2,522 of the
21,242 complaints filed about the Honda Cr-V
are about the electrical system —
12% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2017.
Battery overheats and emits visible smoke from positive terminal and strong sulfur (rotten egg) odor. Notices the problem a few days ago. Called AAA for assistance on Sunday August 23 and technician stated that a lot of Hondas have had this issue including his own and it is due to a recall. A search online shows a recall issued for approximately 98 2023 Honda crv hybrids for Electrical system: Propulsion system: Traction battery date 2024-10-02 Recall no. 24V745000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The high voltage battery modules may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the battery terminal or busbar to break and spark.
NHTSA complaint #11758943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving on hwy when I had to do a hard stop because traffic stopped suddenly in front of my vehicle, no physical contact was made to any cars in front or back of me, suddenly dark smoke started coming from under the hood of car, The car started stalling in middle of the hwy I got out safely opened hood and seen engine area was on fire another person in a vehicle pulled over came out with a fire extinguisher and sprayed to put fire out. there were no prior symptoms or warnings prior to this problem occuring.The car was picked up by my insurance company and taken to a Honda dealer and that is where car is located as they are trying to repair fire damages and no one knows why this fire ocurred.
NHTSA complaint #11757427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On 17 July 2026, I was attempting to park in a handicap parking place at May Washington Hospital Center. The outdoor parking lot is to the right of the hospital entrance and consists of several terraced rows with each terrace a few feet below the one above it. I was halfway into the parking space with my foot on the brake when the car (2024 CRV Hybrid Touring) suddenly accelerated. I pushed the brake pedal but it had no effect. There were no warnings from the safety systems. The front driver side hit a light pole which was the only thing that stopped me from going over the curb completely and dropping down onto the car below. The low speed crash still caused a total loss.
NHTSA complaint #11757546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hello NHSTA -- My Honda is a 2021 CR-V AWD Hybrid. Two very unsafe events to report which occurred within a few weeks of each other, apparently from the same cause. First event, on 27 Feb 2026, I was driving on a two lane county road, traveling about 40 mph, I was in the lead with 2 or 3 cars behind me. Suddenly, on a fairly level grade, I noticed that the car was gradually slowing down; I was not touching the brakes, my foot was on the accelerator. When I pushed it to speed up, there was no effect, no change in the engine sound. I put on my flashers, and scanned for a place to pull-over, but there was no shoulder. My speed had reduced to around 5 mph. The check engine light flashed I believe, but it did not stay on. In about a hundred yards I was able to locate a broad drive-way entrance to pull in to and I was able to let the cars behind go by. Turned the engine off 2 or 3 times. On the 3rd time, the car moved a little bit. When I put it in reverse, it moved back a little bit. So, when the road was clear I put it in drive again and it took off like normal. I drove directly to my local Honda shop. The kept it for a couple of days. They couldn't find anything, and said that no service codes had been recorded in the system. Given the age of the battery, we put in a new one. And the car ran fine from that point. Then, second event, a few weeks later on 30 March 2026, I was driving on an Interstate (3 lanes each way), traveling around 55 mph, flat terrain. Suddenly, the car began to lose power and gradually slow down, I had no acceleration or control over it. I was in the middle lane, Put on the flashers and drifted into the right lane, the other cars slowed for me. Got over to the shoulder. Check engine light was on steady. Called Honda, per their instructions from the first event. They told me to have it towed. Bottom line, Honda said that the intake valves were too tight. See attached worksheets. Clearly a factory build defect. Valves are not checked until 90K.
NHTSA complaint #11757183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Driving downhill on Ohio Turnpike at high speed the check engine light started flashing and the car lost power. 2nd time this has happened in one month's time this summer. First time was also on the Turnpike at high rate of speed, going uphill, on a 90+ degree day. Second time was mid 80's, going downhill. Both times after turning car off and on again, check engine light was no longer visible. No codes stored to help determine issue.
NHTSA complaint #11756895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
All dash warning indicators come on randomly and a code reader indicates fuel injector issue. That was checked and is not the issue. This is a well-known symptom in this model year that head gasket leaks caused by under-specified head bolts do not keep the cylinder head sealed properly and this leads to many other issues.
NHTSA complaint #11755182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
Explosive ear piercing crackling sound coming through all speakers even when entertainment turned off. Also when parking sensors/safety sensors are alarming. The noise is something I have never experienced. Turned car off then on and happened again. Car is not driveabke when explosive sound is happening. Is not a constant noise. It’s periodic
NHTSA complaint #11754133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
While out of state for thanksgiving in 2025. after stopped for break, car started up with all of the warning lights and check engine lights on. Like front radar out, hybrid system fault and etc. took to Honda dealership near by immediate. Diagnosed (their words) customer states check engine light is on and flashing pulled codes had code p0562 and pOED. traction motor control module system voltage low and HV battery cell voltage sense circuit. went through honda trouble shooting and honda states to replace power control unit (PCU) and battery condition monitor module. test drove vehicle codes came back recommend replacing modules. includes reprogramming. They indicated it is not safe to drive as you may not able to start the car or it can die while running. This was at out of state and have to repair without options and get a rental car for a week. Tech said they never seen that before in hybrid. Local dealer back home said they can’t say they had issue before. Reached out to Honda Corporate before Christmas and they declined good will reimbursement request.
