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1997 Honda CR-V

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Honda CR-V are lower than the model-year median of 400.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 25 of 108 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seats. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

31 reports
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59,886 miles · Feb 3, 2003
Electrical System

DEALER CHARGE FOR RECONNECTION OF THE ORIGINAL ALARM SYSTEM, AFTER DISCONNECTING FOR RECALL REPAIR. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH *TS

NHTSA ODI #10006253

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2002
Electrical System

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IGNITION SWITCH RECALLL PERFORMED. CONSUMER STATES SHE'S UNHAPPY HAVING TO PAY FOR THE ALARM TO BE RECONNECTED. PH

NHTSA ODI #568349

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2002
Electrical System

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE (02V120000) REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH AFTER ALREADY HAVING THE WORK COMPLETED OUT OF POCKET. CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. *JG

NHTSA ODI #568144

62,816 miles · Oct 30, 2002
Electrical System

THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE CONSUMER TO RECONNECT THE ALARM SYSTEM TO PERFORM THE RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. RECALL#02V120000 IGNITION SWITCH. TS *JG *JB

NHTSA ODI #8021882

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2002
Electrical System

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL (02V120000) REGARDING A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE THE ALARM THAT WAS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE WAS AN AFTERMARKET PRODUCT THEY WOULD NOT RECONNECT THE ALARM OR REIMBURSE CONSUMER THE COST OF HAVING SOMEONE ELSE TO RECONNECT IT, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT …

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CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL (02V120000) REGARDING A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE THE ALARM THAT WAS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE WAS AN AFTERMARKET PRODUCT THEY WOULD NOT RECONNECT THE ALARM OR REIMBURSE CONSUMER THE COST OF HAVING SOMEONE ELSE TO RECONNECT IT, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR HAVING THE ALARM RECONNECTED.*JB *DT

NHTSA ODI #567739

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2002
Electrical System

NHTSA RECALL 02V120000, IGNITION SWITCH; THE OWNER WISHES TO REGISTER A COMPLAINT THAT HONDA CORPORATION IS CHARGING HER TO HAVE THE ELECTRONIC ALARM REMOVED FROM HER VEHICLE. NLM

NHTSA ODI #8020037

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2002
Electrical System

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 02V12 REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE WOULD BE AN EXTRA CHARGE TO RECONNECT THE THE ALARM. THE ALARM WAS INSTALLED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND CONSUMER DOESN'T FEEL A CHARGE SHOULD IMPLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TO COME EQUIPPED WITH AN ALARM BUT DIDN'T. THE DEALER INS…

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CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 02V12 REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE WOULD BE AN EXTRA CHARGE TO RECONNECT THE THE ALARM. THE ALARM WAS INSTALLED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND CONSUMER DOESN'T FEEL A CHARGE SHOULD IMPLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TO COME EQUIPPED WITH AN ALARM BUT DIDN'T. THE DEALER INSTALLED THE ALARM BUT IT WAS AN AFTER MARKET ALARM AND NOT A HONDA ALARM THE REASON FOR THE CHARGE. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE THE SITUATION LOOKED INTO. *JG

NHTSA ODI #567517

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2002
Electrical System

DEALERSHIP WAS REFUSING TO PUT BACK THE MANUFACTED FACTORY INSTALLED ALARM SYSTEM IN AFTER THE RECALL FOR IGNITION SWITCH WAS COMPLETED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8018313

Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2002
Electrical System

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN, THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NLM THE ENGINE SHUT OFF 13 TIMES DUE TO IGNITION FAILURE. THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #8008004

Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2001
Electrical System

THE VEHICLE STALLS SUDDENLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON. SOMETIMES WHEN I FIRST START THE ENGINE AND IN IDLE, THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SHUT OFF BY ITSELF. OTHER TIMES I WILL BE DRIVING ON THE STREET AND THE ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY STOP. SOMETIMES THERE IS AN INDICATION THAT IT WILL STALL BECAUSE MOMENTS BEFORE IT DOES THE RPM GUAGE WILL…

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THE VEHICLE STALLS SUDDENLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON. SOMETIMES WHEN I FIRST START THE ENGINE AND IN IDLE, THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SHUT OFF BY ITSELF. OTHER TIMES I WILL BE DRIVING ON THE STREET AND THE ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY STOP. SOMETIMES THERE IS AN INDICATION THAT IT WILL STALL BECAUSE MOMENTS BEFORE IT DOES THE RPM GUAGE WILL DROP TO ZERO AND GO BACK TO WHERE IT WAS BEFORE BUT THEN THE CAR WILL STALL. OTHER TIMES THE ENGINE WILL JUST SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO HAVE A DIGANOSTIC DONE AT THE HONDA DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. WE HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE COMPUTER MODULE AND THE COILS FROM A PRIVATE AUTO MECHANIC. THE CAR RESTARTS AFTER STALLING BUT IT TAKES UP TO 5 TRYS TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT HAS STALLED ON THE FREEWAY AND IN TRAFFIC. *AK

NHTSA ODI #749287

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.

02V120000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

May 16, 2002

ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: WORN CONTACTS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Honda CR-V problems