FaultScore

2018 Honda Cr-V electrical problems

280 of the 2,994 complaints about the 2018 Honda Cr-V are about the electrical system — 9% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 14,970 miles.

B

280

Complaints

5

Crashes

0

Fires

3

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Electrical System 261 93.2%
Instrument Cluster/Panel 7 2.5%
12V/24V/48V Battery 3 1.1%
Software 3 1.1%
Body Control Module/Bcm 3 1.1%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator 2 0.7%
Adas 1 0.4%

Electrical System across every Honda Cr-V year

1997 32 1.3%
1998 38 1.5%
1999 29 1.2%
2000 15 0.6%
2002 95 3.8%
2003 63 2.5%
2004 73 2.9%
2005 77 3.1%
2006 75 3.0%
2007 265 10.5%
2008 219 8.7%
2009 44 1.7%
2010 43 1.7%
2011 55 2.2%
2012 67 2.7%
2013 38 1.5%
2014 77 3.1%
2015 83 3.3%
2016 63 2.5%
2017 397 15.8%
2018 280 11.1%
2019 196 7.8%
2020 43 1.7%
2021 34 1.4%
2022 14 0.6%
2023 27 1.1%
2024 34 1.4%
2025 18 0.7%
2026 21 0.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

San Fernando, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Before the recall repairs, I did not experience any loss of acceleration, hesitation, jerking, or flashing warning lights. These symptoms began only after the recall service was completed. 1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The vehicle experienced a loss of acceleration while driving. The vehicle also began to jerk or stumble, and multiple warning lights flashed on the dashboard. The vehicle is currently at the Honda dealership and is available for inspection. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The loss of acceleration created a potentially dangerous situation because the vehicle would not respond as expected while driving. I did not feel safe operating the vehicle, especially in traffic, because the vehicle hesitated and lost power. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. The vehicle was inspected by a Honda dealership. The dealership initially diagnosed a shutter grille issue (code P16E8). After that repair did not resolve the problem, the dealership later indicated that the fuel injectors might be the cause. The symptoms persisted after the initial repair. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The vehicle has been inspected by an authorized Honda dealership. It has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms before the failure, and when did they first appear? Multiple warning lights began flashing after the recall service was completed. The symptoms, including loss of acceleration and vehicle hesitation, first appeared after the recall repairs were performed.

NHTSA complaint #11756620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Coral Gables, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Parked car and engaged the push button keyless ignition system to shut the car down, SUV would not shut down, no recourse available to power down vehicle. We immediately drove to the local Honda dealership, Braham Honda 7000 Coral Way, Miami Florida for assistance with the issue. Was advised that even disengaging the battery would have still left the alternator engaged which eventually may have cause damage to that part. All new parts required to fix the "keyless," issue at a cost of $1,200. This seems like an obvious defect and safety issue, if needed we to refuel to get to the dealership, legally we couldn't, since we were unable to shut the car down. Complaint filed with Honda case #XXX. [XXX] Honda Invoice for Service #XXX INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11755930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lexington, SC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Component Affected: BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW CAMERA / INFOTAINMENT SYSTEMDescription of Safety Defect:The factory infotainment/Display Audio screen intermittently freezes, loses power, and goes completely black while driving or transitioning into reverse. When this manufacturing hardware defect occurs, the backup safety camera completely fails to activate and display any video feed. This introduces a severe, immediate backover safety hazard, leaving a massive blind spot that prevents the detection of pedestrians, small children, or objects behind the vehicle.This vehicle is a one-owner vehicle purchased brand new in May 2018. The defect matches the exact symptoms, hardware failures, and software glitches documented in Honda Service Bulletin 19-066. A certified dealer (Honda of Columbia in Lexington, SC) diagnosed the vehicle on 7/27/2026, confirming the internal radio head unit is defective and requires a complete replacement at an estimated consumer cost of $800.Because this hardware failure directly compromises a critical safety feature mandated by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 111, it poses an unreasonable risk to public safety. American Honda has refused to cover the repair under the existing TSB campaign, claiming the issue is VIN-specific. I am filing this complaint to urge the NHTSA to investigate this systemic failure and expand the scope of the campaign into a mandatory safety recall.

