2.6

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
57,141 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1997 Honda Civic:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #3

May 152010

Civic

  • 45,000 miles
I had car computer problems, air conditioning problem and paint on car body is cracking. These problems started to happen gradually, computer problems happened while I was driving on the road in the city; the paint started to crack for many years and the car looks miserable. The air conditioning broke down during a summer time, when I had no money to repair it and had to suffer due to the high heat weather. There is also a crack somewhere in the engine, not sure where, which can make things worse.

- Beaverton, OR, USA

problem #2

May 032008

Civic 4WD 4-cyl

  • 5,000 miles
Date and mileage are approximate. This was my wife's car which I very seldom drove. Not long after the car was new, I drove it and the following happened (the date I've listed is only approximate): I was driving at about 20mph and had to stop for a red light. I took my foot off of the accelerator and stepped on the brake pedal. The engine RPM did not slow down to idle, and tried to keep moving the car forward. I turned off the ignition to keep from having a crash. This is not an accelerator pedal problem as I shall explain later. I called the Honda dealer and was told that if it happened again to bring the car in. I told my wife what to do if it happened to her. Either it never happened to her or it did and she never told me. My wife died at the end of January 2015. Since then, I have sometimes driven her Civic. About 2-3 weeks ago the same problem occurred: I had driven several miles and had to stop. The engine RPM did not slow! I immediately put the automatic transmission into neutral and the engine RPM immediately slowed to idle. This is not a stuck accelerator problem because, if it were, the engine RPM would have increased when I shifted into neutral. It is not a brake problem unless the brakes are somehow physically or electronically connected to the engine RPM. Yesterday, March 4, 2015, the same problem occurred twice again after I had driven only about 3 blocks. In both cases I turned off the ignition to prevent an accident. I had the car towed to the dealer. The dealer could find nothing wrong with the car. I have contacted Honda usa about this serious safety problem. Note: I have spent almost all of my professional life in the area of safety analysis.

- Fairfax, VA, USA

problem #1

Oct 122013

Civic 4-cyl

  • 121,424 miles
This is car 2. on the 10th of August, I took the Saturn in after I had placed the call to [xxx] the gentleman that sold me the Saturn, about the car not working properly. I was then given a 1997 Honda Civic, I resigned what the loan papers and left. I had to pay to transfer the plates from one car to the next. Well it is sad to say that on 8-12-13 the car shut off while I was in the center lane of I95, with 2 children in the car and another adult doing 70 mph. I coasted to the shoulder of the highway, [xxx] is closed on Sunday; I waited until Monday I placed a call to [xxx]. I spoke with [xxx]and explained what had happened. Today 10-15-2013 I got up and called [xxx]. I then decided to go to the shop. When I got there all of the parties where there, and I asked what would happen with the car. I was informed that they could fix the engine for about $1500-$1800. That was not an option for me as I felt that there is no way that I should have to replace a whole engine after only having it for two months. I was told that the dealers?? hands were tied. I was past my warranty of 30 days or 1000 miles.keep in mind I was past my warranty the first time as well. I was told that there is no way for them to tell if the engine is bad before they put it out there to be sold. The dealer then began to tell me that in a 60 day period I drove the car 4000 miles I replied what does that have to do with anything. I told him there should be no reason that I have to replace a whole engine within a two month period used car or not. All I wanted was a reliable car that is safe. This business didn't provide that. I went in to resolve this matter face to face, as well as emailed the owner. All I wanted was a reliable car that works properly, and I don't want to lose the money that I have already put in to what I thought I was getting in the first place, which is a safe reliable car. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Palm Coast, FL, USA