2016 Honda CR-V engine problems
103 of the 393 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Honda CR-V name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 15 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database6 of the 103 reports a crash · 3 a fire · 4 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 4 · 2017: 6 · 2018: 9 · 2019: 21 · 2020: 15 · 2021: 13 · 2022: 9 · 2023: 8 · 2024: 10 · 2025: 6 · 2026: 2
Half of the 57 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 12,000 and 48,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
393 complaints in all about the 2016 Honda CR-V, 2 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Honda CR-V engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
From new, the cabin fills with noxious gas fumes. Honda dealership says Honda is aware of the problem but will not do anything to fix it as they are unaware of a fix. Unacceptable from Honda
When sitting at a red light in drive/idle with brake engaged, the car vibrates severely. This was known defect on their 2015 model crv's as well. Dealer says no fix available because Honda north america has not acknowledged the problem. I have seen multiple similar complaints from other 2016 Honda Cr-V owners all over the internet
When stopped (for instance, at a traffic light, or at a stop sign) and idling with foot on the brake, the car begins to shudder. It is so strong, it hurts. Even the children in the back seat noticed it. If I shift to neutral while waiting for the light to change, it mostly stops shuddering. What is the fix? This is a new car.
Gasoline smell comes into a cabin: -while driving, -when the engine starts after 5-10 min of resting gasoline smell comes outside out of the engine. The car was inspected at Honda authorized service and the issue was confirmed. The issue is not repairable on march 2017.
There is a distinct gasoline smell in the cabin while driving and also sometimes while parked in the garage. The first time we noticed the odor was in november of 2016. We have noticed it at least a dozen times since then. After taking it to a Honda dealership, we have been told that Honda is aware of the problem, but there is no fix
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 17V305000 ModerateMay 4, 2017 · 16 vehicles
- 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.
15 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Honda CR-V names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Honda CR-V
Source: the same files- fuel system problems 72 complaints
- electrical problems 64 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2016 Honda CR-V?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 103 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (26% of everything owners filed about it), and 15 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2016 Honda CR-V?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 17V305000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the 2016 Honda CR-V?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 23,000 miles; half of them between 12,000 and 48,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.