2018 Honda CR-V
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 2,145 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 26 CR-V model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 46 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 47 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, sensor, occupant classification, front passengerMay 21, 2026
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
Campaign 26V332000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpDec 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.
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 23V858000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, front, buckle assemblyMar 9, 2023
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2020 CR-V, 2018-2019 Accord and Accord Hybrid, 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019 Insight, and 2019-2020 Acura RDX vehicles. A manufacturing issue with the front seat belts may cause the seat belt buckle channel to interfere with the release button, preventing the seat belt buckle from latching.
An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belt buckle release buttons or the buckle assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 18, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are NDA, QDB, BDC, MDD, LD9. TDF, FDG, ODH, YDI, ZDE.
Campaign 23V158000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpMar 25, 2021
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 CR-V vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-314.
Campaign 21V215000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, electric power assist systemSep 27, 2018
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Honda Civic and CR-V vehicles. The magnet that controls the torque sensor output signal for the electronic power steering system may not be properly secured, allowing the magnet to become dislodged. During a full lock turn, the dislodged magnet may cause steering assist to be applied in the opposite direction.
The unintended steering input reduces vehicle maneuverability and increases the risk of a crash.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gearbox assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are C2N, P2O.
Campaign 18V663000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: steering
327 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Forward collision avoidance, Lane departure, Jun 16, 2025
This vehicle was purchased new and I am the sole owner. Immediately upon purchasing the vehicle, I experienced what has been described as 'sticky' steering. I believed at the time it was related to the adaptive cruise control, the lane keeping assistance system, or the road departure mitigation system. However, the sticky steering continued and was always present. In 2024 I took my vehicle to an authorized Honda dealer, Planet Honda in Lakewood, Colorado. They could not recreate the problem, but now I realize that this is because they did not get the vehicle and its parts warm enough to cause the problem to reveal itself. Upon becoming aware of two recalls of Honda CR-Vs with similar issues (NHTSA Campaign numbers 24V744000 and 18V663000), I took my vehicle back to Planet Honda last week and more fully described the problem. I was shocked to hear from the service advisor that he was not even aware of these recalls. However, I explained that EVERY SYMPTOM I was experiencing was and always had been exactly as described in the 2024 recall. I requested that they get the vehicle warm and then they would experience the problem. They did in fact confirm the problem, but stated that because the vehicle was not included in the recall they would charge me over $5,000 for repairs, despite the fact that it had been present since the inception of my ownership, and had been reported to them earlier. I do not dispute that my vehicle was not included in the recall, but would submit that given the situation, it SHOULD HAVE BEEN included, and even if not, the evidence is clear (and not disputed) that the problem is and always has been related to this manufacturing. design or assembly defect. I also recognize that my vehicle has over 136,000 miles. However, Honda readily advertise that its vehicle should last hundreds of thousands of miles, and I agree, IF a manufacturers' defect is repaired under warranty or SHOULD BE, as the subject of a recall. Please assist
Steering, Jun 12, 2025
No crash, but ongoing issue that could cause a crash easily as it is increasing in difficulty in steering the vehicle. Abnormal sound when turning. Sticky wheel that has difficulty releasing at the end of a turn. Increased effort to turn. Safety issue due to uneven force needed to turn or straighten at end of turn which can result in under or over correcting. Honda dealer can reproduce and says the steering gearbox needs to be replaced but the cost is over $5000 and will have to be budgeted for. Other models of Hondas have been recalled for same issue but not this year of vehicle.
Steering, Jun 11, 2025
After turning to the tight, steering resists centering and tries to continue to the right. Problem first occurred in late 2023. Honda dealer could not identify the cause but suggested rotating and realigning the tires. That reduced the problem for a while. However, it has retuned now and requires much greater effort to return to center, more so at higher speed, I.e. on the freeway.
Steering, Jun 11, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel jerked in the opposite direction and seized. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle had not yet been diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 78,500.
Steering, Jun 10, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. The contact stated that the steering wheel was stuck. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent; however, the failure had since become a persistent failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with rack and pinion failure. The contact was informed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
Steering, Jun 10, 2025
Steering has become sticky when making minor steering adjustments, has become more prevalent over past few months. Very concerning, fearful of failure if driving highway speeds.
