1997 Honda Accord Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 96 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 1997 Honda Accord, 21% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 135,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “ignition switch” (35% of reports).
- 96electrical system complaints
- 135,500median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 44%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Ignition switch: mentioned in 34 of 96 complaints (35%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 42 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 96 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 2 an injury.
Honda Accord electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Accord | 1 | 9% | — |
| 2025 Accord | 9 | 10% | — |
| 2024 Accord | 26 | 17% | 22,863 |
| 2023 Accord | 23 | 27% | 25,100 |
| 2022 Accord | 105 | 41% | 22,000 |
| 2021 Accord | 66 | 27% | 100,000 |
| 2020 Accord | 53 | 15% | 14,500 |
| 2019 Accord | 109 | 16% | 14,000 |
| 2018 Accord | 296 | 16% | 11,075 |
| 2017 Accord | 155 | 29% | 29,048 |
| 2016 Accord | 199 | 33% | 46,000 |
| 2015 Accord | 237 | 39% | 50,500 |
| 2014 Accord | 378 | 39% | 52,000 |
| 2013 Accord | 416 | 29% | 50,000 |
| 2012 Accord | 32 | 9% | 50,000 |
| 2011 Accord | 18 | 6% | 66,000 |
| 2010 Accord | 34 | 6% | 60,500 |
| 2009 Accord | 44 | 6% | 62,500 |
| 2008 Accord | 104 | 7% | 32,000 |
| 2007 Accord | 60 | 11% | 89,000 |
| 2006 Accord | 42 | 10% | 81,000 |
| 2005 Accord | 96 | 15% | 70,961 |
| 2004 Accord | 146 | 14% | 85,000 |
| 2003 Accord | 142 | 7% | 71,000 |
| 2002 Accord | 69 | 7% | 97,000 |
| 2001 Accord | 78 | 8% | 102,500 |
| 2000 Accord | 171 | 14% | 107,000 |
| 1999 Accord | 388 | 34% | 130,000 |
| 1998 Accord | 308 | 26% | 126,037 |
| 1997 Accord | 96 | 21% | 135,500 |
| 1996 Accord | 40 | 8% | 120,000 |
| 1995 Accord | 43 | 8% | 132,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Problem: On certain sedans, coupes, hatchbacks, and sport utility vehicles, electrical contacts in the ignition switch can degrade due to the high electrical current passing through the switch when the vehicle is started.
Risk: Worn contacts could cause the engine to stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the ignition switch. Owner notification began june 14, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact honda at 1-800-999-1009 or acura at 1-800-382-2238.
Electrical system:wiring:front underhood
Problem: Vehicle description: sedan, coupe and wagon passenger vehicles except the dx model and models with v6 engines. The factory installed air conditioner wire harness was improperly routed allowing some wires to rub against each other, eventually causing a short circuit.
Risk: The short circuit canpossibly cause the underhood wireing to overheat and smoke, causing a fire in the engine compartment. A short circuit can also result in a blown fuse or dead battery.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the vehicles for proper routing of these wires. Any harness improperly routed will be inspected for damage and the routing will be corrected. If any insulation is worn through and the copper wires are exposed, the harness will be replaced. Dealers will also install plastic tubing to protect the harness.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
While driving car speed starts to fall soon there is no pedal at all and smoke and fire come from underneath dashboard transmission hesitates to shift now currently un safe to drive.
I test drive 1997 honda accord and you had to pump the break paddle to slow it down within 4 block radius when returning the garage the service engine light came on the vehicle started vibrating this was last week this month june 2020. They selling the for $1600. The blue book show it worth $800…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1997 Honda Accords have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 96 owner complaints about electrical system for the 1997 Honda Accord (21% of the 460 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Honda Accord electrical system?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 135,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 1997 Honda Accord?
The most frequent phrase is “ignition switch”, in 34 of 96 complaints.
Other 1997 Honda Accord problems
- Air Bags problems (113)
See all 1997 Honda Accord problems or electrical system problems across all Accord years.