2020 Honda CR-V
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Forward collision avoidance is the leading concern among 353 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 21st highest complaint count among 26 CR-V model years with reports.
Of the 2020 reports, 21 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 17 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
Air bags, sensor, occupant classification, front passengerFeb 1, 2024
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
Campaign 24V064000 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
Equipment, other, labelsJul 27, 2023
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017, 2020, and 2022 CR-V vehicles. The certification label on the driver's side door states incorrect Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR), and tire size information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
An incorrectly sized tire may cause premature tread wear, or a tire blow out, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will install a new corrected label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 18, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is CF7.
Campaign 23V524000 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, storage, tank assemblyMay 26, 2022
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020 CR-V vehicles. The clip for the absorber inside the fuel tank was not secured properly and may detach, which can cause an inaccurate fuel gauge reading.
An inaccurate fuel gauge may result in the vehicle unexpectedly running out of fuel and stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 5, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is RCB.
Campaign 22V380000 on NHTSA.gov
Structure, frame and membersDec 5, 2019
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 CR-V vehicles. The rear subframe bolts were improperly manufactured and may loosen, allowing the rear subframe to separate.
A separated rear subframe reduces vehicle handling and can suddenly disable the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear subframe bolts and retorque them or replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is R6M.
Campaign 19V865000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
353 reports, newest first.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Seat belts, Jul 17, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while her mom was driving 45 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The driver was able to pull to the side of the road. The driver turned off and restarted the vehicle several times, and the vehicle operated as needed. Additionally, the contact stated that the rear passenger's side seat belt had failed to retract. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign numbers: 23V858000(Fuel System, Gasoline), 22V380000(Fuel System, Gasoline), and 23V158000( Seat Belts); however, the VIN was not included in the recalls. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recalls. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 75,000.
Electrical system, Jul 9, 2025, fire
The contact owns a 2020 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked next to the home and under the carport. After starting the engine, the husband exited the vehicle, and moments later, flames were present inside the cabin of the vehicle. The fire department was called to the home and extinguished the flames. During the incident, the carport and carport driveway were damaged, the side of the home was damaged, and the home endured smoke inhalation. Also, the contact's personal oxygen tank was located inside the vehicle and was destroyed. The cause of the fire was not determined. A fire report was taken at the scene. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 127,000.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the brake pedal depressed independently, and the contact heard a beeping sound coming from the instrument panel. The contact stated that the passenger who was asleep inside the vehicle, struck the dashboard with his hands; however, there was no injury reported. The contact also stated that while coming to a stop and depressing the brake pedal, the message “BRAKE” was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that a dealer was contacted. There was warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 66,000.
Steering, Jul 7, 2025
-Sticky steering with clicking noise and a tight pull -Steering failure would cause an accident -Problem has been reproduced and confirmed by a dealer; stating rack & pinion replacement -6/2025 -Reported October 2024
Steering, Jul 1, 2025
When driving at highway speeds, steering feels like it is stuck in particular position. Especially while navigating a slight left turn. Needing to use additional force to bring the steering back to center
Steering, Jun 30, 2025
The steering is binding up when turning and there is a clicking noise. I notice this a low speeds. Local mechanic inspected all suspension and drive train parts and said everything looked ok. He did not check the steering. I see this recall for later year models: The steering gearbox assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause excessive internal friction and lead to difficulty steering the vehicle. Will Honda extend this recall to cover 2020 CRVs as it seems to be the same problem. This seems to be a known defect and should be covered. I look forward to your reply. Thank you
Other or unspecified, Jun 25, 2025
On 6/16/2025 I was driving home and my car dinged and a light came up on my dash All Wheel Drive System Problem and felt funny. I was almost home and when turning off and back on it went off. Two days later I was almost home and the same thing and did not drive right. I got it to a Honda dealer and they determined it was the rear differential pump motor based on the code. They replaced it yesterday and within 5 miles threw another code, which was stated that the full rear differential was needed. After some research of the All Wheel Drive System Problem it appears there are a lot of people out there with CRV's that are having this issue. My vehicle has less than 41,000 miles on it and should not have gone out. I also noticed when I googled rear differential for 2020 CRV's that the NHTSA is reviewing a case for this issue. I am thankful that I have extended warranty and will cover the repairs but I feel that this should be a recall and that Honda should take care of it instead of extended warranty. Please review this issue with CRV's and let me know if a recall is possible to be implemented.
