101 complaints reported

1997 Honda Accord Air Bags

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
101
Crashes
11
Fires
1
Injuries
7

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Nov 2017

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND MY SRS LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS NOT WENT OFF. I HAVE NOT HIT ANYTHING AND I WAS JUST DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN IT JUST CAME ON.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Nov 2017
Aug 2015

THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY ARE CHARGING A LOT TO REPAIR IT. I HAVE NOT DONE THE REPAIR . HOW COME AIR BAG RELATED SRS LIGHT CAN COME WHILE JUST DRIVING AND WHY DO I NEED TO PAY FOR IT ? IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY MANUFACTURER

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2014
May 2013

THE SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING AN AIRBAG PROBLEM WITH MY HONDA ACCORD AT APPROX. 130,000 MILES. THE DEALER CHARGED ME $90 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WITH A 8-5 INTERNAL FAILURE CODE. DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE SRS UNIT AT A COST TO ME OF $1100. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE HONDA CORPORATION AS A RECALL AS THEY HAVE COURAGEOUSLY DONE FOR THE HONDA CIVIC. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Mar 2013
Feb 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC RESET THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND STATED THAT IF THE FAILURE PERSISTED, THE SRS MODULE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT RE-ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Nov 2007
Mar 2011

SRS LIGHT HAS BEEN RESET SEVERAL TIMES ON MY 1997 HONDA ACCORD LX.. THERE SEEMS NOT TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAGS. THIS IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2005
Nov 2010

THE SRS (AIRBAGS) LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR OVER 2 YEARS. IT INDICATES THE AIRBAGS ARE MALFUNCTION. INITIALLY, I ATTEMPTED TO RE-SET THE LIGHT TWICE, BUT IT CAME BACK SHORTLY AFTER RESETTING. AFTER SEARCHING THROUGH INTERNET AND NHTSA WEBSITE HERE, I REALIZE THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH 1997 HONDA ACCORD MODEL. SINCE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND IS NOT DRIVERS FAULT, HONDA SHOULD HOLD THE RESPONSIBILITY AND ISSUE A RECALL TO REPAIR IT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Sep 2007
Sep 2010

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2009
May 2010

THE SRS LIGHT RANDOMLY CAME ON. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND HE SAID THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SRS MODULE COMPUTER WHICH MEANS THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: May 2010
Sep 2009

AS WITH THE OTHERS SRS LIGHT CAME ON IN 2004 WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM A PRIVATE OWNER. BEFORE I PURCHASED THE CAR HE TOOK IT TO A HONDA DEALER FOR A COMPLETE INSPECTION AND NOTHING WAS NOTED THAT THE SRS LIGHT WAS ON. I TOOK IT INTO A HONDA DEALER AND THEY DIDN'T RUN ANY CHECKS THEY JUST TOLD ME THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST $1200.00 TO FIX. THEY TOOK THE CAR TO DO SOME OTHER MINOR REPAIRS AND WHEN I PICKED IT UP THE LIGHT WAS OFF. IT CAME BACK ON WITHIN MONTHS OF BEING OFF. IT HAS BEEN ON TO THIS DAY. IT SOUNDS FISHY TO ME THAT THEY CAN DIAGNOSE BY THE LAMP ON WHEN I READ THAT IT COULD BE A NUMBER OF LESS EXPENSIVE FIXES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2004
Jul 2007

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED HONDA ACCORD AND NOTICED THE SRS LIGHT WAS ON. SUBSEQUENT RESEARCH REVEALED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE IS DEFECTIVE AND HONDA DOES NOT COVER ITS REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY WITH THE SRS LIGHT ON. HONDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR SEVERAL YEARS--OBVIOUSLY, THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN MEETING THE SAFETY STANDARDS THAT THE NHTSA OR DOT SETS AND DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR PASSENGERS. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE PEOPLE DIE UNNECESSARILY. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jul 2007
Nov 2006

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON. DUE TO A MALFUNCTION. COMPANY REFUSES TO REPAIR. HONDA CO. THEY KNOW THAT BY LAW THEY NEED TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM, BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, THEY WANT CLIENTS TO REPAIR THEIR CARS AT OWNERS EXPENSE BREAKING THE LAW. THE NHTSA IS NOT ENFORCING THE LAW WHEN THEY KNOW HONDA CO HAS TO COVER THIS TYPE OF REPAIR. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Nov 2005
Sep 2006

