1997 HONDA CIVIC — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 353 complaints · 16 recalls
Most-reported system: AIR BAGS (125 complaints · 35.4%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 67
  • Fires 2
  • Injuries 51
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 1996 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution AIR BAGS appears in 125 of 353 owner complaints (35.4%) in this vehicle snapshot. AIR BAGS: 125 complaints, 35.4% of reports AIR BAGS 125 · 35.4% · 43 crash reports 1 fire reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: 37 complaints, 10.5% of reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 37 · 10.5% · 6 crash reports VISIBILITY: 29 complaints, 8.2% of reports VISIBILITY 29 · 8.2% ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 24 complaints, 6.8% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 24 · 6.8% · 2 crash reports ENGINE: 23 complaints, 6.5% of reports ENGINE 23 · 6.5% POWER TRAIN: 22 complaints, 6.2% of reports POWER TRAIN 22 · 6.2% · 3 crash reports SERVICE BRAKES: 19 complaints, 5.4% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 19 · 5.4% · 5 crash reports STRUCTURE: 15 complaints, 4.3% of reports STRUCTURE 15 · 4.3% SEAT BELTS: 11 complaints, 3.1% of reports SEAT BELTS 11 · 3.1% · 3 crash reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 242 complaints, 68.6% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 242 · 68.6% · 52 crash reports 1 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
AIR BAGS 125 35.4% 43 crashes · 1 fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 37 10.5% 6 crashes · 0 fires
VISIBILITY 29 8.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 24 6.8% 2 crashes · 0 fires
ENGINE 23 6.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
POWER TRAIN 22 6.2% 3 crashes · 0 fires
SERVICE BRAKES 19 5.4% 5 crashes · 0 fires
STRUCTURE 15 4.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
SEAT BELTS 11 3.1% 3 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 242 68.6% 52 crashes · 1 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 1997; the first recall shown was reported in Nov 1997. 1997-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 1997-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 1997-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 1997-Q4: 15 owner reports 15 1998-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 1998-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 1998-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 1998-Q4: 10 owner reports 10 1999-Q1: 14 owner reports 14 1999-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 1999-Q3: 9 owner reports 9 1999-Q4: 10 owner reports 10 2000-Q1: 17 owner reports 17 2000-Q2: 11 owner reports 11 2000-Q3: 18 owner reports 18 2000-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2001-Q1: 13 owner reports 13 2001-Q2: 10 owner reports 10 2001-Q3: 11 owner reports 11 2001-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2002-Q1: 15 owner reports 15 2002-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2002-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2002-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2003-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2003-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2003-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2003-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2004-Q1: 12 owner reports 12 2004-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2004-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2004-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2005-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2005-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2005-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2006-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2006-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2006-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2006-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2008-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2008-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2008-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2009-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2010-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2011-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2011-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2014-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2016-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2022-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jan 1997 Jan 2022 Recall campaign 97V193000 ◆ Recall campaign 97V193000 Recall campaign 99E015000 ◆ Recall campaign 99E015000 Recall campaign 06E023000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E023000 Recall campaign 06E025000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E025000 Recall campaign 06E026000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E026000 Recall campaign 06E032000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E032000 Recall campaign 06E038000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E038000 Recall campaign 06E040000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E040000 Recall campaign 06E044000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E044000 Recall campaign 06E049000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E049000 Recall campaign 06E060000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E060000 Recall campaign 06E064000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E064000 Recall campaign 08E050000 ◆ Recall campaign 08E050000 Recall campaign 09E012000 ◆ Recall campaign 09E012000 Recall campaign 09E025000 ◆ Recall campaign 09E025000 Recall campaign 20V026000 ◆ Recall campaign 20V026000 Investigation SQ98012 ● Investigation SQ98012
  • Campaign 97V193000 was reported 102 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 06E023000 was reported 3,156 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 06E025000 was reported 3,164 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 08E050000 was reported 4,038 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 09E025000 was reported 4,311 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 20V026000 was reported 8,214 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1997-Q1 Owner reports 4
1997-Q2 Owner reports 2
1997-Q3 Owner reports 7
1997-Q4 Owner reports 15
1998-Q1 Owner reports 4
1998-Q2 Owner reports 1
1998-Q3 Owner reports 4
1998-Q4 Owner reports 10
1999-Q1 Owner reports 14
1999-Q2 Owner reports 7
1999-Q3 Owner reports 9
1999-Q4 Owner reports 10
2000-Q1 Owner reports 17
2000-Q2 Owner reports 11
2000-Q3 Owner reports 18
2000-Q4 Owner reports 11
2001-Q1 Owner reports 13
2001-Q2 Owner reports 10
2001-Q3 Owner reports 11
2001-Q4 Owner reports 4
2002-Q1 Owner reports 15
2002-Q2 Owner reports 7
2002-Q3 Owner reports 10
2002-Q4 Owner reports 8
2003-Q1 Owner reports 9
2003-Q2 Owner reports 6
2003-Q3 Owner reports 5
2003-Q4 Owner reports 7
2004-Q1 Owner reports 12
2004-Q2 Owner reports 6
2004-Q3 Owner reports 3
2004-Q4 Owner reports 5
2005-Q1 Owner reports 5
2005-Q2 Owner reports 4
2005-Q3 Owner reports 1
2005-Q4 Owner reports 4
2006-Q1 Owner reports 6
2006-Q2 Owner reports 3
2006-Q3 Owner reports 2
2006-Q4 Owner reports 1
2007-Q2 Owner reports 1
2007-Q3 Owner reports 1
2007-Q4 Owner reports 3
2008-Q1 Owner reports 4
2008-Q2 Owner reports 2
2008-Q3 Owner reports 1
2008-Q4 Owner reports 1
2009-Q1 Owner reports 2
2009-Q3 Owner reports 1
2009-Q4 Owner reports 1
2010-Q1 Owner reports 2
2010-Q2 Owner reports 1
2010-Q3 Owner reports 2
2011-Q2 Owner reports 2
2011-Q3 Owner reports 1
2012-Q2 Owner reports 2
2013-Q3 Owner reports 1
2013-Q4 Owner reports 1
2014-Q2 Owner reports 1
2014-Q3 Owner reports 2
2014-Q4 Owner reports 1
2015-Q1 Owner reports 1
2015-Q2 Owner reports 1
2015-Q3 Owner reports 1
2015-Q4 Owner reports 1
2016-Q2 Owner reports 4
2016-Q4 Owner reports 1
2017-Q1 Owner reports 1
2017-Q4 Owner reports 1
2018-Q4 Owner reports 1
2019-Q4 Owner reports 1
2020-Q2 Owner reports 2
2020-Q3 Owner reports 3
2022-Q1 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 97V193000
Recall campaign 1 99E015000
Recall campaign 1 06E023000
Recall campaign 1 06E025000
Recall campaign 1 06E026000
Recall campaign 1 06E032000
Recall campaign 1 06E038000
Recall campaign 1 06E040000
Recall campaign 1 06E044000
Recall campaign 1 06E049000
Recall campaign 1 06E060000
Recall campaign 1 06E064000
Recall campaign 1 08E050000
Recall campaign 1 09E012000
Recall campaign 1 09E025000
Recall campaign 1 20V026000
Defect investigation 1 SQ98012
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (16)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 06E023000

