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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.

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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 reports
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181,040 miles · May 4, 2016
Air BagsCrashInjury

TAKATA RECALL: ON 11/21/2012 MY SON WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED IN A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF HIM ON A HWY WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 50 MPH. MY SON WAS ABLE TO BRAKE AND STEER TO AVOID THE COLLISION BUT STILL IMPACTED THE OTHER CAR'S LEFT REAR QUARTER-PANEL. AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT, HIS AIRBAG DEP…

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TAKATA RECALL: ON 11/21/2012 MY SON WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED IN A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF HIM ON A HWY WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 50 MPH. MY SON WAS ABLE TO BRAKE AND STEER TO AVOID THE COLLISION BUT STILL IMPACTED THE OTHER CAR'S LEFT REAR QUARTER-PANEL. AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT, HIS AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. HE RECEIVED MAJOR FACIAL LACERATIONS AND FRACTURES IN ADDITION TO AN GAPING WOUND IN HIS WRIST. HE WAS TOLD BY SEVERAL ATTORNEYS THAT SINCE HIS CAR HAD JUST PASSED THE STATUTE OF REPOSE GATE OF 15 YR, HE COULD NOT HOPE TO BRING SUIT AGAINST HONDA/TAKATA. TO DATE, THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY EFFORT TO EXTEND THE RECALL PRIOR TO 2002 FOR HONDA VEHICLES. WHEN THE EXTERNAL CAR DAMAGE IS COMPARED TO THE DAMAGE INSIDE HIS VEHICLE, HIS EXTENSIVE INJURIES, AND IMAGES OF THE AIR BAG HARDWARE ARE STUDIED, THERE IS SUFFICIENT REASON TO SUSPECT THE HONDA AIR BAG'S DETONATION RATHER THAN DEPLOYMENT WAS THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO MY SON'S INJURIES. I UNDERSTAND THE REASONING BEHIND A STATUTE OF REPOSE BUT IN THIS CASE SUSPECT A DESIGN DEFICIENCY EXISTED PRIOR TO THE CAR'S AGE EXCEEDING THE ARBITRARY 15 YR GATE.*DT*JB *TR

NHTSA ODI #10863014

55,000 miles · Nov 13, 2015
Air Bags

THE WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON

NHTSA ODI #10790291

166,000 miles · Jul 16, 2015
Air BagsInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT A CRASH. AS A RESULT, THE AIR BAG CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO FRACTURE. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED HAND INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT A CRASH. AS A RESULT, THE AIR BAG CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO FRACTURE. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED HAND INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.

NHTSA ODI #10734628

168,000 miles · May 1, 2015
Air BagsCrashInjury

I GOT IN AN ACCIDENT BY MYSELF WHEN A DEER JUMPED OUT AND I SWERVED AND HIT A TREE. THE AIR BAG BLEW UP AND I HAVE BURNS ON MY FACE NECK AND ARM AND A GASH ON MY HEAD.I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION AND SHOWED THEM MY ARM. THEY WERE SHOCKED TO SEES THIRD DEGREE BURN ON MY ARM. SUCH A BURN THAT IT LEFT A LARGE HO…

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I GOT IN AN ACCIDENT BY MYSELF WHEN A DEER JUMPED OUT AND I SWERVED AND HIT A TREE. THE AIR BAG BLEW UP AND I HAVE BURNS ON MY FACE NECK AND ARM AND A GASH ON MY HEAD.I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION AND SHOWED THEM MY ARM. THEY WERE SHOCKED TO SEES THIRD DEGREE BURN ON MY ARM. SUCH A BURN THAT IT LEFT A LARGE HOLE THROUGH MY SWEATSHIRT. A CHARRED HOLE LIKE I WAS SET ON FIRE. THE NURSES AND DOCTORS SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THAT HAPPEN BEFORE FROM AN AIRBAG. MY CAR NEVER SET FIRE ONCE. I FEEL THE AIRBAGS ARE DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10714062

155,126 miles · Nov 20, 2014
Air Bags

SRS LIGHT LIT UP TO THIS DATE 11/20/2014. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10659856

96,102 miles · Aug 5, 2014
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SRS SENSOR ILLUMINATED IN THE VEHICLE MORE THAN ONCE. THE DEALER REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,102.