AIR BAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS ON. THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT. THIS PUTS THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS AT RISK OF DEATH AND OR SERIOUS INJURY. THIS FALLS UNDER NHTSA LIST OF SAFETY RELATED DEFECTS. THIS ITEM NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED ASAP. THE DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR AT NO COST TO ME. ALSO CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. THEY STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT COVER ANY AMOUNT TO FIX THE AIR BAGS. EVEN AFTER I INFORMED THEM THAT THIS WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES PLUS IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT I AM AT HIGH RISK OF DEATH OR BEING CRITICALLY INJURED. THEY HAVE LEFT ME WITH OUT ANY OTHER OPTION BUT TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. I HOPE THAT THEY WILL FOLLOW NHTSA PROCEDURES BY DOING WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES AND STOP IGNORING THERE RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT CRITICAL SAFETY RELATED DEFECTS. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Sep 2006
Jan 2006

SRS COMPUTER FAILED. AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL NOT OPERATE. DEALER ADVISED THAT THE DEFECT IS IN THE COMPUTER MODULE. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2005
Jan 2006

THE SRS LIGHT IN THE CONSUMER'S 1997 HONDA ACCORD ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TS *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Nov 2005
Oct 2005

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE RESET, AND RESET IT THREE TIMES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Sep 2004
Sep 2005

MY SRS LIGHT IS ON MY 1997 HONDA ACCORD, AND THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIX IT. ALSO, I'VE READ ABOUT A TON OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IN ACCORDS, CIVICS, AND CRVS. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA HONDA, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2005
May 2005

SRS LIGHT ON 1997 HONDA ACCORD COMING ON. DIAGNOSED FOR $85. BATTERY REPLACED. A WEEK LATER IT CAME BACK ON AND STAYED ON. AFTER ANOTHER $85, TOLD THAT SRS SYSTEM IS BAD, AND IT WILL BE $830 TO REPLACE. I SEE ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND LEARN THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS UPGRADED. I BOUGHT THE HONDA BECAUSE OF ITS HIGH RELIABILITY AND WOULD APPRECIATE BEING REFUNDED BY HONDA. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: May 2005
Apr 2005 Injury

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY TYPE OF COLLISION, DID NOT RUN OVER ANYTHING IN THE ROAD. HOWEVER, CONSUMER SUSTAINED KNEE, NECK, AND BACK INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: May 2005
Jan 2005

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE RESET, AND RESET IT ON THREE DIFFERENT VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Dec 2004
Jan 2005

THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG MODULE WHICH CAUSED THE SRS LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *NM *TC *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2005
Jan 2005

DT: THE SRS AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE FAILED, HOWEVER, THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN EARLY FEBRUARY 2005. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS A DEFECTIVE CONTROL MODULE. CONSUMER STATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. NO REPLACEMENT BECAUSE IT WOULD COST $800. *AK *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2005
Sep 2004

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE FRONT AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Sep 2004
Sep 2004 Crash

SRS LIGHT IS ON, 2ND OCCURRENCE. RESET AT DEALER FIRST OCCURRENCE AFTER COLLISION, (AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY). SECOND OCCURANCE, CAME ON WITHOUT COLLISION.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 2004
Aug 2004

S.R.S LIGHT MALFUNCTING ON 97 HONDA ACCORD AND HONDA MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO ACKNOWDLEDGE IT HAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS SYSTEM. ARTICLES ON THE INTERNET REPORT THAT HONDA AIRBAGS AT TIMES DO NOT DEPLOY WHEN INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS WHERE THEY SHOULD HAVE. HONDA MOTOR COMPANY STATES IN THE OWNERS MANUAL THAT THIS SYSTEM DOES NOT REQUIRE MAINTENANCE AND THAT BE CHECKED IN 10 YEARS. I FEEL THE THE HONDA MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND MADE LIABLE TO REPAIR THIS SAFETY PROBLEM WHEN CONTACTED. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: May 2004
Jun 2004

THE SRS LIGHT IN MY 1997 ACCORD WAGON IS ON FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST TIME HONDA SIMPLY TURNED IT OFF (AND CHARGED ME). NOW I WILL BE PAYING $1,000 TO HAVE THE SYSTEM REPLACED. THIS SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON IN HONDAS AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT THE DEALER SHOULD PAY FOR OR HAVE HONDA RECALL. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SATISFIED WITH HONDA - THIS IS MY THIRD HONDA - AND IT WILL SURELY BE MY LAST.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 2003

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 1997 Honda Accord has 101 Air Bags complaints on file. 11 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.