Air bags, Jun 24, 2025
Air bag is malfunctioning and Honda diagnosed and stated I was responsible because warranty has expired.
Steering, Jun 17, 2025
My 2020 CR-V has developed a problem with the steering. When turning the steering wheel even slightly, the force to turn it increases and there is a clicking sound. The dealership confirmed the steering rack and gearbox need to be replaced. There is a recall for Honda's 2022 and 2023 CR-Vs for this same issue, but there are reports of the this issue going all the way back to the 2017 model. My car only has 50,000 miles. This is a known issue that can affect safety and Honda should extend their recall to include older models with the same steering problem.
Forward collision avoidance, Jun 14, 2025
6/14/25 - automatic emergency braking system engaged twice without any impediments in road while driving 40 miles of non-freeway driving. Mileage of vehicle is 30460 miles. AEBS engaged at 45 mph and 50 mph. Scary incidents but no accident or injury today. Concerned about continued driving and future incidents. Will contact Honda dealership. Need to issue a recall.
Steering, Jun 12, 2025
Sticking steering wheel.Steering wheel sticks causing me to jerk wheel when turning curve.Yes, I took to Honda dealer and they ran test confirming problem. They said I need steering gearbox replaced. No warning lights occurred. About May 2024. It has gotten so bad now that I am afraid to drive it over 10 miles.
Steering, Jun 12, 2025
Back in April 2025 my 2020 Honda CRV started having an issue with the steering where it would get stuck or it felt like a grab while driving, this happened while driving around 35 mph and on the interstate going around 78 mph, it felt like it could've made me over correct but it went back to "somewhat normal". It happened several times then took it to dealer, they were able to reconstruct the problem. Ended up that I had to put $3300.00 into replacing the steering rack assembly. NO recalls on the 2020 but there are on the newer models.
Forward collision avoidance, Jun 10, 2025
While driving the vehicle the collision avoidance activated on its own. The brakes automatically applied when I was not near a vehicle in front of me. When over railroad crossing and the system activated. My speed was around 28 to 30 mph. The system slowed me down to 24 mph. This has occurred twice. First occurrence was on [XXX], and second on [XXX]. Dash camera footage inside and outside is available to both occurrences. Ide Honda in Penfield, NY was notified after the first instance. The vehicle was not brought in to have it looked at. The vehicle is scheduled for service on June 12, 2025 at Ide Honda in Penfield, NY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Other or unspecified, Jun 6, 2025
My paint is flaking off. I contacted the dealership and Honda was was told to buy touch up paint. Honda then refused to address it and told me to file a complaint with you if they recall I will be notified.
Structure, Jun 3, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle after it rained, rainwater had seeped into the vehicle from the rubber trim around the driver’s side door. The contact stated that upon inspection, the contact became aware that all 4 doors were allowing water to seep into the vehicle through cracks in the rubber trims around the doors. There was no warning light illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 43,000.
Fuel/propulsion system, May 29, 2025
Fuel pump. The mechanic did give me back the fuel pump. Independent mechanic documented repairs following Honda's instructions. There was no warning prior to the fuel pump stopping me dead in my tracks. I was at an intersection coming out of a busy parking lot. I was able to get to my nearby home in limp mode until the car could be looked at by my mobile mechanic. I called Honda and they said go ahead and have the mobile mechanic repair the vehicle.
Steering, May 25, 2025
The steering started having a sticky/pulling problem on 5/22/25. When driving and taking a left curved road at 30 mph, the steering tries to pull me back to the right. This can be felt in the steering wheel and another person confirmed this same issued that I described. I checked online and found that some 2020 Honda CRVs are on a recall for an issue with the worm gear expanding causing this same problem. My VIN doesn't show up on the recall list. I purchased the car new on 4/25/20 and have kept up on all maintenance, including fluid changes.