NHTSA complaint #11754548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wichita, KS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Vehicle steering wheel would eventually seize up, then snap out while driving on all types of roads, causing the whole car to jerk left or right. Happens at all speeds on any road type Upon inspection from Schofield Honda in Wichita KS, they determined that it was the electronic power steering module that failed and needed to be replaced. A $4,949.31 bill for parts and labor. This vehicle just hit 51,000 miles so not new necessarily, but for something to make the vehicle inoperable while driving... There were no warning lamps, message, anything at all and progressivly got worse the more it was driven over the span of a month

NHTSA complaint #11753959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Perdido Beach, AL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My 2018 Honda CR-V began experiencing repeated battery drain and would not reliably start. Multiple warning lights illuminated on the dashboard. The vehicle also would not shut off after the ignition was turned off, continuing to run/stay powered on. The vehicle was taken to an authorized repair facility for diagnosis, where it was determined that the Body Control Module (BCM) had failed and needed to be replaced. The repair shop indicated that BCM failure is a common and recurring issue on this model and model year, which is consistent with numerous other owner complaints I have since found describing the same failure pattern (battery drain, warning lights, no-start condition, vehicle failing to shut off, and in some cases stalling while driving) on 2017-2019 Honda CR-V vehicles. I am filing this report to document the failure and make NHTSA aware of what appears to be a widespread defect trend affecting this component across multiple model years of this vehicle. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this issue as a potential safety defect, given that BCM failure can result in sudden loss of electrical function, the vehicle failing to power off, and in some reported cases, stalling while driving.

NHTSA complaint #11749269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wichita, KS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

-The steering wheel is sticking, especially at highway speeds, causing the wheel to jerk even on straight and smooth roads. -The problem has been reported online, but Honda only fixed 54 from NHTSA campaign number: 18v663000 -I am taking the vehicle in to be inspected but reviewing online complaints, this fix is thousands of dollars that I cannot afford -There have been no warning lights or messages for this

NHTSA complaint #11747888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Reading, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

power and began running rough. The check engine light illuminated, and the vehicle did not perform normally. I previously had the vehicle diagnosed and repaired at a Honda dealership for this same issue. The repair was completed less than two months ago. After only a few thousand miles since the repair, the exact same symptoms returned, including the check engine light, rough engine operation, and loss of power while driving. The recurrence of this issue raises concerns about the reliability and safety of the vehicle, particularly when operating in traffic or at highway speeds, as sudden loss of power could increase the risk of a crash. The problem appears to be the same issue that was previously repaired, but it reoccurred shortly after the repair was completed.

NHTSA complaint #11745486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Myrtle Beach, SC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Steering wheel sticks when driving. Seems like I am always having to correct to stay in lane. It is available for an inspection. I am always afraid it won’t go back to center of the lane to drive and will Continue into the passing lane. I called a dealership and they said that my VIN # is not one that was recalled. No one there has inspected it, and there are no warning lamps. The car was driven from PA to SC in March. After that it just recently started this with the steering. Any help is greatly appreciated!!

NHTSA complaint #11744839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Galion, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

On several occasions, while driving down the road at 55 mph, the car will flash the "BRAKE" indicator on the dash for a brief second and immediately slam on the brakes either to a stop or for a shorter amount of time. This is the third event that happened today just before reporting this problem. Our safety was at risk because there could've been someone behind us that may not have reacted fast enough and could've hit us. After the issue, there were no warning lights of any kind. There was no hazard in the road and no other obscure conditions. Middle of the day, clear skies. It is not possible to reproduce the problem in a timely manner because this has happened randomly three times over the course of two years.

