1997 Honda CR-V Problems, Recalls & Reliability
129 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1997 Honda CR-V, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 6/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 125,000 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 1997 Honda CR-V has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 1997 sits among all CR-V years
What owners report
“Nhtsa recall 02v120000, ignition switch; the owner wishes to register a complaint that honda corporation is charging her to have the electronic alarm removed from her vehicle. Nlm”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 CR-V
“Honda has not remedied their airbag recall after 7 months, which seems like plentty of time.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 CR-V
Recalls (2)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL,…
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October…
ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE…
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1997 Honda CR-V reliable?
The 1997 Honda CR-V drew 129 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 6/100, scored against the model's worst year (2018).
What are the most common 1997 Honda CR-V problems?
The top reported problems for the 1997 Honda CR-V are electrical (34 complaints), airbags (30), and speed control (9).
Does the 1997 Honda CR-V have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 1997 Honda CR-V. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.