36 complaints reported

1997 Honda Civic VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

Reports
36
Crashes
6
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Aug 2006

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2006
Jul 2006 Crash

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Dec 2006
Jun 2006

I AM CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCING THE ISSUE LISTED IN CAMPAIGN ID 99I002000 ON MY 1997 CIVIC. THE DEFECT REPORT INDICATES THAT 1997 CIVICS ARE COVERED. WHEN I CALL HONDA TO ARRANGE RESOLUTION OF DEFECT, THEY TELL ME ONLY 1996 CIVICS ARE COVERED. THIS IS FRUSTRATING CONSIDERING I AM EXPERIENCING THE ISSUE AND 99I002000 LISTS MY YEAR. I'M NERVOUS THAT THE ROUGHNESS OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WILL CAUSE ME TO REAR-END SOMEONE EVENTUALLY. PLEASE CONVINCE HONDA THAT MY 1997 SHOULD BE COVERED. THANK YOU. *NM

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

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SLOWLY ACCELERATES WHILE APPLYING FIRM PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER. THERE IS A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN, # 99I002000, REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CAMPAIGN DUE TO THE VIN.

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

IN 1987 I PURCHASED A NEW HONDA ACCORD. ABOUT 7-1/2 YEARS LATER THIS WHAT OCCURRED. I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AT A RAPID PACE AND IT HIT A BUILDING. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING AND THE CAR. NO ONE WAS INJURED. I DROVE THE CAR 3 YEARS AFTER THAT. THEN I GAVE THE CAR TO MY SON AND IN ABOUT 1999 THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIM WITH THE 1987 HONDA. IN 1997 I BOUGHT A HONDA CIVIC (NO BELLS OR WHISTLES). ABOUT 7-1/2 YEARS LATER THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED. I WAS PARKING THE CAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SURGED FORWARD AT AN UNCONTROLLABLE SPEED THE SAME AS IT DID IN THE 1987 HONDA ACCORD. I HIT THE SIDE OF A BUILDING, TURNED THE WHEEL TO AVOID GOINIG THROUGH THE WINDOWS OF THE BUILDING, HIT ANOTHER CAR, THEN FINALLY THE CAR SLOWED DOWN SOME AND I PUT THE CAR IN PARK. SINCE THIS HAS HAPPED TO ME TWO TIMES I AM PETRIFIED TO DRIVE MY CAR AGAIN. NO ONE WAS INJURED. PLEASE DO NOT THINK I STEPPED ON GAS.THIS IS RIDICULOUS, WHEN PARKING A CAR YOU SLOW DOWN AND USE THE BRAKE. AS THIS CAR WAS SURGING FORWARD, I HAD MY BRAKE TO THE FLOOR. I COULD NOT STOP WHAT WAS HAPPENING. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS SITUATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I SEARCHED THE NHTS - OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION - I FOUND 10 INCIDENTS OF THIS HAPPENING WITH THE 1987 HONDA ACCORD. WHAT IS TO SAY THIS CAN ALSO BE TRUE OF THE 1997 HONDA CIVIC. *AK

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

A VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 99I002000) RELATED TO MY VEHICLE IS POSTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. I HAVE THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THIS RECALL. HOWEVER, BOTH THE HONDA DEALER AND MANUFACTURER SAID THEY DID NOT FIND SUCH A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE AND REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE FIX. MY VEHICLE MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR: MAKE : HONDA MODEL : CIVIC YEAR : 1997 THE POSTED RECALL MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR: MAKE : HONDA MODEL : CIVIC YEAR : 1997 THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER IS 99I002000 I FEEL THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL RECALL POSES A RISK TO MY SAFETY AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF NHTSA WOULD ASSIST ME IN GETTING THE ISSUE RESOLVED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.