NHTSA complaint #11742738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Centreville, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ALL of the warning lights go off one day, then the very next day it does not happen. This cycle has been happening for almost two straight years of “normal” driving. The vehicle is working totally fine and has never broken down because of this. Two different Honda dealerships told me that it is unsafe to drive and that the fuel injectors need to be replaced, which is a $2,000.00 fix - which is ridiculous! There has to be something else going on to cause ALL of the warning lights to go off, yet the vehicle drives totally fine. It seems to me that this should fall under a “recall.”

NHTSA complaint #11742557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Platte City, MO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My body control module (BCM) seems to have failed on my 2018 Honda CRV, my first indication was my alarm going off and me being unable to enter my vehicle with my key fob. Once I manually unlocked the car with the embedded key inside the key fob, I was unable to turn off my instrument cluster or lights by hitting the start switch of the car. I then turned on the car and was unable to turn off the car. My instrument cluster reported a key fob error. I replaced my batteries in both my key fobs, and that did not fix the problem. The only way I was able to turn off my vehicle was by disconnecting the battery and removing a relay to force it to turn off. Apparently, this is a known issue, and according to many online forums, there are many people experiencing this exact issue yet there has not been a recall to address this so the cost has been placed on the consumer. My car is currently at the dealership pending a $1000 plus repair where I believe this repair should be covered by Honda in a safety recall.

NHTSA complaint #11737331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

San Antonio, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

All of my service lights light up on the dashboard. A few times now, my car has stopped or the gas pedal doesn’t want to work in the middle of the road when the car was already running.

NHTSA complaint #11735240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

New Bedford, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The fuel injection system failed, specifically causing a cylinder 1 misfire (DTC P0301). The component is currently installed in the vehicle and available for inspection. The vehicle experienced a sudden loss of power and violent shaking while driving in traffic, creating a high risk of a rear-end collision or being stranded in a dangerous intersection. Multiple safety systems (VSA, Braking Assist, Power Steering) were disabled simultaneously. The problem was officially confirmed and diagnosed by Saccucci Honda [XXX] ) on Invoice #XXX. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealer (Saccucci Honda), who confirmed the failure is internal to the fuel injectors. There were NO warning symptoms prior to the failure. All warning lamps and messages appeared suddenly on 04/20/2026 exactly 3 days after the official Honda Fuel Pump Safety Recall was performed at a different dealership of Honda . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11734936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marysville, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My 2018 Honda CR-V (1.5L Turbo) has a confirmed fuel leak dripping directly onto the starter motor, creating an immediate fire hazard. A Honda dealer (Inv #XXX) diagnosed codes P219C and P219D, which are explicitly covered under Honda Service Bulletin 20-038 for a 150,000-mile warranty extension. Despite the vehicle having 131,528 miles, Honda Corporate is refusing to honor the warranty extension, claiming my VIN is not affected, while ignoring the documented failure and the dangerous safety risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11729311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brownsburg, IN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Every once in a while, on a regular basis, ALL the dash warning lights will light up and alarm, as if every single feature of the car is in an emergency state. This may continue (every time the car is started) for days, or weeks, and then it resolves of its own accord, with no predictability. The safety issue is that if something really *IS* wrong with one of these systems, we would be unaware of it.

NHTSA complaint #11727483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chico, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Head gasket failure diagnosed by Wittmeier Honda in February of 2026 Chico Ca. Car was initially throwing misfire codes, battery, fuel pump, then fuel injectors were replaced. Took it back to the dealer because car would sputter, dash is blacking out and I'm unable to indicate the speed at which I'm traveling, white smoke from exhaust, misfire, poor gas mileage, car nearly stalling in intersection. Car has been having this issue or possibly other issues contributing to this for nearly 25-30k miles. It is important to note that fuel pump was recalled in this model, car performance has significantly declined over the last 25k miles. This car is well maintained as in; regular oil, changes, transmission flushes, rear differential fluid change, tire rotation every 5-7k miles, brakes and rotors changed nearly every 30k front and back, fixing all issues as they arise. I say all of this so that there is a clear picture of the car maintenance and the issues it is having despite the proper care. This car has had several issues from about 150k miles. In my opinion this is premature for a car this well maintained. Though this car has had several issues over that past year I will put the most pressing and scariest date, the time it almost stalled in an intersection.

