1997 Honda CR-V Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 1997 Honda CR-V. Part of Generation 1 — 1997–2001.

< older1998
Complaints
129
Crashes
15
Fires
1
Injuries
10
Fatalities
Recalls
1

Worst 1997 Honda CR-V Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#122 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:107,500 mi
Crash-related:2
#213 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:176,511 mi
#311 complaints

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch

Avg mileage:62,939 mi
Considering a 1997 Honda CR-V?

Check the actual VIN — every car is different.

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).

Check VIN Free

All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Honda CR-V.

Airbags
22
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
107,500
Electrical Faults
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
176,511
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
62,939
Unintended Acceleration
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Ignition
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
59,886
Tire Defects
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
76,472
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner
5
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Frontal
4
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine Problems
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Automatic Transmission
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Tires:Tread/Belt
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Side/Window
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Srs Malfunction Warning Lamp/Light
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel Pump
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Parking-Brake Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1997 Honda CR-V. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 1997 Honda CR-V

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~1,439,841 vehicles.

20V026000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~1,439,841 affected

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 CR-V Years

1997 Honda CR-V — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 1997 Honda CR-V reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1997 Honda CR-V has 129 NHTSA complaints, 15 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Airbags with 22 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1997 Honda CR-V?
Top reported problems: Airbags (22 complaints, avg 107,500 mi); Electrical Faults (13 complaints, avg 176,511 mi); Electrical System:Ignition:Switch (11 complaints, avg 62,939 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1997 Honda CR-V?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 105,593 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1997 Honda CR-V?
NHTSA complaints for the 1997 Honda CR-V include 15 crash-related reports, 1 fire reports, 10 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1997 Honda CR-V have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 1,439,841 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 1997 Honda CR-V?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Honda CR-V reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 1997 Honda CR-V

Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.

Check Any VIN — $4.99