1997 Honda Accord Electrical System
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
The contact owns a 1997 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH and attempting to slow down, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality however, the failure became a persistent failure. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. However, the contact stated that the battery, carburetor, and alternator were replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 02V120000 (Electrical System) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
THE CAR DIES WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES IN MOTION, SOMETIMES STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. THE MECHANIC SAID IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH. THIS WAS THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL PREVIOUSLY IN 2002. I CAN'T TELL IF MY CAR WAS LISTED OR REPAIRED THEN.
I AM HEARING ELECTRICAL SPARKING SOUND WHEN I TURN IGNITION SWITCH TO START POSITION. THE CAR STARTS ONLY AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. CAR WAS STATIONARY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN PROMPTED. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AS THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.
MY CAR SPONTANEOUSLY BLEW UP ON MONDAY. HADN'T DRIVEN IT IN OVER 2 HOURS. BELIEVE IT FALLS UNDER RECALL NUMBER 98V231000. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS AND REGULARLY MAINTENANCED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE IF THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
HONDA DEALERSHIP REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH. THE ORIGINAL IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED IN THE 2002 RECALL. THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH WAS REPLACED IN 2016 AFTER EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS THAT LED TO THE ORIGINAL RECALL: SILENT STALL. THE FAULTY SWITCH LED TO A STALL AT A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I WAS REAR ENDED AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE CAR. I HAD TO REACH OUT TO HONDA ASKING THEM TO VERIFY THE PROBLEM AND REPLACE AT NO CHARGE.
I WAS BACKING UP. I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE THEN IT DIED AND STARTED TO SMOKE I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND LOOKED UNDER HOOD, SAW FLAMES FROM BOTTOM OF CAR, TOLD MY DAUGHTER THE CAR IS ON FIRE. WE GOT OUR THINGS AND OUT AND I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE O-RING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND AN OIL LEAK NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 98V231000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000.
VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. CONTINUED TO STALL AT LOW SPEEDS HIGH SPEEDS COLD ENGINE HOT ENGINE. SINCE IT WAS INTERMITTENT, MECHANIC HAD TROUBLE DIAGNOSING. I FOUND A RECALL ON NHTSA REGARDING THIS PROBLEM IN WHICH THE IGNITION SWITCH MODULE WAS TO BLAME. HONDA REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL GIVEN THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT HAD PASSED SO I HAD IT REPAIRED AT MY MECHANICS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO DAYS AFTER THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
I NOTICED THE PROBLEM ONCE JUST BY ACCIDENT. I WAS STOPPED AT A GROCERY PARKING LOT WITH A SLIGHT SLOPE. I WAS IN A RUSH AND I TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND AS I WAS GETTING OUT OF THE DOOR, THE CAR BEGAN TO ROLL. I REALIZED THAT THE CAR WAS STILL IN DRIVE BUT THE KEY HAD COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. I THOUGHT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SO I AM REPORTING THIS ISSUE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *TR
DUE TO AN INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA HONDA IS RECALLING SOME OF THEIR VEHICLES FOR FAULTY IGNITION INTERLOCKS. MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL BUT DOES HAVE THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THE KEYS WILL COME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHEN THE CAR IS NOT IN PARK. I HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF INCIDENCES WHERE MY CAR HAS ROLLED AWAY BUT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET IN AND STOP IT BEFORE IT HAS STRUCK ANYTHING. THIS IS DANGEROUS. I HAVE TALKED TO HONDA BUT THEY WILL NOT FIX THE IGNITION INTERLOCK IN MY CAR SINCE IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I FEEL THAT SINCE THEY ARE RECALLING SOME MODELS FOR THIS SAFETY CONCERN THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO REPLACE THE IGNITION INTERLOCK MY VEHICLE AS WELL. IS THERE ANYTHING NHTSA CAN DO TO HELP WITH THIS ISSUE? *TR
