2016 Honda CR-V Engine Problems
Owners have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2016 Honda CR-V, 26% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 21,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “oil level” (6% of reports).
- 101engine complaints
- 21,500median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $5,900typical repair cost reported by owners
- 43%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Oil level: mentioned in 6 of 101 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2016 Honda CR-V at $5,900, and half of them between $4,650 and $6,600.
Based on 5 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2020–2025), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 56 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 101 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 4 an injury.
Honda CR-V engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 CR-V | 10 | 6% | 400 |
| 2025 CR-V | 25 | 10% | 8,475 |
| 2024 CR-V | 24 | 6% | 50,490 |
| 2023 CR-V | 21 | 4% | 5,000 |
| 2022 CR-V | 19 | 7% | 55,000 |
| 2021 CR-V | 33 | 10% | 52,000 |
| 2020 CR-V | 39 | 11% | 50,000 |
| 2019 CR-V | 112 | 10% | 5,925 |
| 2018 CR-V | 530 | 25% | 5,814 |
| 2017 CR-V | 531 | 30% | 15,000 |
| 2016 CR-V | 101 | 26% | 21,500 |
| 2015 CR-V | 243 | 36% | 1,000 |
| 2014 CR-V | 190 | 32% | 30,000 |
| 2013 CR-V | 97 | 25% | 28,750 |
| 2012 CR-V | 89 | 22% | 37,153 |
| 2011 CR-V | 37 | 7% | 83,000 |
| 2010 CR-V | 53 | 11% | 73,025 |
| 2009 CR-V | 8 | 2% | 87,000 |
| 2008 CR-V | 23 | 2% | 71,500 |
| 2007 CR-V | 14 | 2% | 115,500 |
| 2006 CR-V | 11 | 3% | 111,650 |
| 2005 CR-V | 16 | 3% | 123,684 |
| 2004 CR-V | 12 | 2% | 81,861 |
| 2003 CR-V | 6 | 1% | 135,000 |
| 2002 CR-V | 7 | 1% | 119,000 |
| 2001 CR-V | 9 | 6% | 108,000 |
| 2000 CR-V | 2 | 2% | 94,423 |
| 1999 CR-V | 5 | 4% | 115,500 |
| 1998 CR-V | 6 | 5% | 175,000 |
| 1997 CR-V | 3 | 3% | 217,600 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
On August 8, 2026, while operating a 2016 Honda CR-V (62,459 original miles) at highway speeds, the engineâs 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…
My 2016 Honda CRâV 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 Hondaâs recent warranty extension concerning head-gasket failures. Despite its relatively low mileage…
Level for oil change was at 30%, took it in and it only had 2.5 quarts of oil. No indication I was low, no oil leak, and it affected the valves. Honda of Lisle said this is common issue with 4 cylinder models, yet there is no recall. Now I have to check my oil every week and add as needed, and will…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2016 Honda CR-Vs have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 101 owner complaints about engine for the 2016 Honda CR-V (26% of the 394 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 2016 Honda CR-V engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall 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 21,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2016 Honda CR-V?
Owners report a typical cost of $5,900 (half paid between $4,650 and $6,600), from 5 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2016 Honda CR-V?
The most frequent phrase is “oil level”, in 6 of 101 complaints.
Other 2016 Honda CR-V problems
See all 2016 Honda CR-V problems or engine problems across all CR-V years.