Honda CR-V Engine Problems
Owners have filed 2,276 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Honda CR-V across 30 model years. The 2017 model year has the most (531). The words owners use most often: “oil level” (11% of reports).
- 2,276engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 54mention a crash
- 24mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $2,600typical repair cost reported by owners
- 41%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 247 of 2,276 complaints (11%)
- Vtc actuator: mentioned in 127 of 2,276 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 Honda CR-V at $2,600, and half of them between $1,300 and $5,700.
Based on 67 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2012–2026), 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 1,434 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 2,276 complaints, 54 mention a crash, 30 a fire, 24 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 (2)
Engine
Model years: 2015, 2016
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:engine
Model years: 2015
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.
Car shut off and stalled while Driving.
10/05/2026 I was pulling into a parking spot when the car accelerated suddenly like i floored it. I did brake, but not until i hit a chain fence. Fortunately i was not injured and only my car was involved. The car had been taken to a repair shop. I am worried that this could happen again. I have…
The contact owns a 2024 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the warning lights were reset prior to a diagnostic test and the vehicle could not be diagnosed. The contact…
Had injectors replaced 2 times before it had 100k miles, HONDA KNEW what was happening. One of the men in the service dept told me while having them replaced the 2nd time. I took my car to the dealership at 123k miles and told them theres a problem with my oil getting gas in it but they blamed it…
The timing chain and camshaft broke the car froze while driving 70 mh. No warning. With about 67000 mi on it. Yes it can be inspected. At risk on the freeway going 70 mph. Was able to coast to the right side before engine locked the wheels. Not able to restart. Towed to an independent garage. They…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Honda CR-Vs have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 2,276 owner complaints about engine for the Honda CR-V. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 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.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Honda CR-V?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,600 (half paid between $1,300 and $5,700), from 67 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Honda CR-V?
The most frequent phrase is “oil level”, in 247 of 2,276 complaints, followed by “vtc actuator” (127).
Other Honda CR-V problems
- Electrical System problems (2,504)
- Air Bags problems (2,392)
- Steering problems (1,761)
- Forward Collision Avoidance problems (1,349)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (1,183)
- Power Train problems (1,017)
- Service Brakes problems (844)
- Structure problems (665)
See all Honda CR-V problems.