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

IN 1987 I PURCHASED A NEW HONDA ACCORD. SEVEN AND 1/2 YEARS LATER THIS IS WHAT OCCURRED. I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AT A RAPID PACE AND IT HIT A BUILDING. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING AND THE CAR. NO ONE WAS INJURED. I DROVE THE CAR 3 YEARS AFTER THAT. THEN I GAVE THE CAR TO MY SON AND IN 1999 THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIM WITH THE SAME CAR. IN 1997 I BOUGHT A HONDA CIVIC (NO BELLS OR WHISTLES). SEVEN AND HALF YEARS LATER THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED. I WAS PARKING THE CAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SURGED FORWARD LIKE THE LAST TIME. I HIT THE SIDE OF A BUILDING, TURNED THE WHEEL TO AVOID GOING THROUGH THE WINDOWS OF THE BUILDING, HIT ANOTHER CAR, THEN FINALLY THE CAR SLOWED DOWN, AND I PUT THE CAR IN PARK. SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWO TIMES I AM PETRIFIED TO DRIVE MY CAR AGAIN. NO ONE WAS INJURED, THANK GOODNESS. PLEASE DO NOT THINK I STEPPED ON THE GAS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, WHEN PARKING A CAR YOU SLOW DOWN AND PUT ON YOUR BRAKE. AS THIS CAR WAS SURGING FORWARD, I HAD MY BRAKE TO THE FLOOR. I COULD NOT STOP WHAT WAS HAPPENING. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS SITUATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Mar 2005
Jun 2005

MY NEWLY ACQUIRED 1997 HONDA CIVIC HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS PEDAL. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO SMOOTHLY ACCELERATE, THE PEDAL HAS A CHOPPY FEELING AND IS VERY JERKY AT SLOW SPEEDS. WHEN I GO TO PRESS ON THE PEDAL IT WONT MOVE AND THEN WHEN IT DOES MOVE IT MOVES TOO FAR. I LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE DEALER I TALKED TO AND THE HONDA COMPANY STATED THAT MY CAR DID NOT QUALIFY. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 99I002000. THE PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC, AND I HAVE NEARLY REAR ENDED PEOPLE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. I HOPE THERE IS SOME WAY I CAN GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR SO THE INCIDENT DATE I AM GOING TO PUT IS GENERALLY WHEN WE ACQUIRED THE CAR. THANK YOU. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2005
May 2004 Crash

ON SATURDAY, MAY 8TH 2004, WHEN I WAS COMING HOME FROM MY COLLEGE GRADUATION, I SLIGHTLY ACCELERATED IN MY 1997 HONDA CIVIC EX FROM 25 TO 35 MPH ON 26TH STREET IN MINNEAPOLIS, MN AROUND 5:30 MPH. FOR SOME UNSEEN, ODD AND POSSESSIVE REASON, MY GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE TO 65 MPH ON A 30 MPH ROAD. NORMALLY IVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A FAN OF HONDA AUTOMOBILES AND PRODUCTS. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAVE A CLEAN DRIVING RECORD. THANK GOD THERE WASN'T ANY TRAFFIC, BECAUSE FOR 6 BLOCKS I'VE NEVER BEEN SO SCARED IN MY LIFE. WHILE I WAS DRIVING, MY CAR WAS RED LINING (BECAUSE OF THE BLOWN SPEED SENSOR OR THROTTLE GAUGE ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT FIXED MY VEHICLE), IT CAUSED ME TO QUESTION WHY I DRIVE. AS I CAME ACROSS A FAIRLY BUSY ROAD, I TRIED TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN BY PRESSING AS HARD AS POSSIBLE ON THE BRAKE AND PUTTING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL (WHICH DID SLOW THE CAR DOWN SLIGHTLY), BUT ONLY TO 10-15MPH. I WAS THEN FORCED WITH HITTING AND POSSIBLY INJURING/KILLING PEOPLE ON THE FORTHCOMING STREET IN MINNEAPOLIS (26TH AND HENNEPIN), BUT INSTEAD WAS ABLE TO USE A DUMPSTER IN A PRE-EXISTING ALLEYWAY AS A BUFFER TO SLOW MY CAR DOWN TO A SAFE SPEED WHERE I COULD PULL THE E-BRAKE, PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND THEN TURN THE CAR OFF. I DO HAVE INSURANCE AND WASN'T INJURED, BUT I WILL NEED A NEW BUMPER, FRONT BUMPER SIDE SKIRT AND NEW RIM/TIRE TOTALING OVER $2000. I'M TRYING TO FIND IF ANYONE KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM OR OF ANY POSSIBLE RECALLS/DEFECTS? AS THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS ERROR AS PER THE COMPANY WHO FIXED MY HONDA (TOWN AND COUNTRY DODGE IN HOPKINS, MN), I AM VERY NERVOUS ABOUT PURCHASING OTHER HONDA AUTOMOBILES  AS IS MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH. MY CIVIC WAS KEPT IN FLAWLESS CONDITION, WAS GIVEN ALL MECHANICAL UPDATES BASED ON SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE (AS REQUIRED BY HONDA) AND HAS CURRENTLY HAS A YOUTHFUL 105,000 MILES. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2004
Nov 2003