ENGINE JUST TURNS OFF. I AM ABLE TO RESTART IT IMMEDIATELY BY SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL. THIS HAPPENS 2-3 TIMES IN A WEEK AND THEN IT STOPS OCCURRING FOR A COUPLE WEEKS AND THE REPEATS THE CYCLE. NOW IT IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. THE LOCAL DEALER SAYS THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE HAS ALREADY HAD THE "RECALL COMPLETED". MY QUESTION IS WHAT IS MY RECOURSE IF THE PROBLEM IS STILL HAPPENING EVEN AFTER THE RECALL HAS BEEN COMPLETED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V120000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH REPAIR WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION FAILURE CAUSED THE MUFFLER TO FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1997 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK GEAR THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 10V364000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 10/21/10. *LJ UPDATED 10/26/10*JB
MY 1997 HONDA ACCORD WOULD OCCASIONALLY NOT START. THEN WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE WILL QUIETLY SHUTOFF WITHOUT STALLING OR MISFIRING. NOW CAR WILL SHUT OFF AFTER STARTING WHEN IGNITION SWITCH GOES BACK TO "RUN' OR "ON" POSITION. *TR
1997 HONDA ACCORD. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS NOT APART OF 2002 RECALL BUT HAS A PROBLEM CONCERNING THE IGNITION SWITCH *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE KEY WOULD COME OUT OF THE IGNITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE OR NEUTRAL. ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE SLIGHTLY ROLLED IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WAS NOT MUCH OF AN INCLINE, SO NEITHER VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE DEALER REPLACED A FAULTY IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION ON THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT LOCK. HE HAD TO TURN IT COMPLETELY OFF IN ORDER FOR THE KEY TO COME OUT OF THE IGNITION WITHOUT BEING IN PARK. THE FAILURE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE VEHICLE ROLL AWAY AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH TO OCCUR. HONDA STATED THAT THEY COULD OFFER NO ASSISTANCE AND THE REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 115,000. UPDATED 11/12/10 *CN UPDATED 11/16/10*JB
1997 HONDA ACCORD COUPE, 2.2L, DX TRIM IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. FIANCE' AND HER DAUGHTER WERE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WHEN THE ENGINE JUST "DIED", NO POWER, NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATIONS, ETC. VEHICLE DID/DOES RESTART AT THIS TIME. THIS IS IDENTICAL TO THE HONDA CAMPAIGN RECALL #02V120000 WHICH COVERS SOME HONDAS OF THIS YEAR/MODEL. I CONTACTED HONDA AND WAS BASICALLY BLOWN OFF... "SORRY, THIS RECALL DOESN'T COVER YOUR PARTICULAR VEHICLE'S VIN." FAILURE OCCURS FREQUENTLY, AT RANDOM, NO PARTICULAR INDICATORS THAT IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. CONSEQUENCES COULD BE FATAL IF THIS FAULT OCCURRED IN AN INTERSECTION, WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE, ETC. BECAUSE HONDA WOULD NOT MAKE SAFE THEIR FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH, I REPLACED THE SWITCH AT MY EXPENSE AT APPROXIMATELY $60/PART, PLUS MY TIME. HONDA CHARGES $211 TO REPAIR THIS, SO THE "TOTAL" REPAIR COST WITH MY PARTS/LABOR IS $211. I DID NOT SAVE THE PART UNFORTUNATELY, NOT THINKING OF NOTIFYING YOU UNTIL TOO LATE. THE FINAL "DYING" THAT OCCURRED ON 9/18/2010 WAS THE LAST STRAW. IT WOULD BE GREAT IF OTHERS SUFFERING FROM THIS OBVIOUS FAULT COULD BE REIMBURSED OR PREVENTED FROM HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THE KEYS BECAME LODGED IN THE IGNITION AND WOULD NOT RELEASE UNLESS THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.
MY 1997 HONDA ACCORD DIES WHILE DRIVING. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE CONTACT TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING PLACED IN PARKED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE BUT THERE WERE NO DAMAGES. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE HAS HAPPENED 4 OR 5 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,348 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000. UPDATED 01/21/11 *BF UPDATED 04/04/11
ENGINE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. OCCURS UNEXPECTED AND WITH OUT ANY WARNING. INSTANCE OCCURS AT ALL SPEEDS AND LEAVES DRIVER IN POSSIBLE DEADLY SITUATION. FAILURE CORRECTED ON SIMILAR HONDA VEHICLES ON RECALL 02V120000 (IGNITION SWITCH) BUT NOT ALL MODELS INCLUDED AS IN MY VIN. *TR
THE VEHICLE WAS STOP AND THE HORN STARTED WITH A REALLY LOUD NOISE THAT HURT MY EARS THEN I TRIED TO STOPPED WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR IT WAS FULL OF SMOKE IT REALLY SMELLED BAD MY HEAD FELT KIND OF WEAR WITH THE SMOKE IT MADE ME KIND OF DIZZY AND SLEEPY FROM THEN MY CAR DOESN'T WORK. *TR
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Quick Summary
The 1997 Honda Accord has 75 Electrical System complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.