Used 1997 Honda CR-V Consumer Reviews
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Love My CR-V!
I bought her used and have really only put minimal repairs into her. She only had 1 owner before me. They kept great records. I always take good care of her and keep her tuned up. I have had her for over 6 years and have put over 80 thousand miles on her. She has a totally of over 160,000 miles. She has been a GEM! I started looking for more fuel effecient vehicles lately, but I really don't want to give her up. I would have bought a new CR-V if they had kept a similiar style, but I really do not like the new style. Maybe, I'll just wait till' she finally gives out on me. Her qualities will be hard to match! Great in the snow, durable, long lasting reliability and overall Outstanding quality
I bought my CRV in February 1997
I bought my CRV with 13 miles on the odometer. Today my vehicle has approximately 264,000 miles. Maintenance costs have been minimal. I completely forgot to change the timing belt until the car had 175k miles on it. The mechanic later showed me the timing belt and said it was in incredibly good shape for having weathered that many miles. The only major repair I have had to speak of is replacing the radiator. I live in a cold weather climate and never have to worry about ice and snow. The AWD kicks in when needed and I just plow on and get to my destination. The car is 18 years old and I can honestly say it drives the same way today as when I first bought it in '97.
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- Base 4dr SUVMSRP: $2,8001,095 mi away
- Base 4dr SUVMSRP: $3,4991,133 mi away
- Base 4dr SUVMSRP: $3,8001,355 mi away
Loved this car, she took a long time to wear out!
I bought my 1997 CR-V in 2002 with 100,000 miles on it at the time. I put on enough to get it up to 262,000 miles as of this month. Just yesterday the car finally broke down to the point where it's not economical to fix (transmission). I've been told that had I changed the transmission fluid regularly this car could have stood a chance to last even longer than it already did. As it is I feel I got way more than my money's worth out of this great vehicle. I had to replace the radiator in 2009, but other than that most repairs I recall doing on this car were relatively minor. I'm sad she finally broke so bad!
Still going strong
Bought this CRV used in 2001 and have been driving it ever since. Great reliable vehicle. Doesn't get any better. Some what under powered but that is really the only major thing I would want changed. Would like to get something else to drive as after 9 years, I'm getting bored of it .. but it just won't die and it not worth trading, so I'll just drive it till she quits or my 16 year old smashes it. AWD is great in the snow and have had no major problems. Great job Honda, put in a small six cylinder so I can pull a camping trailer and I will buy another one tomorrow.
It Just Keeps Going and Going!
I purchased my CR-V new and have driven it 284,000+ miles. It still has original suspension, wires, and just about everything else. I've replaced a fan or two, the radiator, done timing belt changes as required, had brakes done as needed and changed the oil regularly, but no major issues ever. I'll definitely keep this car until it simply won't go any more. Even
HR-V (Harvy)
Harvy is the name my CR-V was given by his previous owner. She loved this car and recently sold it to me at a price that can only be described as a steal, but only after buying a new CR-V. I have only owned Harvy for about a month, but I bought the 14 year old car with almost 160,000 miles. Soon after, my area got hit with 18"+ of snow. I let my wife drive my 2007 Z71 and took Harvy out for a true test drive.This little suv was unstoppable. I went places i would of been wary of with my Z71. Armed with nothing more than a snow shovel tucked neatly in the luggage rack, I had no problems that I could not dig my way out of. I love this car!!!
Wonderful Car, Fun to Drive
I bought my car in 1997, and to date have 112,000 miles on it. When my 100,000 mile warranty was about to run out, I took it to my mechanic for a full check up and he said there was not a thing wrong with it!! Will definitly upgrade to the newest one when the time comes!!
This is quality
We are now into our 11th year with this gem. We have 158k with only minor maintenance (new radiator, 2nd battery). This car is an absolute joy to drive and is excellent in the snow/rain. This is the best vehicle I have ever owned and would recommend a Honda to anyone. I will own it until it dies.
Best vehicle I have ever owned!
This truck started out as my wife's. She was going to trade it in for a new Camry and they were going to give her $5,000.00. I told her that I would give her $5.500 for it. That was back in 2007, it had 98,000 miles on it. I traded it in for a 2008 CRV on 12/12/15, it had 330,006 miles on it and I bet it gets 100,000 more. Other than oil changes every 6,000 miles, it cost me 2 timing belts, 2 water pumps, one battery, a set of plugs and wires, powered window unit (drivers side), a set of rotors(let pads go to long), and a couple sets of brake pads. A couple years back It got a steering rack. The leak was so slow that it probably would have last me till I got rid of it. A couple months back it left me stranded on when the ignition module went out. That is the only time it left me stranded or would not turn over. All it needed when I got rid of it was a catalytic converter and a power window motor for passenger side. The interior was still great. In fact there was just one little spot wore through the carpet on drivers side. Cloth drivers seat was still perfect!. Not bad for 330.006 miles.
