1997 Honda Civic Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 1%of 373 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 45,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the engine of the 1997 Honda Civic, 1% of the 373 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 45,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10862668, filed 2016-05, 45,000 miles“Date and mileage are approximate. This was my wife's car which I very seldom drove. Not long after the car was new, I drove it and the following happened (the date I've listed is only approximate): I was driving at about 20mph and had to stop for a red light. I took my foot off of the accelerator and stepped on the brake pedal. The engine RPM did not slow down to idle, and tried to keep moving the car forward. I turned off the ignition to keep from having a crash. This is not an accelerator pedal problem as I shall explain later. …”
NHTSA complaint #10692288, filed 2015-03, 5,000 milesEngine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 16% |
| 2025 | 5 | 7% |
| 2024 | 4 | 3% |
| 2023 | 8 | 3% |
| 2022 | 11 | 1% |
| 2021 | 5 | 3% |
| 2020 | 13 | 6% |
| 2019 | 33 | 7% |
| 2018 | 57 | 8% |
| 2017 | 66 | 11% |
| 2016 | 95 | 9% |
| 2015 | 31 | 8% |
| 2014 | 23 | 8% |
| 2013 | 22 | 7% |
| 2012 | 32 | 7% |
| 2011 | 7 | 4% |
| 2010 | 19 | 5% |
| 2009 | 27 | 7% |
| 2008 | 156 | 17% |
| 2007 | 170 | 14% |
| 2006 | 227 | 16% |
| 2005 | 14 | 4% |
| 2004 | 10 | 3% |
| 2003 | 8 | 2% |
| 2002 | 17 | 2% |
| 2001 | 19 | 2% |
| 2000 | 4 | 1% |
| 1999 | 14 | 4% |
| 1998 | 3 | 1% |
| 1997 | 3 | 1% |
| 1996 | 2 | 1% |
Other parts of the 1997 Honda Civic
140 complaintsVehicle speed control
38 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
33 complaintsElectrical system
30 complaintsTires
27 complaintsEngine cooling
25 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
25 complaintsBrakes
23 complaintsBody and structure
18 complaintsOther or unknown
15 complaintsSeat belts
13 complaintsExterior lighting
6 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Honda Civic
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology