDSHIELD, VEHICLE AT BODY SHOP, DRIVER HIT ANOTHER MOVING VEHICLE, WET WEATHER. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING EAST AT APPROX 45 MPH, TRUCK JUMPED OUT IN FRONT, HIT HEAD ON OTHER VEHICLE SIDE, BUMPER WAS COMPLETELY PUSHED IN. AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DUE TO THIS DEFECT, CONSUMER HIT DASHBOARD WITH HEAD, HIT STEERING WHEEL WITH CHEST. SEAT BELTS WERE NOT WORKING AT TIME OF INCIDENT. *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.