Honda CR-V years to avoid (and the best years)
10,690 NHTSA owner complaints and 39 recalls across 17 model years, 2010 to 2026. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.
Compared with: Honda HR-V, Honda Pilot, Toyota RAV4
- 10,690complaints
- 39recalls
- 467reported crashes
- 44reported fires
- 372reported injuries
- 5reported deaths
Which Honda CR-V years should you avoid?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the Honda CR-V years to avoid are 2018, 2017 and 2019. The typical Honda CR-V year has 403 complaints on file.
- 2018: 2,138 complaints, 5.3 times the typical year. Most reported problem: False automatic emergency braking.
- 2017: 1,766 complaints, 4.4 times the typical year. Most reported problem: Gasoline diluting the engine oil.
- 2019: 1,098 complaints, 2.7 times the typical year. Most complaints name the forward collision avoidance system (27% of complaints) and the fuel system (24% of complaints).
What are the best Honda CR-V years?
The Honda CR-V years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2022 (255), 2021 (329) and 2020 (352). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.
NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.
Every model year
| Year | Complaints | vs typical year | Recalls | Crashes | Injuries | Our read | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 135 | 0.3× | 0 | 9 | 5 | Few red flags | Wipers and visibility |
| 2025 | 247 | 0.6× | 1 | 29 | 23 | Some concerns to check | Steering |
| 2024 | 388 | 1.0× | 2 | 27 | 14 | Some concerns to check | Steering |
| 2023 | 514 | 1.3× | 3 | 21 | 18 | Some concerns to check | Steering |
| 2022 | 255 | 0.6× | 3 | 5 | 6 | Few red flags | Steering |
| 2021 | 329 | 0.8× | 4 | 14 | 13 | Few red flags | Steering |
| 2020 | 352 | 0.9× | 7 | 21 | 17 | Few red flags | Forward collision avoidance system |
| 2019 | 1,098 | 2.7× | 8 | 30 | 35 | Approach with caution | Forward collision avoidance system |
| 2018 | 2,138 | 5.3× | 5 | 46 | 47 | Approach with caution | False automatic emergency braking |
| 2017 | 1,766 | 4.4× | 7 | 42 | 36 | Approach with caution | Gasoline diluting the engine oil |
| 2016 | 392 | 1.0× | 3 | 40 | 36 | Some concerns to check | Engine |
| 2015 | 670 | 1.7× | 3 | 38 | 23 | Some concerns to check | Engine |
| 2014 | 587 | 1.5× | 1 | 36 | 34 | Some concerns to check | Engine |
| 2013 | 382 | 0.9× | 2 | 22 | 13 | Some concerns to check | Engine |
| 2012 | 403 | 1.0× | 3 | 27 | 24 | Some concerns to check | Engine |
| 2011 | 553 | 1.4× | 13 | 29 | 12 | Some concerns to check | Airbags |
| 2010 | 481 | 1.2× | 15 | 31 | 16 | Some concerns to check | Airbags |
Most reported problem areas
Share of the 3,275 complaints sorted by system, all years together.
- Steering, suspension & tires890 (27%)
- Airbags & seat belts581 (18%)
- Engine & powertrain513 (16%)
- Structure & body445 (14%)
- Brakes368 (11%)
Recalls (39)
Airbags · 26V332000 · May 2026 · model years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Steering · 24V744000 · Oct 2024 · model years 2023, 2024, 2025
Difficulty steering can increase the risk of a crash.
Tires · 24V508000 · Jul 2024 · model year 2024
An owner whose TIN information is missing may not recognize that their vehicle is involved in a safety recall and continue to drive on recalled tires, increasing the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 24V064000 · Feb 2024 · model years 2020, 2021
An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fuel system · 23V858000 · Dec 2023 · model years 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 23V524000 · Jul 2023 · model years 2017, 2020, 2022
An incorrectly sized tire may cause premature tread wear, or a tire blow out, increasing the risk of a crash.
