There are 13 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 1997 Honda Civicin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
THE ROOF AND DRIVERS SIDE DOOR BLACK PAINT PEELING. I HAVE SEEN A FEW OTHER SAME CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.
MY 75-YEAR OLD MOTHER HAS A 1997 HONDA CIVIC EX. THE TRUNK LID IS CONSTANTLY FALLING FROM THE OPEN POSITION AND THIS EVENING CAUGHT HER RIGHT ACROSS THE BRIDGE OF HER NOSE, RESULTING IN A DEEP LACERATION. HONDAS ARE SO CHEAPLY MADE, THAT I SEE NO WAY OF ADJUSTING THE TRUNK LID. PERHAPS I WILL FILE A LAWSUIT!!*AK
1997 HONDA CIVIC 4 DOOR DX, BOTH REAR DOORS LOCKED UP, UNABLE TO OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. *JB
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
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
FENDER LINER REPLACED 8 MONTHS AGO DUE TO ACCIDENT. WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, PART OF FENDER LINER CAME APART AND GOT STUCK ON FRONT LEFT TIRE, CAUSING CAR TO ALMOST GO OFF ROAD. CONTACTED HONDA BODYSHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN HONDA PROBLEM. NOT THEIR FAULT, AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF. CONTACTED HONDA DEALERSHIP WHERE CAR WAS BOUGHT, AND THEY COULDN'T TELL ME ANYTHING. *AK
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK (IN 5:00 PM RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC) ATTEMPTED TO USE THE SUNVISOR. THE SUNVISOR BROKE OFF AND DEBRIS WAS TEMPORARILY LODGED IN LEFT EYE. *AK
WEATHER STRIP, MOLDING DEFORMED.
WHILE LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD, IT BENT IN HALF AND FELL WHILE DRIVER WAS UNDER IT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
HOOD ASSEMBLY FAILURE. *AK
PAINT FAILURE. *YC
RIGHT SIDE OF TRUNK LEAKS ,CAUSING THE OWNER TO PUT EVERYTHING IN THE BACK SEAT INSTEAD OF THE TRUNK. POSSIBLE HAZARD IF AN ACCIDENT WERE TO OCCUR AND ITEMS IN BACK SEAT WERE TO FLY FORWARD. *AK
SUNVISOR BROKE OFF. MJS
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026