Every recall campaign and owner complaint the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration holds for the 1997 Honda Accord. Nothing on this page is written from memory — it is all imported from NHTSA's public database.
3 recall campaigns filed by Honda for the 1997 Accord, newest first.
| Campaign | Component | What the recall says |
|---|---|---|
| 02V120000 2002-05-16 |
Electrical System Ignition Switch |
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.
Risk: WORN CONTACTS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Fix: 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. |
| 99V069000 1999-05-10 |
Suspension Front Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint |
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH BALL JOINTS THAT CAN PREMATURELY WEAR OUT AND, IN THE WORSE CASE, THE BALL JOINT WOULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE.
Risk: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED. Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS. |
| 98V231000 1998-09-22 |
Electrical System Wiring Front Underhood |
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SEDAN, COUPE AND WAGON PASSENGER VEHICLES EXCEPT THE DX MODEL AND MODELS WITH V6 ENGINES. THE FACTORY INSTALLED AIR CONDITIONER WIRE HARNESS WAS IMPROPERLY ROUTED ALLOWING SOME WIRES TO RUB AGAINST EACH OTHER, EVENTUALLY CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT.
Risk: THE SHORT CIRCUIT CANPOSSIBLY CAUSE THE UNDERHOOD WIREING TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE, CAUSING A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A SHORT CIRCUIT CAN ALSO RESULT IN A BLOWN FUSE OR DEAD BATTERY. Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR PROPER ROUTING OF THESE WIRES. ANY HARNESS IMPROPERLY ROUTED WILL BE INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE AND THE ROUTING WILL BE CORRECTED. IF ANY INSULATION IS WORN THROUGH AND THE COPPER WIRES ARE EXPOSED, THE HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSTALL PLASTIC… |
Summaries are quoted verbatim from NHTSA's official campaign records. A single campaign often covers dozens of model years and several nameplates, so a summary may name vehicles other than the 1997 Accord — that is normal. Every record listed here carries this vehicle's own make, model and model year in NHTSA's database. Whether a recall is still open on a particular car can only be determined by VIN.
484 owner complaints on file with NHTSA for the 1997 Accord, grouped by the component owners reported. Counts reflect how many owners complained, not how often the fault actually occurs.
| Reported component | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags 11 crash, 1 fire, 9 injured, 8 fatal |
103 | |
| Electrical System 2 crash, 5 fire, 1 injured |
79 | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling 1 fire |
43 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control 16 crash, 12 injured, 1 fatal |
31 | |
| Power Train | 25 | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic 2 crash |
25 | |
| Seat Belts 1 crash |
22 | |
| Suspension 1 crash, 1 injured |
21 | |
| Tires 1 crash |
15 | |
| Structure | 14 | |
| Visibility | 12 | |
| Equipment | 12 |
A complaint is an unverified owner report. It is a signal about where to look, not proof of a defect.
Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaint filings on this model year. These are the owners' own words, not our diagnosis, and each one is a single unverified report.
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND MY SRS LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS NOT WENT OFF. I HAVE NOT HIT ANYTHING AND I WAS JUST DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN IT JUST CAME ON.
filed 11/30/2017 · ODI 11051464
THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY ARE CHARGING A LOT TO REPAIR IT. I HAVE NOT DONE THE REPAIR . HOW COME AIR BAG RELATED SRS LIGHT CAN COME WHILE JUST DRIVING AND WHY DO I NEED TO PAY FOR IT ? IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY MANUFACTURER
filed 08/21/2015 · ODI 10750414
The contact owns a 1997 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH and attempting to slow down, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality however, the failure became a persistent failure. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. However, the contact stated that the battery, carburetor, and alternator were replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The contact related the failure to NHTSA
filed 09/07/2023 · ODI 11543180
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN PROMPTED. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AS THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.
filed 08/07/2018 · ODI 11118383
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE AND PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 152,587. UPDATED 08/24/11 *BF UPDATED 08/29/11
filed 03/01/2011 · ODI 10386075
1997 HONDA ACCORD VEHICLE WITH A LEAKING AND CORRODED RADIATOR. CONSUMER STATES THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED IN 2008 AND NOW IT IS LEAKING AGAIN. THERE IS CORROSION ON THE BACK AND FRONT OF THE RADIATOR. *KB THE THERMOSTAT WAS STUCK OPEN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. *JB
filed 12/06/2010 · ODI 10368977
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD LX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH (THE CRUSE CONTROL ON), WHEN ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO AVOID THE VEHICLES IN FRONT, WENT IN TO AN EMBANKMENT, AND THEN CAME OUT ONTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT GOT STRIKED BY A PICK UP TRUCK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PASSENGER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE, TREATED AND RELEASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILUR Crash reported
filed 05/28/2019 · ODI 11210337
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SEVERELY HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 255,015. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
filed 02/08/2016 · ODI 10824806
A recall only matters if it is open on your car. The lists above are for the model year as a whole; the free official lookup below tells you what applies to your specific 17-character VIN.
Free, official, and takes about thirty seconds. No account needed.
Yes. NHTSA records 3 recall campaigns filed by Honda for the 1997 Accord. The most recent is campaign 02V120000, filed 2002-05-16, covering Electrical System › Ignition › Switch.
The most-reported component is Air Bags with 103 of the 484 owner complaints on file, including 11 reports involving a crash. Complaint counts show where owners report trouble; they are not proof of a defect.
484 complaints with NHTSA for the 1997 Accord, spread across 61 reported component groups.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA's free recall lookup. Recalls are applied per vehicle, so the model-year lists above cannot tell you whether your particular car is covered.