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Great Car for the Money
I got this car in 2010 with about 135k on it and drove it for 4 years and added about 30k miles. Overall, it was a great car. Lack of power is my main complaint - you had to floor it to get up a hill or pass someone, and it sometimes took the transmission forever to shift. The car couldn't maintain its speed on steep hills at all. My 2011 CR-V has eliminated these problems. I also didn't get as good of gas mileage as one would expect, but it is an SUV after all. Noisy ride. Several electrical problems including faulty power windows and locks - we finally traded it in because the car often wouldn't start and we believed it to be electrical. Nevertheless, I miss it!
One of The most reliable car out there
I have owned a couple of CRVs same year 1997. The first one I got rid of because I was more interested in speed now that I am older I have owned another 1997 CRV for the last 5 years. Bought it used at a great price with 165k miles and now has 278k miles. I drive more than the average person and love this car. Has never leave me stranded and with minor maintenance which I gladly do myself I think it will last forever. The person I bought it from told me he did timing belt at 125k miles so I am not worrying about it as I had a Civic with 170k witho original one. I drive in NYC all day long in this car and even with all the traffic and heat and snow we get this car never complaints. I wished yes that it had a bit more power because when I drive through PA and upstate NY through all the hills you do feel it much weaker. But it makes it up with everthing else including great resale value, reliability, great gas mileage, low maintenance and great looks!
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Don't change it
I have owned this little guy since new and have had it serviced on a regular bassis. No problems at all.At 170,000 miles I have yet to put a dime in her other than tires, brakes every 33,000 miles, and one batery.Original exshaust.It has gone throught the roughest New England weather without a whimper. Lots of snow and I live on top of a mountain. It burns no oil inbetween oil changes and seems to get better gas milage as it ages. No rattles or clunks and I am not easy on her at all. I have hauled far more than 1000 lbs. reccomened without complaint or even any sluggishness. I am looking for another 1997 to put away for after 300,000 milles. I might give it to one of my kids then. Maybe
FANTASTIC SUV!!!
I absolutely love my CR-V! I have had it for 4 years and put almost 100K on it with only changing the tires. Zero mechanical problems and great gas mileage. I am getting rid of mine only because it lacks power and I live in the mountains...it is great on flat ground but it is a little challenged going up steep hills; it makes a lot of noise but little acceleration. AWD is great in the snow/ice!! This is a perfect entry level SUV for someone who wants something bigger than a car but doesn't need a lot of power (small engine gets much better gas mileage :)
A Functionality Work of Art
Pros This vehicle will deliver functionality, reliability and excellent snow adherence on Quebec roads. Drives excellent for a 1997, interior ergonomics are impeccable and layout is very simple. This small SUV is not at all sexy but it will get you from Point A to Point B and you will never have to worry about something breaking down. Glass all around the car makes for a very safe drive and very little blind spots. I noticed that streets and parkways are flooded with CR-Vs, old and new, there is however a very small amount of units for sale on the Internet. Now that I own and drive one, I sure know why. Mine has 224,000 and is still running like a champ. 400 km on a tank around town...
Amazed at the longevity!
*bought this when my husband drove a lot for sales. *my car now for several years and I keep insisting I won't trade it. *doesn't have the cushiest seats in town, but I can go to my car every morning and know that it will start! *We've been religious about good maintenance *but I've only changed the battery twice *made one good-sized repair *radiator fan. *air conditioning-the only draw back. The a/c has had some problems- the "flap" that sometimes sticks so that air can't circulate into the vehicle will cost about another 300 in labor because of is location. Overall, an incredibly reliable vehicle.
Great vehicle
I had my CR-V for 10 years and it is 230,000 miles on it. I still have it because I have not found anything better. I recommend it highly.
Great car
Bought this car used with 61,000 miles as a certified Used Honda. This vehicle is unbelievable. Now have 183,000 miles on vehicle and going strong. Just routine service and changed timing belt as normal service at 91,000. One tune up so far. Motor still sounds new. Will keep this car until it falls apart.
Great Investment
I have had my CRV for nearly three years and have not had a single problem or even a hiccup. The value in three years has only went down several hundred dollars! My wife and I love our CRV. Go Honda!
Best little SUV You Can Get
I've had this car over one year now. I've had no problem with it even with rainy Portland summer and winter. The car drives great and it has a great view. The things I've done on it are the regular oil change and tire rotation. I would suggest people to do the tune up once it reaches to 100K. I did mine around 95K and it gained more horse power after the tune up. It drives so much better now. CR-V alos work great in rain and snow. I've had no trouble with ice roads and snow (just have to drive slow).
