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 →
EACH TIME I AM STOPPED AND THE CAR IS IN DRIVE THE IDLE FLUCTUATES RAPIDLY BETWEEN 0 AND 1000 RPM. WHEN THE GAS IS PRESSED THE CAR WILL JERK INTO DRIVE AND WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP. *AK
THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR THE HONDA CIVIC. THE COST OF REPAIR WILL BE OVER $600.00 PROVIDED THAT THIS DID NOT DAMAGE THE OXYGEN SENSOR. IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN THE COST WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL $100.00 TO $200.00 MORE. GIVEN THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURENCE, I FELT THAT IT MAY WARRANT FURTHER REPORTING TO YOUR ORGANIZATION.*AK
POWER WINDOW BROKE
AFTER HIGHWAY DRIVING 2.5 HOURS, SMOKE APPEARED FROM UNDER HOOD AND CAR MISFIRED REPEATEDLY. AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM NON-FUNCTIONAL; HALL HONDA ATTRIBUTES TO COOLING FAN FAILURE BUT IS RELUCTANT TO REPAIR UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY CLAIMING PROBLEM IS RELATED TO PREVIOUS ACCIDENT DAMAGE THREE YEARS AGO ALTHOUGH ANOTHER MANAGER FROM SAME DEALERSHIP DISAGREES. *AK
YOUR WEBSITE INDICATES THAT THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN FOR THIS ITEM, I PAID FOR THE REPAIR, AND UPON CONTACTING BOTH THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE WORK WAS PERFORMED, AND HONDA, WAS TOLD THAT IT ONLY APPLIED TO '96 MODELS...IS THIS ACCURATE? SHOULD I BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS REPAIR? NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
SCOTT HONDA MAILED A POST CARD TO MY HOME IN FEB 2OOO FOR CAR RECALL. UPON CALLING HOINDA THE LEASE AGENT PUT ME ON HOLD AND SPOKE TO THE SERVICE DEPT. SHE THEN PROCEEDED TO SAY THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE ENGINE PROBLEMS UNTIL MY CAR REACHED BETWEN 60,000-70,000 MILES. SHE STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD RUMBLE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WOUDL COME ON DUE TO FAULTY WIRING,ETC. I EXPALINED THAT MY CAR WAS SERVICE AND THE ENGINE LIHGT CAME ON DURING MY INSPECTION AND THAT I SPENT 450.00 ON GETTING MY CAR REWIRED ETC.. SHE EXPLAINED THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE WIHT THE CAR AND IT WOULD OCCUR AT A HIGHER MILAGE AND TO BRING MY CAR IN. I ASKED HER WAHT TO DUE IN CASE I DON'T EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS OR IF I LOST MY RECALL POSTCARD . SHE STATED THAT IT WAS NO PROBLEM AND TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP MGR. AND THAT HE WOULD HONOR THE SITUATION AND GIVE ME A NEW POSTCARD.. UPON MY ENIGINE LIGHT TURING ON...AND MY CONTACTING HONDA SERIVE THE GENTLEMAN WAS RATHER SCARASTIC AND RUDE AND ACCUSED ME OF NOT TAKING CAR OF MY CAR AS WELL AS STATING THAT HE KNEW OF NO RECALLS FOR A 1997 CIVIC. WOULD SOMEONE BE SO KIND AS TO INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION?? HONDAS ARE RELIABLE CARS AND THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT HAVE PROBELEMS @ 3 YEARS OLD. IN ADDITION, MY AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATING SYSTEM ONLY LASTED APPROX. 2/12/ YEARS. THERE MUST BE SOMETHING ELECTRONICALLY WRONG WITH THIS MODEL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. SINCERELY, DEIDRE L. ADORE. *AK
REPEATED WARPING OF BRAKE ROTOR WITH SEVERE VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHENEVER BRAKES APPLIED. TURNING (RESURFACING) ROTOR ONLY SOLVES PROBLEM FOR 10,000 MILES. DEALER WOULDN'T COVER UNDER WARRANTY & INSISTS VIBRATION DOES NOT AFFECT SAFETY. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS, AS STEERING WHEEL JERKS VIOLENTLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS.*AK
RECALL 99E015000 REPAIRS DID CORRECT THE PROBELM, FLOOR MAT CAUSED ACCELERATOR PEDAL NOT RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN LOW SPEED AND UPON ACCELERATING VEHICLE JERKS. VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 99I002000 DUE TO VIN. *AK *ML
WHILE MAKING A TURN PIN THAT HOLDS THE PULLEY FELL OFF, CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.*AK
THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. DEALER HAS SET THE SENSOR PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED.*AK