NHTSA ODI #10618890

96,000 miles · Aug 1, 2014
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V193000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V193000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. UPDATED 9/9/14*CN UPDATED 1/20/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10618143

60,590 miles · Jul 1, 2013
Air Bags

AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR CAME ON WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY, JUST PRIOR TO ENTERING ONTO THE HIGHWAY (APPROX 25 MPH). I'M THE ONLY OWNER AND HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH THIS CAR. TOOK IT TO A HONDA DEALER WHO SAID THAT IT WAS THE DRIVER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG, BUT THE SERVICE ADVISOR NOTED "WE HAVE NO WAY TO TELL YOU WHAT THE …

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AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR CAME ON WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY, JUST PRIOR TO ENTERING ONTO THE HIGHWAY (APPROX 25 MPH). I'M THE ONLY OWNER AND HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH THIS CAR. TOOK IT TO A HONDA DEALER WHO SAID THAT IT WAS THE DRIVER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG, BUT THE SERVICE ADVISOR NOTED "WE HAVE NO WAY TO TELL YOU WHAT THE ACTUAL ISSUE IS WITH THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG WITHOUT TAKING YOUR CAR APART WHICH WILL TAKE SEVERAL HOURS..EVEN AFTER WE TAKE IT APART, THIS WORK MAY REQUIRE SPECIAL ORDER PARTS SO WE COULDN'T FIX IT IMMEDIATELY." THEY SAID WHILE THIS LIGHT IS ON, THE AIRBAGS DON'T WORK-HOW, AT 60K MILES, COULD AN AIRBAG BE FAULTY? THE DEALER ASKED ME 3 TIMES IF THE CAR HAD EVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT TO WHICH I REPEATEDLY TOLD THEM NO, AND THAT I AM THE ONLY OWNER AND BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. I'M CONCERNED THAT HONDA HAS MORE AIRBAG ISSUES WITH LATER MODELS LIKE MY 2007 CIVIC EX AS THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE. THIS SAME CAR HAS THE ENGINE BLOCK COVERAGE EXTENDED DUE TO A HONDA RECALL; THE SUN VISOR SPLIT (33K MI) AND WOULDN'T GO ALL THE WAY UP, I HIT MY HEAD ON THIS WHEN IT BROKE AND IT IMPACTED VISIBILITY-SOMEONE BROUGHT A CIVIL SUIT TO GET HONDA TO ADDRESS THIS. FURTHER, THIS CAR'S WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MALFUNCTIONS (MY VIN IS COVERED WITH A TECH SERVICE BULLETIN) AND THE WIPERS STOP MIDWAY ON THE WINDSHIELD IMPACTING VISIBILITY--ACCORDING TO THE TSB, HONDA DECIDES WHETHER THEY WILL ABSORB THE REPAIR COST FOR THAT SAFETY ISSUE (HONDA NEVER PROACTIVELY INFORMED ME THAT MY VIN WAS AFFECTED WHEN THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY). AT ONLY 5 YEARS OLD, THE AC COMPRESSOR BROKE DUE TO POOR DESIGN ($400 ABSORBED BY ME). GIVEN WHAT I PERCEIVE AS A SAFETY ISSUE RE: THE AIRBAGS AND THE GROWING COMPLAINTS ONLINE, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THE NHTSA WOULD DO SOMETHING FURTHER REGARDING LATER MODEL HONDA CIVIC AIRBAGS AND MAKE HONDA ACCOUNTABLE TO CONSUMERS FOR SAFETY ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10522537

209,827 miles · Jun 24, 2012
Air BagsInjury

I WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. THE EXPLOSION WAS HORRENDOUS. I PUT ON MY BRAKES WHICH PUT MY CAR IN A SIDEWAYS SLIDE ALMOST SENDING IT OVER THE CLIFF INTO THE RIVER. IT WAS A HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE. THE WINDSHIELD BROKE AND MY DASH SPLIT. THERE WAS NO IMPACT AT ALL. THE AIR BAG BROKE MY NEW PRESCRIP…

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I WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. THE EXPLOSION WAS HORRENDOUS. I PUT ON MY BRAKES WHICH PUT MY CAR IN A SIDEWAYS SLIDE ALMOST SENDING IT OVER THE CLIFF INTO THE RIVER. IT WAS A HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE. THE WINDSHIELD BROKE AND MY DASH SPLIT. THERE WAS NO IMPACT AT ALL. THE AIR BAG BROKE MY NEW PRESCRIPTION GLASSES, BRUISED MY FACE, AND CUT MY LIP. MY SON WHOM WAS WITH ME IS COMPLAINING OF PAIN IN HIS STOMACH WHERE THE AIR BAG HIT HIM. I SEE MANY OTHER COMPLAINS CONCERNING FAULTY AIR BAGS BUT READ HONDA IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. THESE FAULTY BAGS ARE A LIFE THREATENING ISSUE AND HONDA SHOULD RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM NOW. *TR UPDATED 07/25/12 *BF UPDATED IVOQ 07/26/12

NHTSA ODI #10462918

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2010
Air Bags

SRS LIGHT ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343135

Official recalls

2

20V026000 · 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

1

SQ98012 · 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.

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