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
2,145 reports, newest first.
Parking brake, Oct 28, 2023
While driving, the Emergency Brake light comes on and a system message that reads "Catastrophic failure. Pull vehicle over when safe" appears on the information display. When this happens, it feels like the Parking Brake is engaged. Pressing the Parking Brake OFF button resolves the problem each time it happens. This has happened multiple times (intermittent failure).
Forward collision avoidance, Oct 26, 2023
Most recent issue occurred 10/25/23 with 2018 CRV. Traveling 15-20mph and approached a metal plate in the roadway in a construction area when car abruptly applied breaks without warning and car came to complete stop, almost causing me to be rear-ended by truck behind me. This is multiple occurrence. About a year ago, same issue happened when traveling 25mph and approached a metal plate in the road with asphalt surrounding it. No cars were slowly down nor impacted by the metal plate. My car misfired and abruptly slammed on the breaks to a halt without warning, causing the car behind me to slam in his breaks, swerve into next lane and honk as he passed me. Another time I was traveling 45mph on a country road with no objects or obstacles in the road when CRV abruptly braked down to 20mph and again, I almost caused an accident with the driver behind me. Other times, my CRV will flash brake and beep and slow when there aren’t any objects in the road. This is very concerning.
Forward collision avoidance, Oct 26, 2023
I was driving eastbound with two passengers over the upper deck of the George Washington Bridge on a sunny clear morning around 10:30. Traffic was typical - heavy but moving steadily at about 15-20 miles per hour. I was in a middle lane about 2-3 car lengths from a truck in front of me when our car very abruptly braked hard for no apparent reason, with an orange warning flashing on the screen at the same time - so quickly I did not even have time to read it. We came to a complete stop or close to it, and then immediately the car resumed moving forward as if nothing had happened (my foot was still over the gas pedal). I was so confused, the lurching of the car felt like we had been in an accident and it took a few seconds to realize we had not been. I am shocked that we were not rear-ended by the car behind us, given the traffic. I would note that the abrupt braking occurred as we were about to go over one of the metal joints in the bridge surface, and I wondered if that had confused the sensors. Since there was no accident or damage, we continued on (no need for police or insurance). Our car is up to date on all inspections and recalls and this is the first time this has happened (though we do sometimes have issues with other aspects of the advanced safety system, including warnings about low driver attention and/or lane departures when these things are not happening).
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Oct 25, 2023
After battery replacement done by dealership Monday afternoon, Tuesday morning, horn was off, lights were on, keyless remote can not be detected, many safety system errors etc. Called road side assist, after entire system reset, everything seemed to be normal, but problem showed up again on Saturday morning. Towed car to dealership, they checked everything and turned out to be body control module problem, had to replace body control module. My car only 5 years, 55k miles. It happed so randomly, faulty locks, faulty anti-theft, and can be a huge safety concern/issue.
Forward collision avoidance, Oct 25, 2023
Today, October 25 was the fourth time my 2018 Honda CRV abruptly braked and stopped without warning. Today I was driving in a construction zone, and I was approaching metal plates on the roadway. I was traveling about 15-20mph when my car abruptly stopped. I was almost rear-ended by the truck driving behind me. The first time was in a construction area with a metal plate on the roadway and I was traveling 25mph when my CRV abruptly brakes without warning and stopped. Again, I almost got rear-ended. The car behind me brakes hard and swerved i to the other lane to avoid a collision and then honked at me when passing. Other times I am driving on the roadway, traveling 40mph when my car abruptly brakes but there isn’t an object in front of me. I’ve called the dealer and made an appointment for 10/26/23 to see why my CRV forward collision mitigation is misfiring. The technician will drive in the construction zone. I’ve driven in the same construction zone without any previous problem-today was a misfire. What if I’m driving at freeway speed of 65-70 and my CRV brakes suddenly without reason? This is a serious situation-with fatal consequences. My dashcam may have picked it up. I haven’t checked.
