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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.

About this comparison →
373Owner complaints

Model-year median: 183.5

2Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
135
1994199
1995305
1996373
1997435
1998338
1999287
2000
Compare all Civic years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Air Bags
140Vehicle Speed Control
38Visibility
33Electrical System
30Tires
27
All reported categories
Engine And Engine Cooling
25Power Train
25Service Brakes, Hydraulic
22Structure
18Unknown Or Other
15Seat Belts
13Exterior Lighting
6Equipment
5Steering
5Suspension
5Interior Lighting
4Engine
3Fuel System, Gasoline
3Latches/locks/linkages
3Wheels
3Fuel/propulsion System
1Seats
1Service Brakes, Air
1

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

Suspension complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2017
Suspension

I ORDERED DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE VALUCRAFT BALL JOINT (PART NUMBER: VFA2084) FROM AUTOZONE.COM FOR MY CAR ,1997 HONDA CIVIC DX 2 DR COUPE ON 5/29/2016. THE BALL JOINTS WERE INSTALLED ON BOTH SIDES AND RAN FINE UNTIL ON 4/21/2017 BETWEEN 10-11PM PASSENGER SIDE VALUCRAFT BALL JOINT BROKE OFF BETWEEN STUD AND BALL WHILE I…

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I ORDERED DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE VALUCRAFT BALL JOINT (PART NUMBER: VFA2084) FROM AUTOZONE.COM FOR MY CAR ,1997 HONDA CIVIC DX 2 DR COUPE ON 5/29/2016. THE BALL JOINTS WERE INSTALLED ON BOTH SIDES AND RAN FINE UNTIL ON 4/21/2017 BETWEEN 10-11PM PASSENGER SIDE VALUCRAFT BALL JOINT BROKE OFF BETWEEN STUD AND BALL WHILE I WAS MAKING LEFT TURN WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNS. PASSENGER SIDE CV AXLE WAS PULLED OUT OF TRANSMISSION AND BROKE APART AT INNER BOOT AREA. ABOUT 2/3 OF TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OUT. PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL FELL INWARD. THE CAR?S BODY AROUND PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL AREA WAS DAMAGED. MY CAR COULDN?T BE MOVED AND HAD TO BE TOWED. FORTUNATELY, IT HAPPENED ON LOCAL ROAD AND NO OTHER CARS AROUND, OTHERWISE I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. *JS

NHTSA ODI #11021672

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2003
Suspension

VEHICLE HAS CONSTANTLY PULLED TO THE LEFT SINCE PURCHASE REGARDLESS OF SPEED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS, ALIGNMENTS WERE DONE AND TIRES REPLACED. THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10041997

Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 1999
StructureSuspensionVisibility

FRONT END NOISY AND SHAKES WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND UP. ALSO,WINDOW FELL OUT ON DRIVER'S SIDE, AND DOOR PANEL IS FALLING OFF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #835256

Mileage unknown · May 13, 1998
Suspension

AFTER RIGHT FRONT IS RAISED A NOISE EMINATES FROM LEFT/REAR QUARTER AS IF IT'S POPPING BACK INTO PLACE DUE TO A WEAK SEAM OR WELD.

NHTSA ODI #535485

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 1997
Suspension

THE BOLT IN THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS CROSS THREADED AND COMPLETELY LOOSE, IT CAME OUT OF THE SUSPENSION. THE BOLT IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO COMPLETELY LOOSE, COULD BE REMOVED WITH FINGERS. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #811403

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.

Go deeper into Honda Civic problems

Honda Civic transmission problems →Honda Civic electrical problems →