Problems with 1997 Honda Accord ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

I am hearing electrical sparking sound when i turn ignition switch to start position. the car starts only after several attempts. car was stationary.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This car randomly shuts down as i am driving have taken it to numerous places and nothing is found. shut down 6 times in a row last time with my child in the car on a dark highway cold and raining. very dangerous!!! the inside lights flash on and off all of the time mostly turning curves, wasting battery. noise in the front wheels/tires/axles like something is waiting to break off as you are driving. overheated last year for no apparent reason costing ton of money. i have replaced the compressor twice and still the air conditioner doesn't cool. i leave the "air" button on to keep the fans running so it doesn't overheat as i'm driving. not to mention in the summer it is blowing out heat and all the windows do not roll down. this car is a mess and i will never purchase another honda. thanks-

Engine stalled suddenly, without warning, while driving on highway. since first occurrence it has been happening more frequently, sometimes on the highway and sometimes while stopped at traffic lights. is very difficult to restart. *tr

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 seat belt failed to latch in place without warning. in addition, the contact stated that the ignition key disengaged while in the on position. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was unknown.

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

My car engine some times used to suddenly shut off and stop abruptly, while slowing or braking. at times, it will start right away after cranking the ignition switch, but, some times, required several tries. abrupt stopping caused extremely dangerous situation, as the drivers behind had to make very hard stops and narrowly missed hitting rear end of my honda. since the problem was occurring intermittently, it was very difficult to diagnose and took almost one year. first my mechanic thought it was caused by defective idling speed control relay, then due to bad ignition related relay, which was replaced, but the fault persisted and stalling became more frequent. actually, the defect was due to worn or defective ignition switch, which use to shut the engine off while slowing or braking. after replacing the ignition switch approximately one year ago, car has never stalled.

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

On my way home on i-295 my car lost all power and was hard to steer and brakes did not work. i was able to coast to a stop in the emergency lane. i had the car towed to a local mechanic who informed me that it was a bad ignition switch. i took the car to the honda dealership and the part was under recall. the honda tech called me yesterday and tried to tell me that the problem was in the fuse box. my mechanic already knew it was the switch and honda told me the same thing when i dropped the car off. im not sure if they were trying to upsell me or deny responsibility. *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.

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.

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 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.

I have noted that i can remove the key from the ignition of my 1997 honda accord without being in park. the safety issue is that the driver turn off the engine, remove the key (not in park), leave the car and the car can then roll away. this is the same safety defect that is now being recalled on the 2003 honda. *tr

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

I have had my 1997 honda accord lx 4cyl for about 4 years. i have searched this problem just about everywhere, and while i've seen the problem reported in hundreds of honda owners, i have yet to see a solid solution. problem: car shutting off while driving, strong fuel/gas smell when this happens, dash lights shutting off and going black, door locks jumping up and down my car is shutting off while driving - whether i'm on a residential street, or going 75 mph on the highway. i have been blessed not to be hit by another car when this happens. it sometimes starts right back up, but after a few times, it takes about 20 minutes to be able to start. the engine will stir around, but it won't fire up and actually start. twenty minutes later or so, it starts.. and then we may make it to our destination without stalling again. oh, and i can't forget the strong scent of fuel in the air when this happens. it started as a sporadic thing that happened whenever i drove long distance (an hour or more) or whenever i was at 1/4 of a tank. more recently, i can hardly drive at all. i tried to leave today, and i didn't make it down the street without the car shutting off twice. the car is not overheating, there's plenty of gas in the tank... yet when i drive, the dash lights go out, the rpm jumps all over the place and finally to 0. the car works fine when the engine is cold (first thing in the morning), but as soon as the engine warms to a normal level, this happens. i've been stranded on the highway more times then i care to admit... by myself, with my children, in 101 degree heat.. etc. what we've done (unsuccessfully): * i already called the dealership, they ran my vin and said that the recalls have all been taken care of and replaced on my car prior to me purchasing the vehicle. * replaced spark plugs and wires * major tune-up * replaced relay switch * replaced fuel filter. *tr

