Problems · by component

1997 Honda Civic electrical system problems

31 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Honda Civic cite electrical system, 8% of all 383 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
31
8% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“"TAKATA RECALL" MY AIRBAGS WENT OFF WHEN I WAS TURNING AND WENT OVER A A BUMP, AND CRACKED MY WINDSHIELD REALLY BAD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE SRS RED LIGHT HAD BEEN ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME BEFORE THIS. WHEN THIS OCCURRED IT BLEW A FUSE AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. I DID NOT FILE A POLICE REPORT BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR THE CAR SO INSURANCE DID NOT NEED IT. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRING AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK AND WOULD HONK THE HORN WHEN I TRIED TO USE IT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 11, 2017Electrical system, Air bagsODI 10944444
“I HAD CAR COMPUTER PROBLEMS, AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEM AND PAINT ON CAR BODY IS CRACKING. THESE PROBLEMS STARTED TO HAPPEN GRADUALLY, COMPUTER PROBLEMS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD IN THE CITY; THE PAINT STARTED TO CRACK FOR MANY YEARS AND THE CAR LOOKS MISERABLE. THE AIR CONDITIONING BROKE DOWN DURING A SUMMER TIME, WHEN I HAD NO MONEY TO REPAIR IT AND HAD TO SUFFER DUE TO THE HIGH HEAT WEATHER. THERE IS ALSO A CRACK SOMEWHERE IN THE ENGINE, NOT SURE WHERE, WHICH CAN MAKE THINGS WORSE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 2, 2016Electrical system, Structure, EngineODI 10862668
“THE VTEC-E ON MY 1997 HONDA CIVIC HX IS NOT ENGAGING AT THE PROPER TIMES WHICH IS NOT ONLY AN ANNOYANCE WHEN DRIVING, BUT ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN IT ENGAGES AT LOW SPEEDS (WHICH IT SHOULD NOT DO) IN TRAFFIC LAUNCHING YOU FORWARD INTO THE BACK ENDS OF OTHER VEHICLES. HAS CAUSED (2) REARENDERS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 9, 2011Power train, Electrical systemCrash reportedODI 10399539
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION THE ENGINE REMAINED ON. THE CONTACT HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPAIRED FOUR YEARS AGO FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION IT WOULD ROLL BACKWARDS IF THE EMERGENCY BREAK WAS NOT ON. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE 1999 THROUGH 2004 HONDA CIVIC NOT HER YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 10, 2010Electrical systemODI 10348552
“I HAVE A 97 CIVIC DX AND SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL TURN OFF AND IS TO HARD TO CONTROL THE WHEELS, WHEN TURNS OFF THERE IS NO ENGINE LIGHTS & THE CAR DIES TOTALLY AND I TRY TO TURN THE CAR ON BUT IT WONT START I NEED TO WAIT FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES THEN I CAN TURN THE CAR AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN DOING SOME RESEARCH IN THE INTERNET AND IT SEEMS THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS TO POSSIBLE COULD BE THE IGNITION SWITCH. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 10, 2010Electrical systemODI 10308254
“WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE JUST QUITS. THERE IS NO STUTTERING, STALLING, OR ENGINE MISFIRES, IT QUIETLY JUST QUITS. THE RADIO, HEATER FAN, BRAKE LIGHTS STILL WORK BUT NOT THE SIGNAL LIGHTS. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM STARTED 1-2X A MONTH AND OVER A PERIOD OF 7 MONTHS HAS NOW BECOME AN EVERYDAY OCCURRENCE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 17, 2009Electrical systemODI 10262118

Showing 6 of 31 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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