INTERMITTENTLY ACCELERATOR STUCK WHEN DEPRESSED IMMEDIATELY AFTER A STOP. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE'S MAKE/ MODEL; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK
AIR BAG LIGHT SENSOR WAS REMAINING ON. VEHICLE HIT A DOG AT 50 MPH, AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT INFLATING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
BAD POWER WINDOW REGULATOR AND RUN CHANNEL PREVENTED WINDOWS FROM OPERATING CORRECTLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW AS WELL AS THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW.*AK
BRAKE ROTORS FAILED TWO TIME IN 20,000 MILES, FIRST REPAIR AT 9,000 MILES, ROTORS WARPED CAUSING EXTREME VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING. *MJS
THE FRONT ROTORS HAVE NOW TWICE FAILED IN 21,000 MILES, DUE TO EXCESSIVE WARPING. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED AT 9,000 MILES; THE SECOND BEGAN AT APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES AND BECAME INCREASINGLY MORE SEVERE. HONDA HAS PROVIDED NO COLORABLE EXPLANATION FOR WHY THIS WOULD OCCUR. WITH RESPECT TO DRIVING, THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER CLAIMS THAT THIS POSES NO SAFETY ISSUE. I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE. THE WARPING HAS RESULTED IN SEVERE SHIMMYING IN THE CAR (AND, AT SOME SPEEDS, A HARD AND SUDDEN PULL) UPON APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES, AFFECTING BOTH STEERING AND STOPPING, AND OVERALL HANDLING. DESPITE THE CAR'S RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE, THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER (SF HONDA) HAS DEEMED THIS TO BE A "REGULAR" WEAR AND TEAR ITEM, AND THUS ONLY MACHINED DOWN THE ROTORS TO RESOLVE THE MOST RECENT WARPING. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF (OR EXPERIENCED) SUCH ROTOR WARPING IN 15 YEARS OF DRIVING. I AM ALSO CONFIRMING BY LETTER (COPIED TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER) THE SUBSTANCE OF THIS QUESTIONNAIRE. I FURTHER NOTE THAT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN ISSUED WITH RESPECT TO THE 1997 CIVIC'S BRAKES. *AK
THE AIR BAG FALSLY DEPLOYED WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO CRASH INTO A UTILITY POLE. CONSUMER ESCAPED WITH ONLY A FEW BRUISES. NLM
INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING SECOND DEGREE BURNS NEAR WRIST, POSSIBLY DUE TO GUN POWDER IN THE AIRBAG. *AK
WHEN VEHICLE HIT A GUARDRAIL HEAD-ON THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED. VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. *AK *ML
APPARENT CRANKSHAFT/PULLEY BAD. UPON REMOVING PULLEY, BOLT, KEY AND CRANKSHAFT FOUND WORN, STRIPPED AND CHEWED UP. ALSO POSSIBLE TIMING GEAR PROBLEM.
WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON AT ALL TIMES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATION, DEALER REPAIRED WIRING SYSTEM HOWEVER AFTER REPAIR THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE AS WELL, ADDITIONAL WIRING REPAIRS IN THE HARNESS COMPLETED, THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT DO WIRING REPAIRS PROPERLY AND HARNESS WAS BROKEN WITH SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS, VEHICLE CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS DUE TO DAMAGED WIRING HARNESS. *MJS
DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW COMES OFF TRACK AND DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE ROLLED UP. *AK
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK (IN 5:00 PM RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC) ATTEMPTED TO USE THE SUNVISOR. THE SUNVISOR BROKE OFF AND DEBRIS WAS TEMPORARILY LODGED IN LEFT EYE. *AK
RIGHT SIDE OF TRUNK LEAKS ,CAUSING THE OWNER TO PUT EVERYTHING IN THE BACK SEAT INSTEAD OF THE TRUNK. POSSIBLE HAZARD IF AN ACCIDENT WERE TO OCCUR AND ITEMS IN BACK SEAT WERE TO FLY FORWARD. *AK
IF THE CAR IS TRAVELING AT 60 MPH OR GREATER AND THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE CAR SHAKES UNTIL THE BRAKES ARE RELEASED. *AK
RANDOM OCCURRENCES OF CAR SUDDENLY BEGINNING TO SHAKE AS THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. TYPICALLY OCCURS ON HIGHWAY GOING SPEEDS OF 60 MPH OR GREATER. HOWEVER, AFTER SHAKING BEGINS, SLOWING DOWN OR SPEEDING UP HAS NO EFFECT - THE SHAKING CONTINUES. *AK
