2015 Honda CR-V Engine Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 2, 2026 · 243 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 243 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2015 Honda CR-V, 36% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 1,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “vibration idle” (5% of reports).

What owners describe

Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.

  • Vibration idle: mentioned in 13 of 243 complaints (5%)

At what mileage do engine problems happen?

Based on 185 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles126 · 68%
10k–25k miles15 · 8%
25k–50k miles21 · 11%
50k–75k miles9 · 5%
75k–100k miles7 · 4%
100k–150k miles4 · 2%
150k+ miles3 · 2%

How serious are the reports?

Of 243 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 3 an injury.

Honda CR-V engine complaints by model year

Peak: 2017, with 531 complaints
1997: 319971998: 61999: 52000: 220002001: 92002: 72003: 620032004: 122005: 162006: 1120062007: 142008: 232009: 820092010: 532011: 372012: 8920122013: 972014: 1902015: 24320152016: 1012017: 5315312018: 53020182019: 1122020: 392021: 3320212022: 192023: 212024: 2420242025: 252026: 10

n = 2,276 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Model yearEngine complaintsShare of that yearMedian miles
2026 CR-V106%400
2025 CR-V2510%8,475
2024 CR-V246%50,490
2023 CR-V214%5,000
2022 CR-V197%55,000
2021 CR-V3310%52,000
2020 CR-V3911%50,000
2019 CR-V11210%5,925
2018 CR-V53025%5,814
2017 CR-V53130%15,000
2016 CR-V10126%21,500
2015 CR-V24336%1,000
2014 CR-V19032%30,000
2013 CR-V9725%28,750
2012 CR-V8922%37,153
2011 CR-V377%83,000
2010 CR-V5311%73,025
2009 CR-V82%87,000
2008 CR-V232%71,500
2007 CR-V142%115,500
2006 CR-V113%111,650
2005 CR-V163%123,684
2004 CR-V122%81,861
2003 CR-V61%135,000
2002 CR-V71%119,000
2001 CR-V96%108,000
2000 CR-V22%94,423
1999 CR-V54%115,500
1998 CR-V65%175,000
1997 CR-V33%217,600

When owners reported it

Peak: 2015, with 104 complaints
2015: 10420151042016: 352016352017: 232017232018: 132018132019: 132019132020: 132020132021: 102021102022: 7202272023: 102023102024: 102024102025: 2202522026: 320263

n = 243 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (2)

EngineMay 4, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V305000 · 16 vehicles

Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Honda CR-V vehicles that recently received a replacement engine. The replacement engine may have been built with the wrong pistons, potentially affecting the engine's performance.

Risk: The reduced performance may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engines and replace the incorrect components, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KF6.

Engine and engine cooling:engineMar 2, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V121000 · 137 vehicles

Problem: American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2014 Accord L4 vehicles manufactured July 29, 2014, to July 31, 2014, 2015 Accord L4 vehicles manufactured August 14, 2014, to January 30, 2015, and 2015 CR-V vehicles manufactured September 9, 2014, to February 6, 2015. The affected vehicles may have been assembled with improperly torqued connecting rod bolts, which can cause the engine to lose power or leak oil.

Risk: 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.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine short block, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is JP2 (for Accord models) and JP3 (for CR-V models).

What owners report

Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.

The contact’s daughter owns a 2015 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The contact also stated that the vehicle would not accelerate over 80 MPH. The dealer…

Received May 15, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11738172

The contact owns a 2015 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled unexpectedly. The failure also occurred several times while stopped at a stoplight. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic and a dealer; however, neither was able to determine the…

Received Apr 13, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11730744

The contact owns a 2015 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled, and the vehicle decelerated unintendedly. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the in-law's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent…

Received Feb 4, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11715587
Honda CR-V
Honda CR-V (6th generation) hybrid in Stuttgart. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

Do all 2015 Honda CR-Vs have engine problems?

No. NHTSA has 243 owner complaints about engine for the 2015 Honda CR-V (36% of the 672 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.

Was there a recall on the 2015 Honda CR-V engine?

Yes: 2 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.

At what mileage do engine problems start?

The median reported mileage is 1,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.

What do owners say about engine problems on the 2015 Honda CR-V?

The most frequent phrase is “vibration idle”, in 13 of 243 complaints.

Other 2015 Honda CR-V problems

See all 2015 Honda CR-V problems or engine problems across all CR-V years.