Problems · by component
1997 Honda Accord vehicle speed control problems
38 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Honda Accord cite vehicle speed control, 8% of all 467 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
38
8% of all complaints
Crashes
17
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
14
Reported by owners
What owners say about the vehicle speed control
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
“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.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,899. UPDATED 09/03/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR WAS REPLACED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. UPDATED 12/8/2015*JS”
“I HAVE NOTICED THIS PROBLEM FOR THE PAST 2+ WINTERS ON MY CAR. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS GOING HOME FROM WORK ON A COLD WINTER NIGHT. I GOT THE FREEWAY AND ACCELERATED TO 55 MPH. I THEN SET THE CRUISE CONTROL (AS I NORMALLY DO IN LIGHT TRAFFIC). I NOTICED THAT THE CAR'S ENGINE WAS STILL REVVING A LOT MORE THAN IT SHOULD. I LOOKED DOWN AND NOTICED THAT I WAS DOING 70 MPH. I IMMEDIATELY STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. I CONTINUED TO NOTICE THIS ISSUE ALL WINTER. I SET THE CRUISE AT 40 MPH AND NOTICED THAT IT WENT UP BY ABOUT 20 MPH ABOVE THE SETTING BEFORE IT FINALLY STOPPED ACCELERATING AND SETTLED BACK TO THE CRUISE SET SPEED (OR CLOSE TO IT). IN THE WARM WEATHER THIS PROBLEM DISAPPEARS. *TR”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS TO HIS HANDS DUE TO THE AIR BAG AND WAS ALSO SUFFERING FROM BACK PAIN. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN RIB AND PAIN TO HER ENTIRE BODY. THE CONTACT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WERE UNDERGOING PHYSICAL THERAPY TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN AN ALLEY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE WALL BEFORE INDEPENDENTLY COMING TO A STOP. THE CONTACT AND HIS WIFE SUSTAINED INJURIES AS A RESULT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 160,000. UPDATED 10/24/12*LJ UPDATED 10/25/2012 *JS”
Showing 6 of 38 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.