FENDER LINER REPLACED 8 MONTHS AGO DUE TO ACCIDENT. WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, PART OF FENDER LINER CAME APART AND GOT STUCK ON FRONT LEFT TIRE, CAUSING CAR TO ALMOST GO OFF ROAD. CONTACTED HONDA BODYSHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN HONDA PROBLEM. NOT THEIR FAULT, AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF. CONTACTED HONDA DEALERSHIP WHERE CAR WAS BOUGHT, AND THEY COULDN'T TELL ME ANYTHING. *AK
A DESIGN FLAW IN REAR WINDOW MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE DRIVER TO SEE OVER THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE. YH
THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND APPARENTLY BURST CAUSING SEVERE EYE INJURY A TWELVE YEAR OLD CHILD (MY SON) WHO WAS WAERING HIS SEAT BELT. FROM THE INITIAL DIAGNOSIS OF THE AMBULANCE CREW TO HIS CHIEF CORNEA & OTHER EYE SPECIALIST - ALL OF THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. WE WERE STRUCK FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY A SPEEDING VEHICLE AT AN INTERSECTION IN SAGINAW MICHIGAN. BECAUSE OF THE INTENSIVE INJURIES TO MY SON, HIS CARE WAS TRANSFERED TO THE KELLOGG CENTER, THE REGIONAL EYE TRAUMA & CARE EXPERTS IN MICHIGAN. ACCORDING TO CHRIS SURGEONS - HE SUSTAINED THE MOST MASSIVE INJURIES (VOID OF A FATALITY) SURGEONS HAS SEEN AT THE REGIONAL CENTER. EVERY MAJOR PART OFO HIS EYE WAS DAMAGED, THE CORNEA- BURNED, THE IRIS TORN IN SEVERAL PLACES, THE LEND DISLOCATED & ERUPTED (IT HAS SINCE BEEN REPLACED), RETINA SCARRING, OCCULAR BONE FRACTURES, LOST HIS UPPER TEAR DUCT, TORN, SEPERATED EYE LID, AND SEVERAL OTHERS INJURIES INTERNAL TO THE EYE AND THE FACIAL AREA AROUND HIS LEFT EYE, THE LEFT EYE WAS THE ONLY EYE DAMAGED. MY SON IS STILL UNDERGOING SURGERIES, AND OTHER RESTORATIVE MEDICAL PROCEDURES TO RESTORE HIS VISION & HIS APEARANCE. I TRIED TO CONTACT THE HONDA CORPORATION TO NO AVAIL. I ALSO CONTACTED THE U.S. DEPT OF TRANSP SAFETY TO REPORT THE ACCIDENT SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT - I WAS SENT A FORM AND SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE. I AM FILING THIS REPORT AS AN ASSURED WAY OF HAVING THIS CASE INVESTIGATED, NOTED OR LOOKED INTO, THIS MUCH DAMAGE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN D
ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AT LEAST SIX TIMES SINCE OWNERSHIP. *MJS
DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW FAILED, NO DESCRIPTION GIVEN BY CONSUMER. *MJS
WHILE DRIVIN VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCLERATED AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN VEHICLE. OCCUPANT HAD TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. ONLY ONE OCCURRENCE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
ON DEC.10,1999 WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT.HIT ON DRIVER SIDE OF VEHICLE THEN PROCEEDED TO HIT A LIGHT POLE HEAD ON.RECEIVED SERIOUS AMOUNT OF DAMAGE.CONSISTING OF BROKEN NOSE,BROKEN RIBS,LOSS OF BONE TEETH AND TISSUE,BRUISED LIVER AND LUNGS ,BLEEDING ON THE BRAIN. *AK
RECALL FAILURE (99E-015) WAS THE CAUSE OF VEHICLE ACCIDENT PRIOR TO RECEIVING NOTICE. *MJS
BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED 4 TIMES WITHIN 45,000 DUE TO POOR ROTOR DESIGN. *AK
HANSEL HONDA STATED TWO MONTHS AGO WHEN WE HAD THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT PROBLEM, THAT IT WAS A FAULTY ENGINE MODULE. THE CAR HAS HAD TWO START PROBLEMS FOR WHICH HANSEL HONDA STATED IT MAY BE DUE TO THE MODULE BUT WAS STILL BACK ORDERED. WITH THE SECOND START PROBLEM, ONE OF THE SERVICE STAFF STATED IT MAY BE THE MODULE PROBLEM BUT STATED THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING THE PART. THE OTHER SERVICE PERSON THAT VERY SAME DAY, STATED IT PROBABLY WASN'T THE MODULE AND THAT THE PART WAS STILL ON BACKORDER DUE TO HIGH INCIDENCE AND REQUESTS OTHER THAN HANSEL HONDA FOR REPLACEMENT MODULE FOR THE DEFECTIVE PART. HE STATED THEY COULDN'T GUARANTEE WHETHER THE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE STARTING WAS DUE TO THE MODULE OR NOT, BUT THAT THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE FOR NOW. HANSEL HONDA STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS A PROBLEM NOT THEM AND STILL COULDN'T DETERMINE WHEN THE PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE. I ASKED THEM IF SO MANY HONDAS HAD BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALERS, WHY THEY HAVEN'T BEEN RECALLED. HE SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW. AS MENTIONED EARLIER, IT HAS BEEN 2 MONTHS SINCE THE PART WAS INITIALLY ORDERED. *AK