Engine, Oct 23, 2023
I am writing to express my deep concerns regarding the 2018 Honda CRV that I purchased from Honda dealership in Bellevue, Washington state just a few short months ago. Initially, after several week ago from the dealer, all warning lights on the dashboard were illuminated, prompting me to bring the car to your dealership for an evaluation. Following your team's assessment, the car was upgraded with software in accordance with Service Bulletin [link to the bulletin: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10154475-0001.pdf However, this was only the beginning of our troubles. In the past few months, my family, including my 9-year-old son, has encountered a series of issues that have severely affected the safety and reliability of the vehicle. We rely on this car for various family activities, including picking our son up from school and transporting him to various extracurricular activities. On multiple occasions, my family has been exposed to a strong smell of gasoline within the vehicle while driving, even with my 9-year-old son and wife in the car. This issue has persisted and continues to be a major cause for concern. Despite these issues, when I reached out to the dealership for assistance, I was informed that I would be required to pay an inspection fee. Given the seriousness of the problems and the potential safety risks associated with the gasoline smell, I felt that it was unjust to be asked to cover this cost and, as a result, I declined the inspection. The most alarming incident occurred last Saturday Oct 21 2023, while driving the vehicle from Bellevue, to Sammamish back home. The car abruptly lost all power while I was traveling at 40mph. This not only posed a significant safety hazard but also led to an emergency situation. I had to pull over, turn off the engine a couple times, and restart the car to regain power. We barely drove this vehicle back home. Throughout this incident, all engine warning lights were illuminated.
Back over prevention, Forward collision avoidance, Oct 21, 2023
When I drove at around 4-50 mph. The car lost power, stalled and all the sensors and warning were on. I also smelled gasoline inside the cabin.
Equipment, Oct 16, 2023
See attached document for complaint
Forward collision avoidance, Oct 14, 2023
I was driving on a 2 lane highway, in the right travel lane, at approximately 60 MPH. There were no vehicles immediately in front of me in this lane, however, there was a line of stopped vehicles in the breakdown lane (to the right of my vehicle), because the off-ramp was backed up onto the highway. My forward collision warning system flashed BRAKE, 3 times on the dashboard. I took my foot off of the gas pedal, and before I could apply the brake, the car automatically slammed on the brake. My car stopped in the middle of the highway. Thankfully I was not rear ended by the car behind me. I took my car to OCEAN HONDA OF HANOVER, MA. They said everything is in working order, and "this just happens sometimes." I am not able to turn off this feature! I read a report (Consumer Reports Feb 2022) stating that you have been notified of approximately 300 of these instances with the 2018 HONDA CR-V. There is no recall. Are you still looking into this?
Electrical system, Engine, Oct 12, 2023
Multiple engine failure codes appeared on dashboard. Took vehicle for inspection and diagnoses states code P0172 Fuel system too rich. The service technician recommended fuel injector replacement due to faulty injectors. Service advisor did not file a warranty claim on my behalf despite my request to do so. When I called Portfolio Protection, they informed me that the technician did not call in the claim. Portfolio Protection Ever Drive 250 Limited Powertrain Coverage has an exception for injectors listed in the Mechanical paragraph as follows: Mechanical: This Limited Warranty does not provide coverage for service adjustments/cleaning, carburetor, throttle body assembly (except injectors), contaminated fuel system, water ingestion, air conditioning recharge, refrigerant, coolant, battery cables, belts, hoses, brakes (front hubs, drums, shoes, lining, disc rotors and pads), exhaust system, (...) etc. Portfolio Protection and Barber Honda Service Advisor will not acknowledge the exception for injectors clearly stated in the contract. I took the steps required in the contract to file a claim and spoke to multiple adjusters at Portfolio Protection and they refused to acknowledge the exception for injectors. Honda has extended the warranty on fuel injectors for other vehicles due to faulty injectors and incorrect installation during the assembly process as stated on Honda Service Bulletin 22-002. This is clearly an ongoing issue with Honda and needs to encompass all vehicles.