NHTSA complaint #11754091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am writing to formally request that Honda investigate and acknowledge a significant security and safety concern regarding the front radar module used on certain Honda vehicles equipped with Honda Sensing. The front radar module appears to be easily accessible from the front of the vehicle and can reportedly be removed by a thief in a matter of seconds without requiring specialized tools. Because of its location and lack of adequate theft protection, it has become an attractive target for theft. The theft of this component is more than a financial inconvenience. Once the radar module is removed, critical driver-assistance and safety features—including Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Forward Collision Warning, and other Honda Sensing functions—may become unavailable until the sensor is replaced and professionally calibrated. This can leave owners without important safety technologies they relied upon when purchasing the vehicle. I respectfully ask Honda to investigate this issue, acknowledge the vulnerability, and consider implementing a remedy for affected vehicles. Possible solutions could include an improved anti-theft mounting system, a redesigned sensor location, or other security enhancements that make unauthorized removal significantly more difficult. As Honda owners, we should be able to feel confident leaving our vehicles parked without worrying that a critical safety component can be stolen in seconds. Beyond the financial burden of replacing the radar module, the loss of these safety features can affect the safe operation of the vehicle and diminish driver confidence. I urge Honda to take this concern seriously, communicate with affected owners, and evaluate whether a service campaign or safety recall is appropriate. At a minimum, I hope Honda will acknowledge the issue and work toward a solution that improves the security of the front radar module and restores owners' confidence in the safety of their vehicl
NHTSA complaint #11752924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The infotainment center isn't working as expected: * Wireless CarPlay disconnecting. * Navigation freezing or showing incorrect locations. * Music and podcast interruptions. * Poor call quality. * Siri stopping mid-message.
NHTSA complaint #11752769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Multiple lights and warnings on dashboard of 2019 Honda CRV. Car would not reverse. Warnings were all at once and included, Emissions system problem, braking problem, power steering problem, collision mitigation system problem, electric parking brake problem and many others. Honda mechanic stated this is a very known problem with 2019 CRV and it’s the fuel injectors and head gasket.
NHTSA complaint #11752067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid experienced a severe total electrical failure that required a complete battery replacement. This massive electrical surge permanently damaged and corrupted the vehicle's infotainment head unit hardware. Ever since this power surge, the vehicle suffers from continuous, dangerous electronic malfunctions. Specifically, the Apple CarPlay and complete audio system intermittently freeze, crash, and shut down completely while operating the vehicle at highway speeds. This instantly cuts off all live GPS navigation, map access, and critical audible and visual vehicle notifications. Even more dangerously, this hardware corruption has caused multiple false activations of the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), where the vehicle abruptly triggers sudden automatic emergency braking alerts with no obstacles present, creating an imminent risk of a high-speed rear-end collision. Apple Authorized Service Providers have run full hardware diagnostics on my personal smartphone and issued official certificates proving the device has 100% zero defects. Honda Corporate has also explicitly admitted in writing via official chat and email logs that the CarPlay system defect exists on their vehicle's side, yet they claim it is not covered under warranty. Multiple dealerships have actively engaged in constructive refusal to repair. Technicians continuously deflect the blame to my smartphone on paperwork to avoid opening a formal warranty Repair Order, even after I performed complete factory resets on both the vehicle and the device. Under Corporate orders to meet a Service Manager at a different dealership, I scheduled a manager appointment for 11:15 AM. However, the manager intentionally hid and fled the building to evade the scheduled inspection, leaving a severely defective and structurally unsafe vehicle on public roads.
NHTSA complaint #11751914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I have a 2017 Honda crv which has intermittent bucking type issues, if I accelerate during that time the check engine light will turn on and the car will stop, sometimes when I turn the car on it will shake a bit like it struggled to turn on, in these cases most warning lights will turn on but the car will drive. Battery has been checked and it giving good output, what else could it be. Every warning ligh turns on and the car does not let me go faster than 25mph. This happens 2x on a highway and this time while home in my drive way.
NHTSA complaint #11750395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
While driving my car it will randomly go into limp mode, the dashboard lights up, and rotates through a list of issues wrong including brake systems, AWD, cameras, lane assist, etc. the dealership had me pay $450 for a system update, 10 hours after picking it up the problem occurred again and my car broke down in an intersection on a country road. I had it towed to the dealership and paid $270 for a new battery because they said it failed. I picked the car up the night of 7/2/26 and today (7/6) it broke down as I was leaving work with the same error. The dealership said there is no bulletin for the issues I am experiencing and they will get a Honda Tech involved.
NHTSA complaint #11748631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.