1997 Honda Accord Cruise Control Problems

While driving your 1997 Honda Accord at about 60 mph with cruise control engaged, you found the vehicle wouldn't slow down when you tried to brake. You swerved to avoid oncoming traffic, went into an embankment, and were hit by a pickup truck. Your passenger was taken to the hospital by ambulance but was treated and released. This appears to be a critical brake or cruise control system failure that prevented normal deceleration.

Your car is severely hesitating when you try to accelerate, and this problem happens repeatedly. The issue hasn't been diagnosed or fixed yet. This acceleration problem will likely require a mechanic to check your fuel system, ignition system, and engine sensors to identify the cause.

Your speedometer stopped working while driving at 55 mph. The vehicle speed sensor was eventually replaced to fix the problem. This repair was done at your expense.

I HAVE NOTICED THIS PROBLEM FOR THE PAST 2+ WINTERS ON MY CAR. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS GOING HOME FROM WORK ON A COLD WINTER NIGHT. I GOT THE FREEWAY AND ACCELERATED TO 55 MPH. I THEN SET THE CRUISE CONTROL (AS I NORMALLY DO IN LIGHT TRAFFIC). I NOTICED THAT THE CAR'S ENGINE WAS STILL REVVING A LOT MORE THAN IT SHOULD. I LOOKED DOWN AND NOTICED THAT I WAS DOING 70 MPH. I IMMEDIATELY STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. I CONTINUED TO NOTICE THIS ISSUE ALL WINTER. I SET THE CRUISE AT 40 MPH AND NOTICED THAT IT WENT UP BY ABOUT 20 MPH ABOVE THE SETTING BEFORE IT FINALLY STOPPED ACCELERATING AND SETTLED BACK TO THE CRUISE SET SPEED (OR CLOSE TO IT). IN THE WARM WEATHER THIS PROBLEM DISAPPEARS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS TO HIS HANDS DUE TO THE AIR BAG AND WAS ALSO SUFFERING FROM BACK PAIN. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN RIB AND PAIN TO HER ENTIRE BODY. THE CONTACT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WERE UNDERGOING PHYSICAL THERAPY TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN AN ALLEY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE WALL BEFORE INDEPENDENTLY COMING TO A STOP. THE CONTACT AND HIS WIFE SUSTAINED INJURIES AS A RESULT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 160,000. UPDATED 10/24/12*LJ UPDATED 10/25/2012 *JS

PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL ON MY CAR, AND THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING AND THE GAS PEDAL GOT HARD I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK TO STOP IT FROM HITTING A CAR IN FRONT OF ME ALL WHILE THE ENGINE KEPT REVVING, I THEN TURNED OF THE CAR AND WHEN I TURNED IT ON IT WAS STILL DOING THE SAME THING UNTIL I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL AGAIN IT WENT BACK TO NORMAL. *TR

TWICE DURING REGULAR DRIVING - ONCE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55MPH AND ONCE WHILE PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY - THE CAR ENGINE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN - BRAKING DID NOT HELP. HAD TO PUT IN NEUTRAL AND TAP BRAKES 3-4 TIMES. NO INJURIES/ACCIDENTS BUT IT IS WORRISOME. AND I WAS NOT EVEN PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL DOWN MORE - OTHER THAN MAINTAINING SPEED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE ROAD DECREASED. THE CONTACT DECIDED TO DECELERATE, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE AND A TREE. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED ANKLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,600 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000. UPDATED 03/17/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/17/09. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 71 MPH AND ENTERING HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS SHUT OFF IN ORDER TO DECELERATE, BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT RESPONSIVE AT ALL. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO REAR-END ANOTHER VEHICLE, BOUNCE OFF, AND HIT A THIRD. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE, BUT WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER. UPDATED 2/9/2007 - *NM

1) AS PER DESCRIPTION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 99I002000. THE THROTTLE CABLE DID NOT RESPOND PROPERLY AT SLOW SPEED FOR 97 HONDA ACCORD AND RESULTED IN TO A COLLISION IN A PARKING. 2) AMERICAN HONDA DO NOT ACCEPT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 99I002000. AS PER AMERICAN HONDA THIS IS NOT A VALID CAMPAIGN. THEY REFUSED TO HONOR THE REQUEST. PLEASE LET ME KNOW THE FURTHER COURSE OF ACTION THAT I NEED TO DO SO THAT THIS CAMPAIGN ID CAN BE INVESTIGATED AND VALIDATED BY HONDA. FOR A 97 HONDA ACCORD. 3) AS PER LETTER FROM AMERICAN HONDA, DATED JANUARY 24TH 2006 BEARING FILE # N012006-01-2300700, THEY DENIED THE CAMPAIGN ID 99I002000. 4) THIS RESULTED INTO A COLLISION IN PARKING AND REPORTED TO GEICO. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING INTO GARAGE THE VEHICLE SURGED AND WENT THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR AND WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT IT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. NO POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THERE HAS BEEN NO DETERMINATION ON THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE GARAGE DOOR AND PART OF THE HOUSE.*AK UPDATED 12/22/2005. *NM

