1997 Honda ACCORD problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
360 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
107,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 128 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 61 of 360 complaints (16.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 34 | 9.4% |
| Engine operation | 30 | 8.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 26 | 7.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 18 | 5.0% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 0.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 61 |
| Electrical System | 32 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 31 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 23 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 18 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 15 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 14 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 13 |
Air Bags: 61; Electrical System: 32; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 31; Vehicle Speed Control: 23; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 18; Electrical System:Ignition: 15; Air Bags:Frontal: 14; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 13
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 24 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 22 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 32 |
| 150,000 and above | 37 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 24; 75,000 to 99,999: 22; 100,000 to 149,999: 32; 150,000 and above: 37
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (37). 232 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 37 |
| 2001 | 53 |
| 2002 | 77 |
| 2003 | 34 |
| 2004 | 33 |
| 2005 | 17 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 22 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 11 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2023 | 3 |
2000: 37; 2001: 53; 2002: 77; 2003: 34; 2004: 33; 2005: 17; 2006: 10; 2007: 3; 2008: 6; 2009: 10; 2010: 22; 2011: 7; 2012: 11; 2013: 5; 2014: 11; 2015: 9; 2016: 3; 2017: 2; 2018: 3; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 2; 2023: 3
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 34 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 30 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 26 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10018176 · 2003-05-05 (May 5, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018176 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026053 · 2003-07-14 (July 14, 2003)
I DROVE TO A RESTAURANT ABOUT ONE MILE FROM MY HOUSE AND PARKED NOSE-IN TO A CURB IN A PARKING LOT. I PLACED THE CAR IN FIRST GEAR, AS ALWAYS, AND ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. AS I AND MY THREE COMPANIONS LEFT THE CAR, I CLICKED THE REMOTE KEYLESS LOCK, AS I USUALLY DO. AFTER DINNER, WE CAME OUT TO RETURN HOME. MY HUSBAND WAS TO DRIVE BACK, SO I AGAIN USED MY REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY CLICKER AND THE CAR UNLOCKED. MY HUSBAND HELD OPEN THE PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT DOOR FOR ME, AND I SAT IN THE FRONT SEAT, THE CLICKER IN MY HAND, BUT NO BUTTON AC…
Owner-reported narrative. 73,206 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026053 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044780 · 2003-10-27 (October 27, 2003)
RECALL 02V120000 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THIS RECALL LAST YEAR. HOWEVER, THE STALLING PROBLEM RECURRED. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE REPAIRS WERE DONE, AND HE WAS NOT OBLIGATED TO REPAIR IT AGAIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 165,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044780 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032863 · 2003-08-14 (August 14, 2003)
TRANSMISSION ON MY 1997 HONDA ACCORD LX V4 FAILED PREMATURELY AT 58000 MILES, AND HONDA REFUSED TO HELP IN ANY WAY, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD HISTORY OF SUCH PROBLEMS, AND EVEN HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR SUCH PROBLEMS ON NEWER HONDA AND ACURA BRANDED VEHICLES.THE REASON FOR REFUSAL WAS THAT THEY DIDN'T PROVIDE GOODWILL ASSISTANCE TO VEHICLES MORE THAN 5 YEARS OLD.BUT THE BOTTOM LINE WAS THAT I HAVE MAINTAINED THIS VEHICLE WELL SO THIS WAS A MANUFECTURING DEFECT, AND THERE WAS CERTAIN QUALITY AND DURABILITY THAT WAS EXPECTED FROM ANY PRODUCT, AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 58,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032863 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10138723 · 2005-10-05 (October 5, 2005)
SRS LIGHT ON 1997 HONDA ACCORD COMING ON. DIAGNOSED FOR $85. BATTERY REPLACED. A WEEK LATER IT CAME BACK ON AND STAYED ON. AFTER ANOTHER $85, TOLD THAT SRS SYSTEM IS BAD, AND IT WILL BE $830 TO REPLACE. I SEE ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND LEARN THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS UPGRADED. I BOUGHT THE HONDA BECAUSE OF ITS HIGH RELIABILITY AND WOULD APPRECIATE BEING REFUNDED BY HONDA. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 75,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138723 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10202884 · 2007-09-13 (September 13, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH OR GREATER, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE PGMFI RELAY WAS THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 184,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 179,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10202884 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047956 · 2003-11-13 (November 13, 2003)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON/OFF. VEHICLE WAS ASSESSED BY HONDA. THE CONTROL UNIT IN THE STEERING MALFUNCTIONED, THUS DISABLING THE AIR BAGS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047956 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10404505 · 2011-06-05 (June 5, 2011)
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT SUMMARY: 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. CONSEQUENCES: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED. MY CAR VIN IS NOT LISTED UNDER THIS RECALL BUT I JUST HAD AN ESTIMATE TO FIX THOSE EXACT PARTS. THE SWAYBAR BUSHING IS BREAKING…
Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10404505 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063615 · 2004-03-22 (March 22, 2004)
FUEL TANK LEAKING AT SEAMS.....RUSTED. REPLACEMENT WAS PERFORMED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 69,178 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063615 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10343779 · 2010-07-17 (July 17, 2010)
I HAVE HAD MY 1997 HONDA ACCORD LX 4CYL FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS. I HAVE SEARCHED THIS PROBLEM JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE, AND WHILE I'VE SEEN THE PROBLEM REPORTED IN HUNDREDS OF HONDA OWNERS, I HAVE YET TO SEE A SOLID SOLUTION. PROBLEM: CAR SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING, STRONG FUEL/GAS SMELL WHEN THIS HAPPENS, DASH LIGHTS SHUTTING OFF AND GOING BLACK, DOOR LOCKS JUMPING UP AND DOWN MY CAR IS SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING - WHETHER I'M ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET, OR GOING 75 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE BEEN BLESSED NOT TO BE HIT BY ANOTHER CAR WHEN THIS HAPP…
Owner-reported narrative. 186,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10343779 at NHTSA ↗