IN A PANIC TRAVELING AT 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER ONCE LANDING ON THE HOOD. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG'S. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *YC
WHILE DRIVING 35 -40 MPH CONSUMER TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE.DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FUTHER INFORMATION. *AK
EMISSIONS CONTROL UNIT FAILED IN JULY 1999. UNIT IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE ON BOARD DIAGNOSTICS SYSTEM (OBD). HONDA DEALER NOTED PROBLEM IN JULY 1999, AFTER I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR TESTING, BECAUSE THE "ENGINE PROBLEM" LIGHT STAYED ON FOR A FEW DAYS. DEALER CLAIMS TO HAVE ORDERED PART, WHICH IS ON BACK ORDER. HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE MANUFACTURER, AMERICAN HONDA, TO FIND OUT WHEN THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. I HAVE NOT MET WITH ANY SUCCESS. DIFFICULT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH SOMEONE ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PROMISES TO RETURN MY CALLS ARE NEVER KEPT. CAR DOES NOT DRIVE PROPERLY. IDLES VERY ROUGH...DRIVES SLUGGISH. CAN YOU HELP??
WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH CONSUMER HAD A HEAD-ON COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH REARVIEW MIRROR; WHENEVER MIRROR IS ADJUSTED FROM DAY TO NIGHT AND RETURNED BACK TO DAY, THE WHOLE MIRROR HAS TO BE READJUSTED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED MIRROR ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THIS CAN LEAD TO A VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO ADJUSTING MIRROR. ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *AK
IGNITER PROBLEM, VEHICLE IS ISSUED EMISSION WARRANTY EXTENSION DUE TO PROBLEM. YH
I HAD THIS PROBLEM FIXED TWICE IN TWO YEARS..AT MY EXPENCE(OVER $500)
BOTH FRONT DISC WHEELS HAVE WARPED THREE TIMES IN 60,000 MILES. MY CAR HAS BEEN PRIMARILY A COMMUTER AUTO, TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY; THEREFORE, I SELDOM USE MY BRAKES FOR THE NUMBER OF MILES ON MY CAR. DEALER HAS FIXED MY BRAKES TWICE.
WEATHER STRIP, MOLDING DEFORMED.
ENGINE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON.
THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE HAD NOTICED THAT THE OUTPUT OF THE AIR CONDITIONER HAD BEEN DIMINISHING OVER SEVERAL WEEKS. THEN ONE DAY, A LOUD AND RATTLING SOUND CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON. SEVERAL PEOPLE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD BRIEFLY FOR THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE WITH NO SUCCESS. LATER IN THE DAY THE OWNER OF THE CAR PARKED IT IN HIS GARAGE AND BEGIN TO INVERSTIGATE THE PROBLEM. WITH THE MOTOR ON AND THE HOOD UP, THE OWNER COULD SEE NO CLEAR SOURCE OF THE NOISE. HE RETURNED TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT AT WHICH TIME A LOUD EXPLOSION OCCURED ACCOMPANIED BY A CLOUD OF REFRIGERANT. A LATER INVESTIGATION REVEALED A LARGE OPENING IN THE FORWARD FACE OF THE AIR COMPRESSOR THAT HAD BEEN THE RESULT OF AN EXPLOSION. ONE LARGE PIECE REMAINED IN THE CAVITY WHILE SEVERAL OTHER PIECES WERE STREWN ON THE FLOOR. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO OBTAINED PERMISSION TO REPLACE THE A/C SYSTEM UNDER WARRANTY. THE POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS INJURY TO ANYONE PEERING UNDER THE HOOD AT THE TIME OF THIS EXPLOSION IS OBVIOUS. THE DEALER WAS QUICK TO HAVE THE SYSTEM REPLACED WITH NO DELAYS. *AK
BRAKES PULSATE,.WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES, AND CONSUMER GETS LESS THAN IDEAL BRAKING. DEALER HAS DONE VARIOUS THINGS TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM, INCLUDING TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF ALL HARDWARE. THERE CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM EVERY 4,000 MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
GAS TANK IS LEAKING CAUSING FUMES WHICH RESULTS IN DISCOMFORT TO PASSENGERS IN VEHICLE. *AK
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 Civic → · Every Civic year → · How the figures are calculated →