Structure · 23V228000 · Mar 2023 · model years 2010, 2011
A detached rear trailing arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Seat belts · 23V158000 · Mar 2023 · model years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Safety · 23V092000 · Feb 2023 · model year 2023
A seat back position that fails may not adequately restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fuel system · 22V380000 · May 2022 · model year 2020
An inaccurate fuel gauge may result in the vehicle unexpectedly running out of fuel and stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
Seat belts · 21V900000 · Nov 2021 · model year 2021
An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Fuel system · 21V215000 · Mar 2021 · model years 2018, 2019
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Structure · 19V865000 · Dec 2019 · model years 2019, 2020
A separated rear subframe reduces vehicle handling and can suddenly disable the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 19V694000 · Sep 2019 · model year 2019
If the front passenger does not correctly understand how the airbag functions, they may be at an increased risk of personal injury in the event of a crash.
Fuel system · 19V569000 · Aug 2019 · model year 2019
The failed weld may allow fuel to leak, increasing the risk of a fire in the presence of an ignition source.
Airbags · 19V500000 · Jun 2019 · model years 2010, 2011
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Airbags · 19V502000 · Jun 2019 · model years 2010, 2011
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Airbags · 19V383000 · May 2019 · model year 2019
In the event of a crash, a disabled air bag would increase the risk of injury. An uncommanded deployment of the driver's air bag also increases the risk of injury and a crash.
Airbags · 19V378000 · May 2019 · model years 2010, 2011
An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Airbags · 19V182000 · Mar 2019 · model years 2010, 2011
An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Airbags · 18V661000 · Sep 2018 · model years 2010, 2011
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Steering · 18V663000 · Sep 2018 · model years 2017, 2018
The unintended steering input reduces vehicle maneuverability and increases the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 18V268000 · Apr 2018 · model years 2010, 2011
An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Airbags · 18V042000 · Jan 2018 · model years 2010, 2011
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Airbags · 17V545000 · Aug 2017 · model years 2010, 2011
In the event of a crash, an incorrectly installed passenger frontal air bag inflator may deploy the air bag improperly, increasing the risk of injury.
Fuel system · 17V442000 · Jul 2017 · model year 2017
If the pipe disconnects, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, the disconnected pipe may leak fuel, which, in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.
Airbags · 17V417000 · Jun 2017 · model years 2010, 2011
If an inflator with an incorrect wire harness is installed, the air bag may not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Safety · 17V305000 · May 2017 · model years 2015, 2016
The reduced performance may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 17V256000 · Apr 2017 · model year 2017
If the label information can be wiped away, the operator may not be able to refer to the information, possibly resulting in the vehicle being overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 17V030000 · Jan 2017 · model years 2010, 2011
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Airbags · 16V346000 · May 2016 · model years 2010, 2011
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Airbags · 16V061000 · Feb 2016 · model years 2010, 2011
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Airbags · 15V714000 · Oct 2015 · model year 2016
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Engine · 15V121000 · Mar 2015 · model year 2015
Loss of engine power may result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash. If the engine leaks oil in the proximity of hot engine or exhaust components, there is an increased risk of a fire.
Transmission · 13V143000 · Apr 2013 · model years 2012, 2013
If the gear selector is moved from the park position without pressing the brake pedal it can allow the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 12V501000 · Oct 2012 · model year 2012
A misprinted label could lead to improper vehicle loading. Improper loading could result in a tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 12V338000 · Jul 2012 · model year 2012
If the door is not fully latched, the door may open while driving or in a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury to the vehicle occupants.
Transmission · 11V395000 · Aug 2011 · model year 2010
THIS COULD RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. ADDITIONALLY, BROKEN PIECES OF THE OUTER RACE OR BALL BEARING FROM THE SECONDARY SHAFT MAY BECOME LODGED IN THE PARKING PAWL RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AFTER THE DRIVER HAS PLACED THE GEAR SELECTOR IN THE PARK POSITION. ENGINE STALL AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH OR PERSONAL INJURY TO PERSONS WITHIN THE PATH OF A ROLLING VEHICLE.
Electrical system · 11V004000 · Jan 2011 · model year 2010
AN ENGINE STALL WILL INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.