Air bags, May 21, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Honda CR-V. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and opened a case. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Exterior lighting, May 9, 2025
The past year vehicle drivers side signal light and mirror light stays on when vehicle is turned off causing the battery to drain on the vehicle. Independent mechanic ran test unable to find issue. Multiple owners of the Honda crv are experiencing the same issue with out any help from Honda causing dangerous situation in operations vehicle. Turn signal randomly will go off when driving the vehicle or turning left signal won’t turn on sometimes.
Air bags, May 9, 2025
The contact's wife owns a 2020 Honda CR-V. The contact's wife received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue but confirmed that parts were not yet available and to wait for the second owner notification letter to be mailed. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact's wife had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Power train, Electrical system, Service brakes, May 7, 2025
Recently ([XXX]) my wife was left stranded away from home when our 2020 CR-V started but would not go into any gear and had multiple warning messages about system failures including brake system problem (No Working Brakes), electric parking brake problem, tire pressure monitor problem, transmission system problem and auto engine idle stop system problem. If she had removed the [XXX] that cut the wires while driving the brakes would have stopped working. She had to call for a tow truck to take her to the Honda dealer. The Honda Technician found that wires running under the rear view mirror had been cut by the [XXX] she uses causing a short and a malfunction of the computer system. The repair cost was $2451. This is an obvious design flaw by Honda. My wife is a [XXX] and all [XXX] are designed to hang over the rear view mirror. Honda should not have left exposed wires there under the rearview mirror, they should have been enclosed and protected. Anyone using a [XXX] is at risk of cutting these wires which makes the vehicle undriveable. [XXX] people are most at risk of being stranded. Anyone with a 2020 Honda CR-V and using a [XXX] should be warned about this problem immediately. Our vehicle was repaired at Honda of Stevens Creek in San Jose CA and the repair bill was $2451. The technician even did a video showing how the [XXX] cut the wire. We request that Honda reimburse us for our repair cost of $2451 and for Honda to fix this issue before more [XXX] people are left stranded.
Power train, May 4, 2025
"ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM PROBLEM" notification appears on dashboard of 2020 Honda CRV. Dashboard also indicates only FWD is operational rather than AWD which should be operational all the time. Honda Service Bulletin 23-031 dated April 7, 2023 states corrective action is to replace the rear differential pump motor. Per online postings this is a common problem with the 2020/2021 Honda CRV.
Steering, May 4, 2025
Subject: Recurring Steering Issue in Honda CR-V – Potential Inclusion in Recall In early 2023, we began experiencing a steering issue with our Honda CR-V. The steering would intermittently feel sticky or resistant, particularly at higher speeds and when navigating curves or corners. Over time, this issue was accompanied by a clicking noise. We took the vehicle to our local Honda dealership; however, they were unable to replicate the problem at that time. As the issue progressed, the vehicle became increasingly unsafe to drive. Eventually, the dealership acknowledged the problem and replaced the power steering rack under the manufacturer’s warranty. Approximately 18 months later, the same symptoms have reappeared: sticky steering at higher speeds, clicking noises, and an overall unsafe steering feel. Once again, the dealership has been unable to replicate the issue and has advised us to return when the problem becomes more consistent, which is concerning and unsafe. Upon researching, we discovered that Honda issued a recall (NHTSA Campaign#: 24V744000) affecting 1.7 million vehicles, including certain 2023–2025 CR-V models, due to a steering gearbox defect that can cause excessive internal friction and difficulty steering . While our vehicle’s model year is not currently included in this recall, the symptoms we are experiencing seem similar to those described. Request: We urge the NHTSA to investigate whether earlier model years of the Honda CR-V may also be affected by this steering defect. The recurrence of this issue, despite previous repairs, raises significant safety concerns. We believe our vehicle may warrant inclusion in the existing recall or prompt a separate investigation into similar steering-related safety issues in earlier CR-V models. Or at minimum help us resolve this continuous issue as we feel unsafe to drive our vehicle.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 30, 2025
Driving at approx 45mph local road and suddenly the all warning lights (brake, check engine, hill descent, etc) started flashing. The car started to slow down and I immediately pulled over and turned the car off. Drove to local Honda dealership and they stated it was faulty fuel injector. 2020 Honda CRV @96k miles
Air bags, Mar 31, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Honda CR-V. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.