Problems · by component

1997 Honda CR-V electrical system problems

31 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Honda CR-V cite electrical system, 29% of all 108 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
31
29% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) AND 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE LOCAL DEALER AUTONATION HONDA HOLLYWOOD (2400 N STATE RD 7, HOLLYWOOD, FL 33021) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 25, 2020Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11376316
“CAR WILL STOP SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ALL LIGHTS WILL COME ON POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT AND CAR WILL NOT RUN I WILL TURN IT OFF AND A FEW MINUTES LATER IT WILL START AGAIN USUALLY BUT THIS LAST TIME IT STOPPED AND WOULDNT START AGAIN IV HAD THE BATTERY ALTOGETHER AND STARTER CHECKED AT AUTO ZONE AND ALL ARE STRONG IV HAD THEM RUN A DEVICE ON IT TO SEE IF IT HAS ANY ERROR CODES AND IT HAS NON THEY SAID IT WAS THE FUEL FILTER AND IT WASNT IV CHANGED MY MAIN RELAY AND RAN FINE FOR 2 DAYS THEN IT STOPPED AGAIN WITH NO WARNING AND THAT'S WHEN IT WOULDNT START AGAIN ALL LIGHTS COME ON STEREO WORKS BUT CAR WONT TURN OVER”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 9, 2019Electrical system, EngineODI 11206620
“MY CR-V WILL STOP RUNNING SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. I FOUND THAT OTHER CR-V'S HAD A RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS WHAT MY CAR HAS.(A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS 200500 MILES IT HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND SERVICED REGULARLY AND IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. IT SEEMS THAT MY CAR HAVING THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS OF THE SAME YEAR IGNITION SWITCH RECALLS SHOULD BE COVERED AS WELL. WHILE DRIVING ANYWHERE BETWEEN 30 AND 55 M.P.H. THE CAR STALLS BECAUSE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND IT STARTS RIGHT BACK UP. IT WILL KEEP DOING THE EXACT SAME THING ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK NOW. IT STARTED OUT ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 23, 2017Electrical systemODI 10947091
“MY 1997 HONDA CR-V IS CUTTING OFF 5 OR MORE TIMES A DAY, GOING DOWN THE FREE WAY,IN MID TURNS, WHILE SETTING STILL, IT IS A VERY HUGE CONCERN OF MINE FOR THE SAFETY OF MY 3 CHILDREN AND I. EVERYTIME I NEED TO ROLL MY WINDOWS UP TO HAVE TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH A NOTCH FURTHER THAN NEEDED...ALMOST STARTING IT AGAIN FOR IT TO REGISTER..ON THE MIDDLE NOTCH THE DASH LIGHTS WON'T EVEN TURN ON..AND WHEN IT'S GOING TO CUT OFF THE GAUGES GO HAYWIRE...AND I CHECKED MY VIN # BUT NO RECALLS BUT FOR THE YEAR MAKE MODEL THERE IS...”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 29, 2016Electrical systemODI 10910578
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE PLACED THE IGNITION KEY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH AND TURNED IT, THE VEHICLE DID NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 26, 2015Electrical systemODI 10678832
“THE CAR STALLED AT 35 MPH AND THEN RESTARTED. IT DOES THIS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM, I FEEL THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS ADDRESSED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 2, 2011Electrical systemODI 10434046

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Electrical system: switch

Free remedy

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.

Electrical systemReported May 16, 2002NHTSA 02V120000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 8, 2026

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

Other 1997 CR-V problem areas