IllustrationVEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR EMISSIONS TEST AND FAILED. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS NEEDED. CONSUMER NOTIFIED MANUFACTURER TO SEE IF ANY RECALLS WERE ISSUED. NO RECALLS WERE AVAILABLE PERTAINING TO THIS.*AK
1998 Honda CR-V
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Honda CR-V are lower than the model-year median of 400.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all CR-V years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
10–25K
725–50K
350–75K
275–100K
14100–150K
12150K+
39 reports with mileage · 89 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports1 fire reports9 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
9 reportsWE WERE NORMALLY DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN A STRANGE NOISE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. UPON INVESTIGATION YOU COULD OBSERVE THE MAIN PULLEY WOBBLING. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIANTELY BROUGHT TO A REPAIR FACILITY. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BOLT FROM THE MAIN PULLEY INTO THE CRANKSHAFT WAS DAMAGED. WHEN A WRENCH WAS PLACED ON T…
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WE WERE NORMALLY DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN A STRANGE NOISE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. UPON INVESTIGATION YOU COULD OBSERVE THE MAIN PULLEY WOBBLING. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIANTELY BROUGHT TO A REPAIR FACILITY. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BOLT FROM THE MAIN PULLEY INTO THE CRANKSHAFT WAS DAMAGED. WHEN A WRENCH WAS PLACED ON THE BOLT IT BROKE OFF. IT WAS APPARENT THAT THIS BOLT WAS INSTALLED STRIPPED WHICH RESULTED IN THIS FAILURE. PICTURES OF THE BOLT ARE AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP. AFTER NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS, HONDA USA DID AGREE TO SPLIT THE COST TO REPLACE THE CRANKSHFT. MY SHARE WAS $1270.09. I REALIZE THAT THE WARRANTY WAS 36 MONTHS / 36000 MILES AND THE VEHICLE DID ACHIEVE THIS. BUT AT 46579 MILES AND 72 MONTHS A MAIN COMPONENT ON A PROPERLY MAINTAINED VEHICLE SHOULD NOT FAIL. PARTICULARLY WHEN IT IS APPARENT THE BOLT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS WAS INCORRECTLY INSTALLED OR FAILED. *AK
THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND DROVE ROUGHLY. DEALER DISCOVERED A BURNT #3 VALVE IN THE ENGINE TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT HAD COME ON BEFORE THE LOST OF POWER AND ROUGH RUNNING OCCURRED. *SCC *JB
THERE IS VIBRATION IN THE ENTIRE VEHICLE DUE TO ENGINE VALVE FAILURE. DEALERSHIP HAS CONTINUOUSLY REPLACED ENGINE VALVE, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. *AK
1998 HOND CR-V NGINE TROUBLE. FLASHING WARNING LIGHT AT 101K MILES. BURNT #3 EXHAUST VALVE AND TIGHT VALVE CLEARANCES ON ALL EXHAUST VALVES. NOTICED THAT THERE ARE A FEW CR-V'S IN THE 1999 AND 2000 WITH THIS PROBLEM, ALL DUE TO POOR WORDING IN THE MAINTENANCE SECTION OF THE OWNER'S MANUAL. ALL THEY RECCOMMEND IS TO CHECK VALVES…
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1998 HOND CR-V NGINE TROUBLE. FLASHING WARNING LIGHT AT 101K MILES. BURNT #3 EXHAUST VALVE AND TIGHT VALVE CLEARANCES ON ALL EXHAUST VALVES. NOTICED THAT THERE ARE A FEW CR-V'S IN THE 1999 AND 2000 WITH THIS PROBLEM, ALL DUE TO POOR WORDING IN THE MAINTENANCE SECTION OF THE OWNER'S MANUAL. ALL THEY RECCOMMEND IS TO CHECK VALVES AT 105K MILES AND ADJUST THEM IF THE ENGINE IS NOISY. *AK
CONSUMER STATES ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES, AND VEHICLE IS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE AND JERKING WHILE DRIVING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, DEALER REPLACED CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 60-65 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, EVERY THING WENT DEAD; DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH, WHICH WAS REPLACE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.
ENGINE REPAIRED ON FOUR OCCASIONS DUE TO HESITATION AND PROBLEMS, UNABLE TO BE RECTIFIED. MJS
WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A STOP VEHICLE STALLED WIITHOUT ANY INDICATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK
Official recalls
320V026000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Jan 17, 2020
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999 Isuzu Oasis vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138 or Isuzu customer service at 1-800-255-6727.
02V120000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
May 16, 2002
ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: WORN CONTACTS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
99V282000 · Electrical System:wiring:interior/under Dash
Oct 19, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AN IMPROPERLY ROUTED UNDER DASH WIRE HARNESS COULD BE DAMAGED BY CONTACT WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A BLOWN FUSE. IF THIS OCCURS, OPERATION OF A CRITICAL COMPONENT CAN BE LOST, INCLUDING WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD LAMPS, TAIL LAMPS, THE ANTI-LOCKING FUNCTION OF THE BRAKES, AND BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED LOSS OF LIGHTING OR A FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS IN BAD WEATHER, COULD BE HAZARDOUS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A 70MM PROTECTIVE, CORRUGATED PLASTIC TUBE OVER THE WIRE HARNESS, IN THE AREA OF THE BRAKE STOP SWITCH. IF ANY WIRE OR WIRES ARE DAMAGED, THEY WILL BE REPAIRED.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.