10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
10 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
11 / 0
Average Mileage:
42,865 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1997 Honda Civic seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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1997 Honda Civic Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

problem #70

Mar 012020

Civic

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 1997 Honda Civic. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V026000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact then received a notice that the parts were available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it remained in their possession for three months due to the part for the vehicle not being available. The contact then signed a waiver to take liability for any air bag failure that may occur while in his possession. The contact also declined a buyback offer made by the manufacturer. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Carlsbad, CA, USA

problem #69

Mar 172020

Civic

  • 212,000 miles
Good day: On 17 March 2020, Honda advised me that my 1997 Civic is included in NHTSA recall 20V-026, which affects the driver frontal airbag module. In the recall notice, Honda said the repair parts are unavailable, and promised to notify me when the defective components become available. More than six months later, I am still awaiting word from Honda about when my car can be repaired. My Honda dealer says they have no idea when the parts will be available. I therefore wish to issue a formal complaint that Honda has failed to remedy this defect within the 60-day reasonable time period specified in the recall notice. Thank you for your consideration.

- Glendale, AZ, USA

problem #68

Jan 012020

Civic

  • miles
The contact owns a 1997 Honda Civic. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V026000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. Honda of greeley (4535 w. 29th St, greeley, co 80634) was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Greeley, CO, USA

problem #67

Jan 202020

Civic 4-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 1997 Honda Civic. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V026000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. Gardena Honda located at 15541 S western ave, gardena, ca 90249 was notified of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Hawthorn, CA, USA

problem #66

Mar 012020

Civic

  • 0 miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 1997 Honda Civic. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V026000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Norm reeves Honda superstore huntington beach (19131 beach blvd, huntington beach, ca 92648, (888) 405-0115) was contacted and confirmed that the part was not available. The manufacturer was contacted and provided the contact with a case number. The contact had not experienced a failure. The VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Sunset Beach,, CA, USA

problem #65

Apr 052020

Civic

  • miles
I got a recall letter saying they don't have my part and I have sixty days to reply but with this virus how and when will they have my part

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #64

Oct 152019

Civic

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My Honda is over 15 years old. Are the airbags safe?

- Stockton, CA, USA

problem #63

Aug 152007

Civic

  • 158,000 miles
Takata recall? while driving straight through my neighborhood boulevard I fell asleep, causing me to quickly acceleratte and hit a tree head on approximately 40 mph, according to multiple witnesses and emergency responders. No airbags deployed in the car. My face and body hit the steering wheel, resulting in 4 teeth knocked out, 8 spine disc herniations and injuries, a heart contusion, whiplash, concussion, cracked collar bone, and much bruising, and broken eye glasses, retrieved by an attending neighbor witness. I was told by an attending emt that if the air bags deployed these injuries would not have occurred. When I asked my insurance agent how to retrieve my personal items from the car I was told he car was immediately deemed a total loss and, without my knowledge, my insurance co. Transfered my Honda to the wrecking yard to be flattened. I spoke to the accident attending rescue responders and firemen. They said based on the way my car hit the tree head on and the impact speed, the airbags should have deployed and if the airbags were present in the car they must have been defective. I have kept all written paperwork resulting from this accident.

- Newberg, OR, USA

problem #62

May 152016

Civic

  • 169,000 miles
"takata recall" my airbags went off when I was turning and went over a a bump, and cracked my windshield really bad on the passenger side. The SRS red light had been on for quite some time before this. When this occurred it blew a fuse and I had to have it towed. I did not file a police report because I only have liability insurance for the car so insurance did not need it. I have also had problems with the wiring and the cruise control would not work and would honk the horn when I tried to use

- Mason City, IA, USA

problem #61

May 222016

Civic

  • 265,000 miles
Takata recall the vehicle was involved in a crash where it hit a guard rail, flipped and caught on fire, neither air bags deployed!! my daughter had to be transported to the hospital with injuries.

