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1997 Honda Accord

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Honda Accord do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 356.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

128 reports with mileage · 332 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 113 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 96 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

42 crash reports10 fire reports24 injury reports

Service Brakes, Air complaints

4 reports
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107,000 miles · Oct 2, 2010
Service Brakes, Air

MY 1997 HONDA ACCORD EX WITH 107,000 MILES THAT I HAD OWNED SINCE BRAND NEW AND HAD SERVICED ROUTINELY DEVELOPED AN ABS BRAKING PROBLEM. MY BRAKES WERE DETERMINED TO BE OK AND THE ABS LIGHT DID NOT COME ON, BUT WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES THEY WOULD MAKE A LOUD AND SLOW "CLICK CLICK" SOUND, THE ABS BUZZING SOUND OCCURRED, THE B…

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MY 1997 HONDA ACCORD EX WITH 107,000 MILES THAT I HAD OWNED SINCE BRAND NEW AND HAD SERVICED ROUTINELY DEVELOPED AN ABS BRAKING PROBLEM. MY BRAKES WERE DETERMINED TO BE OK AND THE ABS LIGHT DID NOT COME ON, BUT WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES THEY WOULD MAKE A LOUD AND SLOW "CLICK CLICK" SOUND, THE ABS BUZZING SOUND OCCURRED, THE BRAKES WOULD PUSH UP AND THE CAR WOULD LURCH FORWARD. DEALER REPLICATED THE ISSUE AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS LIKELY THE MODULATOR NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE ON HERE- PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10358843

70,490 miles · Sep 30, 2003
Service Brakes, AirService Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS SYSTEM WASL LEAKING COST$ 640 TO REPAIR. THEN FOUND THAT ABS MODULATOR HAD FAILED WHICH COST OVER $940 TO REPLACE. WHAT KIND OF BRAKE DESIGN IS THIS? TOTAL RIPOFF. NEVER AGAIN HONDA.

NHTSA ODI #10040941

Mileage unknown · May 5, 2003
Service Brakes, Air

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION.

NHTSA ODI #10018176

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 1998
Service Brakes, AirService Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES BECOMING LESS EFFECTIVE AND THAT THEY EMITTED GRIND AND SCREECH WHEN APPLIED, FRONT BAKE PADS CRACKED RIGHT DOWN THE CENTER ALL FOUR OF THEM.

NHTSA ODI #531325

Official recalls

3

02V120000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

May 16, 2002

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: WORN CONTACTS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.

99V069000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

May 10, 1999

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.

98V231000 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood

Sep 22, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SEDAN, COUPE AND WAGON PASSENGER VEHICLES EXCEPT THE DX MODEL AND MODELS WITH V6 ENGINES. THE FACTORY INSTALLED AIR CONDITIONER WIRE HARNESS WAS IMPROPERLY ROUTED ALLOWING SOME WIRES TO RUB AGAINST EACH OTHER, EVENTUALLY CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE SHORT CIRCUIT CANPOSSIBLY CAUSE THE UNDERHOOD WIREING TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE, CAUSING A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A SHORT CIRCUIT CAN ALSO RESULT IN A BLOWN FUSE OR DEAD BATTERY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR PROPER ROUTING OF THESE WIRES. ANY HARNESS IMPROPERLY ROUTED WILL BE INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE AND THE ROUTING WILL BE CORRECTED. IF ANY INSULATION IS WORN THROUGH AND THE COPPER WIRES ARE EXPOSED, THE HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSTALL PLASTIC TUBING TO PROTECT THE HARNESS.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Honda Accord problems