Engine, Oct 6, 2023
I was driving south on the Fl Turnpike when my vehicle shuts off,
Fuel/propulsion system, Forward collision avoidance, Oct 4, 2023
Fuel injectors. This causes electronic safety system to go haywire telling me they have malfuctioned. Evidently this is caused by the fuel injectors going bad. This puts the safety of me and my family at risk. All these failures can cause an accident. Research shows Honda Knows this and has discontinued the fuel injectors because they are faulty leaving owners without any resolution. They have no timeframe to resolve this. Could be months with owners not knowing how to proceed. therefore should not Honda be forced to buy back the curve just like Volkswagen did a few years back. Tired of car manufacturers putting the publics safety at fault because they put profits ahead of safety. I did my due diligence in researching this. Dealership in no help as their hands are tied because of Honda corporations failure.
Forward collision avoidance, Oct 2, 2023
Was driving at night when automatic emergency braking immediately kicked with no car immediately in front of us What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Automatic emergency braking system. yes How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? there was a car behind us that also had to suddenly brake. if they had not, we would have been in a car accident Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? no
Steering, Sep 29, 2023
I have been experiencing issues wherein the steering wheel sticks when turning both left and right. This has become progressively worse and It can make it difficult to control the vehicle. The steering also makes a clicking/creaking noise when backing. I had my vehicle inspected and have been advised that the power steering gear box and column be replaced for $4,100 for just parts, but the parts are on back order nationwide so it could be a few weeks before my vehicle can be repaired. I see online that many owners are experiencing the same issues with this model and in conjunction with the parts being on backorder nationwide, this also tells me this is a common issue. This is the only vehicle I have and I have already contacted Honda to find out where there is no recall for this issue.
Steering, Forward collision avoidance, Sep 28, 2023
I have been having issues with steering on the Honda CRV. The steering catches while driving down the interstate, which makes it hard to keep it in your lane. I have had the vehicle into the Honda dealer twice and they say that they can’t find anything wrong with the steering. The auto braking also comes on unexpectedly at times. I have contacted American Honda twice and can’t get a response on what I should do.
Electrical system, Sep 26, 2023
ALL WARNING LIGHTS FLASH THROUGH AND CHIME AND IT STAYS THIS WAYS FOR DAYS THEN STOPS THEN STARTS UP AGAIN. IT CYCLES THROUGH EACH EMERGENCY SETTING INCLUDING BRAKING. TIRE, LANE DEPARTURE... NOT SAFE SINCE YOU DONT KNOW IF ANY OF THESE ARE REAL WARNINGS. HAD IT SCOPED AND NO ISSUES SHOWED UP. HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS BUT NO SOLUTIONS. DANGEROUS AND ANNOYING
Forward collision avoidance, Sep 25, 2023
Driving in a neighborhood going 25 mph no one in front of me or behind me and the car flashes BRAKE makes a beep and then just locks the brakes and I skid to a stop. Took the vehicle to the dealership to check on it and they could not find anything wrong with it however the person said that the systems are not perfect, and things can happen. If someone was behind me, I would have caused an accident.
Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 21, 2023
Fuel injector failure at 68,000
Forward collision avoidance, Sep 18, 2023
On multiple instances and most recently two days ago, the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) has triggered orange "BRAKE" warnings or automatically applied the brakes to my 2018 CR-V despite there being no vehicles or obstacles ahead. Sometimes, this is caused by the system apparently getting confused by flat plates on the ground (for construction), shadows, or construction markings on the road, but about half of the time, there is absolutely nothing there. Most cases just flash a visual warning with beeps, but in two cases, I have almost gotten rear-ended because the car came to a complete stop in the middle of the road while traveling at 25-30 MPH. This has been going on for at least 2 years. I have tried to disable this system repeatedly to avoid accidents, but it keeps turning back on every time I start the engine. I read about an NHTSA investigation into this in 2022 but have not heard of any recalls or recommended actions for this safety issue. Thank you.
