TIRES PULL VEHICLE TO LEFT/ RIGHT. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
1997 Honda Accord complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1997 record →
WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY WHILE GOING UP HILL. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE REASON WAS A DEFECTIVE THROTTLE CABLE. CONSUMER INFORMED BY MANUFACTURER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF RECALL 99I002000. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
ON 3/26/01 MONDAY, WHILE TRAVELING FROM HWY 80 FROM FAIRFIELD, CA TO VALLEJO CA. MY HONDA ACCORD BEGAN TO DISPLAY "UNINTENDED ACCELERATION". MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS "OFF". HOWEVER, THE ACCORD WAS ACCELERATING BY ITSELF. IT FELT THE CAR WAS ON CRUISE CONTROL. WHILE GOING UPHILL, IT BEGAN TO SPEED UP INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN. THE ONLY WAY I CAN SLOW MY VEHICLE WAS TO DOWNSHIFT AT 2ND OR 3RD GEAR. MY ACCORD IS AN AUTOMATIC. I HAD TO PERIODICALLY PRESS THE BRAKES BECAUSE THE CAR WAS APPROACHINGS SPEEDS UP TO 80 MPH. AFTER 5 MILES OF SHEER TERROR, I DECIDED TO EXIT ON AN OFFRAMP AND WHILE THE ACCORD WAS STOPPED, THE ACCORD BEGAN IDLING VERY HIGH. APPLYING THE BRAKES TOOK EFFORT. BECAUSE, ONCE I LET GO, THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE BY ITSELF. FINALLY, I REACHED THE HONDA DEALERSHIP-AVERY GREEN MOTORS. UNTIL NOW, THE CAR IS STILL THERE, BECAUSE THE THROTTLE CABLE IS IN BACK ORDER. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 99I002000 FOR FUEL THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL IS WHAT I SUSPECT IS THE DEFECT THAT IS OCCURING WITH THE ACCORD. ORIGINALLY, THE DEALER QUOTED AN ESTIMATE OF $90.00. THEN, I RECEIVED A CALL THAT I HAVE A BAD THROTTLE CABLE AND IT SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE ESITMATE WAS APPROXIMATELY $500.00. THE MANUFACTUER/DEALER SHOULD/MUST FIX THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT ANY COST TO ME. ACCORDING TO OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION-RECALL DATABASE 888-327-4236 DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE THROTTLE CABLE. HONDA HAS DECIDED TO CONDUCT A PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE T
AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER HAS REPLACED AIRBAG, AIRBAG ASSEMBLY AND WIRE HARNESS. BUT, HAS NOT REMEDIED PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ALARM WILL CAME ON, AND COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TAKEN TO SHOP WHER IT WAS INSTALLED. THEN, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. DEALER FOUND OUT THAT DEFECT WAS DUE TO CIRCUIT BOARD. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD TO BUY ANOTHER ALARM SYSTEM. *YH
"SRS" LIGHT ON HER DASHBOARD IS COMING ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. THIS PROBLEM WAS FIXED BY DEALERSHIP IN NOVEMBER OF 2000, AND HAS REOCCURRED ON MARCH 12, 2001. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING WITH OUT ANY INDICATION AIR BAG INDICATION LIGHT WOULD STAY ON THROUGHOUT TRAVEL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. TECHNICIAN STATED AIR BAGS NOT WORKING .*AK *JB
THE SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND DEALER FOUND INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY. NLM
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE.*AK THE MANUFACTURER REIMBURSED THE REPAIR COST PAID BY THE CONSUMER. *YH
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT RELEASE FROM LOCKING MECHANISM, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
I HAVE CONTACTED HONDA ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ON BOTH MY 9196 AND 1997 ACCORDS AND THEY ACTED FREINDLY AT FIRST THEN DECIDED NOT TO PAY FOR ANYTHING. SO I AM HAING TO GET THE ABS REPAIRED ON BOTH OF THE CARS AT COST TO MYSELF. *AK
AUTOMATIC LOCKS DOES NOT LOCK WHEN DEPRESSING AUTOMATIC LOCK ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. *AK THE POWER DOOR LOCK WAS INOPERATIVE DUE TO CONTROL UNIT FAILURE. *YH
WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES CONSUMER NOTICED A CLICKING NOISE. TECHNICIAN STATED THAT BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THIS IS MY SECOND ACCORD TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED.
