2024 Honda CR-V

At 112,000 miles, the engine in my 2024 Honda CR-V Sport Hybrid (2.0L Atkinson-cycle engine) suffered a catastrophic head gasket failure, causing severe coolant intrusion into the cylinders. All scheduled maintenance intervals in the owner's manual were followed and documented. The dealer and corporate (Case #16444920) have refused assistance. This is a widely documented mechanical defect where constant thermal cycling (the gas engine repeatedly turning on and off during hybrid operation) stretches the factory head bolts and destroys the gasket seal. This defect can lead to unexpected, total engine failure while driving at highway speeds, posing a severe safety risk to the occupants.

While operating my 2024 Honda CRV Sport - L Hybrid, the vehicle experienced a sudden and catastrophic head gasket failure at 108K - miles. This resulted in an immediate, unexpected loss of engine power. The dashboard engine light came on "Emissions system problem. Power may be reduced. See your dealer. This sudden loss of propulsion created an immediate safety hazard, placing myself and other driver at risk of a rear-end collision. The vehicle was towed off the freeway over 45-miles to a certified Honda dealership where a blown head gasket was confirmed. Despite maintaining the vehicle perfectly according to Honda's schedule, this represents a premature mechanical engine defect that presents a severe road way safety risk.

The vehicle has been in 3 times for shaking and check engine light. First time the Honda technician diagnosed as misfire cylinder 2 issue caused by bad injector. The dealership indicated that Honda would not honor warranty fix if the car did not store the error code on the computer even though "big safety issue." Second time a 60 minute software update was authorized by Honda. Third time 3 error codes were shown: power, transmission, emission. Screenshots provided to dealer but the car computer did not store the codes after the incident. It appears the software is designed not to store the code for intermittent issues by design. First incident documented along with the bad injector causing cylinder misfire at dealership on 5/18/26. I have video of this inspection sent by dealership to me on this date as evidence. Car taken to dealership again on 6/19/26 with same vibration and error codes. Only software update approved by Honda. 4th of July car began to shake and again provided multiple codes. By the time the dealership was open on 7/6/26 the computer showed no codes and Honda would not authorize repairs under warranty. In the video, the dealership admits to finding a serious problem and they verify it, but they claim they cannot fix it unless the computer gives them a code. We were told Honda programed the computer to not store the error codes which appeared indicating to contact the dealer. I have photos of all and they were submitted to the dealer but it is not enough for Honda to honor the warranty or to fix a known safety issue.

On April 25, 2026, while the vehicle was stopped at a red light on [XXX] , the vehicle suddenly became inoperable and displayed multiple warning messages and warning lights. The warning messages included “Brake System Problem” and “Auto Idle Stop System Problem.” Additional ABS/VSA, battery/electrical, and system warning lights were also displayed. The vehicle was occupied at the time, including children, and this created a serious safety concern on a major roadway because the vehicle could not be driven or safely moved under its own power. Police responded to the scene, Honda Roadside Assistance was contacted, and the vehicle was towed to an authorized Honda dealer. The suspected affected systems include the brake system, electrical system, battery/charging system, ABS/VSA system, Auto Idle Stop system, and related control modules. The vehicle is currently available for inspection at an authorized Honda dealer. The issue has not yet been fully diagnosed or confirmed by the dealer. The dealer advised that the battery may need to be replaced before diagnosis can continue. However, the battery may have discharged because the vehicle remained in a fault state with warning lights/system alerts active after the original brake/electrical failure. Therefore, the dead battery may be a consequence of the original failure, not necessarily the root cause. There were no known prior warning signs before this incident. The warning messages and lamps appeared at the time of the failure. A full diagnosis is pending. I am concerned that this brake/electrical/system failure could happen again while driving or stopped in traffic and create a safety risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Throttle body replacement at only 23294 miles. Replaced under warranty . Did some searching and Honda is aware of coolant seeping into throttle body. This could cause failure while on road or hwy causing injury or death. This issue should have a priority permanent fix as my family is riding in this vehicle. This is unacceptable Thank You for your time into this report

