Sell your 1997 Honda Civic for cash

The 1997 Honda Civic is a small car that came with a 1.6L 4-cyl engine. At 29 years old, many are reaching the point where repairs cost more than the car is worth. Running or not, we'll make you an offer and tow it away for free.

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1997 Honda Civic at a glance

Body styleSubcompact Cars
Engines1.6L 4-cyl
TransmissionsAutomatic (variable gear ratios), Automatic 4-spd, Manual 5-spd
DriveFront-Wheel Drive
FuelRegular Gasoline
Fuel economy24–31 city / 32–39 highway / 27–34 combined MPG
EPA annual fuel cost$1,950–$2,500 a year (EPA estimate at current fuel prices, 15,000 miles)
Tailpipe CO₂261–329 grams per mile
Versions tested by EPA6 configurations
Age29 years

Specs, fuel cost and emissions from the EPA's fueleconomy.gov data. Your car's exact equipment may differ.

What affects its junk value

  • Age: at 29 years old, most of a 1997 Civic's value comes from reusable parts and scrap metal, not resale.
  • Weight: as a small car, it weighs less than a truck or SUV, so its value leans more on parts than on scrap weight. See how scrap prices by weight work.
  • Catalytic converter: like all gas and diesel cars, it has a catalytic converter containing precious metals, one of the most valuable parts on a junk car. An offer assumes it's still in place. More on catalytic converters.
  • Recalls: NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 1997 Civic. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking it.
  • Known problems: owners reported the most issues with the air bags, typically around 125,000 miles. If that's what failed on yours, it can still be sold as-is.

How junk car offers are calculated

1997 Honda Civic recalls

NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls covering the 1997 Honda Civic. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking the car, but check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which apply to yours.

Air BagsJan 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V026000

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, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999 Isuzu…

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios incr

Air BagsNov 1997 · NHTSA campaign 97V193000

Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The front passenger air bag modules have been improperly assembled. The cloth flaps covering the folded air bag may have been tucked in too far.

Risk: This condition could prevent proper deployment of the air bag. In a crash, an improper air bag deployment could increase the risk of injury to a front seat passenger.

Common 1997 Civic problems

Owners have filed 373 complaints about the 1997 Honda Civic with NHTSA. 67 reports involved a crash and 2 reports involved a fire. Owners reported 51 injuries.

Complaints are reports from owners and aren't verified by NHTSA. One complaint can list several components. Mileage is the median odometer reading owners reported for that component.

Most-reported components

  • Air Bags70
  • Air Bags53
  • Vehicle Speed Control23
  • Air Bags20
  • Power Train19
  • Tires17

Typical mileage when problems were reported

  • Air Bags125,000 mi
  • Air Bags76,000 mi
  • Vehicle Speed Control38,000 mi
  • Air Bags96,000 mi
  • Power Train62,000 mi
  • Tires199,000 mi

1997 Honda Civic service bulletins

Manufacturers have filed 132 technical service bulletins and communications with NHTSA covering the 1997 Honda Civic. These are repair instructions for known issues, not recalls.

Most common bulletin topics

  • Unknown or Other16
  • Service Brakes8
  • Electrical System7
  • Engine and Engine Cooling7
  • Hydraulic6
  • Power Train6

Recent bulletins

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsSep 2016 · A99034

    Service bulletin - due to the floor design, a mispositioned floor mat could prevent the accelerator pedal from returning to the idle position. In this case, the vehicle m

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsJul 2015 · A15070B - 7-2-15

    Service news article - planning on using a leak check dye to help find a leak? Here's the current list of vehicles that you shouldn't use dye on.

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsAug 2013 · SB-99-075

    Honda: troubleshooting of diagnostic trouble codes (dtc) p1456 and p1457. Dealers are to run evap function test to find if there is a leak so the vehicle can be repaired.

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsSep 2005 · 09012005

    Troubleshooting tips for dtc p1381. *nm

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins).

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA opened 1 defect investigation covering the 1997 Honda Civic.

EquipmentSQ98012 · opened Jun 1998, closed Nov 1998

Condenser fan motor inoperative

See resume for details.

Other Honda Civic years

‹ Sell a 1996 Civic · Sell a 1998 Civic › · All Honda Civic years

Other 1997 Honda models

Selling a 1997 Civic: questions

How much is a 1997 Honda Civic worth for junk?

It depends on its condition, whether major parts like the engine, transmission and catalytic converter are still there, and current scrap and parts prices where you live. Its parts make up much of its value. Enter your ZIP code above for a free offer on your specific car.

Can I junk a 1997 Civic that doesn't run?

Yes. We buy 1997 Civics that don't start, were in an accident, failed inspection or have a blown engine or transmission. Towing is always free.

Can I sell a 1997 Civic with open recalls?

Yes. Open recalls don't prevent a junk sale. NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 1997 Honda Civic; you can check whether any are still open on yours with the VIN lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What paperwork do I need to sell my 1997 Civic?

Usually the title and a photo ID. Rules differ by state, including what to do with your plates and whether to file a notice of sale. Check our state-by-state car title guides for the official forms.

Before you sell

Sources

Data retrieved October 2026.

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