THROTTLE CABLE STUCK WHILE PARKING AT WORK. MOTOR REVVED UP AND CAR JUMPED OVER MEDIAN AND STRUCK PARKED CAR ON OTHER SIDE OF MEDIAN. I WAS BRAKEING ALL THE TIME. CAR CONTINUED REVVING AFTER CRASH UNTIL MOTOR TURNED OFF.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED. DEALER FOUND THAT ACCELERATOR CABLE BROKE. BUT DEALER DID NOT WANT TO PERFORM ANY REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE. *AK

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *SCC *JB

IN A SHORT DISTANCE THE VEHICLE IS LIKELY TO HAVE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, JUMPED A CONCRETE CURB, AND STRUCK A TREE. THE DECEASED HAD A BROKEN ANKLE, WHICH WAS LIKELY CAUSED BY ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE. OTHER INJURIES INCLUDED BROKEN JAW AND SEVER INTERNAL INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY SINCE THE CAR HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN A SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENT. HOWEVER THE CAR WAS DRIVEN BY ME AND MY WIFE FOR OVER 25K MILES DURING WHICH TIME WE HAD NO PROBLEMS. RECENTLY THERE WAS A CLAIM STATING A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH A RUN-AWAY HONDA ACCORD ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL AND I BELIEVE MY WIFE'S ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN. THANK YOU, [XXX] DT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE. AND WAS HARD TO STOP. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK FOR THE SECOND TIME, FIRST WHILE PULLING IN TO PARK ENGINE REVVED AND BRAKE WAS APPLIED, VEHICLE RAN INTO LARGE BOULDER, CAUSING $ 4000.00 DAMAGE. ALSO, ON 5 APRIL 2002 AT SLOW SPEED ENGINE REVVED, BRAKE WAS APPLIED, AND CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE. VEHICLE HIT A CEMENT POST, CAUSING $ 6100.00 DAMAGE. VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME.*AK

WHILE PARKING INSIDE OF THE PARKING LOT AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WENT FORWARD WITH SPEED AND HIT A POLE.*AK

ON APRIL 9, 2002 AS I WAS PARKING INTO MY APARTMENT COMPLEX DRIVE, GOING ABOUT 5 MPH PARKING IN A SPACE. MY 1997 HONDA ACCORD SE ACCELERATED FORWARD INSTEAD OF STOPPING. THE CAR JUMPED THE PARKING MEDIAN AND I ENDED UP IN SOME BRUSHES AND ON ONE OF THE APARTMENT PATIO BALCONIES. PRAISE GOD, THE BRUSHES WAS THERE WHICH SLOWED THE SPEED AND DID NOT CAUSE MORE DAMAGE THAN IT DID. THE CAR PICKED ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED, I WOULD SAY ABOUT 30-45 OR MORE MPH. IT SOUNDED LOUD LIKE AN ACCELERATOR JUST PICKED UP VERY HIGH SPEED.*AK

WHILE BRAKING TO PARK, ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND TOOK OFF OUT OF CONTROL, FORCING VEHICLE INTO SOME BUSHES AND A PRIVATE PATIO DECK BEFORE STOPPING. ONE INJURY WAS SUSTAINED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK ONE PERSON WAS INJURED. *TT

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY WHILE GOING UP HILL. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE REASON WAS A DEFECTIVE THROTTLE CABLE. CONSUMER INFORMED BY MANUFACTURER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF RECALL 99I002000. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

