2,767 of the
21,377 complaints filed about the Honda Cr-V
are about the engine —
100% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2018.
On March 13, 2026 the Honda CRV was being driven at approximately 65 mph when the check engine lights came on due to the low and high pressure fuel pumps failing simultaneously causing the CRV to slow suddenly to approximately 25 mph. The incident almost caused vehicles behind the CRV to collide with the rear of the CRV. The CRV was towed to a Honda dealership where it was diagnosed as the fuel pump issues. The fuel pumps were replaced and I paid the repair bill ($1,702.33). On March 21, 2026 the check engine lights came on again when the fuel injectors failed. The CRV was driven to the same Honda dealership where it was diagnosed as the fuel injector issue. The fuel injectors were replaced and Honda did not charge me for the repairs.
NHTSA complaint #11763892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Today, I attempted to drive my 2018 Honda CR-V, but the vehicle would not reverse. I had to turn it off, restart it, and quickly reverse it back into my driveway. The entire dashboard then illuminated with multiple warning lights. This created a serious safety concern because the vehicle could become immobile or fail to operate properly while in traffic. The vehicle previously experienced engine-related problems, including a suspected head-gasket failure, coolant leaking into a cylinder, and a fuel-injector issue. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. I have contacted Honda and multiple dealerships, but no one has identified a clear cause or provided a complete resolution. The exact cause of the reversing problem and dashboard warnings is currently UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #11763833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 2018 Honda CR-V with the 1.5L turbo engine experienced an overheating condition while being driven. The temperature gauge fluctuated and reached the red zone, creating a potential risk of engine failure and loss of vehicle operation. The vehicle was inspected by a Honda dealership, which reported that the coolant was empty and recommended replacing the engine. I was given an estimate of approximately $7,000 for the replacement. A subsequent inspection by another mechanic included two cooling-system pressure tests that reportedly found no externally visible coolant leak. After the cooling system was topped off, I monitored the coolant level for approximately three weeks and observed no apparent decrease. There was also no coolant observed in the engine oil. The mechanic subsequently stated that a camera inspection showed coolant present in the cylinders and that the head gasket had failed. However, I have not received clear written documentation establishing the root cause of the coolant loss or overheating. The vehicle now has approximately 153,000 miles. I am reporting this because the vehicle experienced a significant overheating and coolant-loss condition that could recur without warning. A recurrence could result in engine failure or loss of power while the vehicle is being operated, potentially creating a safety hazard. I request that NHTSA review this complaint along with other complaints involving the 2018 Honda CR-V equipped with the 1.5L turbo engine, including reports of coolant loss, overheating, head-gasket failure, coolant entering the cylinders, and resulting engine failure. I specifically request that NHTSA evaluate whether this condition represents a safety-related defect and whether the available complaint and failure data warrant an investigation, safety recall, or other corrective action by Honda. Please include this complaint in NHTSA’s records for this vehicle and engine combination so that it can be considered with other potentially
NHTSA complaint #11763555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VTC actuator malfunction causing timing chain failure leading to engine failure dangerous if driving causing engine to fail on highway leading to dangerous situation paid to fix 10,000 miles later same issue with updated part installed. Problem confirmed by Honda
NHTSA complaint #11763505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Recurring, intermittent fuel smell inside the vehicle, even with the air on recirculate. Seems to occur when on very hot days when the vehicle has been running a lot. The dealership found a soaked evap canister, replaced the fuel tank and evap canister, and the symptoms returned after about one week with a fuel smell entering the cabin. The fumes cause migraines and are unacceptable for a new car.
NHTSA complaint #11763380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Driver assist problems car braking and stopping without just cause actually causing safety issues. Computer issues. Computer replaced several times without resolving issues. Ongoing Engine issues reported to honda before the extended warranty was up. It wasn’t until after the extended warranty was up that American honda would address it. After numerous visits to different dealers for services finally this year I was told it was a head gasket issue. Honda refused to rectify or let in good faith making me come out of pocket more than 50% and purchase parts and honda refused to help I had to fight w them to get any help. I had to purchase the water pump and timing chain bc they wanted to put the old one on. They gave me 3 different significantly different quotes without reasoning. Then after receiving the car back over a month and a half later the car had safety issues stopping and braking on highway without reason. The car also still was sputtering and having issues w the engine. I called Westport honda (where I purchased it - where I had a lifetime warranty on the engine where they just finished doing to head gasket) they ignored me for 2 weeks letting me drive around w safety issues. Finally they told me to bring it in. After 5 days they checked it in and told me I had engine misfires. I requested all the computer print outs w previous repair but didn’t receive them. I contacted American honda to find out there was a safety recall never done by the dealer. I also found out there was an engine extension not told to me and I had to submit receipts to get reimbursed. Then I had to open a new case since the engine still isn’t fixed and has the same issues and yet Westport honda wants to pass the buck and charge me $3000 for more repairs making me come out of pocket thousands of dollars and have a car still not repaired. Honda should buy back the vehicle or fix and repairs all issues correctly without charging me. Honda is putting me and my child and family at risk!
