Model year record

1997 Honda Accord

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

Honda Accord, 1994–1997 generation
Pictured: the 1994–1997 generation. IFCAR, Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

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.

Other Honda Accord model years

All Honda Accord recalls by year

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.