ON 3/26/01 MONDAY, WHILE TRAVELING FROM HWY 80 FROM FAIRFIELD, CA TO VALLEJO CA. MY HONDA ACCORD BEGAN TO DISPLAY "UNINTENDED ACCELERATION". MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS "OFF". HOWEVER, THE ACCORD WAS ACCELERATING BY ITSELF. IT FELT THE CAR WAS ON CRUISE CONTROL. WHILE GOING UPHILL, IT BEGAN TO SPEED UP INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN. THE ONLY WAY I CAN SLOW MY VEHICLE WAS TO DOWNSHIFT AT 2ND OR 3RD GEAR. MY ACCORD IS AN AUTOMATIC. I HAD TO PERIODICALLY PRESS THE BRAKES BECAUSE THE CAR WAS APPROACHINGS SPEEDS UP TO 80 MPH. AFTER 5 MILES OF SHEER TERROR, I DECIDED TO EXIT ON AN OFFRAMP AND WHILE THE ACCORD WAS STOPPED, THE ACCORD BEGAN IDLING VERY HIGH. APPLYING THE BRAKES TOOK EFFORT. BECAUSE, ONCE I LET GO, THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE BY ITSELF. FINALLY, I REACHED THE HONDA DEALERSHIP-AVERY GREEN MOTORS. UNTIL NOW, THE CAR IS STILL THERE, BECAUSE THE THROTTLE CABLE IS IN BACK ORDER. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 99I002000 FOR FUEL THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL IS WHAT I SUSPECT IS THE DEFECT THAT IS OCCURING WITH THE ACCORD. ORIGINALLY, THE DEALER QUOTED AN ESTIMATE OF $90.00. THEN, I RECEIVED A CALL THAT I HAVE A BAD THROTTLE CABLE AND IT SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE ESITMATE WAS APPROXIMATELY $500.00. THE MANUFACTUER/DEALER SHOULD/MUST FIX THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT ANY COST TO ME. ACCORDING TO OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION-RECALL DATABASE 888-327-4236 DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE THROTTLE CABLE. HONDA HAS DECIDED TO CONDUCT A PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE CABLE. OWNERS CAN CONTACT HONDA AT 800-999-1009. MY MAIN QUESTION IS THIS. WHY WAS I NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS DEFECT? I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY WRITTEN NOTIFICATION OR CALLS FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM OCCURING TO MY ACCORD. HOWEVER, I EXPERIENCED THIS FIRSTHAND ON 3/26/01. A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT WAS IN A MAKING, ESPECIALLY DURING RUSH HOUR IN THE MORNING - 5:30AM PST. IF ADVANCE WARNING WAS GIVEN TO ME, THE INCONVENIECE AND DANGER WOULD HAVE BEEN AVERTED.*AK

CALLED HONDA RE: CAMPAIGN #99I002000 & WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS AN ERROR AND DOES NOT APPLY TO THE ACCORD BUT ONLY TO THE 96 CIVIC. MY ACCORD'S ACCELERATOR SEEMS TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM OF "THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FEELS ROUGH OR NOTCHY WHEN YOU PRESS IT" AND "AND "ARE REQUIRED TO MOVE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO MAKE SLIGHT SPEED ADJUSTMENTS". YOU CAN REALLY FEEL THIS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION AND THE CAR EITHER ACCELERATES TOO SLOW AND/OR WHEN ADJUSTING FOR MORE ACCELERATION IT THEN ACCELERATES TOO FAST AND NOT SMOOTHLY. FIND THAT I HAVE TO REALLY FOCUS MY ATTENTION ON THE USE OF THE ACCELERATOR FOR FEAR THE CAR WILL ADVANCE TOO QUICKLY ON ICE AND/OR RUN INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. DEALER STATES THIS IS THE WAY THE CAR OPERATES.*AK( DOT NUMBER: Y7LX 00L TIRE SIZE: 185/65R15 )

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED LIKELY CAUSE OF SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER). MJS

I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE ON MY DRIVEWAY TO GO TO WORK. I GENTLY PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL LIKE I DO EVERY DAY. THE CAR JUMPED LIKE A BULLET SPUN 180 DEGREES HIT A TREE IN MY FRONT YARD SPUN AROUND FOR ANOTHER 180 DEGREES AND LANDED IN MY FRONT YARD. THE TRUNK OF THE CAR WAS TOTALY DESTROID AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS BADLY DAMAGED WHEN THE CAR SPUN THE SECOND TIME AND HIT ANOTHER TREE IN MY FRONT YARD. I THINK WHEN I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL SOMEHOW IT GOT STUCK AND CAUSED THE RAPID UNCONTROL ACCELERATION OF THE CAR. I CALLED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REPORT THE ACCIDENT BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT MAKE A REPORT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED IN A PRIVATE PROPERTY AND NOBODY WAS INJURED. I ALSO CALLED THE DEALER.

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED, FULL THROTTLE, THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL, NO BRAKES, CRASH OCCURRED. DEALER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

A SUDDEN SURGE OCCURS WITHOUT APPLYING GAS PEDAL. IF THE VEHICLE IS PUT IN NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE WILL REV VERY HIGH. VEHICLE HAS TO BE TURNED OFF TO GET IT TO STOP REVVING. DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE HAD A SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF 60 TO 70 MPH. CONSUMER DID NOT LOSE CONTROL, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWED DOWN AFTER RUNNING OVER AN OBJECT THAT FLATTENED THE TIRES, AND CONSUMER SHUT ENGINE OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *NLM

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND BRAKING. VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH OVER A CEMENT CURB STOP.

CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY DRIVING UP STEEP GRADES.

WHEN GOING UP A SUBSTANTIAL GRADE (HILL),CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT MAINTAIN SPEED AND DOES NOT DOWNSHIFT THE TRANSMISSION. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED. *AK