Honda Civic Complaints (1997)
373 consumer complaints on file.
- #10260650March 4, 2009AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1997 HONDA CIVIC AIR BAG LIGHT ON. DETERMINED AIR BAG MODULE IS BAD. SEARCHED THE WEB AND IT SEEMS THOUSANDS OF ACCORD, CIVIC AND PRELUDE OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. NHTSA DOES HAVE RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V193000 FOR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG NOT PUT IN RIGHT, HOW ABOUT ONE FOR A JUNK MODULE?? *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10249500November 21, 2008POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 1997 CIVIC HX. I DID RESEARCH AND THERE ARE SO MANY DEFECTIVE CVT TRANSMISSIONS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR THIS MODEL. PEOPLE JUST DON'T PUT THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE. I WAS TOLD TO DO SO BY HONDA. 90% OF THIS MODEL ON THE ROAD HAVE ALL HAD THEIR TRANSMISSIONS REBUILT AND FAIL IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THE CARS LIFE. WHY HASN'T HONDA RESOLVED THIS ISSUE? IT FAILS TO GO INTO REVERSE AND FAILS TO SOMETIMES GO INTO DRIVE. IF THE PERCENTAGE WERE LOW, THEN I'D UNDERSTAND THAT IT ISN'T A WIDE SPREAD ISSUE. BUT THE NUMBER OF CARS IS STAGGERING WHEN I GO ONTO FORUMS AND EVEN GOOGLE THE PROBLEM. AND THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN REBUILT SOMETIMES HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE SPEED SENSOR IN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE SPEEDOMETER FAILS TO READ THE SPEED OF THE CAR. IF I'M THE ONLY PERSON WHO'S GOING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS, I'LL MAKE SURE TO POST THE LINK IN FORUMS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10237309August 7, 2008AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
MY 1997 HONDA CIVIC SRS LIGHT HAS COME ON 6 TIMES WITHIN THE PAST 5 YEARS. EACH TIME I BROUGHT IT TO HONDA SERVICE THEY SAID IT WAS INTERNAL FAILURE AND RESET IT. THEY CLAIMED IT WAS CAUSED BY LOW BATTERY CHARGE, BUT THEN THEY DECLARED BATTERY WAS GOOD. FINALLY HAD TO REPLACE THE SRS MODULE UNIT. THE NEW UNIT ONLY HAS 12 MONTH WARRANTY. ISN'T THE SRS UNIT A SAFETY FEATURE AND SHOULDN'T IT BE COVERED BY LIFETIME WARRANTY? FIRST INCIDENT BEGAN IN OCTOBER 2003, FOLLOWED BY OCT 2005, NOV 2006, JUN 2007, SEP 2007, AND FINALLY IN MAR 2008. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10232493June 27, 2008AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SRS LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN SERVICED FOR THE SRS ISSUE, BUT IT IS STILL OCCURRING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,583 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10231036June 15, 2008AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
SRS LIGHT STAYS ON; AIRBAGS NOT WORKING. HAS BEEN RESET TWICE (YEARLY TO PASS INSPECTION) ; COMES ON WITHIN TEN MINUTES OF RESET. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO SOLUTION. EXACTLY WHAT IS AN OWNER SUPPOSED TO DO? *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10220833March 11, 2008TIRES, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 85, AND THERE WAS A LARGE TRUCK TIRE LAYING IN THE MIDDLE OF A 4 LANE HIGHWAY, THUS CAUSING MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS. MY CAR HIT THE TIRE AND ALMOST CAUSED A FEW ACCIDENTS, ALMOST CAUSING OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL AS MYSELF TO BE INJURED FATALLY. THE DOT SHOULD HAVE CLEANED IT UP, AND SINCE I DO NOT HAVE COLLISION ON MY INSURANCE POLICY THEY ARE NOT COVERING ANY DAMAGES. WE PAY TAXES TO THE STATE AND GOVERNMENT TO HAVE SAFE MOTOR WAYS, AND I FEEL THESE ACCIDENTS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IN ADVANCE. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 2
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10219485February 22, 2008TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA CIVIC. THE VEHICLE HAS KELLY SPRINGFIELD DOUGLAS, SIZE P1856514 TIRES. THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE DOT IS M67JFLXR, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE DOT IS PL7JFXLR4806, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE DOT IS PL7JFXLR0207 AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE DOT IS PL7JFXLR4806. THREE OF THE FOUR TIRES WERE PURCHASED SIX MONTHS AGO AND THE REMAINING ONE WAS PURCHASED THREE WEEKS AGO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT. IT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN PULLING TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FEEL AS IF IT WERE FALLING APART. A FRONT END ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE TIRE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE TIRE TREAD WAS UNEVEN AND WOBBLED WHEN THEY WERE TESTED. THE SALES REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED THE CONTACT OF A RECALL ON THE DOUGLAS TIRES. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE VEHICLE HAD ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 193,100.