SRS AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON PANEL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. SHE NEEDS A SRS CONTROL UNIT, AND DEALERSHIP DOESN'T HAVE THEM IN STOCK. WATER HAS GOOTEN INSIDE OF RADIO. DRAINAGE COMING FROM AIR CONDITIONER LEAKAGE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER BELIEVES POSSIBLY THE WATER CORRODED SRS COMPUTER MODULE AS THE RESULT OF FAULTY WATER DRAINAGE WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. *YH
SRS LIGHT REMAINED ON AND THE DEALER INDICATED IT WAS DUE TO THE COMPUTER FAILURE. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG MIGHT NOT DEPLOY INCASE OF ACCIDENT AS THE RESULT OF MALFUNCTIONING. *YH
I PAID $467.32 TO REPLACE A PART THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED DURING LIFE OF VEHICLE;THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART AND HONDA SHOULD REIMBURSE ME. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
SRS CONTROL UNIT FAILED ON THE SECOND DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT THE DEALER. *AK
AIR CONDITIONER EVAPORATOR PREMATURELY FAILED AT 64,000 MILES . *AK THE CONSUMER HAD REPLACED THE EVAPORATOR AND WANTED REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL PART WAS DEFECTIVE. *YH
AS SOON AS VEHICLE'S SPEED IS OVER 60 MPH, IT SHAKES VERY BADLY. STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT END SHAKE. *AK
SEAT BELT NOT LONG ENOUGH FOR MY DAUGHTER IN LAW TO USE. CONTACTED DEALER. WAS TOLD HONDA DOESN'T MAKE EXTENTIONS LIKE FORD DOES. CAN YOU HELP WITH THIS?*AK
TIRES HAVE DEVELOPED CRACKS IN SIDEWALL. LF TIRE BLEW OUT WHEN LARGE PORTION OF SIDEWALL BECAME DETACHED FROM INNER CORDS. TIRE PRESSURE CHECKED AT 34PSI SHORTLY BEFORE INCIDENT. NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO TIRE FROM ROAD DEBRIS, ETC. WHICH MIGHT EXPLAIN FAI (DOT NUMBER: M3NX83AX50 TIRESIZE: 185/65R15)
THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS STAY ON, NO PROBLEM FOUND. *SLC
HEARED A LOUD BANGING NOISE UNDER THE SHIFT LEVER WHILE DRIVING 40+ MPH ACCELERATING ONTO THE INTERSTATE. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS, CAR STALLED WHILE TURNING CORNER. EXPERIENCED SLUGGISH AND INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER (WITH FREQUENT STALLING DRIVING BETWEEEN 10 TO 65 MPH ON RESIDENTIAL AREA OR ON A HIGHWAY). HONDA SERVICE TECHNICIAN REMOVED AND REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL & MAIN RELAY, AND ADVISED ME TO DISCONNECT A NON-HONDA CAR THEFT ALARM SYSTEM FOR FURTHER TROUBLESHOOTING OF THE IGNITION SYSTEM. PROBLEM GOT WORST AFTER DISCONNECTING CAR THEFT ALARM SYSTEM. CAR LOST POWER, (SOMETIMES POWER COMES BACK ON WHEN FOOT WAS LIFT OFF THE GAS PEDAL), MORE THAN 15 TIMES WITHIN 8 MILES OF DRIVING AT 4:30AM AND HAD DIFFICULTY RESTARTING. EXPERIENCED HARD START LATER THAT DAY AT 3:30PM. TODAY, CHRISTMAS DAY, I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY, CLEANED THE TERMINALS, CHECKED THE WIRES UNDER THE DASHBOARD FOR CUT OR LOOSE CONNECTIONS, RECONNECT THE BATTREY, TEST DRIVED, AND CAR STALLED WITH SOME WEIRD NOISE (LIKE A NOISE MADE BY AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT LOSSING POWER) BY FRONT/LOWER OF THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR. THIS PROBLEM HAD ALREADY COST ME A LITTLE OVER $500.00 AND I JUST DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO SPEND JUST TO GUESS WHAT WILL CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
