Problems · NHTSA complaints

1997 Honda Accord problems

Owners filed 467 complaints about the 1997 Honda Accord with NHTSA between Jun 1996 and Sep 2023. The most-cited component is air bags (114).

Complaints
467
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
42
Reported by owners
Fires
10
Reported by owners
Injuries
33
People reported injured
Deaths
9
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags114
  2. Electrical system94
  3. Engine and engine cooling47
  4. Vehicle speed control38
  5. Power train33
  6. Service brakes, hydraulic31
  7. Suspension28
  8. Seat belts23
  9. Tires17
  10. Equipment14
  11. Structure12
  12. Visibility12
  13. Steering11
  14. Engine10

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19962
199717
199833
199952
200037
200153
200277
200334
200433
200518
200611
20074
20086
200910
201022
20117
201211
20135
201411
20159
20163
20172
20183
20191
20201
20212
20220
20233

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

114 reports15 crashes1 fire
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 30, 2017Air bagsODI 11051464

Electrical system

94 reports2 crashes6 fires2 related recalls
“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 Campaign Number: 02V120000 (Electrical System) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 7, 2023Electrical systemODI 11543180

Engine and engine cooling

47 reports1 crash1 fire
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 1, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10386075

Vehicle speed control

38 reports17 crashes
“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 FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000. *BF*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 28, 2019Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 11210337

Power train

33 reports1 crash1 fire
“While driving car speed starts to fall soon there is no pedal at all and smoke and fire come from underneath dashboard transmission hesitates to shift now currently un safe to drive.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 30, 2021Power train, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemFire reportedODI 11434991

Service brakes, hydraulic

31 reports3 crashes
“1997 HONDA ACCORD EX FAILED ABS MODULATOR. IT SEEMS THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THIS PART BEING A HIGH FAILURE ITEM. HONDA JUST SITS BACK AND CHARGES 1300 DOLLARS TO REPLACE A SAFETY ITEM. PLEASE HONDA MAKE THIS A RECALL AND START TAKING CARE OF YOUR CUSTOMERS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 4, 2010Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10323684
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.