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10214654January 13, 2008AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED ON MY 1997 HONDA CIVIC CX. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY RESET THE LIGHT. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IF IT COMES ON AGAIN ONLY THING THEY CAN DO IS REPLACE THE COMPUTER THAT TRIGGERS THE AIRBAG AT A COST OF ABOUT $500 INCLUDING PARTS AND LABOR. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE I SAW THAT MANY HONDA ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH SRS LIGHTS. I GUY WROTE THAT HE HAD HIS REPLACED THREE TIMES IN AS MANY YEARS AND STILL HAS THIS SAME PROBLEM. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THAT THE AIRBAGS HAVE DEPLOYED WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING LESS THAN 5 MPH OVER A SPEED BUMP. ANOTHER GUY REPORTED THAT HIS AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN HE HIT A CAR. IN BOTH CASES NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT THE SRS SYSTEM ON THESE CARS ARE NOT RELIABLE. HONDA OF AMERICA IS WASHING THEIR HANDS OF THESE CARS. THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR SYSTEMS THAT ARE OVER 10 YEARS OLD. PLEASE HELP US GET THEM TO DO A RECALL. WE WOULD NOT MIND SPENDING THE MONEY BUT HONDA WILL ONLY WARRANT THE REPAIR FOR ONE YEAR AND THEN WE HAVE TO PAY ALL OVER AGAIN. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10213750January 4, 2008AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DEALER SAID MY CAR REQUIRED A 500 DOLLAR REPAIR. THE MAIN UNIT ON MY SRS FAILED AND HONDA WILL NOT HELP WITH THE REPAIR COST. I CAN'T AFFORD THE REPAIR AND HONDA WONT HELP EVEN THOUGH I HAVE FAIRLY LOW MILES.*CN
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10209367November 19, 2007SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
TWO OF THE THREE BACK SEAT BELTS, THE CENTER AND THE BACK DRIVER'S SIDE, HAVE BROKEN AWAY FROM THE BUCKLE SIDE THAT IS BOLTED TO THE BODY OF THE CAR. THEY BROKE WHEN I TIGHTENED THEN UP TO BUCKLE A CHILD CAR SEAT. IT HAPPENED ON THE DAY THAT I MADE THIS COMPLAINT SO I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REPLACE THEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10208858November 13, 2007AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1997 HONDA CIVIC - SRS LIGHT REMAINING ON A LOT OF WHAT COULD CAUSE THIS LIGHT TO COME ON IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE SAFETY WARRANTY. JUST RESETTING IT CAN COST $100 AND THERE IS NOT A GUARANTEE IT WILL STAY OFF TO ALLOW THE AIRBAG TO FUNCTION. READING OTHERS PROBLEMS WITH THIS THERE SEEM TO BE WIDE SPREAD ISSUES WITH THE SRS SYSTEM. SOME OF THESE REPAIRS HAVE COST IN EXCESS OF $1000. AFTER READING SO MANY QUESTIONS AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT (FOR EXAMPLE WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM), I WONDER WHY IT IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL ITEM. THE SRS LIGHT AND PROBLEMS WITH THE SYSTEM SEEM TO BE IN CIVICS, ACCORDS, AND PRELUDES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10205092October 5, 2007ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, BOTH OF THE REAR ELECTRIC DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT AN INSPECTION WOULD COST $150 AND THE REPAIR WOULD COST $500. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEALER INFORMATION WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ UPDATED *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10196912July 10, 2007SEAT BELTS:FRONT
1997 HONDA CIVIC EX FAULTY SEAT BELT CUSTOMER STATES SHE STUCK IN THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT FOR TWENTY MINUTES BEFORE CUTTING HERSELF FREE EVEN THOUGH HONDA HAS A LIFETIME SEATBELT WARRANTY THEY WILL NOT COVER IT BECAUSE OF INTENTIONAL CUTTING**SB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF THE VEHICLE, SHE TRIED TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE SEATBELT WOULD NOT RELEASE HER. OVERTIME THE RELEASE BUTTON BEGAN TO STICK. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS OF NOT ONLY HER BUT HER BOYFRIEND TRYING TO RELEASE HER FROM THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER CUT THE SEATBELT IN ORDER TO GET FREE. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE CONTACTED HONDA AND INFORMED THE DEALER OF THE DEFECT AND ALSO NOTIFIED THE CORPORATION BUT TO NO AVAIL. BOTH PARTIES WOULD REFERENCE HER BACK AND FORTH TO CONTACT THE OTHER. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER THEY INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE SEATBELT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY DUE TO THE FACT THE SEATBELT WAS INTENTIONALLY CUT AND THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. THE CONSUMER WANTS THE SEATBELT TO BE REPAIRED UNDER THE WARRANTY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10190710May 14, 2007ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA CIVIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113000. THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AND THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE 02 SENSOR AND STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED AND THE LINEAR SOLENOID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10171484October 21, 2006AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
