1997 Honda Civic Complaint Log

WITHOUT WARNING MUFFLER RUSTED OUT, DROPPED DOWN AND WAS DRAGGING ON THE PAVEMENT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN KEPT IN A GARAGE FOR 2 YEARS AND IN A CARPORT FOR 3 YEARS.*AK

PROBLEM WITH THE DRAIN PLUG ON THE OIL PAN BEING STRIPPED WHEN OIL CHANGED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, PIPES FROM CATALYTIC CONVERTER FELL OFF, CONSUMER STATES MUFFLER NOW NEEDS REPLACED. FIRESTONE TIRES SIZE 14, DOT NUMBER WZ7JMNB466, REPLACED UNDER 20000 MILES. *SLC

WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE TURNED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF VEHICLE NEEDED TO VE REPLACED.*JB

WHILE STOPPING AT STOP SIGN BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR REASON. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED ANTI-FREEZE DRIPPED ON SENSOR, AND MADE AIRBAG DEPLOY. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

DRIVER WINDOW KEEPS JUMPING OFF TRACK. *AK

WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT, FOOT ON BRAKE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE. AS SOON AS VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, IT SURGED AGAIN. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO COME TO A STOP, AND REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO INJURIES.*AK

I WAS DRIVING ON THE 101 CALIFONIA HIGHWAY (NORTHBOUND) IN AN UPHILL SECTION NEAR AGOURA HILLS, WHEN SUDDENLY WE HEARD A SOUND LIKE "CLACK" TWICE. I WAS TRAVELING ON THE MIDDLE LANE AND SIGNALED TO MY RIGHT SO I COULD PULL OUT OF THE ROAD. THEN, THERE WAS THIS HUGE SOUND, AND I FELT THE PASSENGER'S REAR SIDE TIRE BLOW UP. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL OUT OF THE ROAD. NEITHER ME NOR MY WIFE & 7 MONTH OLD SON WERE INJURED. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, I FOUND OUT THE TIRE'S TREAD HAD SEPARATED AND IT CAUSED THE REAR BUMPER TO BECOME DEATTACHED. I CHANGED THE TIRE AND PUT THE SPARE ONE. THE CAR LOST THE REAR BUMPER AND HAD SOME DENTS AS A RESULT OF THE TREAD SEPARATION. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR A MONTH AGO, AND THE TIRES LOOKED IN GOOD CONDITIONS.*AK (DOT NUMBER: N/A TIRESIZE: P185/65R14)

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND FAILURE OF DEALER TO CORRECT SITUATION.*AK

ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS HARD TO PUSH WHEN MOVING AT LOW SPEEDS OR SITTING IN TRAFFIC, AND IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PUSH ON THE PEDAL SO HARD, THE CAR JUMPS FORWARD IN TRAFFIC.*AK

WHILE GOING 70MPH FELT LIKE TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT. AFTER STOPPING AND CHECKED THE TIRE, NOTICED THAT CHUNKS OF TIRE WAS IN BUMPER. MIDDLE OF TIRE TREAD WAS GONE. NO TREAD LEFT ON REAR TIRE. FIRESTONE, FR680, P185/65R14, DOT W27J. *AK

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED RANGING BETWEEN 75-80 MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD SOUND FROM THE BACK END OF MY CAR. IT STARTED TO PULL SO I TRIED TO CAREFULLY MOVE FROM THE LEFT LANE OF THE HIGHWAY TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AT THE RIGHT WHEN MY CAR DID A 360 AND AFTER NARROWLY AVOIDING A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A SEMI, ENDED UP IN THE DITCH ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND DAMAGED THE FRAME AS WELL AS PAINT ON THE BACK BUMPER OF MY CAR. I WAS ABLE TO GET ASSISTANCE TO THE NEAREST FIRESTONE DEALER, WHO FOUND UPON INSPECTION THAT THE TREAD ON MY REMAINING TIRES WAS LIFTING AS WELL AND ASSUMED THAT ONE MORE WOULD COMPLETELY SEPARATE BEFORE I DROVE THE REMAINING 50 MILES BACK TO PHOENIX. MY CAR HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND TIRES WERE ROTATED AT APPROPRIATE INTERVALS. THE TREAD WAS NOT WORN AND SHOULDN'T HAVE SEPARATED WITH THAT LEVEL OF USE. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THESE TIRES WEREN'T ON THE RECALL LIST!*AK (DOT NUMBER: W27J)