Vehicle was purchased new on 5/17/2024. On January 16, 2026 the vehicle was brought into a Honda dealership because of 2 lingering issues. 1) It had low power while driving uphill on the freeway. When driving the vehicle from the Bay Area to Reno, the vehicle was unable to keep up with the flow of traffic travelling at the speed limit. Vehicles behind us were agitated. We did not know if this was normal or not and we wanted to have the car checked out. 2) The engine sounded different after the trip to Reno. Youtube videos, including some by Honda dealers had advised that the crv hybrid made noises which were considered normal. We wanted to know if the noise that we we're hearing was normal. The vehicle was in the shop for 26 days. The dealer confirmed the low power but had difficulty diagnosing the engine noise, except that it was not normal. The dealer brought in resources from Honda techline on multiple occasions to assist in diagnosis. During the course of the 26 days in the shop, the dealer ultimately found it necessary to rebuild the entire engine, including replacing the block, cylinder heads, lifters, fuel injector, etc.... We feel fortunate that we did not experience the more extreme loss of power and limp home mode that has been reported. We are very concerned about the future reliability of the vehicle. From the research that we have done, it appears that the primary cause of many of the engine failures experienced by this year/model are due to failure of the fuel injector system. What is really odd, is that the fuel injector system on our vehicle was inspected by the dealer on February 22, 2025, i.e., a year before we brought the vehicle in for the current issues.

On 12/6/24, while driving at highway speed, my engine made a LOUD EXPLOSIVE SOUND followed by immediate power loss—life-threatening. Vehicle couldn't exceed 65 mph despite full throttle, engine wouldn't idle, became inoperable. Had to merge right and limp to dealership in traffic. THIRD catastrophic failure in recent months at only 11,700 miles. First (10/19/24, 11,174 miles): Multi-system errors, inoperable, 21 days out. Complete cylinder head replacement (Cylinder 2). Second (12/2/24): Identical errors two weeks later. Cylinder 4 misfire, fuel injector replaced, 3 days out. Different cylinder proves systemic defect—50% of engine affected. Third (12/6/24): Highway breakdown. "Repaired" in hours with spark plugs only—inadequate for explosive failure. Service advisor admitted "whole part might have potential issue" but Honda policy prohibits preventive replacement "until really broken"—knowingly allowing defective vehicles until catastrophic failure. Dealership attempted release without highway test; conducted only after I demanded it. No explosive sound explanation. Refused diagnostics, compression testing, internal inspection. First two failures had dashboard warnings at low speed. Third had ZERO immediate warning—normal to explosive failure instantly at highway speed (warnings appeared 2 hours later). Unpredictable and extremely dangerous. Explosive sound indicates severe internal damage—not just spark plugs. Evidence: 11,700 miles too young. Specific cylinders (2, 4) suggest manufacturing defect. Dealership admitted defect. Immediate recurrence after major repairs. Vehicle at Parkway Honda (1575 VFW Pkwy, West Roxbury, MA), available for inspection. Honda case #16033311/12. MA AG/BBB complaints filed. 24+ days out. URGE NHTSA: Investigate if other 2024 CR-Vs affected, determine if recall needed, investigate Honda policy refusing repair until catastrophic failure.

My 2024 Honda CR-V EX is experiencing a premature head gasket failure at approximately one year of ownership. A head gasket is a long-life component designed to maintain proper combustion sealing and prevent coolant/oil cross-contamination. This type of failure should not occur on a new vehicle and suggests a potential manufacturing or engineering defect in the powertrain. Before diagnosis, the vehicle displayed symptoms consistent with gasket integrity loss, including rough running, shaking during acceleration, reduced power output, inconsistent engine temperature, and abnormal vibration. These issues indicate possible combustion leakage, coolant intrusion into the cylinders, or compromised cooling system performance. Given the low age and mileage of the vehicle, the failure does not align with normal wear. Possible causes include improper factory installation, uneven torque application, defective gasket materials, engine block or cylinder-head surface irregularities, or thermal management issues that could cause localized overheating or warpage. Any of these would point to a systemic defect rather than owner misuse. A failing head gasket can lead to engine overheating, stalling, power loss, oil/coolant contamination, and eventual engine failure. These conditions present clear safety risks if they occur while the vehicle is in motion. Because this is a major powertrain failure occurring far earlier than expected, I believe this issue may affect other 2024 CR-V models and warrants investigation. I am submitting this complaint so NHTSA can review whether a potential defect exists that could require further action to protect consumers.