VehicleVerdict

1997 Honda Civic electrical system problems

The 1997 Honda Civic has 33 electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA — 7% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

33

Electrical System complaints

7%

Share of year

3

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Electrical System complaints by year

Civic electrical system complaints by model year149 complaints1986: 4 complaints1988: 7 complaints1989: 12 complaints1990: 20 complaints1991: 24 complaints1992: 29 complaints1993: 29 complaints1994: 4 complaints1995: 15 complaints1996: 22 complaints1997: 33 complaints1998: 99 complaints1999: 124 complaints2000: 45 complaints2001: 72 complaints2002: 53 complaints2003: 60 complaints2004: 34 complaints2005: 29 complaints2006: 105 complaints2007: 74 complaints2008: 55 complaints2009: 37 complaints2010: 27 complaints2011: 17 complaints2012: 69 complaints2013: 48 complaints2014: 43 complaints2015: 30 complaints2016: 149 complaints2017: 111 complaints2018: 65 complaints2019: 40 complaints2020: 36 complaints2021: 17 complaints2022: 38 complaints2023: 15 complaints2024: 5 complaints2025: 6 complaints2026: 3 complaints
Civic electrical system complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“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”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · April 15, 2009 · crash

Common questions

How many electrical system complaints does the 1997 Honda Civic have?

NHTSA has 33 complaints about the 1997 Honda Civic electrical system — 7% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.