FaultScore

2003 Honda Cr-V fuel system problems

12 of the 580 complaints about the 2003 Honda Cr-V are about the fuel system — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 73,800 miles.

A

12

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Fuel/Propulsion System 6 50.0%
Delivery 1 8.3%
Tank Assembly 1 8.3%
Fuel Pump 1 8.3%
Fuel System, Gasoline 1 8.3%
Fuel Injection System 1 8.3%
Filler Pipe AND CAP 1 8.3%

Fuel & Propulsion across every Honda Cr-V year

2002 14 0.9%
2003 12 0.8%
2004 18 1.1%
2013 15 0.9%
2014 20 1.3%
2015 35 2.2%
2016 72 4.6%
2017 376 23.8%
2018 596 37.7%
2019 252 15.9%
2020 47 3.0%
2021 23 1.5%
2022 11 0.7%
2023 24 1.5%
2024 36 2.3%
2025 29 1.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Boise, ID

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Similar to an NHTSA campaign No. 19V053000 of Honda 2017-2019 Ridgelines recall, there is a hairline crack on the fuel pump feed port of my 2003 Honda CR-V that is 'spewing' gasoline whenever the car key is in "ON" position, and much more leakage when the engine is running. There is NO engine CODE that is showing in my dashboard. The vehicle is running fine. The only indication is a VERY strong smell of gasoline in the cabin, and traces of fuel leak from underneath the vehicle (along the outside of the gas tank).

NHTSA complaint #11425509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Port Saint Lucie, FL

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

The ac compressor and drier on my 2003 Honda CR-V failed and contaminated my whole entire ac system. Contaminants from the compressor have been released. This issue is common for Honda crvs from the earlier 2000’s, because the compressors are substandard. Unfortunately Honda never alerted me of the faulty ac compressor, so I could ensure the ac compressor was replaced in time. Due to this substandard ac compressor, my whole entire ac system needs to be flushed and replaced. I have a new baby and I am not sure if she or I inhaled any contaminants from this issue. This issue was checked and confirmed by a mechanic, and the vehicle is available for inspection. I did not receive any alert or warning messages from my car for this issue.

NHTSA complaint #11424814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marion, KS

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

MY LOW BEAMS DO NOT WORK ON 2003 HONDA CRV. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2015, AND SEE THERE WAS A LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT RECALL IN MARCH/ APRIL OF 2012. SINCE THE ISSUE JUST STARTED IN MY VEHICLE, AND THERE WAS A PRIOR RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, I WOULD LIKE THE RECALL TO BE SENT TO ME. ALSO, MY VEHICLE IS SHOWING A CODE P1259 VTEC SYSTEM MALFUNCTION SHOWING UP.

NHTSA complaint #11386044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 233,407 miles Washington, GA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I PURCHASED THE 2003 HONDA CRV FROM ANTHONY AUTO SALES IN THOMSON, GA ON 2/21/2020. AFTER PURCHASE I NOTICED MY CIGARETTE LIGHTER/CHARGING PORT DIDN'T WORK. DID A FUSE TEST ON IT ONLY TO DISCOVER HALF OF THE FUSES WEREN'T WORKING IN THE FUSE BOX UNDER THE HOOD. I CALLED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT MAY BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM I COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE IN BECAUSE I WAS HAVING SURGERY THE FOLLOWING WEEK. ON FEBRUARY 25 WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN BUT PICKED ITS SPEED BACK UP AND FOR SOME REASON IT SEEMS TO GET POOR GAS MILEAGE. I LIKE MY VEHICLE I JUST WANT TO KNOW OF ANY FUTURE AND PAST RECALLS AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEM RECTIFIED SINCE I NOW OWN THE VEHICLE. PAST REPORTS HAVE ALSO SHOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAGS AS WELL. THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR LOCKS AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #11317104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 141,500 miles Leesburg, FL

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

ENGINE SUDDENLY LOOSES POWER, DROPPING FROM 70-75 MPH TO 30-35 MPH WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE - ALL IN HEAVY/FAST-MOVING TRAFFIC. NO NOISE. OR WARNING. MANAGED TO LIMP TO EXIT. STARTS RIGHT BACK UP ONCE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN DEC. 2016. LAST TIME WAS 1/27/2017. NO RECORDS ON VEHICLE. WAS BOUGHT AT AUTO AUCTION THRU A SUPPOSEDLY REPUTABLE DEALER...NO HELP THERE.

NHTSA complaint #10968405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 160,000 miles Edwards, MS