Steering, Jun 9, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was sticky. The contact stated that upon using excessive force to turn the steering wheel, the steering wheel jerked while turning to the intended direction. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with steering gear box internal failure due to magnet dislodgement. The dealer determined that the steering gear box assembly needed to be replaced, and an alignment needed to be performed. The vehicle was repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V663000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,500.
Steering, Jun 6, 2025
My steering wheel gets "sticky" at highway speeds. For instance: At 55 MPH I take a slight turn or curve to the left. The steering wheel does not return as it normally should. It seems stuck. It takes a definite firm pull back to the right. It has recently gotten worse. My dealer says there is nothing they can do other than a $4,500 repair. My wife is the main driver of this car and is very afraid the car is unsafe. My dealer said he called Honda to inquire about "goodwill assistance " for me. They told him due to the age and mileage there was nothing they can do. It is a 2018 Honda CRV - with 86k miles. Given the importance of steering I am afraid this car is unsafe to drive. We feel certain there should be a recall on such an important part. Thank you.
Steering, Jun 6, 2025
Steering Safety Complaint – 2018 Honda CR-V (Sticky/Resistant Steering) This is to formally document a persistent safety defect in my 2018 Honda CR-V. The steering is continually sticky and fails to return to center smoothly, requiring ongoing corrections and posing a safety hazard. This issue exactly matches the symptoms in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V663000, though my vehicle is not included in the recall. Honda informed me that only vehicles from specific manufacturing locations are covered—even though many 2018 CR-Vs are reporting identical problems. According to [XXX], over 150 steering-related complaints exist for the 2018 CR-V, and your own organization is currently investigating more than 532,000 Honda and Acura vehicles for similar steering issues. I contacted both a local Honda dealer and Honda Headquarters. Both advised me to visit a Honda service center for a paid inspection. My mechanic already diagnosed the issue and quoted $3,000–$4,000 for a full steering column replacement. There is no assurance Honda will assist with these costs, but an expanded recall will increase the chances of reimbursement. This complaint should be included in the NHTSA investigation, as it clearly demonstrates that the steering defect impacts vehicles beyond those currently recalled. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Steering, Jun 5, 2025
My power steering rack needs replacing. When I turn my steering wheel to the left it sticks and I have to pull it back right to go straight again. I took it to my local Honda dealer and they stated the steering rack needs replacing but it is not listed under recall from September 18, 2018, where other CRVs had steering issues. It is dangerous to drive and Honda isn't willing to help or stand by their product defects.
Steering, Wheels, Jun 5, 2025
During a full turn to the right that car applied to a opposite side very hard. same situation was recall on 2018 NHTSA ID: 18V663000
Steering, Jun 5, 2025
The steering in the steering column feels "sticky." I see that Honda issued a recall on some VINs for my vehicle, but not my specific one. Even Honda says it is a dangerous problem that can cause a serious accident. But they refuse to do anything about it for my VIN even though I am having the exact problem they described. I have been quoted a ridiculous amount to fix it. Honda is clearly prioritizing money over safety by not issuing a recall.
Steering, Suspension, Jun 4, 2025
This issue occurs daily and has progressively worsened. Even with Lane Keep Assist (LKA) and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) turned off, there is noticeable resistance in the steering wheel. It happens at all speeds, but it's especially noticeable—and potentially dangerous—at higher speeds. The resistance is most apparent when turning the wheel to the right while the steering wheel is still positioned to the left of center. At the same time, it often makes a creaking or rubbing noise. Additionally, at lower speeds—such as during U-turns or in parking lots—I experience resistance and the same noise when re-centering the wheel after turning fully to the left. However, I don’t notice the issue when re-centering from a full right turn.
Steering, May 30, 2025
The car developed "sticky steering" when turning either left or right, and became very difficult to maneuver especially when returning back to center. Highly unreliable and unsafe to drive. I took the car to service department and they concluded that the steering gear box is the issues, where the "gears are disintegrating". The car only has 40,262 miles on it. I had no other option but replacing the ESP gear box and getting an alignment done. As a result, I paid a total of $5,022.
Steering, May 30, 2025
Steering wheel sticks when driving. There is a recall by honda but not my vin. I feel it is a safety hazard. Their motto is”safety #1 concern”. Don’t think so.