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS INTERMITTENTLY AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATES. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WAS SCARED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Nov 2003
Apr 2003

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FEELS ROUGH OR NOTCHY WHEN YOU PRESS IT. THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND PROPERLY WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS AND ARE REQUIRED TO MOVE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO MAKE SLIGHT SPEED ADJUSTMENTS. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED FOR 1996 HONDA CIVIC. I HAVE IT ON MY 1997 CIVIC. HONDA WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM ON MY 1997 CIVIC. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFTEY HAZARD. IF THE THROTTLE CABLE STICKING PROBLEM BECOMES WORSE, IT COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO STICK WIDE OPEN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Apr 2003
Jan 2003

HONDA OF AMERICA WILL NOT HONOR REPLACEMENT OF THROTTLE CABLE PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 99I002000 DESPITE LOCAL HONDA DEALER CONFIRMING PROBLEM WITH CABLE. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS CAMPAIGN AND ONLY LEARNED OF IT BY PROACTIVELY SEARCHING RECALL NOTICES ON THE WEB.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2003
Jul 2002

VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE, LOSES POWER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2002
Jul 2002

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND FAILURE OF DEALER TO CORRECT SITUATION.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2001
May 2002

VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN ABOUT 12-20 TIMES AT ANY SPEED. CONSUMER WILL APPLY BRAKES, AND DEPRESS CLUTCH TO SLOW VEHICLE. RPMS GO UP TO 7000. MECHANIC CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Feb 2002
Feb 2002

ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS HARD TO PUSH WHEN MOVING AT LOW SPEEDS OR SITTING IN TRAFFIC, AND IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PUSH ON THE PEDAL SO HARD, THE CAR JUMPS FORWARD IN TRAFFIC.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2001
Jan 2002

WHEN I ACCELLERATED THE THROTTLE GOT STUCK. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2002
Dec 2001

ACCELERATOR PEDAL FEELS ROUGH AND NOTCHY WHEN PRESSED. UNABLE TO ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Oct 2001

WHILE CONSUMER PLACED HER FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Apr 2001

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.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2001
Mar 2001

WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS SET IT SPEEDS UP TO SPEED BEFORE ENGAGING. CRUISE CONTROL ON THIS MODEL IS SUPPOSE TO WORK THIS WAY. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE'S SPEED DROPS VERY QUICKLY BETWEEN FIVE AND SEVEN MPH CAUSING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN HER VEHICLE AND THE ONE BEHIND TO BE VERY CLOSE, DEALER STATES THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. *SLC

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 1996
Feb 2001 Crash

WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT, FOOT ON BRAKE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE. AS SOON AS VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, IT SURGED AGAIN. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO COME TO A STOP, AND REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO INJURIES.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 2001
Feb 2001

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS APPLIED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Dec 2000

INTERMITTENTLY ACCELERATOR STUCK WHEN DEPRESSED IMMEDIATELY AFTER A STOP. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE'S MAKE/ MODEL; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Sep 2000

WHEN CAR COMES TO STOP SIGN OR LIGHT, IN IDEL/DRIVE, ENGINE SURGES. CAR HAS TO BE PUT IN NEUTRAL TO STOP SURGING. WHEN SHIFTED BACK TO DRIVE, CAR LEAPS FORWARD. GRACE HONDA HAS BEEN ASKED REPEATED OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS TO INVESTIGATE AND REPAIR. THEY RESPOND BY SAYING THEY CANNOT DEMONSTRATE CONDITION ON TEST DRIVE AND HAVE NEVER HEARD OF IT (STRANGE, AS YOU HAVE REPORTS ON YOUR COMPLAINTS SITE). THEY ARE DISMISSIVE OF MY CONCERNS THAT THIS IS AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. I AM CURRENTLY IN CORRESPONDENCE ABOUT THIS WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. IN TORRANCE.*AK

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

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 1997 Honda Civic has 36 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL complaints on file. 6 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.