Model year record

1997 Honda Accord

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 546 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 02V120000

Electrical system: ignition: switch

Component
Electrical system: ignition: switch
Manufacturer
AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.
Vehicles affected
1,000,000
Reported to NHTSA
2002-05-16
Owners notified
2002-06-14

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 99V069000

Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint

Component
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint
Manufacturer
AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.
Vehicles affected
124,875
Reported to NHTSA
1999-05-10
Owners notified
1999-05-17

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.

Recall campaignNHTSA 98V231000

Electrical system: wiring: front underhood

Component
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood
Manufacturer
AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.
Vehicles affected
967,771
Reported to NHTSA
1998-09-22
Owners notified
1998-10-08

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Air bags6678,000 mi
Electrical system32180,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: switch32115,000 mi
Vehicle speed control32155,899 mi
Air bags: frontal27
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module1967,697 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline17
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip17111,650 mi
Electrical system: ignition16131,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine14118,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner1347,112 mi
Power train1369,550 mi
Power train: automatic transmission1380,000 mi
Tires1140,000 mi
Engine10185,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint10107,000 mi
Unknown or other10235,000 mi
Suspension: front8120,000 mi
Seat belts7405,000 mi
Seat belts: front: anchorage7
Suspension658,987 mi
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly5
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components5
Visibility: power window devices and controls576,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring4
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood4
Engine and engine cooling470,000 mi
Seat belts: front: retractor4
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc4
Steering4144,000 mi
Structure: body: door4
Air bags: side/window397,132 mi
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers398,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe3794,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter358,500 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic340,000 mi
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar3
Structure: body3120,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: linkages3
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery2
Electrical system: ignition: anti-theft: control module2
Electrical system: ignition: module2
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash2
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system275,757 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys257,900 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control2
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor2
Equipment2311,400 mi
Exterior lighting2230,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system2192,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)2
Seats2
Service brakes293,850 mi
Service brakes, air: antilock: ABS warning light270,490 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads2
Steering: column locking: anti-theft device2
Structure241,000 mi
Structure: body: trunk lid2
Suspension: front: control arm2
Suspension: front: macpherson strut255,000 mi
Suspension: rear255,000 mi
Tires: sidewall2
Tires: tread/belt2153,307 mi
Vehicle speed control: cables271,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system2
Visibility: windshield2
Child seat: tether: strap/webbing1
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery: cables1
Electrical system: horn1
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan1
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system1
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)1
Equipment adaptive/mobility1192,000 mi
Equipment: mechanical: accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift1
Equipment: other: owners/service/other manual1
Exterior lighting: headlights1
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump1
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system1
Fuel system, gasoline: storage169,178 mi
Fuel system, other1
Interior lighting1
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch1
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift1
Power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch155,000 mi
Power train: axle assembly192,190 mi
Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft: seal1
Power train: manual transmission1
Seat belts: front1
Seats: front assembly: power adjust1
Seats: front assembly: recliner1
Service brakes, air1107,000 mi
Service brakes, air: disc: pads1
Service brakes, electric1
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module170,490 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: brake fluid low warning: lamp1311,400 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder1
Steering: linkages1
Steering: linkages: knuckle: spindle: arm1
Steering: rack and pinion1
Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments1
Structure: frame and members1
Suspension: rear: shock absorber1
Tires: valve1
Vehicle speed control: cruise control186,500 mi
Visibility189,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: fan/motor1
Visibility: glass, side/rear1
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly1
Wheels1
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs1
Wheels: rim1

The 1996 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 1998 model has about a third as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.