Workhorse
This SUV has seen us from a newly married couple using it on our daily commute to a family with two kids and a dog. We have only had two non- maintenance related trips to the garage and one was covered under warranty. While under-powered in the year we bought it, the CRV has been flexible enought to meet all of the demands of a growing family. We have >110,000 miles on it and it shows no signs of quitting.
Great vehicle. Bought this car new, and
Great vehicle. Bought this car new and have driven it 153000 miles without any problems. Have all records of regular service. All factory recommended maintenance has been done and recorded. Have made many trips in relative comfort and with very reasonable gas comsumption. Have changed tires at 60000 miles though there was always considerable wear left. Would recommend this car to anyone looking for dependable relatively inexpensive operation.
Best Honda Ever
I have had my CRV for six years now. Best car I've ever owned! I have just replaced the original tires at 90,000 miles. Not one thing has gone wrong with the car. At 92,000 miles, all I've done to the car is the routine changing of various fluids as stated in the owner's manual. It still has the original brakes and has averaged 28 mpg for the six years I've owned it. I plan to keep this car until it registers 200,000 miles. Great car Honda!
CRV
Biggest interior of the small utes. Great cargo space with or without the seats folded down. Comfortable car like ride, not stiff and truckish. Don't bother with high octane expensive fuel, it runs better and gets better gas mileage on regular unleaded. Great fun for weekend camping and outings.
317 thousand km and still going
Great. They should never have changed the style. I talk to other cr-v owners, all have same opinion
Couldn't be better!
The most reliable vehicle I've ever had! Aside from normal replacement items (tires, wiper blades, brake pads) this gem has performed flawlessly.
Honda CR-V
This is a solid, reliable vehicle.
1997 Crv =Total garbage
Biggest piece of rusty & dead unreliable [non-permissible content removed] I ever wasted my money on. Buy toyota
Best Mini SUV
This is an excellent SUV. Honda has really done it. Since 1997 I have had not one single problem with this vehicle. The engine is fun and peppy though a few extra horses would certaintly help, though I believe the 1999 model has 147-hp as opposed to the 126-hp engine. There are only two gripes about this vehicle how ever. There is no arm rest on the passenger seat, which I believe the arm rest should be since the driver should have both hands on the wheel. The other minor gripe I have is that the window controls are to the left of the steering wheel. These are little things I can live with and have for the past 5 years.
1997 honda crv still going strong
Great vehicle. Drives well, especially in rain and snow. AWD makes very stable & smooth. In 7 years only had recommended maintenance & front power source (cig lighter) fixed. 76000 miles and taking on long trip next month with no worries. Good on gas. Plenty of power. Honda knows how to get more hp on a 4cyl than anyone. Lots of nice features. Rear seats fold flat. Stereo is great. Seats are comfy. Great visibility. I have no reason to want to trade it in yet. Looks great, drives great.
Go CR-V
I must say this is by far the best vehicle i have ever owned.It has 75000.00 miles an all i`ve done was change tires and oil .Zero problems!! It`s value is still around $9000.00.GREAT VALUE ,i WILL BUY HONDA AGAIN.mjr
Great little SUV
In January 1997 I literally drove my CRV off the showroom floor. I believe it was the first CRV sold in Tampa, Florida. Seven years and 117,000 miles later, it is the best car I have ever owned, although it is not without problems. The A/C is very noisy and too weak for the Florida summer (dark tinted windows would probably help). Needed head gasket replaced at 97,000 miles. After 85,000 miles I had to switch to mid-grade unleaded to stop engine from knocking. My mileage is about 22city/25 highway, not as high as Honda claimed but better than any other SUV. Extremely reliable, I have driven several trips of 1200+ miles. Worst problem is abysmal service from theHonda dealership.
Very Happy With Our CR-V
We have had this vehicle since the first year it became available in North America. Shortly after we purchased the vehicle, Honda replaced the auto transmission (apparently there was a design flaw). We have been extremely happy with everything about the CR-V and will keep it until it dies.
115,000 miles and Counting...
Considering it's a first-year model,this is a very reliable vehicle with few problems. It generally needs your usual maintenance and keeps on going. I bought mine used (68000 miles on the odometer) in 2000. It's been used to haul many things from top soil to 36" TV (the box barely fit in the back). It's been taken on and off road, on regular commute and 6-hour trips. My only complaint is it's WAY underpowered, which can be a pain when you need to get up to speed on the freeway.
Great Car...Going to miss it...
Looking forward to buying a new 2017 Honda, now that my current Honda is 20 years old.
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One Of The Worst
This car has quality issues. The 1st reason is that the car started stalling on me. It stalled on the freeway a number of times and on the street, it is an automatic transmission. 2nd, this car is way underpowered. I had trouble accelerating onto freeways. 3rd, the car handles poorly. The car is front heavy. This makes it diffcult to manuver and avoids things. 4th, the steering wheel is in an awkward position, like a van, and is not adjustable. We got the car brand new from the dealer and used it a lot but took good care of it. My guess is that we probably got a lemon, but that is our first and last experience with Honda.
don't buy this garbage
We bought this car thinking that it would be good (it's a Honda) but were in for a big surprise. one year after we bought it, the car died on me on the highway and again when I was turning left onto a big road. we had the transmission replaced three years after purchase then we had an overheating problem. we sold the car five years later.
