1997 HONDA CIVIC Electrical System Problems

"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 IT

Mileage: 169,000

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.

Mileage: 45,000

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON NOW CAR WILL NOT START. NO FAULT OR CEL CODES. *JS

Mileage: 244,000

THE VTEC-E ON MY 1997 HONDA CIVIC HX IS NOT ENGAGING AT THE PROPER TIMES WHICH IS NOT ONLY AN ANNOYANCE WHEN DRIVING, BUT ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN IT ENGAGES AT LOW SPEEDS (WHICH IT SHOULD NOT DO) IN TRAFFIC LAUNCHING YOU FORWARD INTO THE BACK ENDS OF OTHER VEHICLES. HAS CAUSED (2) REARENDERS. *TR

Mileage: 15,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION THE ENGINE REMAINED ON. THE CONTACT HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPAIRED FOUR YEARS AGO FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION IT WOULD ROLL BACKWARDS IF THE EMERGENCY BREAK WAS NOT ON. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE 1999 THROUGH 2004 HONDA CIVIC NOT HER YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134000.

Mileage: 85,000

I HAVE A 97 CIVIC DX AND SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL TURN OFF AND IS TO HARD TO CONTROL THE WHEELS, WHEN TURNS OFF THERE IS NO ENGINE LIGHTS & THE CAR DIES TOTALLY AND I TRY TO TURN THE CAR ON BUT IT WONT START I NEED TO WAIT FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES THEN I CAN TURN THE CAR AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN DOING SOME RESEARCH IN THE INTERNET AND IT SEEMS THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS TO POSSIBLE COULD BE THE IGNITION SWITCH. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE JUST QUITS. THERE IS NO STUTTERING, STALLING, OR ENGINE MISFIRES, IT QUIETLY JUST QUITS. THE RADIO, HEATER FAN, BRAKE LIGHTS STILL WORK BUT NOT THE SIGNAL LIGHTS. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM STARTED 1-2X A MONTH AND OVER A PERIOD OF 7 MONTHS HAS NOW BECOME AN EVERYDAY OCCURRENCE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, BOTH OF THE REAR ELECTRIC DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT AN INSPECTION WOULD COST $150 AND THE REPAIR WOULD COST $500. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEALER INFORMATION WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ UPDATED *JB

Mileage: 125,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA CIVIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113000. THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AND THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE 02 SENSOR AND STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED AND THE LINEAR SOLENOID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

Mileage: 112,000

1- CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH SRS LIGHT FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW 2- NUMBER OF THINGS DONE TO FIX AND STILL NOT FIXED - THIS IS A COMPLETELY STOCK VEHICLE FROM THE FACTORY- NO MOODS! THE DEALER SAYS WITH THE SRS LIGHT ON THE CAR ABSOLUTELY HAS NO AIRBAGS THAT WILL WORK. 3- CHANGED THE BATTERY, TOOK IT INTO A DEALER AND HE RESET IT, STILL NOT FIXED. DEALER SAYS THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.*AK

Mileage: 60,000

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STRUCK A POT HOLE, AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. HOWEVER, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK, AND PASSENGER STRUCK HIS FACE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT OPEN AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ON. *SC

Mileage: 68,069

AFTER RECALL REPAIR OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, 02 120 000, IT MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING IN THE PARK GEAR. *NLM

CONSUMER STATED HAD IGNITION SWITCH RECALL 02V120000 REMEDIED ON 10/4/02. SINCE THEN CAN START VEHICLE FINE, BUT INTERMITTENLY HAVE TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO TURN VEHICLE OFF. SWITCH WILL NOT TURN. TS

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON ALL DAY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND IT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED, OR AIR BAGS WILL MALFUNCTION IN A CRASH.*AKVEHICLE OWNER HAS BEEN SENT A FREE SERVICE REMINDER FOR TECHNICAL PROBLEMS WITH ON BOARD DIAGNOSTIC, THAT CAUSES IT TO NOT COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL CLEAN AIR ACT. *JG

WHEN DRIVING HEADLIGHTS AND INSTURMENT PANAL GET REALLY BRIGHT AND GO BACK TO NORMAL LIKE THEY FLICKER BRIGHT HAVE CHANGED BOTH ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY AND STILL DOES IT. *AK

WHEN DRIVING HEADLIGHTS AND INSTURMENT PANAL GET REALLY BRIGHT AND GO BACK TO NORMAL LIKE THEY FLICKER BRIGHT HAVE CHANGED BOTH ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY AND STILL DOES IT. *AK

WHEN DRIVING HEADLIGHTS AND INSTURMENT PANAL GET REALLY BRIGHT AND GO BACK TO NORMAL LIKE THEY FLICKER BRIGHT HAVE CHANGED BOTH ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY AND STILL DOES IT. *AK

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START IN NOVEMBER OF 2000. DEALERSHIP TESTED BATTERY TO SEE IF THIS WAS CAUSE. MECHANIC REPLACED BATTERY, AND VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT START. MECHANICS THEN REPLACED ENTIRE ALTERNATOR, AND THIS CORRECTED DEFECT. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000 MILES ON ALTERNATOR WHEN THIS OCCURRED. *AK RUN CHANNEL AND REGULATOR FOR THE POWER WINDOW WAS REPLACED. HOOD RELEASE SNAPPED OFF WHEN CONSUMER PULLED IT. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRMENT OF THE ALTERNATOR. *SLC

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START IN NOVEMBER OF 2000. DEALERSHIP TESTED BATTERY TO SEE IF THIS WAS CAUSE. MECHANIC REPLACED BATTERY, AND VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT START. MECHANICS THEN REPLACED ENTIRE ALTERNATOR, AND THIS CORRECTED DEFECT. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000 MILES ON ALTERNATOR WHEN THIS OCCURRED. *AK RUN CHANNEL AND REGULATOR FOR THE POWER WINDOW WAS REPLACED. HOOD RELEASE SNAPPED OFF WHEN CONSUMER PULLED IT. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRMENT OF THE ALTERNATOR. *SLC

