Honda CR-V engine problems, 2016–2027
1,554 of the 8,155 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Honda CR-V 2016–2027 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). The loudest years: 2018 (543), 2017 (541), 2019 (116). Filed under the same heading across these years: 12 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall campaign, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Honda CR-V engine problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the engine | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2026 | 10 | 7% | — | 9 TSBs | the year → |
| 2025 | 29 | 10% | — | 11 TSBs | the year → |
| 2024 | 41 | 9% | — | 19 TSBs | the year → |
| 2023 | 9 | 1% | — | 28 TSBs | the year → |
| 2022 | 30 | 9% | — | 36 TSBs · 1 investigation | the year → |
| 2021 in depth | 70 | 16% | 48k | 48 TSBs · 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2020 in depth | 62 | 14% | 50k | 49 TSBs · 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2019 in depth | 116 | 11% | 8k | 40 TSBs | the record → |
| 2018 in depth | 543 | 25% | 6k | 63 TSBs | the record → |
| 2017 in depth | 541 | 31% | 15k | 67 TSBs | the record → |
| 2016 in depth | 103 | 26% | 23k | 15 TSBs · 1 recall | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the engine. Nothing here is a rate.
When the engine complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 4 · 2017: 9 · 2018: 403 · 2019: 315 · 2020: 91 · 2021: 74 · 2022: 60 · 2023: 89 · 2024: 128 · 2025: 163 · 2026: 218
Across the model years, half of the 858 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 4,000 and 27,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
When I stop on level road and take foot off brake the engine accelerates from 700 RPM to 1000-1100 RPM up tp 7mph. Thats without touching gas pedal. I brought car to dealer and they test drove car. Report says "vehicle will accelerate till reaches7ph then drop to idle speed. This is vehicle normal operation condition.
This vehicle has "push to start". If the button is not pressed before leaving the vehicle, the engine continues to run. I forgot to shut off the engine after pulling into the garage, and I had to go back into the car and shut it off.
Gas is leaking into crankcase and diluting the engine oil therefore raising the oil level above the max fill line. Engine oil has gas odor and oil seems thinner due to dilution with gasoline
The oil level in the crank case continually rises and smells strongly of gasoline. Within 5000 miles, and 40% oil life according to the maintenance minder, it had risen well above the max line on the dip stick
We leased this 2019 Honda Cr-V 6/17/2019. Had made a trip back to arizona parked car 15 minutes later came out to go home to son in laws car wouldn't turn over. Seem like it was flooded and couldn't start car. Towed car to dealer in the morning went to find out the problems. They couldn't determine any diagnostic problems.
What is on file about the engine, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaign filed under this heading, any model year
- 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.
NHTSA investigation
- PE25016 Loss of Motive Poweropened Oct 28, 2025 · open
- The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 48 Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) reports and some Early Warning Reporting (EWR) field reports alleging intermittent loss of motive power in Model Year (MY) 2020–2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid vehicles. These incidents are alleged to occur without warning at highway speeds and are accompanied by a flashing check engine light immediately before the…
12 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year
- Sep 25, 2026
- Service Bulletin - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, and/or misfire. In some cases, DTCs P0300 through P0304 may also be stored (DTCs are not required for repair).
- Sep 25, 2026
- Service Bulletin - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, and/or misfire. In some cases, DTCs P0300 through P0304 may also be stored (DTCs are not required for repair).
- Sep 25, 2026
- Service Bulletin - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, and/or misfire. In some cases, DTCs P0300 through P0304 may also be stored (DTCs are not required for repair).
- Sep 25, 2026
- Service Bulletin - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, and/or misfire. In some cases, DTCs P0300 through P0304 may also be stored (DTCs are not required for repair).
- Sep 25, 2026
- Service Bulletin - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, and/or misfire. In some cases, DTCs P0300 through P0304 may also be stored (DTCs are not required for repair).
- Aug 26, 2026
- Dealer Message - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, misfire, and/or DTCs P0300 through P0304 stored.
- Jul 24, 2026
- Service Bulletin - To better manage engine temperatures, a PGM-FI update has been developed to optimize electric water pump operation.
- Jul 24, 2026
- Dealer Message - To help improve engine temperatures, a software update has been developed for the electric water pump to optimize its operation.
The 8 newest are listed; each model year’s page lists every one filed on that year. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the Honda CR-V
Source: the same files- steering problems
- automatic emergency braking problems
- fuel system problems
- visibility and wiper problems
- lane-keeping problems
- electrical problems
- airbag problems
- brake problems
Every system, every model year: Honda CR-V problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Honda CR-V years have the most engine complaints?
2018, 543; 2017, 541; 2019, 116. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2017 (31%).
Is there a recall for the engine on the Honda CR-V?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading across these model years: 17V305000 (2016). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the Honda CR-V?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 11,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 4,000 and 27,000. 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.