IllustrationINTERMITTENTLY 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
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
What owners actually said
128 reportsBOTH REAR DOOR POWER LOCKS FROZE UP MAKING THE DOORS UNABLE TO BE UNLOCKED MANUALLY OR WITH POWER EITHER FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE FRONT DOORS DAMAGED EXIT FROM THE VEHICLE WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE.
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
THE HATCH DOOR LATCH OF MY 98 HONDA CRV IS BROKEN. THIS HAS BEEN SLOWLY DETERIORATING FOR SOME TIME, AND IS NOW COMPLETELY DEFECTIVE. ONLY THE GLASS HATCH WINDOW IS HOLDING THE DOOR SHUT. THE VEHICLE/HATCH DOOR HAVE NOT WITHSTOOD ANY EXTREME OR UNUSUAL USE, NOR HAS THAT PART OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE IN AN ACCIDENT. THI…
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THE HATCH DOOR LATCH OF MY 98 HONDA CRV IS BROKEN. THIS HAS BEEN SLOWLY DETERIORATING FOR SOME TIME, AND IS NOW COMPLETELY DEFECTIVE. ONLY THE GLASS HATCH WINDOW IS HOLDING THE DOOR SHUT. THE VEHICLE/HATCH DOOR HAVE NOT WITHSTOOD ANY EXTREME OR UNUSUAL USE, NOR HAS THAT PART OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD INVESTIGATE AND REPAIR. *LA
CONSUMER STATED THE BACK DOOR LATCH WAS BROKEN. THIS HAS BEEN SLOWLY DETERIORATING FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS. CONSUMER CONSULTED MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $200.00 SINCE IT WAS NOT ON RECALL. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED IT WAS A DEFECT. *AK *PH *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
WHILE DRIVING MY 1998 HONDA CR-V I NOTICED POWER SURGES AND DEEMING OF LIGHTS. THE CAR ULTIMATELY SHUT DOWN. IT STARTED RIGHT BACK UP AND I DROVE IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. HE LOOKED IT OVER HOOKED IT UP TO HIS COMPUTER AND GOT A READING THAT THE SOLENOID ON THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING BAD. HE THOUGHT THIS WAS INCORRECT AND SUGGEST…
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WHILE DRIVING MY 1998 HONDA CR-V I NOTICED POWER SURGES AND DEEMING OF LIGHTS. THE CAR ULTIMATELY SHUT DOWN. IT STARTED RIGHT BACK UP AND I DROVE IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. HE LOOKED IT OVER HOOKED IT UP TO HIS COMPUTER AND GOT A READING THAT THE SOLENOID ON THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING BAD. HE THOUGHT THIS WAS INCORRECT AND SUGGESTED MAYBE SOMETHING ELSE WAS WRONG. HE DROVE THE CAR FOR A WHILE AND NOTHING HAPPENED. HE SUGGESTED I DRIVE THE CAR AND LET HIM KNOW IF SOMETHING WENT WRONG. LATER THAT DAY AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK SOLDER DROPPED FROM UNDER THE DASH ONTO MY FOOT. TUESDAY MORNING I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SAME MECHANIC THAT LOOKED AT IT ON FRIDAY. HE WAS SHOCKED THAT SOMETHING UNDER THE DASH COULD GET THAT HOT AND NOT CATCH ON FIRE. HE LOOKED UNDER THE DASH AND DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT HAD GOT SO HOT THAT IT BEGAN TO MELT THE SOLDER. HE CALLED CALE YARBOROUGH HONDA IN FLORENCE TO GET A NEW IGNITION SWITCH. WE RECEIVED THE PART AND THE MECHANIC PUT IT IN AND THE CAR SEEMS TO BE RUNNING FINE. THE PART THAT STARTLES ME THE MOST IS THAT THE CAR BELONGS TO MY WIFE AND I JUST HAPPENED TO BE DRIVING IT WHEN THE PROBLEMS OCCURRED. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT IF MY WIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR AND HOT SOLDER WOULD HAVE FALLEN ON HER FOOT AND BURNED HER IT COULD HAVE POSSIBLY CAUSED HER TO WRECK. SHE ALWAYS WEARS SLIP ON SHOES AND HER FOOT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PROTECTED LIKE MY FOOT WAS. EVEN WITH SHOES ON IT STARTLED ME ENOUGHT TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD. IT IS DISTURBING TO ME WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF SHE WERE DRIVING THE CAR. I CONTACTED HONDA AND TOLD THEM OF THE INCIDENT AND THEY SAID MY COMPLAINT WOULD GO TO A REVIEW BOARD AND IF IT WARRENTED LOOKING INTO THEY WOULD CONTACT ME. I AM WRITING YOU BECAUSE THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE FATAL IF THIS HAPPENS TO SOMEONE ELSE. I WOULD HATE TO KNOW SOMEONE GOT KILLED BECAUSE SOLDER DROPPED ON SOMEONE'S FOOT AND CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *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
AFTER THE RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH 02 V 120 000 WAS COMPLETED THE DEFECT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. *JB
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.