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Forward collision avoidance, Sep 15, 2023
2018 Honda CR-V EX Shortly after purchasing my Honda CR-V in Feb 2018, I noticed a strong smell of gas when I changed the oil. I found a recall bulletin regarding fuel mixing with oil and worked with Honda to have a software update (Case #*******) in late 2018. Afterwards, the vehicle performed normally and has for a few years. Approximately 12 months ago every light on the instrumentation panel came on (Vehicle Stability, Adaptive Cruise Control, Tire Pressure monitoring, Collision avoidance, Lane Keep assist, etc) I used a code reader and found that the only hard code was P0172 “Fuel System Too Rich”. I reset the code and it came back the following day. I reset the code again and it came back 2 months later. Since then, the exact same code has shown up at least 6 times. It always occurs while the engine is running and I am idling, not when driving. Sometimes the dash warning lights clear automatically after a few days and sometimes I have to manually reset the P0172 code with a OBD tool. I have replaced the battery to ensure it wasn’t a low voltage issue, but it continues. While the code is set and all of the warning lights are present on the dash, none of the vehicle safety features work. Collision avoidance, Lane Keep assist, Adaptive Cruise Control. I do have an appointment scheduled with my local Honda Service Center for Oct. 2. Reading through TSBs and Customer complaints, I find hundreds of examples of this exact issue. I am concerned I will be billed $2K for a known issue with the fuel system in this vehicle. I recently purchased a 2023 Ridgeline and plan to give the CR-V to my 16 yr old son and I am also concerned about the reliability and safety systems on this vehicle. Please advise. Regards,
Other or unspecified, Sep 14, 2023
the problem with my car is the air conditioning. It blows air but warm air and not cold air. This affects my work since I work on a marine base out in the desert, and the 3 hour drive always overheats everything in my car including my phone and things I try to bring home. I had to pick up another marines family at the airport and their baby kept crying because the car was so hot. At Valvoline I asked about getting my AC fixed, and they referred me to getting a recall. Over near the base an Autozone employee told me I needed AC refrigerant, so I got the $155 since the CRV is 2018. It didn’t work even with the workers’ help so they told me that it’s my AC system that’s over pressured and I needed to get it fixed immediately.
Air bags, Engine, Sep 13, 2023, crash
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while sitting at a stop light, another motorist hit her vehicle on the front passenger side. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact nor the other driver sustained any injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was driven to an independent body shop where it was repaired. Since the accident, the contact stated that several warning lights would flash on the instrument panel either upon start of the vehicle or while driving at various speeds, . The vehicle was then taken to the dealer where a diagnostic showed that the fuel injector needed to be replaced. Prior to owning the vehicle, the contact was informed that a recall(recall unknown) was performed on the vehicle that was related to the fuel injector. A software was performed to repair the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 73900.
Forward collision avoidance, Sep 12, 2023
As I drove down the street at around 43 miles per hour my car suddenly braked then the sound and sign for brake came on. It came on after the car had breaker already.
Forward collision avoidance, Sep 12, 2023
On September 6, 2023 at approximately 5:30 pm, I was driving approximately 30 mph when suddenly my car stopped abruptly for no reason. Consequently although with seat belt on, my head and neck were thrown forward and back. There was no obstacle in my path...the nearest vehicle in front of me was about one city block away. I had an immediate headache and my neck was hurt also. This pain lasted several hours. I had my grandson and his friend in my vehicle at the time and they were wearing their seatbelts and fortunately they were not injured.I made an appointment with the dealer and went the next day They adjusted this system and told me these things have occurred possibly because of a shadow or something else off to the side of the road. There was nothing in either case.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Sep 10, 2023
My 2018 CRV will intermittently have malfunctioning in which all warning indicators will go on flashing. The car seems to drive ok when this happens. Once in a while when this occurs, the car will not start, then eventually it will start again. I have taken to the Honda dealer several times regarding this issue. It was recommended to first fix the Power unit, which I have done around March 2023. In July 2023, the car started up again with all warning lights, once again the car seemed to run ok. I took it in again to Honda and was told that despite the issue, the car can been driven per usual and if I start to have any mechanical issues to bring it in. On September 9th 2023 the warning lights when on again and the car was not starting up. a few more attempts to start vehicle and it started and was running fine. Then the same day after the car was parked for about a half hr, the car would not start. There are numerous issues reported by other owners of the Honda CRVs with this issue. I believe this is a safety concern and Honda needs to create a recall like they did for the Honda pilots. Another issue I have is the AC takes a long time to cool and is not very cold. I live in a climate where the temperatures reach upper 90s and low 100s for 4 months out of the year. Repairs had been made soon after i purchased the vehicle, but the AC never really worked well.