Steering, May 30, 2025
We have been having a problem with our steering wheel and have taken it to the dealership ,but they have been unable to replicate the issue with only test driving for several minutes. During a recent trip I experienced for 4 hours the steering wheel pushing left and right slightly like the lane assist was activated, which was not , but the steering was pushing me out of the lane almost causing a crash repeatedly during the trip. I had to keep both hands tight on the steering to maintain control of the vehicle . It felt like two magnets repelling each other creating a dangerous situation. This was at speeds over 70 mph on the highway. It was sporadic at slower speed. I saw a recall with the steering but ours was not listed .? This issue deserves investigation. My wife had reported this incident prior and has been occurring for months.
Steering, Other or unspecified, May 22, 2025
The steering gearbox mechanism is faulty. It causes the steering to be jerky and unstable, having to constantly adjust steering. We took it to the Honda Dealership in Ft. Walton Beach, FL for evaluation. They indicate "the steering gearbox is faulty and would need a new rack to fix issue". Cost to repair is approximately $4600. An independent mechanic locally also confirmed the same issue and provided a Honda Service Bulletin 18-103 showing this was a recall on 2017-2018 CRVs. Cost for them to repair (due to cost of parts) is nearly $7,000. Honda says our VIN is not covered under the recall. The car has only 55,000 miles on it and the steering gearbox is failing. At the direction of the local dealership service manager, we created a case with Honda corporate but they have denied the request to repair under prior recall. Honda directed us to the NCDS to file a request for review. NCDS denies the review since the CRV is out of warranty. Honda knows this was an issue on the 2017-2018 CRV and it is a safety issue and they refuse to repair it. I don't feel safe driving the car as I don't know when the steering gearbox will ultimately fail.
Steering, May 18, 2025
I have noticed within the last 6 months that the steering seems to stick. When I am turning the wheel it hesitates and I'm not comfortable and feel safe. It's getting worse and more noticeable. I've been reading some more information from other drivers of my 2018 Honda CRV and see that there are different recommendations and it's costing $4,000 and up to fix. I am not able to do that repair and feel like this should be included in the recall of the previous 2018 Honda crvs. There's clearly something wrong with the steering.
Steering, May 14, 2025
Steering the vehicle became more difficult as if the steering was sticking. I was concerned for my safety. Proctor Honda, Tallahassee, FL determined the Electronic Power Steering Rack needed to be replaced. Honda installed 53620-TLB-A23 :G/BOX ASSY, EPS on 4/18/25., R/O 16011581/2. Honda advised my 2018 Honda CRV was not subject to Service Bulletin 23-037 or any recall & charged me $4,365.66 for the replacment. This issue appears to be identical to the Issue the recalled vehicles had and was identified as "Sticky Steering". Honda kept the old electronic steering rack. My car began having this issue approximately February or March 2025. There were no warning lights. Steering became increasingly difficult. Please consider this as a complaint.
Steering, May 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and turning to the left or the right, the steering wheel was sticking and failed to return to center as designed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the steering gear box and rack and pinion were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 52,264.
Steering, May 12, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds and turning the steering wheel, the steering wheel was sticking and returned to the center unintendedly. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V663000 (Steering). The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.
Steering, May 6, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to function as intended. The contact stated that while making a right turn, the steering wheel pulled in the opposite direction. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with steering rack and pinion failure. The contact was informed that the steering rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was scheduled for a diagnostic test within the upcoming days. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
Steering, May 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the steering wheel and the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. The failure had occurred on several occasions. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the electronic steering gearbox needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Steering, May 5, 2025
Started having issues with steering rack about a year and a half ago. Steering would stick and make creaking noises. Brought it to my local Honda dealership last spring and they diagnosed it as needing steering rack replacement which would cost about $4,000. I reached out to Honda Corporate and they said the best they could do would to reduce the repair by $1,000. I told them I don’t think I should have to be responsible because 1) I didn’t to anything to cause it and 2) the CRV only had 75,000 miles on it. From going online I’m not the only one to have steering issues on this model. I really don’t feel that comfortable driving the vehicle and am reaching out to you to not only document this problem but also some advice as to how to move forward. Thanks [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Steering, May 2, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and making a turn, the steering wheel was sticking. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.