Worst 1997 Honda Civic Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Airbags
Air Bags:Frontal
Unintended Acceleration
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Honda Civic.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbags | 70 | 10 | 1 | 120,022 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 53 | 37 | — | 71,342 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 23 | 4 | — | 51,200 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 20 | 1 | — | 87,642 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 19 | 1 | — | 53,387 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 17 | 1 | — | 129,500 mi | |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 17 | — | — | 71,764 mi | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 12 | 2 | — | 105,000 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 9 | 2 | — | 111,012 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 9 | — | — | 112,530 mi | |
| Body Structure | 8 | — | — | 111,000 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 7 | 2 | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 6 | 1 | — | 85,000 mi | |
| Wiring & Fuses | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 | — | — | 110,000 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 6 | — | — | 90,000 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 5 | — | — | 40,000 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Interior Lighting | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Side/Rear Glass | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 3 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1997 Honda Civic. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 1997 Honda Civic
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~1,439,841 vehicles.
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.
Other Honda Civic Years
1997 Honda Civic — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1997 Honda Civic reliable?
What are common problems with the 1997 Honda Civic?
At what mileage do problems start on the 1997 Honda Civic?
How safe is the 1997 Honda Civic?
Does the 1997 Honda Civic have any recalls?
Should I buy a 1997 Honda Civic?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Honda Civic reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1997 Honda Civic
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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