IllustrationTHE TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL BY ITSELF AND NO GEARS WORK AT ALL UNTIL YOU TURN IT OFF AND RESTART IT THEN IT WILL MOVE A SHORT DISTANCE AND DO IT AGAIN IT HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY AND I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT.
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
Power Train complaints
8 reportsTRANSMISSION SLIPS VIOLENTLY OUT OF GEAR ONCE THE ENGINE IS WARM UP, AND THE RPM'S GO OVER 2700 OCCURS DURING ACCELERATION ( FROM A STOP OR WHEN MERGING/PASSING ON THE HIGHWAY) AND WHEN TRYING TO MAINTAIN SPEED UP INCLINE. THE RAPID ACCELERATION WHEN THE CAR SLIP OUT OF GEAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND ESPECIALLY ON INCLINE ON THE HIGHWA…
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TRANSMISSION SLIPS VIOLENTLY OUT OF GEAR ONCE THE ENGINE IS WARM UP, AND THE RPM'S GO OVER 2700 OCCURS DURING ACCELERATION ( FROM A STOP OR WHEN MERGING/PASSING ON THE HIGHWAY) AND WHEN TRYING TO MAINTAIN SPEED UP INCLINE. THE RAPID ACCELERATION WHEN THE CAR SLIP OUT OF GEAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND ESPECIALLY ON INCLINE ON THE HIGHWAY AND LOCAL STREET SEND ALL THE SURROUNDING DRIVERS INTO EVASIVE MANEUVERS TO AVOID COLLISION. THIS EVENT OCCURS WHEN THE CAR GET WARMED UP (AFTER ABOUT 35-40 MINUTES OF DRIVING. CAR IS BEING SEND TO A AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIR AWAITING THE FINAL VERDICT TO CHARGE ME ABOUT $ 6000 FOR A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION. AS FAR AS A SAFETY CONCERNED MY CAR SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR ON MY WAY TO WORK ON FWY 101 NORTHBOUND (WOOLAND HILL / TOPANGA)GOING UP AN INCLINE IN HEAVY RUSH HOUR MORNING TRAFFIC MOVING AT APPROX 60-70 MPH. SEVERAL CARS HAD TO DRIVE ONTO THE SHOULDER AND I HAD TO GO INTO THE MEDIAN GRASS TO AVOID A MASSIVE REAR END COLLISION DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR. IT IS DISTURBING THOUGH TO KNOW THAT IS SUCH A RAMPANT PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION FOR HONDA'S PASSENGER CAR. IT WILL OCCUR RAPIDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. MY CAR IS HONDA CR-V EX AND HAD 210,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD WHEN ACCELERATING. THIS WAS DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER INDICATED THAT WATER GOT INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THEN, TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK *MR
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION, AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH HONDA'S. SCC
WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE TRANSMISSION WOULD START TO SLIP, AND CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TROUBLE MOVING THE VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
THE CRUISE CONTROL / AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SYSTEM OF THE 1998 HONDA CR-V HAVE A POTENTIALLY DANDEROUS PROBLEMS. WHEN THE SYSTEM IS ON CRUISE CONTROL @ 60-75 MPH AND ENCOUNTERS RESISTANCE, SUCH AS CLIMBING A STEADY SLOPE, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, CAUSING VERY HIGH ENGINE RPMS. THE RPMS HOLD AT 5 TO 6.5 THOUSAND FOR AN EXTENDED…
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THE CRUISE CONTROL / AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SYSTEM OF THE 1998 HONDA CR-V HAVE A POTENTIALLY DANDEROUS PROBLEMS. WHEN THE SYSTEM IS ON CRUISE CONTROL @ 60-75 MPH AND ENCOUNTERS RESISTANCE, SUCH AS CLIMBING A STEADY SLOPE, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, CAUSING VERY HIGH ENGINE RPMS. THE RPMS HOLD AT 5 TO 6.5 THOUSAND FOR AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS BACK TO FOURTH GEAR, RETURNING THE RPMS TO A SAFE LEVEL. THIS HIGH RPM LEVEL MUST DO DAMAGE TO ENGINE AT TIMES EXCEEDING THE RED LINE. *AK
THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL ARE PLACED TOO FAR APART; OVER 5 INCHES.
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.