    Report date
    Component:
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 06E025000

    Report date
    Component:
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    Remedy:
    POLI-AUTO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE HEADLAMPS AT ITS ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT POLI-AUTO AT 305-477-1356.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 06E026000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    Remedy:
    PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 06E032000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    Remedy:
    TOM MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF NONCOMPLIANT LIGHTS. THE RECALL BEGAN APRIL 17, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOM MOTORSPORT AT 626-968-4007.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 06E038000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    Remedy:
    ALFAOTTO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ALFAOTTO AT 626-656-2992 OR VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.ALFAOTTO.COM.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 06E040000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    Remedy:
    E SPEED RACING WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT E SPEED RACING 909-923-3636.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 06E044000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    Remedy:
    J & A AUTO ACCESSORIES WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE HEADLAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT J & A AUTO ACCESSORIES AT 310-327-4981.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 06E049000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    Remedy:
    CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  9. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 06E060000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH
    Remedy:
    AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  10. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 06E064000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  11. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 08E050000

    Report date
    Component:
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  12. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 09E012000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  13. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 09E025000

    Report date
    Component:
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  14. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 20V026000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138 or Isuzu customer service at 1-800-255-6727.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  15. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 97V193000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    THIS CONDITION COULD PREVENT PROPER DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. IN A CRASH, AN IMPROPER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE FRONT PASSENGER'S AIR BAG MODULE TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM FROM OCCURRING.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  16. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 99E015000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    THE FLOOR MAT COULD PREVENT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION.
    Remedy:
    IF A CUSTOMER HAS A GENUINE HONDA DRIVER-SIDE FLOOR MAT, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A POSITIVE FLOOR MAT RETENTION SYSTEM CONSISTING OF A GROMMET IN THE FLOOR MAT AND A PIN BRACKET IN THE CAR.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 353 complaints · page 1 of 15

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources