IllustrationCONSUMER STATED THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST REVEALED SYSTEM FAILURE AND THE CONTROL MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED.*JB
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 reportsVEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION, IT FORCED VEHICLE INTO A 360 DEGREE TURN, AND HEAD ON COLLISION INTO A CONCRETE BARRICADE. VEHICLE SWUNG AROUND AGAIN, AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
PAID FOR DIAGNOSTIC ON SRS SYSTEM-COMPUTER NEEDS REPLACING. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY ANOTHER CAR MADE A SUDDEN STOP, AND CONSUMER RAN INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER MOTORIST AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF.*JB
WHILE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITH OUT ANY IMPACT, FRONT AND DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS BLEWOUT. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *YD
AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON ALL DAY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND IT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED, OR AIR BAGS WILL MALFUNCTION IN A CRASH.*AKVEHICLE OWNER HAS BEEN SENT A FREE SERVICE REMINDER FOR TECHNICAL PROBLEMS WITH ON BOARD DIAGNOSTIC, THAT…
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AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON ALL DAY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND IT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED, OR AIR BAGS WILL MALFUNCTION IN A CRASH.*AKVEHICLE OWNER HAS BEEN SENT A FREE SERVICE REMINDER FOR TECHNICAL PROBLEMS WITH ON BOARD DIAGNOSTIC, THAT CAUSES IT TO NOT COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL CLEAN AIR ACT. *JG
WHILE DRIVING, AND UPON COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED CONSUMER, HOWEVER THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE MINOR INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PLEASE PROVIDE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.*JB
WHILE TRAVELING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET, BOTH AIRBAGS WENT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED.*AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 55 MPH, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK *JG
WHILE DRIVING, AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO STATED THAT CONTROL UNIT WAS BAD AND NEEDED REPLACED. *AK. *JB
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.