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

SMELLED GAS AND NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS USING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF GAS FOR THE DISTANCE TRAVELED. THE NEXT DAY I HAD TO STOP FOR GAS AGAIN (HAD JUST GOTTEN GAS THE PREVIOUS DAY) AND AS I WAS PUTTING THE NOZZLE BACK INTO THE GAS PUMP, GAS STARTED GUSHING FROM UNDERNEATH MY VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES LATER IT SLOWED TO A DRIP AND THEN COMPLETELY STOPPED A FEW MINUTES AFTERWARDS. A STORE EMPLOYEE CAME TO ASSIST AND HE THOUGHT IT WAS AN OVERFLOW ISSUE AND THOUGHT IT WOULD BE OKAY TO DRIVE. WE'D PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO A DRY AREA BEFORE CRANKING IT TO MAKE SURE IT DIDN'T LEAK ANYMORE. ON THE WAY HOME, WITHIN A 10 MILE STRETCH I LOST HALF OF A TANK OF GAS. THAT WAS ON A WEDNESDAY, I DIDN'T MOVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN UNTIL FRIDAY MORNING. THE GROUND WAS SATURATED WITH GAS WHEN I LEFT FOR WORK THAT FRIDAY MORNING. I'D ALREADY ARRANGED TO DROP IT OFF AT THE AUTO SHOP THAT MORNING BEFORE WORK. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITHIN MINUTES OF LEAVING HOME. THE SHOP DETERMINED IT WAS A CRACKED WASHER/NUT THAT SECURES THE FUEL PUMP INSIDE THE TANK. THE PUMP WAS LITERALLY SITTING AT THE TOP OF THE TANK HITTING UNDERNEATH THE BACK SEAT. THE SHOP MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A MIRACLE IT DIDN'T CATCH FIRE AND BLOW UP. IT'S BACK IN THE SHOP AGAIN BECAUSE IT'S STILL LEAKING GAS. THE GROUND WHERE I PARK WAS SATURATED AGAIN FOR THE PAST 3 DAYS (I'D MOVED IT TO A DIFFERENT SPOT EVERY DAY FOR SEVERAL DAYS TO DETERMINE IT WAS STILL LEAKING. IT'D REMAINED PARKED FOR THE PAST 3 DAYS EXCEPT FOR MOVING IT OVER TO A DRY SPOT. I HAD TO STOP FOR GAS ON THE WAY TO WORK THIS MORNING, ALTHOUGH I SHOULD'VE HAD ENOUGH TO GET THERE BUT THE GAS HAND WAS DROPPING. I FILLED THE TANK UP AND WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION I WAS BACK DOWN TO HALF A TANK. I DROVE 45 MILES FROM WHERE I GOT GAS. I CALLED THE AUTO SHOP AND THEY'RE CURRENTLY TRYING TO DETERMINE WHERE THE GAS IS COMING FROM.

NHTSA complaint #10860097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Keystone Heights, FL

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

MARCH 2006 AND JUNE 2008, THE EVAPORATION CANISTER ASSY ON OUR 2003 HONDA CRV SUV HAS COME OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. ASSY IS INSUFFICIENTLY SECURED AND EXCESSIVELY EXPOSED. ASSY HAS BEEN REDESIGNED ON LATER MODELS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, BUT HONDA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE. REPAIR IS $1000 EACH TIME. SEARCH OF THE INTERNET SHOWS PEOPLE COMPLAINING THAT THE ASSY COMES OFF GOING OVER RR TRACKS, POTHOLES, DRIVEWAY ENTRANCES, OR RUTTED ROADS. THIS VEHICLE IS SOLD AS A SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE!

NHTSA complaint #10239968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 67,600 miles Toledo, OH

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE AFTER BEEN PARKED FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME, A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL WAS NOTICED. UPON VISUAL INSPECTION, A HOLE WAS NOTICED NEAR THE BACK SEAT, WHICH WAS LOCATED ABOVE THE GAS TANK AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO TESTED THE VEHICLE TO FIND THE FAILURE CODE READING "AUXILIARY EMISSION CONTROL EVAPORATION, GAS LEAK". THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE GAS TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT INQUIRED ABOUT THE PHYSICAL LEAK TO BE SHOWN WHICH NEVER HAPPENED. THE CONTACT SHOWED THE DEALERSHIP THE POSSIBILITY OF THE LEAK COMING FROM THE OUTLET HOSE FROM THE TANK TO THE FUEL PUMP, WHICH COULD EASILY BE REMOVED WITH THE FINGER TIPS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, WHO DETERMINED IT WAS AN ISOLATE FAILURE, AND WAS NOT COVERED BY ANY RECALL. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE THE FAILURE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS MANUFACTURER DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10174588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 16,605 miles Westminster, CA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH DRIVER MADE A LEFT TURN AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FUEL PUMP FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #10115266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 4,000 miles Poughkeepsie, NY

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRST OIL CHANGE WAS PERFORMED, SMOKE STARTING COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING HOME. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE OIL FILTER WAS INSTALLED WITH THE EXCITING O-RINGS, THUS CREATING AN OIL LEAK. THE OIL DRIPPED ON THE EXHAUST. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE FIRE. TO AVOID THIS FROM RECURRING WHEN AN THE OIL FILTER AND THE O-RINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10081719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hollis, NH

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT AFTER HAVING THE OIL FILTER CHANGED OIL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED.

NHTSA complaint #10081762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 13,000 miles Stanfield, NC

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

MY CR-V AT TIMES DOES NOT HAVE ANY POWER AFTER BEING STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. I HAVE TO PUT THE PEDAL DOWN ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND IT BARELY MOVES. THIS PROBLEM ALMOST CAUSED AN ACIDENT AT A BUSY INTERSECTION ONE DAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES NOW. THE HONDA DEALER SAYS IT'S THE AIR-CONDITIONING COMING ON AT THE SAME TIME THAT I AM GIVING IT POWER. THIS DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT, THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING ELSE WRONG. I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE GARAGE TWICE NOW.

NHTSA complaint #10078646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2003 Honda Cr-V problems

← Full 2003 Honda Cr-V report