1997 Honda CIVIC: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
285 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
88,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 93 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 64 of 285 complaints (22.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 25 | 8.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 21 | 7.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 15 | 5.3% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 2.8% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 0.7% |
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 | 64 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 39 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 20 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 19 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 16 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 15 |
| Tires | 13 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
Air Bags: 64; Air Bags:Frontal: 39; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 20; Vehicle Speed Control: 19; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 16; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 15; Tires: 13; Electrical System: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 18 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 24 |
| 150,000 and above | 15 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 24; 150,000 and above: 15
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (24). 192 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 | 63 |
| 2001 | 42 |
| 2002 | 44 |
| 2003 | 28 |
| 2004 | 26 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 13 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2000: 63; 2001: 42; 2002: 44; 2003: 28; 2004: 26; 2005: 15; 2006: 13; 2007: 5; 2008: 8; 2009: 4; 2010: 6; 2011: 3; 2012: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 4; 2015: 4; 2016: 5; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 5; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 21 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 15 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10003802 · 2003-01-14 (January 14, 2003)
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND IT HAD DETERIORATED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003802 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004880 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)
SRS LIGHT CAME ON 1/24/03 AND STAYED ON. TOOK TO DEALER, MANCHESTER HONDA, ON 1/28/03 FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD SRS UNIT FAILURE CODE 7-2. I HAVE A 1997 HONDA CIVI WITH 71,464 MILES ON IT. THE PART THAT NEEDS REPLACEMENT IS #77960-S04-N81. THE PART COSTS $368.70 AND THE INSTALLATION CHARGE QUOTED FOR ME WAS $72.00. IT COST ME 85.86 TO HAVE THE PROBLEM DIAGOSED. THE SERVICE REPAIR MAN INSISTED THIS WAS NOT A DEFECTIVE PART, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. I'VE RESEARCHED YOUR WEB SITE AND FOUND NUMBEROUS BULLETINS DETAILING FAILURE OF THE SRS SY…
Owner-reported narrative. 71,464 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004880 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005293 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FEELS ROUGH OR NOTCHY WHEN YOU PRESS IT. THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND PROPERLY WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS AND ARE REQUIRED TO MOVE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO MAKE SLIGHT SPEED ADJUSTMENTS. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED FOR 1996 HONDA CIVIC. I HAVE IT ON MY 1997 CIVIC. HONDA WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM ON MY 1997 CIVIC. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFTEY HAZARD. IF THE THROTTLE CABLE STICKING PROBLEM BECOMES WORSE, IT COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO STICK WIDE OPEN.
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005293 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005400 · 2003-02-06 (February 6, 2003)
I PURCHASED AN AUTOMATIC 1997 HONDA CIVIC EX FROM COSTA MESA HONDA IN COSTA MESA, CA ON MARCH 11, 2000. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH 27,000 MILES ON IT. TODAY (2/6/03) THE CAR HAS A TOTAL OF 50,734 MILES ON IT. I HAVE PERSONALLY ONLY DRIVEN 24,000 MILES IN A TOTAL OF 3 YEARS. THE TRANSMISSION IS TOAST AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE HAVE BEEN TRANSMISSION RECALLS/ WARRANTY EXTENSIONS ON OTHER HONDA MAKES AND MODELS. THE '97 CIVIC UNFORTUNATELY IS NOT ONE OF THEM. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO A MECHANIC NOT AFFILIATED WITH HONDA FOR A "SECOND…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005400 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005531 · 2003-02-09 (February 9, 2003)
SRS LIGHT STAYED ON. DEALER STATED "BAD UNIT", COST UNIT:$495.00 LABOR:$119.25 MILEAGE:43,203 THIS IS MY THIRD HONDA, BUT THE FIRST TO GIVE ANY PROBLEMS. ALTHOUGH I COULD FIND NO RECALL ISSUED ABOUT SRS UNITS IN HONDA'S, I DID FIND 47 COMPLAINTS FILED WITH NHTSA(NOT COUNTING MINE). I DIDN'T INCLUDE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF FAILURE TO DEPLOY AIRBAGS, AIRBAGS DEPLOYING W/O CAUSE AND AIRBAGS DE…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,203 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005531 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005607 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)
THE DASHBOARD (INTERIOR DISPLAY) LIGHTING HAS ENTIRELY GONE OUT OR IS ONLY PARTIALLY WORKING.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005607 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007726 · 2003-02-18 (February 18, 2003)
SINCE OCT '02, I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN AND OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO THE RECALL FOR EMISSIONS. EACH TIME, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON, I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED. THE FIRST TIME, THE COMPUTER WENT BAD AND WAS REPLACED. THE SECOND TIME, THE O2 SENSOR WENT BAD AND THE CAR STALLED OUT ON A BUSY INTERSTATE IN NC WHERE CONSTRUCTION IS BEING DONE AND THERE ARE NO SHOULDERS TO PULL OFF ON. I BELIEVE HONDA SHOULD REPLACE THE ENTIRE EMISSIONS SYSTEM COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY INSTEAD OF COSTING THEIR CONSUMERS TI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007726 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008350 · 2003-03-03 (March 3, 2003)
POWER WINDOWS FAIL. THE INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 7 TIMES IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS. SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES SAY THAT ONE MUST LUBRICATE THE WINDOW RUNNERS. THE OWNER'S MANUAL EITHER FAILS TO MENTION THIS MAINTENANCE OR THE EXISTENCE OF SUCH MAINTENANCE. THE PART IS ALWAYS REPLACED AND ALWAYS FAILS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 107,587 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008350 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
20V026000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2020-01-17 (January 17, 2020)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999 Isuzu Oasis vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138 or Isuzu customer service at 1-800-255-6727.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V193000 · Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 1997-11-01 (November 1, 1997)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULES HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED. THE CLOTH FLAPS COVERING THE FOLDED AIR BAG MAY HAVE BEEN TUCKED IN TOO FAR.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD PREVENT PROPER DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. IN A CRASH, AN IMPROPER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE FRONT PASSENGER'S AIR BAG MODULE TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM FROM OCCURRING.
NHTSA campaign record ↗