AFTER HIGHWAY DRIVING 2.5 HOURS, SMOKE APPEARED FROM UNDER HOOD AND CAR MISFIRED REPEATEDLY. AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM NON-FUNCTIONAL; HALL HONDA ATTRIBUTES TO COOLING FAN FAILURE BUT IS RELUCTANT TO REPAIR UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY CLAIMING PROBLEM IS RELATED TO PREVIOUS ACCIDENT DAMAGE THREE YEARS AGO ALTHOUGH ANOTHER MANAGER FROM SAME DEALERSHIP DISAGREES. *AK

SCOTT HONDA MAILED A POST CARD TO MY HOME IN FEB 2OOO FOR CAR RECALL. UPON CALLING HOINDA THE LEASE AGENT PUT ME ON HOLD AND SPOKE TO THE SERVICE DEPT. SHE THEN PROCEEDED TO SAY THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE ENGINE PROBLEMS UNTIL MY CAR REACHED BETWEN 60,000-70,000 MILES. SHE STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD RUMBLE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WOUDL COME ON DUE TO FAULTY WIRING,ETC. I EXPALINED THAT MY CAR WAS SERVICE AND THE ENGINE LIHGT CAME ON DURING MY INSPECTION AND THAT I SPENT 450.00 ON GETTING MY CAR REWIRED ETC.. SHE EXPLAINED THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE WIHT THE CAR AND IT WOULD OCCUR AT A HIGHER MILAGE AND TO BRING MY CAR IN. I ASKED HER WAHT TO DUE IN CASE I DON'T EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS OR IF I LOST MY RECALL POSTCARD . SHE STATED THAT IT WAS NO PROBLEM AND TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP MGR. AND THAT HE WOULD HONOR THE SITUATION AND GIVE ME A NEW POSTCARD.. UPON MY ENIGINE LIGHT TURING ON...AND MY CONTACTING HONDA SERIVE THE GENTLEMAN WAS RATHER SCARASTIC AND RUDE AND ACCUSED ME OF NOT TAKING CAR OF MY CAR AS WELL AS STATING THAT HE KNEW OF NO RECALLS FOR A 1997 CIVIC. WOULD SOMEONE BE SO KIND AS TO INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION?? HONDAS ARE RELIABLE CARS AND THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT HAVE PROBELEMS @ 3 YEARS OLD. IN ADDITION, MY AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATING SYSTEM ONLY LASTED APPROX. 2/12/ YEARS. THERE MUST BE SOMETHING ELECTRONICALLY WRONG WITH THIS MODEL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. SINCERELY, DEIDRE L. ADORE. *AK

VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATION, DEALER REPAIRED WIRING SYSTEM HOWEVER AFTER REPAIR THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE AS WELL, ADDITIONAL WIRING REPAIRS IN THE HARNESS COMPLETED, THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT DO WIRING REPAIRS PROPERLY AND HARNESS WAS BROKEN WITH SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS, VEHICLE CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS DUE TO DAMAGED WIRING HARNESS. *MJS

HANSEL HONDA STATED TWO MONTHS AGO WHEN WE HAD THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT PROBLEM, THAT IT WAS A FAULTY ENGINE MODULE. THE CAR HAS HAD TWO START PROBLEMS FOR WHICH HANSEL HONDA STATED IT MAY BE DUE TO THE MODULE BUT WAS STILL BACK ORDERED. WITH THE SECOND START PROBLEM, ONE OF THE SERVICE STAFF STATED IT MAY BE THE MODULE PROBLEM BUT STATED THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING THE PART. THE OTHER SERVICE PERSON THAT VERY SAME DAY, STATED IT PROBABLY WASN'T THE MODULE AND THAT THE PART WAS STILL ON BACKORDER DUE TO HIGH INCIDENCE AND REQUESTS OTHER THAN HANSEL HONDA FOR REPLACEMENT MODULE FOR THE DEFECTIVE PART. HE STATED THEY COULDN'T GUARANTEE WHETHER THE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE STARTING WAS DUE TO THE MODULE OR NOT, BUT THAT THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE FOR NOW. HANSEL HONDA STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS A PROBLEM NOT THEM AND STILL COULDN'T DETERMINE WHEN THE PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE. I ASKED THEM IF SO MANY HONDAS HAD BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALERS, WHY THEY HAVEN'T BEEN RECALLED. HE SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW. AS MENTIONED EARLIER, IT HAS BEEN 2 MONTHS SINCE THE PART WAS INITIALLY ORDERED. *AK

FUSE BOX COVER FAILED. *YC

BATTERY FAILED. MJS

WHEN DRIVING THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, AND CONSUMER HAD A FUSE REPLACED AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS STILL COMING ON. *AK

HEADLAMPS/DASHLIGHT VOLTAGE FLUCTUATES.

HORN BUTTON PLACEMENT DESIGN IS POOR, DUE TO DELAY IN LOCATING BUTTON TWO ACCIDENTS OCCURRED.

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT MODULE BURNED UP. *AK

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT MODULE BURNE DUP, POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. *AK

LOCATION OF IGNITION SWITCH IS TOO LOW, CAUSING DRIVER'S KNEE TO TURN IGNITION KEY TO THE OFF POSITION.

THE DESIGN/LOCATION OF THE IGNITION SWITCH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING.

VEHICLE WAS ACCIDENTIALLY SHUT OFF DUE TO DESIGN OF IGNITION KEY SYSTEM, EASILY ENGAGED WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE.