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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Exterior Lighting complaints

4 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 13, 2018
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility/wiper

I SAW THIS HAS A RECALL, BUT WHEN I TYPED IN MY VIN INTO YOUR SYSTEM IT SAYS '0 RECALLS.' I HAVE ALL THE ISSUES HAPPENING FOR THIS RECALL AND I WAS WONDERING HOW TO PROCEED.

NHTSA ODI #11093527

33,000 miles · Mar 30, 2012
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

NIGHT TIME DRIVING HAZARD THIS IS A DEFINITE ELECTRICAL SAFETY PROBLEM: I EXPERIENCE A COMPLETE LOSS OF LIGHTS WHEN I SWITCH TO HIGH BEAM: >(1) MY HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF >(2) THE HI-BEAM NEVER TURNS ON A COMPLETE BLACK-OUT I WAS ON A SHARP CURVE IN MY FIRST INCIDENT WHEN I FLICKED TO HI-BEAM. FORTUNATELY MY DRIVING EX…

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NIGHT TIME DRIVING HAZARD THIS IS A DEFINITE ELECTRICAL SAFETY PROBLEM: I EXPERIENCE A COMPLETE LOSS OF LIGHTS WHEN I SWITCH TO HIGH BEAM: >(1) MY HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF >(2) THE HI-BEAM NEVER TURNS ON A COMPLETE BLACK-OUT I WAS ON A SHARP CURVE IN MY FIRST INCIDENT WHEN I FLICKED TO HI-BEAM. FORTUNATELY MY DRIVING EXPERIENCE KEPT ME OUT OF AN ACCIDENT. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10453565

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2006
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THIS SPRING, WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE MY 1998 HONDA CR-V SUDDENLY STALLED. NO WARNING AT ALL. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER. TURN THE IGNITION OFF, WAIT A WHILE AND RESTART THE CAR WITHOUT ANOTHER PROBLEM. A WEEK OR SO LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON LOCAL ROADS ONCE ONE DAY AND TWICE ANOTHER DAY. EACH…

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THIS SPRING, WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE MY 1998 HONDA CR-V SUDDENLY STALLED. NO WARNING AT ALL. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER. TURN THE IGNITION OFF, WAIT A WHILE AND RESTART THE CAR WITHOUT ANOTHER PROBLEM. A WEEK OR SO LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON LOCAL ROADS ONCE ONE DAY AND TWICE ANOTHER DAY. EACH TIME, I WAS BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THE CENTER TURN LANE OR OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT GETTING REAR ENDED. IT HAPPENED SEVERAL MORE TIMES BEFORE WE COULD FIGURE THIS OUT. MY MECHANIC CHECKED OUT THE CAR AND COULD FIND NOTHING "WRONG". HE LOOKED ON THIS SITE NHTSA AND FOUND THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. I TOOK IT TO A CURRY HONDA IN CHAMBLEE, GA AND THEY FIXED IT AND THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY HARNESS RECALL ALSO. I'VE REFERRED A FEW FOLKS BACK TO THIS SITE FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. THANKS, YOU MAY HAVE SAVED MY LIFE. BTW- I LOVE MY CR-V!!!. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10161333

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2002
Exterior LightingCrashInjury

I AM NOT THE OWNER OF THE CRV, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH ONE. I AM WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE POOR AND HAZERDOUS DESIGN OF THE "CPILLAR MOUNTED REAR LIGHTS". BY MOST ACCOUNTS THE CRV IS A GREAT VEHICLE TO OWN. IT IS ANOTHER MATTER COMPLETELY IF YOU HAVE THE MISFORTUNE OF FOLLOWING ONE IN TRAFFIC, AS I DID, IF YOU …

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I AM NOT THE OWNER OF THE CRV, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH ONE. I AM WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE POOR AND HAZERDOUS DESIGN OF THE "CPILLAR MOUNTED REAR LIGHTS". BY MOST ACCOUNTS THE CRV IS A GREAT VEHICLE TO OWN. IT IS ANOTHER MATTER COMPLETELY IF YOU HAVE THE MISFORTUNE OF FOLLOWING ONE IN TRAFFIC, AS I DID, IF YOU OWN A CAR. YOU SEE, THERE ARE NO REAR TAIL LIGHTS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS VEHICLE AND NOT EVEN A CYCLOPS LIGHT IN THE CENTER OF IT. INSTEAD, THERE IS A LOVELY TIRE PROUDLY DISPLAYING THE HONDA LOGO. THEIR WEBSITES EVEN BOAST ABOUT THAT NICE WRAP-AROUND LOOK IN THE BACK, THEY JUST DON'T TELL THE CONSUMER THAT THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN WITH YOUR NAME ON IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE FAILED TO PUT IN LIGHTS ON THE BOTTOM SO LOWER RIDING VEHICLES CAN SEE THEM. IN A LOW CAR OR WITH A SUN VISOR DOWN, ONE CANNOT SEE ANY LIGHTS AT ALL WHERE ONE WOULD REASONABLY EXPECT THEM TO BE, INSTEAD THEY ARE AT THE TOP SIDES OF THE VEHICLE ON THE "OLDER" MODELS. THIS POOR, UNCONSCIONABLE, AND HAZERDOUS DESIGN IN THE NAME OF LOOKS MUST BE FIXED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #756807

Official recalls

3

20V026000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Honda CR-V problems