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2016 Honda CR-V

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Honda CR-V do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 400.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

235 reports with mileage · 157 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.

  • Engine. Review the 101 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 64 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

40 crash reports4 fire reports28 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

64 reports
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34,000 miles · Oct 21, 2019
Electrical System

FOR THE 3RD TIME IN A YEAR MY CAR BATTERY WAS DRAINED AFTER PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR THE WEEKEND. VERY FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU HAVE A NEW VEHICLE THAT IS NOT DEPENDABLE. I TOOK IT TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP AND THEY TESTED THE BATTERY AND SAID IT WAS FINE. AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH I SEE THAT HONDA HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR YE…

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FOR THE 3RD TIME IN A YEAR MY CAR BATTERY WAS DRAINED AFTER PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR THE WEEKEND. VERY FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU HAVE A NEW VEHICLE THAT IS NOT DEPENDABLE. I TOOK IT TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP AND THEY TESTED THE BATTERY AND SAID IT WAS FINE. AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH I SEE THAT HONDA HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS, I GUESS MORE PEOPLE NEED TO FILE A COMPLAINT BEFORE THEY ARE FORCED TO OFFER A RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER HONDA!

NHTSA ODI #11270099

68,000 miles · Oct 15, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

UPON ENTERING AND ATTEMPTING TO START THE SUV, AFTER CLOSING THE DOOR AND BUCKLING THE ENTIRE SYSTEM WILL NOT START INTERMITTENTLY. STRANDING THE PASSENGERS AND REQUIRING A BOOST FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE OR TOW TRUCK. THE LIGHTS COME ON WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE BUT THE ENGINE ONLY CLICKS AND FAILES TO START. A CERTIFIED…

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UPON ENTERING AND ATTEMPTING TO START THE SUV, AFTER CLOSING THE DOOR AND BUCKLING THE ENTIRE SYSTEM WILL NOT START INTERMITTENTLY. STRANDING THE PASSENGERS AND REQUIRING A BOOST FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE OR TOW TRUCK. THE LIGHTS COME ON WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE BUT THE ENGINE ONLY CLICKS AND FAILES TO START. A CERTIFIED MECHANIC HAS INVESTIGATE THE ALTERNATOR, AND BATTERY, BOTH WERE FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11268726

20,000 miles · Oct 12, 2019
Electrical System

THE BACK HATCH WILL NOT OPEN ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS COLD OUT

NHTSA ODI #11268120

22,000 miles · Jul 6, 2019
Electrical System

IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS OF MY 2016 HONDA CRV OWNERSHIP, I HAVE GONE THROUGH THREE BATTERIES. AS SUCH THE CAR IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED, DRIVEN ABOUT 25K MILES AND MOSTLY ON HIGHWAYS. CRV WOULD NOT START AND REQUIRED JUMP START, TO SAY NEEDED TWICE IN THE LAST WEEK ITSELF. LUCKILY SINCE I WAS STILL UNDER HONDA WARRANTY, I DID NOT PAY …

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IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS OF MY 2016 HONDA CRV OWNERSHIP, I HAVE GONE THROUGH THREE BATTERIES. AS SUCH THE CAR IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED, DRIVEN ABOUT 25K MILES AND MOSTLY ON HIGHWAYS. CRV WOULD NOT START AND REQUIRED JUMP START, TO SAY NEEDED TWICE IN THE LAST WEEK ITSELF. LUCKILY SINCE I WAS STILL UNDER HONDA WARRANTY, I DID NOT PAY FOR THE BATTERIES BUT THINKING ABOUT GETTING LESS THAN A YEAR ON HONDA 'S ORIGINAL BATTERY IS INSANE. SOMETHING MUST BE SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11229763

20,100 miles · Jun 14, 2019
Electrical System

AFTER SITTING IN VEHICLE WITH RADIO PLAYING ON ACCESSORY FOR 20 MINUTES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START REQUIRING A BOOST FROM AAA. AFTER RETURNING HOME AND IN MY DRIVEWAY I CHECKED THE VOLTAGE ON THE BATTERY WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND IT READ 12.31. I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VOLTAGE READ 13.22 AFTER A FEW SECONDS IT WENT DOWN TO …

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AFTER SITTING IN VEHICLE WITH RADIO PLAYING ON ACCESSORY FOR 20 MINUTES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START REQUIRING A BOOST FROM AAA. AFTER RETURNING HOME AND IN MY DRIVEWAY I CHECKED THE VOLTAGE ON THE BATTERY WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND IT READ 12.31. I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VOLTAGE READ 13.22 AFTER A FEW SECONDS IT WENT DOWN TO 12.25 INDICATING IT WASN'T CHARGING. I TURNED ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE READING JUMPED TO 14.11 AND REMAINED THERE ABOUT UNTIL I TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF WHEREUPON IT RETURNED TO THE LOWER PART OF 12 VOLTS.

NHTSA ODI #11220043

35,000 miles · Jun 9, 2019
Electrical System

THE CAR WILL NOT START. IT BLINKS 'ACCESSORY MODE' WHEN YOU TRY TO START IT AND YOU CANNOT GET THE CAR OUT OF IT WITHOUT HAVING SOMEONE JUMP THE CAR BATTERY. THIS HAS NOW LEFT MY WIFE STRANDED TWO TIMES AND BOTH TIMES WE HAD TO FIND SOMEONE TO JUMP HER.