NHTSA complaint #11727137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 95,000 miles Washington, DC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed, and determined that the camera located by the front upper mirror had experienced an electrical failure and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

NHTSA complaint #11723954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ellenburg Depot, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The touchscreen infotainment system randomly goes awry, flashing, beeping and it doesn't respond to any controls. The vehicle must be turned off and started again to clear it.

NHTSA complaint #11722565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

White Plains, NY Crash

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

While driving approximately 70 mph on the highway, my 2018 Honda CR-V suddenly lost engine power and rapidly decelerated. At the same time the check engine light began flashing and multiple warning lights illuminated on the dashboard, including the ABS warning light. I was unable to accelerate and the vehicle would not restart after the loss of power. I attempted to guide the vehicle toward the shoulder for safety, but the vehicle was rear-ended shortly after the power loss occurred. The vehicle has since been declared a total loss by my insurance company. Approximately two weeks prior to the incident I experienced intermittent engine sputtering while driving. No repairs had yet been performed at that time. After the accident I discovered that my vehicle VIN is associated with an open fuel pump motor safety recall (EXP2) that had not been remedied prior to the incident. The suspected component involved is the fuel/propulsion system related to the fuel pump recall, although this has not yet been confirmed by inspection. The vehicle is currently in the possession of my insurance carrier and may be available for inspection upon request depending on the insurance process. The vehicle has been inspected by insurance representatives following the accident. The sudden loss of power at highway speed created a significant safety risk because the vehicle could not maintain speed with surrounding traffic and could not be restarted.

NHTSA complaint #11722006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Portland, OR

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I bought my car a Honda CRV 2018 at a dealership brand new in 2019. The problems with car is now with ABS system. ABS lights are all on and information was told by independent service. ABS system was replaced by independent service center, but the problem is still ongoing. Do you recover for the ABS system?

NHTSA complaint #11721078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Miami Springs, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I am filing this complaint regarding a serious safety issue with my 2018 Honda CR-V. The vehicle is experiencing repeated and unpredictable malfunctions involving the dashboard display, warning systems, and automatic braking features while the vehicle is in motion. While driving at normal speeds, the vehicle has braked on its own with no obstacle, vehicle, pedestrian, or hazard present in front of me. This sudden braking occurs without warning and creates a significant risk of being rear-ended or losing control of the vehicle. The braking feels as though the collision mitigation or safety system is activating incorrectly. At the same time or on separate occasions, the dashboard display begins glitching and flashing multiple warning indicators. These include:    •   Tire pressure warning lights appearing even though the tires are properly inflated    •   Sensor warning lights activating randomly    •   Alerts indicating systems such as collision warning, vehicle detection, or high-beam assist are malfunctioning    •   Messages stating safety features are not working when there is no apparent reason These warnings often appear simultaneously and disappear later without explanation. The infotainment or instrument display sometimes flickers or behaves erratically when this occurs. This issue is extremely concerning because it suggests a failure in the vehicle’s electrical system, sensors, or safety-assist technology. The unexpected braking alone poses a major safety hazard, particularly at highway speeds or in traffic, as it could cause a crash. In addition, the false warnings make it difficult to determine when the vehicle actually has a real problem that needs attention. The malfunction happens randomly and is not tied to weather conditions, road conditions, or driving behavior. It has occurred during normal driving with no obstacles present and no reason for the safety systems to activate. Because this issue involves unintended braking and malfunctioning driver

NHTSA complaint #11720652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wallingford, CT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My 2018 CRV 1.5L turbo with 70,000 mi. I have replaced the turbocharger high pressure fuel pump, low pressure fuel pump twice AC compressor The radio display keeps changing by itself every warning light in the display has popped on several times all at once, all this within a 6-month period also car lost power when diving on highway.