NHTSA complaint #11763130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2019 Honda CR-V, VIN [XXX], approximately 82,000 miles. Since new, the vehicle has intermittently displayed a "Christmas tree" warning — most or all dashboard warning lights illuminate simultaneously — with no consistent trigger (not tied to weather, cold starts, road type, or time of day). Over approximately the last two months this has escalated from occasional to daily, sometimes twice daily. On XXX at approximately 9:00 AM, while driving on [XXX] near [XXX] heading toward [XXX], the check engine light began flashing and the vehicle lost the ability to accelerate — it could only slow down. I activated my hazard/turn signals and slowly pulled over. I shut the engine off; restarting it resolved the issue and the vehicle drove normally afterward. Both an independent mechanic and a Honda dealer have inspected the vehicle multiple times and pulled diagnostic codes, and neither has identified a definitive cause; the independent mechanic has stated repeatedly that this requires Honda's direct involvement. I first contacted Honda corporate about this recurring issue in 2022. NHTSA's VIN lookup shows no unrepaired recalls on this VIN as of XXX. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11763145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On August 8, 2026, while operating a 2016 Honda CR-V (62,459 original miles) at highway speeds, the engine’s factory water pump experienced a sudden, catastrophic internal failure and froze completely. The seized water pump instantly sheared and shredded the serpentine belt. This induced an immediate, sudden loss of alternator charging, engine cooling, and power steering assist while driving at high highway speeds. This instantaneous component failure created a severe, life-threatening safety hazard, leaving the driver struggling to control the heavily disabled vehicle. This structural mechanical failure directly matches the engineering defect acknowledged by the manufacturer in Honda Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) #17-063, noting that factory water pump bearings were manufactured "out of specification." Despite knowing that this manufacturing defect causes sudden accessory drive-belt failure at highway speeds, Honda has failed to issue a proactive safety recall, placing drivers in immediate danger.
NHTSA complaint #11762711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My car is experiencing a failure of the shutter grill motor. It’s a motor that opens and closes the shutters to let air through a cooling radiator. The car is not getting hot. The shutters are fully open. I assume this is an energy efficiency mechanism. However: Since the motor is not working, and the shutters cannot adjust properly, the car is derating my power. THIS IS DANGEROUS. I cannot climb mountains on the interstate at proper speeds. I have also almost had a few wrecks trying to pull into traffic due to loss of power, thus acceleration. The computer is choosing to derate my power and acceleration, but it isn’t necessary. I would like to fix the issue, but it is expensive and I don’t have the money. Why would Honda punish me with dangerous conditions for my inability to pay for a fix on an energy efficiency issue!?!?
NHTSA complaint #11762644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am reporting a severe factory design defect regarding water intrusion into the EVAP emissions system on my 2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid (VIN: [XXX]) After driving home in a normal rainstorm, the vehicle threw diagnostic trouble code P24C0 (EVAP system leak detection pump switching valve stuck ON). The authorized Honda dealership diagnosed the issue as "water intrusion" and charged me an out-of-pocket fee. The dealer's official service invoice explicitly states that the water intrusion occurred from "driving through a puddle." Driving through a standard road puddle or driving in a rainstorm constitutes standard, expected, and necessary vehicle operation. The EVAP canister is a federally mandated emissions component that must legally remain sealed against atmospheric leaks. Because normal road moisture can bypass factory shielding and flood or damage this critical component, it represents a clear engineering and manufacturing defect in sealing and part placement, rather than owner negligence. Honda is systematically denying factory warranty coverage to owners for this specific issue by labeling normal road rain as "outside environmental damage." This leaves drivers facing thousands of dollars in unfair repair bills for a design vulnerability. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this systemic issue to force a formal safety recall or Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) ensuring retroactive reimbursement and a corrected undercarriage shield design. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11761996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 2016 Honda CR‑V has only had one driver since purchase and currently has approximately 86,000 miles. It has been properly maintained, yet it is experiencing the same symptoms described in Honda’s recent warranty extension concerning head-gasket failures. Despite its relatively low mileage and limited use, the vehicle appears to have experienced a premature engine-related failure. I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate whether this issue affects earlier model-year CR‑Vs as well. I also request that my vehicle be included in the applicable warranty coverage or that Honda provide appropriate coverage for the diagnosis and repair.
NHTSA complaint #11761494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving with my 3yr old in the car multiple dashboard warning lights suddenly illuminated simultaneously (including the Check Engine light, Emissions system warning, and various safety sensor alerts). The vehicle experienced a sudden loss of engine power, rough idling, and hesitation upon acceleration, which created an immediate traffic hazard. I took the vehicle to an authorized Honda dealership service center. The diagnostic scan revealed a failure of the fuel injectors (with diagnostic trouble codes indicating a system too rich and cylinder misfires). The dealership service advisor informed me that this premature fuel injector failure is a highly common and widespread systemic defect with Honda’s 1.5L Turbo direct-injection engines, stating that their shop actively stocks these parts because they perform at least one of these replacements every week. This premature component failure at mileage (105,136 miles) is a severe safety risk that causes unexpected engine stalling or power loss while driving.