DRIVING AT 70 MILES AN HOUR ON I-95, THE TIRE TREAD PEELED OFF AND EXPLODED ON THE FRONT LEFT TIRE, DAMAGING THE CAR, AND CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND WINDING UP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN A SHALLOW DITCH. FIRESTONE REFUSED ANY RESPONSIBILITY. AFTER REPLACING THE FRONT TIRES, LEAVING THE ORIGINAL REAR TIRES, 2 MONTHS LATER, LEAVING AN ON RAMP TO I-4 AT APPROXIMATELY 37 MILES AN HOUR, THE REAR RIGHT TIRE TREAD PEELED OFF TOO. NO DAMAGE WAS DONE THIS TIME, BUT ALL FIRESTONE TIRES WERE REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH GOODYEARS. FIRESTONE HAS REFUSED ANY RESPONSIBILITY. STATE FARM HAS A CLAIM AGAINST FIRESTONE. FIRESTONE HAS NOT MADE ANY COMPENSATION TO THIS DATE. I BELIEVE THAT TWO FIRESTONE TIRES DAMAGED WITHIN 2 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER ON THE SAME CAR IS MORE THAN COINCIDENCE.*AK (TIRESIZE: P185/65R14)

PAID FOR DIAGNOSTIC ON SRS SYSTEM-COMPUTER NEEDS REPLACING. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF CONSUMERS VEHICLE RESULTING IN A FRONT END CRASH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *NOTE: 2 INJURIES WERE RELATED TO THIS INCIDENT, MUSCLES PULLED.*AK *JB

PE00 020; CONSUME RWAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDERS AND NOTICED THAT REAR DRIVERSIDE TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. FIRESTONE TIRE, 18565R14. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO REPORT. *AK

SRS LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER SAYS BAD CONTROLLER FOR AIRBAG SYSTEM AND IS NOT COVERED BY ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY, ESTIMATE TO REPAIR $350. THIS IS A SAFETY COMPONENENT OF THE VEHICLE. LIKE A SEATBELT IT SHOULD WORK AS LONG AS THE CAR RUNS. *AK

ERRATIC OPERATION OF AIR BAG DEPOYMENT WHEN VEHICLE BUMPED A CURVE (HARD ENOUGH TO BEND THE FRONT RIM). PASSENGER'S SIDE DEPOYED PROPERLY, BUT DRIVER'S SIDE CAME OUT AND JUST HUNG DOWN STEERING WHEEL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

AFTER GETTING 4 INCHES OF WATER IN THE TRUNK OF MY CAR AND 2 INCHES AT FRONT, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPORTED THAT THE SEALS WERE "OLD" AND THEY NEEDED TO CHANGE THEM. FOR THE REAR ONES THEY CHARGED ME $128 TO GET THEM REPLACE. THEN THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME AROUND $800 TO REPLACE THE FRONT ONES. I COMPLAINT AND ASKED THEM TO CONTACT THE REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER OF HONDA TO HAVE HONDA COVER THE REPAIR SINCE IT WAS SUCH A WEIRD SITUATION. SEALS DON'T GET OLD IN A 4 YEAR OLD CAR. *AK

MY SON SWERVED TO MISS A DEER, RAN OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD ON, AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AFTER THE CAR WAS INSPECTED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY WRECKED AND THE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED, HOWEVER, THE AIRBAGS WERE NOT PROPERLY REINSTALLED AFTER THE ACCIDENT. WE PURCHASED THE CAR USED FROM HARRISONBURG HONDA AND THE SALESMAN TOLD US THE CAR HAD NEVER BEEN WRECKED.*AK

AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND WON'T GO OFF. THIS MEANS THAT AIRBAG WON'T DEPLOY. TOOK TO VEHICLE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THERE WOULD BE A CHARGE. CONSUEMR FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY. *AK

SRS LIGHT STAYS ON INDICATING A DEFECT WITHIN AIRBAG SYSTEM EVEN THOUGH IT IS NEVER BEEN USED OR DEPLOYED, POSSIBLY CAUSED BY COMPUTER WHICH COULD RESULT IN INOPERATIVE AIRBAGS. *AK *SLC

THROTTLE CABLE STICKS AT LOW SPEEDS - WHEN PRESSED, IT "SNAPS LOSE" GOING TO 1/2 THROTTLE, JERKING CAR FORWARD, SNAPPING NECKS OF DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. IS A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM - COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BY SLAMMING VEHICLE INTO BACK OF LEAD VEHICLE. REF: CAMPAIGN ID 99I002000. HONDA DEALER SAYS THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY OR PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN ITEM.*AK

I PURCHASED AN AUTOMOBILE FROM EQUITABLE CAR SALES APPROX 2 YEARS AGO "AS IS". RECENTLY, I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO A LOCAL SHOP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT ALL 4 OF MY WHEELS ON THE CAR WERE CRACKING DUE TO SOMEONE INSTALLING THEM TOO TIGHTLY. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT SINCE IT WAS SOLD "AS IS". NOW, I AM UNABLE TO EVEN DRIVE THE CAR WITHOUT TAKING THE CHANCE OF ONE OR ALL 4 OF THE WHEELS COMPLETELY COMING OFF.