NHTSA ODI #11218743

28,000 miles · May 2, 2019
Electrical System

IGNITION STARTED MAKING A ZAPPING NOISE UPON STARTING. I WOULD THEN HAVE TO TRY TO START AGAIN. ONE DAY IT FINALLY DIDN'T START AT ALL. THEY STATED MY BATTERY WAS NO GOOD AFTER APPROXIMATELY 28K MILES. FAST FORWARD 7 MONTHS LATER AND THE IGNITION IS MAKING THE SAME ZAPPING NOISE YET AGAIN. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE, THERE ARE SE…

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IGNITION STARTED MAKING A ZAPPING NOISE UPON STARTING. I WOULD THEN HAVE TO TRY TO START AGAIN. ONE DAY IT FINALLY DIDN'T START AT ALL. THEY STATED MY BATTERY WAS NO GOOD AFTER APPROXIMATELY 28K MILES. FAST FORWARD 7 MONTHS LATER AND THE IGNITION IS MAKING THE SAME ZAPPING NOISE YET AGAIN. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE, THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL

NHTSA ODI #11205310

10,193 miles · Apr 1, 2019
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THE HEADLIGHTS TURN ON RANDOMLY AND OFF WHILE DRIVING IN FULL SUNLIGHT. THE LIGHTS HAVE COME ON WITHOUT INPUT WHILE THE CAR IS PARKED AND THE IGNITION IS OFF. AMERICAN HONDA HAS AUTHORIZED AND REPLACED BOTH THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE FUSE BOX IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THIS ISSUE. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO DO FURTHER WORK ON THIS VEHICL…

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THE HEADLIGHTS TURN ON RANDOMLY AND OFF WHILE DRIVING IN FULL SUNLIGHT. THE LIGHTS HAVE COME ON WITHOUT INPUT WHILE THE CAR IS PARKED AND THE IGNITION IS OFF. AMERICAN HONDA HAS AUTHORIZED AND REPLACED BOTH THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE FUSE BOX IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THIS ISSUE. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO DO FURTHER WORK ON THIS VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. ONCE THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD IN THE MORNING WHEN I TRIED TO USE IT. IT WAS DRIVEN THE NIGHT BEFORE. THE LIGHTS HAVE TURNED THEMSELVES ON WITH NO INPUT FROM THE KEY FOB OR THE DRIVER WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED. MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVE WITNESSED THE CAR DOING THIS. I HAVE MANY MP4 FILES DOCUMENTING THE HEADLIGHTS COMING ON AND GOING OFF AT RANDOM WHILE DRIVING. UNDER THE DESCRIPTION OF "WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN" I PUT THE REPORTED DATE TO THE DEALERSHIP. IT HAPPENS MOST EVERY TIME THAT I DRIVE THE CAR FOR ANY EXTENDED PERIOD OVER A FEW MILES.

NHTSA ODI #11193058

24,000 miles · Feb 7, 2019
Electrical System

ELECTRONIC TRUNK SYSTEM/HATCH BACK DOOR SWITCH DOES NOT OPERATE IN COLD CONDITIONS . HONDA DEALER IS REQUIRED TO OPEN HATCH BACK TO GAIN ENTRY. THERE IS NO WAY FOR A CONSUMER TO MANUALLY OPEN HATCH BACK DOOR. EXPENSIVE REPAIR OF $300.00+. PART NUMBER 74810-T0A-A02 .

NHTSA ODI #11175018

25,000 miles · Dec 29, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineFire

VEHICLE WAS SITTING IDLE AT A STOP LIGHT, AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 25-50MPH. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASHED, THEN WENT DARK, THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING WITH NO OTHER ISSUES IMMEDIATELY NOTED. DRIVER PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT ABOUT 300' AWAY, PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, AND U…

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VEHICLE WAS SITTING IDLE AT A STOP LIGHT, AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 25-50MPH. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASHED, THEN WENT DARK, THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING WITH NO OTHER ISSUES IMMEDIATELY NOTED. DRIVER PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT ABOUT 300' AWAY, PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, AND UPON EXITING SAW FIRE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS FULLY INVOLVED BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVED ON SCENE 7 MINUTES LATER.

NHTSA ODI #11164044

Official recalls

3

23V858000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Dec 18, 2023

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

17V305000 · Engine

May 4, 2017

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Honda CR-V vehicles that recently received a replacement engine. The replacement engine may have been built with the wrong pistons, potentially affecting the engine's performance.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The reduced performance may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engines and replace the incorrect components, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KF6.

15V714000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Oct 29, 2015

American Honda Motor Company, Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2016 CR-V vehicles manufactured October 12, 2015, to October 19, 2015. The metal housing surrounding the driver's air bag inflator in these vehicles may have been manufactured incorrectly.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began in November 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda'a number for this recall is JV9.

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

1

EA19001 · Electrical Overstress

Opened Apr 19, 2019 · Closed Sep 19, 2024

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.  During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications.  The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU.  In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment.  FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle.  Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW.  These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes.  An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time.   In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU.  This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners.  Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation.  The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage.  There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation.  The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU.  If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC.  Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC.  All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled.  In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024.  With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.

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