RecallMyCar

1997 Honda Accord Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 1997 Honda Accord, and owners have filed 460 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
460
owner complaints to NHTSA
42 / 10
complaints citing a crash / fire
19–25
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 1997 Honda Accord

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Switch (electrical system)

    NHTSA 02V120000 Reported 1,000,000 vehicles potentially affected AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.

    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.

    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…

  2. Suspension: lower ball joint

    NHTSA 99V069000 Reported 124,875 vehicles potentially affected AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front suspension lower ball joints.

  3. Electrical system: front underhood

    NHTSA 98V231000 Reported 967,771 vehicles potentially affected AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.

    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.

    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…

460 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1997 Honda Accord have filed 460 complaints with NHTSA; 42 describe a crash and 10 describe a fire. Reports cite 31 injuries and 9 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 115,271 miles. Complaints peaked in 2002 with 77 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The contact owns a 1997 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH and attempting to slow down, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle return”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 7, 2023 · Electrical system

“I bought this car from a private owner about 2 months ago ever since I had it the car shuts off I think it O2 sensor is not working or it's gone the CV joint went out on the right side I had it replac”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 18, 2023 · Engine

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1997 Honda Accord (Accord Wagon). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined19–25 mpg
City / Highway17–22 / 23–29
FuelRegular
EPA classCompact Cars, Small Station Wagons
Engine4/6 cyl, 2.2/2.7 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Honda Accord model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Honda Accord model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1976 Honda Accord10
1977 Honda Accord10
1978 Honda Accord10
1979 Honda Accord12
1980 Honda Accord02
1981 Honda Accord07
1982 Honda Accord210
1983 Honda Accord17
1984 Honda Accord222
1985 Honda Accord113
1986 Honda Accord254
1987 Honda Accord3111
1988 Honda Accord288
1989 Honda Accord186
1990 Honda Accord2192
1991 Honda Accord3212
1992 Honda Accord2206
1993 Honda Accord1186
1994 Honda Accord1369
1995 Honda Accord2543
1996 Honda Accord1472
1997 Honda Accord3460
1998 Honda Accord61,200
1999 Honda Accord41,135
2000 Honda Accord81,183
2001 Honda Accord7922
2002 Honda Accord51,050
2003 Honda Accord131,987
2004 Honda Accord131,017
2005 Honda Accord15656
2006 Honda Accord12430
2007 Honda Accord9524
2008 Honda Accord81,520
2009 Honda Accord10725
2010 Honda Accord12580
2011 Honda Accord9296
2012 Honda Accord8373
2013 Honda Accord51,422
2014 Honda Accord4981
2015 Honda Accord5601
2016 Honda Accord4608
2017 Honda Accord3538
2018 Honda Accord61,888
2019 Honda Accord6691
2020 Honda Accord5363
2021 Honda Accord4239
2022 Honda Accord4253
2023 Honda Accord587
2024 Honda Accord3146
2025 Honda Accord087
2026 Honda Accord010

Checking a specific 1997 Honda Accord

How do I know if my 1997 Honda Accord has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1997 Honda Accord; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Honda dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V120000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Honda models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.