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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

What owners actually said

128 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 1999
Electrical System

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED BURNING SMELL FROM THE STERRING WHEEL. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #852809

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Visibility

SUNROOF MOTOR.

NHTSA ODI #609600

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT BECAME UNLATCHED AFTER BRAKING SUDDENLY TRAVELING AT 25 MPH.

NHTSA ODI #609436

Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 1999
Equipment

AIR CONDITIONER DOES NOT COOL THE CAR IF THE OUTSIDE TEMP IS ABOVE 90DEGREES,THE BACK SEAT IS 80DEGREES,I WAS TOLD TO INSTALL TINT ON THE WINDOWS,THATS ALL THAT CAN BE DONE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #707607

Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 1999
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, AND HER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #838763

Mileage unknown · May 17, 1999
Fuel System, GasolineCrash

WHILE PARKED THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED FROM BEHIND BY A CAR GETTING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE PUSH WAS ENOUGH TO SEND THE TAIL PIPE FORWRD INTO THE FUEL TANK CAUSING A 1.5 INCH DEEP DENT IN THE FUEL TANK AND TOTALLY TRASHING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. HAD THIS BEEN A REAR ENDER ON A FREEWAY IT SEEMS THAT THIS PIPE CAN EASILY PUNCTURE TH…

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WHILE PARKED THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED FROM BEHIND BY A CAR GETTING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE PUSH WAS ENOUGH TO SEND THE TAIL PIPE FORWRD INTO THE FUEL TANK CAUSING A 1.5 INCH DEEP DENT IN THE FUEL TANK AND TOTALLY TRASHING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. HAD THIS BEEN A REAR ENDER ON A FREEWAY IT SEEMS THAT THIS PIPE CAN EASILY PUNCTURE THE FUEL TANK CAUSING A FIREY DEATH AT VERY LEAST. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM TO BE AS SERIOUS AS THE FORD PINTO FUEL TANK PROBLEM OF YEARS PAST!

NHTSA ODI #706579

Mileage unknown · May 13, 1999
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE VEHICLE WAS GOING ABOUT 15-20 MPH AIRBAG DEPLOYED, DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, WENT OFF ROAD AND THE SUV TURNED OVER ON ITS SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #837913

Mileage unknown · May 11, 1999
Air BagsCrashInjury

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH AIR BAGS WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. NO POTHOLE OR ANYTHING WAS HIT OR ROLLED OVER TO CAUSE THIS CONDITION TO HAPPEN. VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL, CAUSING CONSUMER SERIOUS INJURIES AND PASSENGER MINOR INJURIES. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #837772

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A STOP VEHICLE STALLED WIITHOUT ANY INDICATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #835951

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 1999
Service Brakes, Air

FRONT ROTORS GO OUT EVERY 3500 MILES. VERY BAD VIBRATION--I'M ON FORTH SET OF ROTORS NOW. EVERY SET DOES SAME THING.. ACT LIKE THERE WARPED BUT HONDA CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THEM. DANGEROUS AT HIGHER SPEEDS--VIBRATES SO BAD YOU CAN'T SEE. HARD TO CONTROL

NHTSA ODI #704510

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