- Lynchburg, VA, USA

problem #60

Nov 212012

Civic 4-cyl

  • 181,040 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Takata recall: On 11/21/2012 my son was seriously injured in a collision with another vehicle that pulled out in front of him on a hwy where the speed limit is 50 mph. My son was able to brake and steer to avoid the collision but still impacted the other car's left rear quarter-panel. As a result of the impact, his airbag deployed but with such force that it separated from the steering column and exited the vehicle. He received major facial lacerations and fractures in addition to an gaping wound in his wrist. He was told by several attorneys that since his car had just passed the statute of repose gate of 15 yr, he could not hope to bring suit against Honda/takata. To date, there does not appear to be any effort to extend the recall prior to 2002 for Honda vehicles. When the external car damage is compared to the damage inside his vehicle, his extensive injuries, and images of the air bag hardware are studied, there is sufficient reason to suspect the Honda air bag's detonation rather than deployment was the major contributor to my son's injuries. I understand the reasoning behind a statute of repose but in this case suspect a design deficiency existed prior to the car's age exceeding the arbitrary 15 yr gate.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #59

Nov 012007

Civic

  • 55,000 miles
The warning lights are

- Richfield, MN, USA

problem #58

Jul 122015

Civic

  • 166,000 miles
The contact owns a 1997 Honda Civic. While the vehicle was in the park position, the air bags deployed independently without a crash. As a result, the air bag caused the windshield to fracture. The driver of the vehicle sustained hand injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 166,000.

- Winston, GA, USA

problem #57

Apr 302015

Civic

  • 168,000 miles
I got in an accident by myself when a deer jumped out and I swerved and hit a tree. The air bag blew up and I have burns on my face neck and arm and a gash on my head.I went to the hospital to seek medical attention and showed them my arm. They were shocked to sees third degree burn on my arm. Such a burn that it left a large hole through my sweatshirt. A charred hole like I was set on fire. The nurses and doctors said they had never seen that happen before from an airbag. My car never set fire once. I feel the airbags are defective.

- Somersville, CT, USA

problem #56

Nov 232013

Civic

  • 155,126 miles
SRS light lit up to this date 11/20/2014.

- Fairfax, VA, USA

problem #55

Jul 252014

Civic

  • 96,000 miles
The contact owns a 1997 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the SRS light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 97V193000 (air bags). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 96,000. Updated 9/9/14 updated 1/20/2015

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #54

Jun 012013

Civic 4-cyl

  • 60,590 miles
Air bag warning indicator came on while driving in the city, just prior to entering onto the highway (approx 25 mph). I'm the only owner and have not had an accident with this car. Took it to a Honda dealer who said that it was the driver's side curtain air bag, but the service advisor noted "we have no way to tell you what the actual issue is with the side curtain airbag without taking your car apart which will take several hours..even after we take it apart, this work may require special order parts so we couldn't fix it immediately." They said while this light is on, the airbags don't work-how, at 60K miles, could an airbag be faulty? the dealer asked me 3 times if the car had ever been in an accident to which I repeatedly told them no, and that I am the only owner and bought it brand new. I'm concerned that Honda has more airbag issues with later models like my 2007 Civic ex as there are many complaints online. This same car has the engine block coverage extended due to a Honda recall; the sun visor split (33K mi) and wouldn't go all the way up, I hit my head on this when it broke and it impacted visibility-someone brought a civil suit to get Honda to address this. Further, this car's windshield wiper motor malfunctions (my VIN is covered with a tech service bulletin) and the wipers stop midway on the windshield impacting visibility--according to the tsb, Honda decides whether they will absorb the repair cost for that safety issue (Honda never proactively informed me that my VIN was affected when the car was still under warranty). At only 5 years old, the ac compressor broke due to poor design ($400 absorbed by me). Given what I perceive as a safety issue re: The airbags and the growing complaints online, it would be great if the NHTSA would do something further regarding later model Honda Civic airbags and make Honda accountable to consumers for safety issues.

- Reading, MA, USA

problem #53

Jun 222012

Civic 4-cyl

  • 209,827 miles
I was driving 50 mph when my air bags deployed for no reason. The explosion was horrendous. I put on my brakes which put my car in a sideways slide almost sending it over the cliff into the river. It was a horrifying experience. The windshield broke and my dash split. There was no impact at all. The air bag broke my new prescription glasses, bruised my face, and cut my lip. My son whom was with me is complaining of pain in his stomach where the air bag hit him. I see many other complains concerning faulty air bags but read Honda is not taking responsibility. These faulty bags are a life threatening issue and Honda should recall and fix this problem now. Updated 07/25/12 updated IVOQ 07/26/12

- Weaverville, CA, USA

problem #52

Jun 142010

Civic

  • 137,000 miles
The contact owns a 1997 Honda Civic. While parked with the engine turned on, the passenger side airbag independently deployed without warning. The air bag shattered the passenger side glass window. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that the vehicle was performing normally and there were no failure found. The current and failure mileages were 137,000.

- Faber, VA, USA

problem #51

Jan 011997

Civic

  • 125,000 miles
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??

- Shelton, WA, USA

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