AI Damage1997 Acura Integra: common problems
Owners of the 1997 Acura Integra filed 22 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 22
- involving a crash
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 27% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 27% of all complaints
- 3 Visibility 18% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- 5 Engine 5% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel system 5% of all complaints
- 7 Seat belts 5% of all complaints
- 8 Seats 5% of all complaints
- Air bags: 6 complaints (27% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 6 complaints (27% of all).
- Visibility: 4 complaints (18% of all).
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (9% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine: 1 complaints (5% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.8 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 22 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The driver stated that the steering wheel locked and he was not able to control, and the vehicle and hit an embankment off the expressway. The contact was concerned that the air bags didn't deploy. The vehicle was traveling at 25 mph which was the speed limit, and that it had drizzled.
Consumer was involved in two collisions in which driver/or passenger's air bags did not deploy. Please give any further details.
Consumer was involved in two collisions in which the driver's or passenger's air bags did not deploy cause unknown.
Driving at a speed of 40mph,when exiting from hwy,applying brakes, brake pedal went to the floor with no back pressure on brake pedal and car was not slowing down, rear ending a stop car. After hitting the stop car, brakes were beginning to work again.
We have been advised that a faulty brake pad became separated from its metal backing, jamming into the rotor which shattered and resulted in a loss of steering, causing the vehicle to "360" and slam into a curb.
I am a 78 year old woman dealing with males at acura/honda who have done nothing but run around and stall. I have had two terrible incidents of unintended acceleration, the first one at 70 miles an hour on a crowded freeway, the car jumped to 80 mph and continued to accelerate, I took out 200' of shrubs along the…
Started car and it started to overheat and make noise so ignition key was turned off and removed. Car continue to run, overheat and make noise. Fire department was called and stalled car with clutch and disconnected battery. Overflow hose from radiator had melted.
No corrosion noted. No damage to tank had occurred. The car is in overall good condition. There are no pending recalls or complaints for this make/model that we could locate. This seems like an unusual and unsafe occurrence.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 7,904 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 22% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Integra has 33 complaints (20 years in the data). This year has 22, below average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
- Integra 19865 sources
- Integra 198711 sources
- Integra 19889 sources
- Integra 198916 sources
- Integra 199032 sources
- Integra 199136 sources
- Integra 199228 sources
- Integra 199321 sources
- Integra 199455 sources
- Integra 199552 sources
- Integra 199636 sources
- Integra 199821 sources
- Integra 19998 sources
- Integra 200017 sources
- Integra 20016 sources
- Integra 2023260 sources
- Integra 2024122 sources
- Integra 202563 sources
- Integra 202619 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Acura Integra?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, electrical system, visibility. Total complaints: 22. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: windows, sunroof (18%), airbags did not deploy (14%), stalls while driving (14%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1997 Acura Integra?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1997 Acura Integra from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1997 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.