NO FULE PUMP IN TOWN, ON ORDER FOR 4 DAYS NOW. FUEL PUMP SHOULD NOT GO OUT AT 40000 MILES. *AK
OIL SEAL BLEW, LOST ALMOST ALL OF THE OIL. NO WARNING. HONDA DEALER IN ALHAMBRA, CA SAID THAT THE ENGINE HAD CEASED, WANTED OVER $8,000 TO REPLACE ENGINE. TOOK IT TO ANOTHER LOCAL MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT THE ENGINE HAD NOT CEASED. HE HAD 2 OTHER HONDA ACCORDS THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
BALANCE SHAFT SEAL BLEW, OIL SOAKING THE TIMING AND DRIVE BELTS. DEALER TRIED TO CHARGE ME FOR REPAIR THAT WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY SEAL THAT HONDA KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
I LOST MORE THAN HALF OF THE OIL ON 2 MILE DRIVE TO SCHOOL- BROKEN SEAL, WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. MY LUCK IT DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY- THE CAR WOULD'VE BEEN GONE. A MECHANIC AT FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER WAS NOT SURPRISED - HE HAD SEEN THIS HAPPEN ON MANY OTHER ACCORDS.*AK
PEOO 020; ATTENDANT AT GARAGE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A CRACKING ALL AROUND SIDEWALL. LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS SHOWING MORE WEAR . ALL TIRES WERE SHOWING SIGNS OF CRACKING. BRIDGESTONE, POTENZA, RE92 1856515, THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK CRACKING WAS ON INSIDE AND CORD FAILURE WAS VISIBLE ON BOTH FRONT TIRES. *YH
WHILE DRIVING THE BALANCE SHAFT SEAL CAME OUT AND CAUSED OIL TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM
MY HUSBAND COULD OF BEEN KILLED OR SERIOUSLY HURT FROM THIS PART COMING OFF OF HIS VEHICLE AS HE WAS GOING TOO WORK ON THE INTERSTATE.THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE TO ACCORDS YEARS 96&97 AND I'M VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS INCIDENT. MRS. SUTTON H
CONSUMER STATES AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT (SRS) CAME ON AND STAYED ON, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED AND CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY MECHANIC THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN INTERNAL FAILURE TO THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND IF AN ACCIDENT WAS TO OCCUR THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY, MECHANIC ALSO ADVISED CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A NATIONAL BACK ORDER FOR THE NEEDED PART, AND WAS NOT SURE WHEN PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE. *JB
SAME EXACT INCIDENT HAPPENED TO ANOTHER CAR I OWNED, HONDA ACCORD LX 96, AT THE SAME MILEAGE RANGE (59K-60K). ONLY WITH ACCORD 96, I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO STOP ON TIME, AND WAS ABLE TO SAVE THE ENGINE. WHEREAS, IN THIS CAR - ACCORD 97 SITUATION, I WAS TOO LATE, ALL OF THE OIL CAME OUT, AND ENGINE WAS IRREPARABLY DAMAGED. ACCORDING TO THE HONDA ACCORD MANUALS, MAINTENANCE (CHANGE OF TIMING BELTS, ETC.) ON THE CAR SHOULD BE DONE AT AROUND 90K MILES, EXCLUDING THE REGULAR OIL CHANGES. THEREFORE, BOTH INCIDENTS WERE NOT RELATED TO A DELAYED MAINTENANCE, BUT TO AN IRREGULAR FAILURE OF THE OIL PUMP AND THE OIL SEAL. BOTH CASES ARE IDENTICAL ON SIMILAR CARS AND DESERVE TO BE INVESTIGATED.
WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED ABS LIGHT ACTIVATED, VEHICLE STILL HAD BRAKING CAPACITY. TOOK VEHICLE TO NEAREST HONDA DEALER IN GOLDSBORO, N.C AND WAS INFORMED ABS MODULATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACE QUOTED A COST OF $ 996.00. *AK
THE FUSE BOX FAILED CAUSING COMPLETE POWER LOSS WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THE VEHICLE HAD OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT WERE PROBABLY RELATED TO THE FUSE BOX FAILURE. *MJS
THE SRS INDICATOR LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON IN VEHICLE. IT'S FAULTY DEFECTIVE PIECE. AIRBAGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MANUFACTURE FELT NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS.*AK THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN ACCIDENT. THE FAILURE OF THE AIR BAG IS FACTORY DEFECT. *YH
THE POWER DOOR LOCK ACTIVATOR IS DEFECTIVE, WHEN ALL DOORS ARE LOCKED THEY WILL START ACTIVATING INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT ENGAGEMENT. *MJS
WINDSHIELD HAD SCRATCH. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON & DID NOT GO OFF. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED TO HAVE THE AIR BAGS IN VEHICLE REPLACED.*AK
AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, AND THERE ARE AIRBAGS IN THE CAR. BUT, THEY WILL NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE OF A MECHANISM THAT HAS BEEN ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER FOR A OVER A MONTH. CONSUMER FELT VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE AIRBAGS DID NOT WORK.*AK
OIL SHIELD ON THE BALANCE SHAFT HAS POPPED OUT, CAUSING THE OIL TO LEAK ONT THE GROUND. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYED ON AT ALL TIMES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. OWNER WAS TOLD THAT PART(S) TO CORRECT PROBLEM WERE ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. *AK *ML
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH ON A PAVEMENT ROAD, AND FRONT PASSENGER'S TIRE POPPED OUT, AND VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH. *AK
CALLED HONDA RE: CAMPAIGN #99I002000 & WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS AN ERROR AND DOES NOT APPLY TO THE ACCORD BUT ONLY TO THE 96 CIVIC. MY ACCORD'S ACCELERATOR SEEMS TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM OF "THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FEELS ROUGH OR NOTCHY WHEN YOU PRESS IT" AND "AND "ARE REQUIRED TO MOVE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO MAKE SLIGHT SPEED ADJUSTMENTS". YOU CAN REALLY FEEL THIS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION AND THE CAR EITHER ACCELERATES TOO SLOW AND/OR WHEN ADJUSTING FOR MORE ACCELERATION IT THEN ACCELERATES TOO FAST AND NOT SMOOTHLY. FIND THAT I HAVE TO REALLY FOCUS MY ATTENTION ON THE USE OF THE ACCELERATOR FOR FEAR THE CAR WILL ADVANCE TOO QUICKLY ON ICE AND/OR RUN INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. DEALER STATES THIS IS THE WAY THE CAR OPERATES.*AK( DOT NUMBER: Y7LX 00L TIRE SIZE: 185/65R15 )
AIR BAG SOS CONTROL UNIT BROKE, CAUSING THE AIR BAG SYSTEM TO BECOME INOPERABLE. CONTACTED BOTH DEALER AND HONDA, PART NOT AVAILABLE, WAITING FOR SHIPMENT FROM JAPAN. *AK *ML
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
BALANCE SHAFT SEAL BROKE, CAUSING OIL SPILLAGE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND REPAIRED THE PROBLEM AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. HONDA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1997 Honda Accord → · Every Accord year → · How the figures are calculated →