NHTSA complaint #11761684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The manufacturer, American Honda, issued a 10-year extended warranty (TSB 19-091) for defective, leaking A/C condensers on the 2017 Honda CR-V. Authorized Honda dealerships (specifically Napleton Honda and Victory Honda) are systematically misdiagnosing consumer vehicles to evade this warranty. Dealership service departments are blaming vehicle system failures on peripheral components (such as "return lines" and "discharge lines") to charge consumers thousands of dollars out of pocket. In my case, I was charged $868.44 and $1,184.49 for these lines, yet independent UV dye testing proved the factory condenser was actively leaking fluid the entire time. The vehicle’s passenger cabin cannot be cooled, causing severe heat discomfort. American Honda corporate case managers are actively protecting these dealer practices by offering minor "goodwill checks" instead of requiring dealers to perform the safety and equipment remedies mandated by the corporate warranty extension. Honda must be investigated for warranty non-compliance and consumer deception regarding this known HVAC system defect.
NHTSA complaint #11761465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while reversing out of the garage, the ABS, traction control, braking system, and check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic and was diagnosed with fuel injector failure. The vehicle was scheduled to be repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the issue by the mechanic. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
NHTSA complaint #11761008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Car abruptly lost power while driving. I was barely able to pull over to the side and park the car in lot that happened to be next to where I was driving. The car was towed to a award-winning service facility (non-Honda) and it was determined that P0303 Cylinder Misfire and P16e8 engine error codes due to a blown engine head gasket. According to the head mechanic, they had recently had another Honda CRV experience the same issue. The replacement parts/kit/labor cost almost $4,000. Without it the car was undriveable, most concerning was the abrupt loss of power, thankfully was not on a highway when this happened as there had been no warning or degradation in performance prior to the issue occurring. In searching the internet, apparently many others with Turbo CRV's are reporting this type of issue? I contacted Honda and they were basically of no help other than suggesting I have the car towed to a dealership but with no guarantees that they would cover anything given the 'age' of the vehicle. It has been a very well maintained car.
NHTSA complaint #11760590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My car dilutes oil or burns it up and I constantly have to put oil in. Its been like that since year 4 of my owning my brand new car. The oil can be completely gone and it doesnt tell me. My warning lights have never worked to tell me its empty or low. There was a noise coming from my glove box and my ac stopped working. There a recall for it but they told me im not a part of it except the part they told me is broken is the same part for the recall and my car is the same year, just my Vin doesnt count. They want me to pay over 1000 to fix but I refuse to. Passenger window has been messed up and freezes goes up a little then stops over amd over til.its up since I bought the car
NHTSA complaint #11760488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle developed an intermittent crank/no-start condition and later stalled after being driven home. An independent repair facility diagnosed the vehicle before it was taken to Honda and documented no fuel pressure at the fuel rail and diagnostic trouble code P0087 for low fuel pressure. The shop advised that Honda has a known fuel-pump issue and recommended that the vehicle be taken to a Honda dealer for recall-related repair. The vehicle was then towed to a Honda dealer. The dealer also determined that the fuel pump requires replacement. The dealer advised that the fuel pump had previously been replaced under Honda's 2021 fuel-pump recall. Honda has now denied another recall-related repair based on the dealer's claim that water is present in the fuel. I requested objective testing to document the alleged water contamination and its relationship to the pump failure. The dealer provided a photograph of cloudy fuel but did not provide a quantitative water-content test. I was told that the dealership's master technician determined that the sample contained water. The vehicle has approximately 53,700 miles. The replacement fuel pump has failed with symptoms consistent with loss of fuel pressure, including intermittent no-start and vehicle stalling. The independent shop's P0087/no-fuel-pressure diagnosis was made before the vehicle was taken to Honda. I am concerned that replacement fuel pumps installed during Honda's prior fuel-pump recall may be experiencing subsequent failures that can cause engine stalling or prevent vehicles from starting.
NHTSA complaint #11759481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The check-engine light comes on immediately before the vehicle loses the ability to accelerate. While driving, including at highway speeds, pressing the accelerator does not produce normal propulsion and the vehicle loses motive power. If I pull over, turn the vehicle completely off and restart it, the check-engine light clears and normal acceleration returns. The problem is intermittent and has occurred more than once. The dealership has previously been unable to identify the cause because the vehicle operates normally after restarting.
NHTSA complaint #11759311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2017 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended, and the vehicle decelerated. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was driven to a nearby parking lot. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a head gasket failure. The contact was informed that the head gasket needed to be removed and replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The contact stated that the failure was a known failure. The contact stated that the failure had occurred immediately after the vehicle was at the dealer and serviced for a scheduled oil change. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,090.
NHTSA complaint #11758000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.