AIRBAG SYSTEM INOPERABLE. THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON DURING ROUTINE DRIVING. A CHECK WITH HONDA SERVICE SHOWS THAT THE AIRBAG MODULE FAILED. HONDA NEEDS TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG MODULE IN ORDER FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM TO WORK AT A SIGNIFICANT COST TO THE OWNER. THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT REPORT A SIMILAR PROBLEM. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10167106August 30, 2006VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
THROTTLE CABLE STICKS AT LOW SPEEDS - WHEN PRESSED, IT "SNAPS LOSE" GOING TO 1/2 THROTTLE, JERKING CAR FORWARD, SNAPPING NECKS OF DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. IS A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM - COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BY SLAMMING VEHICLE INTO BACK OF LEAD VEHICLE. REF: CAMPAIGN ID 99I002000. HONDA DEALER SAYS THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY OR PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN ITEM. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10163348July 24, 2006VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED WITH THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE INTERFERENCE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR MAT WITH THE ACCELERATOR. THERE IS A RECALL #99E015000 PERTAINING TO THE ACCESSORY DRIVER-SIDE FLOOR MATS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED WHO REFUSES TO HONOR THE RECALL. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE RECALL.*AK
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10159143June 6, 2006AIR BAGS
THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, ONLY FAILURE OF THE SRS CONTROL UNIT OF MY 1997 HONDA CIVIC DX HATCHBACK (3 DOOR) WITH 46,000 MILES. I'D SAY IT'S REASONABLE TO DEMAND THAT SAFETY EQUIPMENT BE COVERED FOR THE LIFETIME OF THE CAR. FOR MY SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS CONTROL UNIT FOR THE AIRBAGS), WHICH I'VE *NEVER* USED, TO COST ME $760 TO REPAIR IS OUTRAGEOUS! IT'S PROBABLY AN $80 COMPUTER PART. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10158992June 5, 2006AIR BAGS, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
THE SRS SYSTEM IN MY HONDA CIVIC EX 1997 WENT OUT WHEN I HAD FIRST PURCHASED THE USED CAR IN JUNE 2004 WITH AROUND 145,00 MILES ON IT. I HAD A NEW SRS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PUT IN . IT HAS BEEN TWO YEARS AND THE SYSTEM HAS GONE OUT AGAIN. I NOW HAVE TO FIX IT AGAIN AND MY CAR SPECIALIST HAS TOLD ME THAT THE PRICE HAS DOUBLED ON THE PART, AND THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN HONDA CIVICS. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10154994April 10, 2006AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
ON AUGUST 04, 2004, I VISITED THE HONDA DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) READINESS INDICATOR LAMP OF MY HONDA CIVIC 1997 DX HAD TURNED RED. WHEN THEY CHECKED MY CAR, THEY SAID THAT THEY GOT A DTC CODE OF 08-5 FROM THE SRS MODULE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT MEANT SRS CONTROL UNIT FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIPS RESET THE SRS UNIT. A YEAR AFTER, THE SAME CONDITION RECURRED. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT SRS CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IF NO ACTION WERE TAKEN, THE UNCORRECTED ILLUMINATION OF THE SRS READINESS INDICATOR LAMP CAN HINDER THE DETECTION OF POTENTIAL VITAL AIRBAG SYSTEM OPERATION OF COMPONENTS SUCH AS AIRBAG MODULE, CRASH SENSOR AND WIRING INTEGRITY. THE DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE AND PART COSTS HAS DETERRED ME FROM SERVICING THIS RECURRING PROBLEM. THE ESTIMATED COST OF THE PARTS AND SERVICE IS OVER $800.00. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN ANY INCIDENT OR ACCIDENT WHEREIN THE AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. I BELIEVE THAT THE SRS CONTROL UNIT SHOULD BE GUARANTEED THROUGHOUT THE LIFE TIME OF THE VEHICLE. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. NOWADAYS, WHEN I DRIVE THE CAR, I DO NOT FEEL AS SECURE AS I DID, FOR I AM UNCERTAIN IF THE AIRBAG WOULD DEPLOY AT ALL, IN CASE I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I SPOKE WITH AMERICAN HONDA'S CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE TODAY, 4/10/2006. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING, THAT I AM PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE TO GET IT REPAIRED. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0