My 1997 honda accord dies while driving. *tr

Tl*the contact owned a 1997 honda accord. the contact stated that the key should not be removed from the vehicle unless the gear shift selector was in park. he stated that the key came out of the ignition when the vehicle was moving which caused unsafe conditions. updated 08/24/10. *lj updated 08/25/10*jb

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

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

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 honda accord. the contact noticed that when he placed the ignition in the lock position, the vehicle would not start. he had to turn the ignition several times in order for the vehicle to start. the dealer stated that a new ignition switch would cost $500. the manufacturer stated that the vehicle was 12 years old and the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 02v120000 (electrical system: ignition: switch). they would not assist with the repair. the failure mileage was 50,000 and current mileage was 60,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 honda accord. in 2004, the vehicle was repaired according to a recall for the ignition switch. while driving 25 mph, the ignition switch failed again and the vehicle lost power. the failure also occurs at various speeds. the vehicle is currently at the dealer for repairs. the current mileage was 143,000 and failure mileage was 135,000.

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

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 honda accord se (na). the contact stated that when the vehicle was set on cruise control and the temperature was below 45 degrees, the vehicle would continuously accelerate. the contact also mentioned that he was unable to remove the key out of the ignition. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that they were unable to duplicate the failure. the manufacturer was contacted who stated that the vehicle was not covered under warranty and was not included in any recalls. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 180,000.

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

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 honda accord. while driving, the vehicle completely shut off as if the contact turned the vehicle off herself. she steered the vehicle into the emergency lane and restarted it after a few minutes. the first failures occurred 1-2 months apart. most recently, the failure has been occurring every other day. she took the vehicle to a mechanic friend, who stated that the issue may have been caused by nhtsa campaign id number 02v120000 regarding the ignition; however, a formal diagnosis was never received. the latest occurrence was on april 16, 2009 while driving 15 mph. the dealer and manufacturer have not been notified. the current mileage was approximately 183,400 and failure mileage was approximately 175,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 honda accord. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer because the air conditioning system was inoperative. a technician stated that there was a short circuit that caused the fuse to blow and the air compressor to fail. secondly, a representative stated that his vehicle was previously repaired according to nhtsa campaign id number 98v231000 (electrical system:wiring:front underhood); therefore, the contact would be responsible for the repair costs. the vehicle has not been repaired. the manufacturer was not able to assist. the failure and current mileages were 98,000.

I have several complaints: 1) the srs light came on. the dealer claimed that i needed a new computer at a cost of $900. i researched possible problems on this and other websites and had listed the technical service bulletins that were relevant. the dealer was not so thorough. my research showed that honda had been having problem with these computers already for several years and done nothing about it. the problem was with a sensor on the passenger side air bag which was malfunctioning in such a way as to leave in doubt whether or not the air bag would deploy. it is ridiculous that consumers have to pay nearly 1,000.00 to fix systemic problems in a safety system that have repeatedly not been addressed. 2) my abs light started coming on. when starting the engine the pump motor for the abs system would activate and attempt to pump fluid in the system. it could be heard from inside the car as a grinding noise. it would cycle on and off for about 6 or so times then the relay would trip, turn off motor and illuminate the abs light. the dealer claimed that the ams module was malfunctioning and needed replacement at a cost of 1,700.00. ridiculous. after doing some research online it seems that this is also a common failure for this make and model of car. 3) wireless entry system failed. 4) a/c evaporator sprung a leak 5) driver side passenger door auto lock does not work. this car is far from reliable, as advertised to be, and very questionable in the safety department. i am finished with honda! *tr