NHTSA complaint #11701335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Muskego, WI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while attempting to use the remote start, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle had to be started manually, and once started, the parking brake, air bags, check engine, TPMS, and the Service Vehicle warning lights were illuminated. The failure was intermittent; however, the warning lights occasionally illuminated while driving at various speeds or while idling. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint #11697418 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Huber Heights, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

New battery dies after sitting for one night. Had checked after driving a couple of miles to autozone. Battery test Good. Next morning battery was dead again. There is some sort of peristent drain on the battery that kills the battery overnight.

NHTSA complaint #11690394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tuscaloosa, AL 1 injured

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

For some weeks, the driver’s heated seat began to heat to excessive temperatures without me turning on the seat warmer. The seat heating system intermittently reaches temperatures high enough to cause painful burn-type irritation to my back and buttocks. I have experienced repeated episodes where normal seat heating settings produced dangerously high heat. I returned the vehicle multiple times to Townsend Honda for diagnosis and repair (repair orders are on file with the dealer and with Honda corporate). Despite multiple service visits, the dealership has been unable to permanently resolve the overheating condition. On 09162025 and 09222025 repairs or diagnostics were attempted but the defect persists. Honda corporate has since opened Case #15869482 for further review but I have not heard from Honda corporate till now.

NHTSA complaint #11689638 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Irving, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My case has only 40k miles on it and the Body Control Module failed costing me $1k+

NHTSA complaint #11689268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Exeter, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This all started when I purchased a 2018 Honda CRV from Motorworld in the late months of 2021 used. When this issue started happening, Motorworld ignored me when I was asking questions. Then, when I brought it in for service, they used tactics like "if we don't find anything, we will have to charge you a service fee" or call me the next day and say "before we hook it up, it may be your easy pass". They took the car in after I had complained about going down [XXX] , and with nothing in front of my car, it slammed on the brakes going from 40-0mph. When they got done, I went to pick up the car, and they told me it was the aftermarket windshield, but it was the one I bought with the car. I called Honda, they made Motor World take it in, and then called me and told me that they have the information and would share it with the appropriate parties. It has continued to happen, and I could get killed if it happens to me. I called to give Honda a more detailed recent incident, and the lady was like They closed this case. I have been waiting for a solution, and Honda just closed the case. I have been worried about the family's safety for 4 years. When it happened the brake warning comes on and the car just stopped. Please dont let them hide this issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11687382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chico, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

There was a recall on the fuel pump which houses the fuel filter which led to faulty fuel injectors, after speaking with Honda mechanic I was informed that they are aware that there is an issue with injectors but no recall has been issued yet. The fuel injection issue would cause the car to lose acceleration and speed. Also an unknown electrical issue is happening with the car, battery has had to be replaced 3 times in the past three years, Honda mechanic is unable to locate the issue.

NHTSA complaint #11679730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Edcouch, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

A few weeks ago, my vehicle suddenly turned off at a stop light. For several weeks, it’s been feeling like it’s being forced to take off. Today, the car struggled to turn on and then turned off and all the lights came on. It happened three times. A year ago, I received a recall letter that the fuel pump needed to be replaced and that I would be notified when the parts arrived. When my car starting having issues, my mechanic said it might be the fuel pump. I contacted Honda to replace it and they said the recall had been closed. Now I’m having these issues with my vehicle and I’ve read online about it happening to several people who have owned 2018 Honda CRVs.

NHTSA complaint #11679478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 33,900 miles Murphy, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the A/C was emitting hot air. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the A/C shaft seal had failed. The contact was informed that the A/C shaft seal leaked into the suction hose and discharge hose. The contact was informed that the A/C shaft seal needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to another dealer for a diagnostic test, and the contact was informed that the incorrect coolant was used, causing the A/C shaft seat to fail. The contact suspected that during one of the vehicle maintenance sessions, the incorrect coolant was used. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 33,900.

NHTSA complaint #11678595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2018 Honda Cr-V problems

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