1997 Honda CR-V Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year are dominated by two themes: the engine shutting off while driving, which owners and mechanics frequently link to the ignition switch, and the Takata airbag inflator recall, where many owners report long waits for parts. Most complaints come from vehicles well past 100,000 miles, though the stalling reports appear at widely varying mileage, and early-in-life reports concern the front seat releasing into a reclined position.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Engine stalls or shuts off while driving (ignition switch)

   • 34 complaints (31%)
   • median 135,500 mi at 15.0 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • filed 2000–2021

   Owners describe the engine quitting without warning at highway or city speeds, sometimes with the gauges, dash lights or power steering dropping out, and the car needing several attempts to restart. Several complaints mention the ignition switch by name, and some say a mechanic traced the stalling to it; others note the switch was replaced under a recall and the stalling later returned. A few owners also report the dealer would only perform the switch recall if they paid to have an aftermarket alarm reconnected. Reported from roughly 55,000 to over 200,000 miles, with many cases in the 100,000-155,000 mile range and no clear weather pattern.

   Recall 02V120000

   What to check: Ask whether the 02V120000 ignition switch recall was completed and whether the switch has been replaced since. If the car stutters or cuts out on a test drive, or the key feels loose in the cylinder, have the ignition circuit inspected before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving on the freeway, the vehicle suddenly lost power as if the ignition had been turned off. Lights were on, radio was on but engine stalled and steering was locked. The vehicle decreased in speed from roughly 65mph to 45mph at which point I attempted to restart the engine by turning the key. The vehicle restarted immediately and I was immediately to accelerate to the original speed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10340011, filed 2010-06, 198,000 miles

   “The car stalled at 35 MPH and then restarted. It does this every once in a while at different speeds, I have read many complaints on the internet about the same problem, I feel this is very dangerous and needs addressed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10434046, filed 2011-11, 135,500 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Takata airbag inflator recall parts delays

   • 11 complaints (10%)
   • median 55,000 mi at 19.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2016–2020

   Many complaints are about the airbag inflator recall rather than a failure: owners say they received notice of campaign 20V026000 but were told by dealers that replacement parts were not available, in some cases for many months. Several describe being told not to worry or that the airbag could not be deactivated, and a few report the recall notice arriving repeatedly without a repair being scheduled. Mostly reported in 2018-2020, on vehicles of widely varying mileage; the recall itself applies regardless of miles.

   Recall 20V026000

   What to check: Check the VIN with a dealer for open recalls and confirm in writing whether the 20V026000 inflator replacement has actually been performed, not just scheduled.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall. I received the first recall in mar 2016. Dealer keeps saying they have no parts. Now I get the second recall for the pass side airbag. Same thing...no parts. It has been over 60 days since receiving NHTSA recall 16v-061. This is too long on this serious defect which can be life threatening. Help.”

   NHTSA complaint #10894080, filed 2016-08, 55,000 miles

   “An airbag safety recall was issued to me on march 2020. I've contacted autonation, sanford, fl monthly since receiving the recall notice. Their service department has repeatedly delayed repair stating the part was not available. My high school senior has been driving this vehicle for four months with a safety defect. What can you do to resolve this safety issue?”

   NHTSA complaint #11337294, filed 2020-07
3. 3
   Seats

   Front seat releases into reclined position

   • 8 complaints (7%)
   • typically at 2.8 yrs old
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2002

   Owners describe the driver seat back releasing and dropping into a reclined position on its own, including when leaning back or reaching into the rear seat, and in one case the seat pulled free of its floor bracket during a hard stop. Complaints mention the seatback release lever on the floor and a seat belt tangling in it when the seat is forward, and several say the problem recurred after attention from a dealer. Reported from a few thousand miles on early examples through older, higher-mileage vehicles; no single mileage band dominates.

   What to check: Sit in the driver seat and lean back firmly to see whether the backrest holds, check that the belt does not catch the floor-mounted release, and look at the seat mounting brackets for looseness or cracking.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We have had a recurrent problem with the front drivers side seat where if you lean back on the seat, it will automatically release and become recumbant. It has happened with a movement as simple as reaching back to hand my child a drink. I am concerned that if I am ever in an accident that this seat will fail and severly injure the driver as well as the person that is sitting behind him/her. It has happened numerous times as early as a few thousand miles on the care. Has this been reported by other drivers??”

   NHTSA complaint #742255, filed 2001-03

   “The seat belt, when seat is in the foward position, becomes tangled in the seatback release which is located on the floor, causing the seat to release into a reclined position while driving. Dealer has been contacted.”

   NHTSA complaint #848876, filed 1999-09
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Cruise control will not hold speed

   • 6 complaints (6%)
   • typically at 1.2 yrs old
   • filed 1997–1998

   Owners report the cruise control failing to maintain set speed, especially on hills, with speed dropping even as the accelerator is pressed, and in one case the system engaging on its own at highway speed. One complaint notes the transmission not downshifting at higher speeds, and another describes a stuck accelerator with locked brakes that a dealer could not reproduce. Mostly reported on low-mileage, early-production vehicles, often within the first couple of years of use.

   What to check: Test the cruise control at highway speed on a grade and confirm it holds the set speed and disengages cleanly from the brake pedal and cancel switch.

   An excerpt from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Speed control failure. Speed control will not keep the engine up to speeed when going up a hill. Also, at speeds above 52 MPH, transmission will not dowshift.”

   NHTSA complaint #541469, filed 1998-09
5. 5
   Air bags

   SRS (airbag) warning light stays on

   • 8 complaints (7%)
   • median 168,470 mi at 20.0 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2001–2022

   Owners report the SRS warning light coming on and staying lit, sometimes shortly after a repair or body work. Some say the dealer reset the module, only for the light to return, and one report notes a diagnostic charge each time with no bulletin or recall offered. Another owner describes both front airbags deploying at low speed without an impact. Reported from about 15,000 miles up to around 168,000 miles, with no consistent age or condition pattern.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: With the key on, confirm the SRS light goes out after the bulb check; a light that stays lit points to a fault worth diagnosing. Ask whether any prior body or airbag work was done, since a bulletin describes an SRS warning after body shop repair.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicles air bag light illuminated and stayed on. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the problem required a costly repair. The consumer contacted the manufacturer who advised the consumer to take the car back to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was returned for the test where it was discovered that the repair was not as costly as initially stated and that only a minor adjustment was needed. Shortly after that adjustment the air bag light illuminated again.”

   NHTSA complaint #10017939, filed 2003-05, 15,000 miles

   “While driving air bag light (srs) illuminated. Dealership reset the electrical srs module three time at consumer's expense of $90.00 each time. Dealer indicated there was no tbs or recall on this component.”

   NHTSA complaint #10084014, filed 2004-08

Buying note. These are old, high-mileage vehicles, so condition and service history matter more than the model's reputation. Prioritize one with a documented ignition switch recall repair, a confirmed Takata inflator replacement, and a seat and cruise control that work correctly on a test drive.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.