I had to split up my complaint because of the size restriction on the description field. in addition to the ignition coil problem described below i have also had problems with the srs system, abs system, wireless entry system, air conditioner, and the auto door locks (all of which are described in another complaint). for a long time the tachometer behaved randomly. it would surge then fall to zero. for periods of time it behaved normally. there was no pattern to the behavior. initially the engine performance was nominal. over time the engine began surging and stalling, not necessarily in rhythm with the tachometer, nor exhibiting such behavior when the tach was acting up. again there was no obvious pattern. finally the check engine light came on referencing a transmission code that referred to the ignition coil. interestingly once the code was cleared the check engine light when out and did not illuminate for some time. the next time it illuminated it eventually turned itself out. i finally took the car to the detailer. the dealer said that the ignition coil was not talking to the tach and the computer could not read the engine idle speed. consequently it was recommended to replace the ignition coil as it evidently had an electrical failure. i am still researching this problem, but it appears that other owners have had experiences with their 1997 honda accords' engines surging and stalling and in some cases causing accidents. this is definitely not safe and definitely unacceptable. as i mentioned before, i am through with honda!!!!! *tr

Honda missed a recall on an ignition switch that could have caused me a fatal accident as the car was stopping on the freeway once at full speed 65+ mph i brought the car in with detail of the problem "the car dying' and they misdiagnosed it and failed to see the recall which they would have had access to once they input the vin - honda then refused to reimburse me the money i paid for the unnecessary and unsuccessful work that they did. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 honda accord. while driving 50 mph or greater, the vehicle shut off. the contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the pgmfi relay was the cause of failure. the vehicle has not been repaired under nhtsa campaign id number 02v120000 (electrical system:ignition:switch). the current mileage was 184,000 and failure mileage was 179,000.

I have a 1997 honda accord. i have been having serious problems with the car turning off while i am driving. it looks as if the problem should have been covered in nhtsa campaign id number 02v120000 but was not. i consulted the honda dealer and they said that my car was not covered by this recall and therefore i must pay for the repairs to the ignition switch. with a possible one million cars recalled, it seems as if they have missed some. i have also found other people with the same problem and feel that it needs to be addressed. thanks for your help. *jb

Dt*: the contact stated while driving at 40 mph the engine stalled without warning. the ignition switch had already been replaced twice. the vehicle was taken to the dealership who performed diagnostic testing and determined the ignition switch was bad again. the dealership replaced the ignition switch again. updated 2/9/2006 - the ignition switch was also recalled (02v120000) in the summer 2002. the dealer installed an improved ignition switch but that one failed as well. *nm

I have a 1997 honda accord, with ball joint problems. *bf the consumer was not aware of the ball joint recall and the air condition recall on the vehicle when it was sold to her. the vehicle had to be towed because the ball joint failed.*jb

A recall for the ignition switch was issued. dealer refused to repair the vehicle under the recall because of an after market anti-theft device that was added by the manufacturer upon delivery of vehicle to consumer. *ak

The consumer had the ignition switch replaced on a recall number 99i-0020000 on january 20. the same problem started again in june. vehicle stalled while driving on the highway at 65 mph. the consumer was almost struck by another vehicle. the dealer was contacted, and they stated that the parts had already been replaced twice, and there has to be something else wrong. *la

The daytime running lights failed without warning. a recall(98v231000) was issued, however the vehicle identificationnumber was outside of the remedy scope. please provide additional information. *jb

Consumer was able to take the key out of the ignition switch without the vehicle being in park. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak

A couple of months back i read about a recall on various honda and acura vehicles with regard to an ignition switch problem in consumer reports. the recall affected some 19'97 models, but 1998 and newer accords. i own a '97 accord that is experiencing the same problem. i contacted a local dealer and after almost 3 weeks of aggravating phone calls redirecting me to everyone from the corporate office to the janitor, i was denied inclusion in the recall. some of the excuses were that my vehicle has too many miles on it to be included, that i don't maintain a service relationship with any particular dealer, and that it may just be my key has worn out (both of them at the same time?). i was wondering if it is customary to make such arbitrary decisions when determining inclusion in a safety recall. all those factors listed do not change the fact that my car can roll away after i remove my key. *ak

1997 honda accord ignition recall.*mr (nar) *cb

Recall 02v120000 concerning ignition switch failure. vehicle was repaired under this recall last year. however, the stalling problem recurred. dealer informed consumer that the repairs were done, and he was not obligated to repair it again. *ak