WHILE TRAVELING 45MPH CONSUMER BROADSIDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE, DAMAGING BUMPER. DOT W27JMNB, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON HONDA, CIVIC, 1997.*AK *SLC

ENGINE CRANKSHAFT/PULLEY SNAPPED, CAUSING DAMAGES TO ENGINE. *AK THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER AGREED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BLOCK AT THEIR EXPENSE. *YH

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN THERE WAS A THUNDEROUS NOISE AND PUMMELING FORCE THAT THREW THE VEHICLE INTO A TAILSPIN NEARLY COLLIDING WITH OTHER VEHICLES, IT WAS NOT UNTIL LATER THAT CONSUMER NOTICED WHAT HAPPENED, VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE FROM A TIRE BLOW OUT, CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPLACEMENT OF ALL 4 TIRES THAT WERE SAID TO BE DEFECTIVE FROM A FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP. *JG *TT

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN THERE WAS A THUNDEROUS NOISE AND PUMMELING FORCE THAT THREW THE VEHICLE INTO A TAILSPIN NEARLY COLLIDING WITH OTHER VEHICLES, IT WAS NOT UNTIL LATER THAT CONSUMER NOTICED WHAT HAPPENED, VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE FROM A TIRE BLOW OUT, CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPLACEMENT OF ALL 4 TIRES WHICH WERE SAID TO BE DEFECTIVE FROM A REP AT A FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP. *JG

SRS CONTROL UNIT IS THE ELECTRICAL / COMPUTER PART THAT RUNS THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND HAS FAILED TWICE IN THE PAST 14 MONTHS. THE "SRS" LIGHT REMAINS LIT AT START-UP. THE REPLACEMENT PART IS $360+ ALONE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE PARTS IN HONDAS, AS MY PARENT'S ACCORD HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND I HAVE FOUND OTHER OWNER'S COMPLAINTS POSTED ACROSS THE INTERNET. AMERICAN HONDA (AS I AM SURE OTHER MANUFACTURERS ARE THE SAME) WON'T STAND BEHIND THESE COMPUTER/ELECTRICAL PARTS FOR MORE THAN 12 MONTHS / 12,000 MILES. I BELIEVE A VITAL SAFETY COMPONENT SUCH AS THIS SHOULD BE DESIGNED AND BUILT WITH WARRANTEE TO LAST LONGER THAN THE HEADLIGHTS AND OTHER NON-ESSENTIAL ELECTRICAL PARTS. I AM SURE OTHER HONDA OWNERS HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED, AS I HAVE BEEN TWICE NOW IN 5 YEARS, BY THIS FAULTY COMPONENT.*AK

THE SRS CAME ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. I CONTACTED HONDA USA AND THEY SAID THAT SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRENTY IT WAS AT THE DEALERS DISCREATION IF THIS WOULD BE COVERED. I THEN RECEIVED A CALL FROM MY LOCAL HONDA DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE LABOR TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND THEN THEY WOULD DECIDED IF THEY WOULD COVER THE REST UNDER WARRENTY. I FEEL THAT SINCE IT SO CLOSE TO THE WARRENTY PERIOD AND SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NEVER FAIL IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRENTY JUST LIKE THE SEAT BELTS ARE.*AK

WINDOWS ON BOTH SIDES CONTINUE TO GET OFF TRACK AND WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. *AK

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START IN NOVEMBER OF 2000. DEALERSHIP TESTED BATTERY TO SEE IF THIS WAS CAUSE. MECHANIC REPLACED BATTERY, AND VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT START. MECHANICS THEN REPLACED ENTIRE ALTERNATOR, AND THIS CORRECTED DEFECT. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000 MILES ON ALTERNATOR WHEN THIS OCCURRED. *AK RUN CHANNEL AND REGULATOR FOR THE POWER WINDOW WAS REPLACED. HOOD RELEASE SNAPPED OFF WHEN CONSUMER PULLED IT. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRMENT OF THE ALTERNATOR. *SLC

SIDEWALL OF TIRE BLEWOUT WHEN TRAVELLING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. NO EVIDENCE OF PUNCTURE OR OTHER TIRE DISTRESS.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W27J MNB TIRESIZE: P185/65R14)

WHILE DRIVING 35MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO YIELD WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN. HONDA "T" BONED OTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT WITH VEHICLE, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER HIT STEERING WHEEL. MINOR INJURY, BUT EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT. *AK

CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE SRS MODULE REPLACED & IT WASA NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. LIGHT STAYED ON CONSTANTLY.SRS MODULE WAS A CONTROLLER THAT ALLOWED THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY.*AK

FOR LAST 1-1/2 YEARS (AT MILEAGE ABOUT 30000) STEERING WHEEL BCOMES TIGHT AND GIVES CLICK NOISE ONLY WHEN CODL TEMP ABOUT 30. AFTER DRIVING SAY 1/2 HOUR AND AS THE TEMP RISES STEERING RETURNS TO NORMAL. ULTIMATELY RISKY TO DRIVE, STEERING ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED ON 10/12/2000 FOR THE COST OF ABOUT S1000.00. PER THE HONDA DEALERSHIP SUCH FAILURES OCCURS AROUND 100,000 MILEAGE OR MORE. AMERICAN HONDA CONSUMER DEPT DOES NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT.

ALL OF THE TIRE TREAD DOWN TO THE STEEL BELT PEELED OFF OF THE TIRE WHILE DRIVING DOWN US ROUTE 4 IN LAKELAND ,FLORIDA. THERE WAS NO SIGN OR WARNING OF THE TIRE BEING IN TROUBLE. I BARELY WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE CAR. (DOT NUMBER: W2EPVAA TIRESIZE: P175/70R14)

THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENT OR ACTIVITY, I REPORTED IT TO HONDA AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT THERE FAULT, PLEASE LET US KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY RECOURSE IN THIS SITUATION, THANKS

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND TIRE HIT A ROCK , AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUFFERED A BURN ON THE LEFT ARM. HE HAS CONTACTED A HONDA DEALERSHIP. *AK

PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR CANNOT MANUALLY OR BY USING THE ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS TO BE OPENED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND THEY WANTED TO REPLACED EVERYTHING.*AK THE DEALER HAS FIXED THE DOOR. *YH

FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE WOULD NOT STAY LATCHED, LEAVING OCCUPANT WITHOUT ANY RESTRAINT IF INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE CRASH. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 30 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON FL I-95 NEAR BOCA RATON, TREAD ON LEFT FRONT TIRE SEPARATED FROM TIRE DOWN TO THE CASING. FIRESTONE REFUSES TO REIMBURSE FOR A NEW TIRE BECAUSE IT IS NOT ON THE DESIGNATED RECALL. WHEN THE HONDA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT CHECKED THE OTHER 3 TIRES THEY WERE ALL SHOWING SIGNS OF IMPENDING TREAD SEPARATION.( DOT NUMBER: 200 TIRE SIZE: P185/65-R1 )

TREAD SEPARATED FROM BODY OF TIRE( DOT NUMBER: W27J TIRE SIZE: P185/65R14 )

I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON I95 AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND TUNED OFF AT EXIT 74 WENT NORTH AT 35 MILES PER HOUR AND TIRE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT AFTER DRIVING ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF. NO DAMAGE TO CAR. CHANGED TIRE MYSELF. NATIONAL TIRE CO 252 FLANDERS ROAD, NIANTIC, CONNECTICUT. WAS TWO MILES SOUTH ON SAME ROADD( DOT NUMBER: W27J, MNB TIRE SIZE: FR 680,185 )

1) FRONT BRAKE DISCS WARPED AFTER ONLY 34,000 MILES. SHUDDERING FELT UPON BRAKING. CAREFUL DRIVER DID NOT ABUSE BRAKES, AND THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH ALLOY WHEELS ALLOWING PLENTY OF COOLING AIRFLOW TO BRAKE DISCS. BRAKE DISCS ARE OF POOR QUALITY AND WARP T

EACH TIME I AM STOPPED AND THE CAR IS IN DRIVE THE IDLE FLUCTUATES RAPIDLY BETWEEN 0 AND 1000 RPM. WHEN THE GAS IS PRESSED THE CAR WILL JERK INTO DRIVE AND WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP. *AK

VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE REARENDED IT AFTER TRAVELING 40MPH & PUSHED IT INTO ANOTHER. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. NO EMERGENCY TREATMENT. HAS POLICE REPORT. *AK