1997 Honda Accord LX review from North America

It took me all of one week to begin hating this car. It started when I bought a small chair when I was home for the holidays. I could not fit it in my trunk, in the back, or in the front seat. I was disgusted to have to give it away. Living on the coast, I tried to evacuate before a hurricane, only to find my canary's cage would not fit anywhere in the car, either. This is not a manufacturer's defect, but it is a waste of space and makes me miss my hatchback.

Within the first month, I noticed suspension problems in the front of the car.

Gradually, my key would not quite work in the ignition. You have to turn the wheel and hold it to get the key to turn.

Then, after having it for almost 2 months, I replaced the starter. $350.

Summer came and I wondered why the air wasn't working. There was no compressor in the car. Not a good thing when you live in the South. $800.

After 6 months, I replaced the clutch. $550.

A few days short of a year, I replaced the transmission. $1,500.

The power locks are broken, to where you can only lock them if you hold the handle from the inside while pushing the button. Now, the doors lock, but you cannot unlock the passenger door unless you do so from inside the car.

The power windows get stuck most days, so I am sure both motors are about to go out (2 door car).

Passenger seatbelt strangles anyone who sits in the seat.

Glove compartment light is on the entire time the lights are on.

The back break light in the window is impossible to replace, even for the 4 mechanics I have taken it to. Even then, it is an odd bulb that is too big for the hole it is to be inserted in.

The stereo has to be reset by a Honda mechanic every time the battery is disconnected. This cannot be done by just anyone.

The engine light has been on for a year now. I have had 4 diagnostic tests ($50-85 each) and still it is on, yet no one can tell me why. I would think this rather odd, if my sister's 2001 Accord did not have the same exact problem.

What frustrates me most is that though the salesman sold me on the idea that 120,000 miles was "nothing" for a Honda, the dealership flat out refused to even look at my car when I was stranded 200 miles from home because at that point, it was near 150,000. Apparently, the salesmen and mechanics do not agree on what is too high of mileage for this car.

I was ripped off on this car. I would chalk it up to a really bad experience with a run-down car, but as I said earlier, my sister has had some of the same problems I have had, and she has put a great deal less mileage on hers since getting it.

The car is decent inside and because of this car, I have fallen in love with sunroofs, but that is probably as much as I can say positive about this car. The stereo controls are a little more than arm's length away, so you cannot change channels comfortably if you have long legs. Not only that, but the speedometer needle blocks your mileage gage. You cannot watch that so well once you hit 50-60mph.

I have been stranded with this car more times than I can count. I have taken good care of it, babied it, even, because I was putting so much mileage on it, but all-in-all, it is a piece of junk.