What Happened to Mine?
I know I bought mine used, but I have all the maintenance records and by reading the paperwork it looks like it was properly taken care of. But, it is falling apart. At 130K miles, I've had to replace the battery twice in the last two years. I had to replace the ignition (costing $700) six months ago - I had the local dealer do the work and now pieces of the dash board have fallen off and the steering wheel squeaks when I turn. The left channel on the radio goes out of hot days. The air conditioner will have to be re-charged this season. The PVC joints had to be replaced. All in all, it's a money pit. I get 16-18 MPG in the suburbs and 20MPG on the interstate. And electrical shocks too.
overall great car
Have over 107,000 miles on this vehicle only problem is limited power on hills and replacement of u-joint cost over $1000 due to the fact that I had to replace entire drive shaft in order to replace u-joint( not sold separately)
The best car
I own this car for 11 years, and if it ever give-up on me the next one will be Honda CR-V. Except for changing things like tires, brakes, and oil of course, nothing ever stop me from driving it. It is the best car not only for the money, but because it is the best.
Great car
97 model but bought new in 3/98. great milage and good looks. slighly underpowered but plenty good enough for around town driving which is what this car has done for the past 65 months. Has not been any problem with car at all and replaced tires at 65,000. Recommend this car to anyone because it is on the Civic chassis so drives like a car.
Made right choice
Bought a used '97 CRV to replace our '94 Civic that got totaled. The Civic had no problems after 125k miles, and we expected no less from our next car. Bought the CRV with 60K last week, and took it in today for 60K service. Car only needs normal 60k maintenance - is in excellent condition!!! Try buying a used Ford or Chevy with absolutely no problems!!
First Car Decent, Yet Lacking
First car I've ever owned, and it's great to drive. Started having problems around 45,000 miles with the automatic transmission not downshifing to 3rd when drop in RPM's in 4th gear, causing the drive train to "lug" as a manual transmission car would if you failed to downshift and were driving it too slow. Causes a massive rattle that shakes the whole front dash, VERY annoying to deal with when driving around town. Other than that, very peppy car, gotta love the horn, and at 100,000 and still going strong.
Best Car Ever!
This is the best car ever. This car has a great fuel efficiency. It drives like a car but its an suv. Very spacious compared to the other mini suvs. This car is very roomy and the fold in of the back seats can be very helpful if you need extra space in the back for luggage or moving. We call my CRV the mule because it has carried everything. I know I will drive this car until it dies (which will be for a long time)
Awsome SUV!
I LOVE this car! Had to replace one of the cooling fans and performed necessary maintenance, but have NEVER had any type of engine or driveability prolems. I have 125,000 miles and will drive it 'til it dies, which may never happen, seeing how it rides and handles just like it did when I bought it with 24,000 miles on it.
Rebuild or No?
Honda CRV has been a great, inexpensive and reliable car for, lo, these 181,000 plus miles. What it lacks in comfort, it makes up for in many other ways. Most recently, I've had $1,500 in repairs and for a 21 year old car, I'm wondering whether I should keep maintaining it as a second car or get rid of it. Is there a list somewhere of what typically needs work the longer you keep a Honda CRV? I'd love to compare that list to my car log.
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fun to drive
i bought this vehicle for myself to commute to a job. what a blast to drive. a bit noisy but i solved that issue by putting sound insulation in. easy to work on, parts are not that expensive, easy to get at, i put the vehicle grouding system on, air intake, and the mileage is in the 30's around town. now that the youngest is driving i am surrendering my baby to her.
Best car I've ever owned
I bought my CRV used almost two years ago with 117,000 miles on it. I got a great deal due to the high mileage. So far I have never broken down and have had to have no work on it other than routine maintenance and replacing some hoses before they became a problem. My car before this one was brand new and I had non stop problems with it from 6 mos until I sold it 7 years later. For an SUV it has a pretty smooth ride and decent gas mileage. I am pregnant now and will feel very safe with my child in it while still feeling sporty.
AWESOME CRV
I WOULD BUY ANOTHER CRV, I THINK THAT SAYS IT ALL.
Buy One!
Love it! Will buy another soon!
Love my CRV
We bought our 97 CRV in November of 97 and its coming up on 5 years that we'd had it. Its been perfect. Not a single flaw. The only thing we've replaced on it are the tires and just this past summer when we hit 100,000km. Even Hubby who isn't a SUV fan loves it. I especially love all the rear legroom because when my kids kick their legs they aren't kicking my seat.