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2018 Honda CR-V problems, complaints & recalls

Far more Falling

NHTSA has received 2,128 owner complaints about the 2018 Honda CR-V, or 245.3 per year on the road — far more complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 5.83, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 73 model-year 2018 vehicles we track, it ranks #73 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Honda models its rate is 236% higher; against other Compact SUVs it is 295% higher.

Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count

Complaints filed between 2017-12-01 and 2026-09-02. Median delay from incident to filing: 9 days.

2,128Complaints
245.3Complaints per year on the road
5.83Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
5Recalls
2.3%Share involving a crash or fire
235Last 12 months

Analysis

The following model year (2019) drew 141.8 per year, fewer than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2018 model collected 584 complaints, 556% higher than the average vehicle of the same model year.

The most common problem area is Engine (25.3% of complaints), followed by Fuel system (17.1%) and Steering (14.1%). Within Engine reports, owners most often mention “oil”, “smell”, “gasoline”, “dipstick” and “dilution”. 48 reports (2.3%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 47 injuries and 0 deaths.

Half of the reported incidents happened within 57 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was after five years (47% of incidents). In the last 12 months 235 new complaints were filed, versus 348 in the 12 months before — the pace is falling.

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for this model year. 33% of the complaints fall in component areas that a recall addresses. 3 NHTSA defect investigations cover this model year; the most recent is “Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking” (opened 2024-04-15, still open).

Complaint index

  • vs. all tracked vehicles5.83
  • vs. other Honda models3.36
  • vs. other 2018 models5.0
  • vs. other Compact SUVs3.95
  • Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (584)6.56
  • #73 of 73 · 2018Rankings ›

1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road.

Other model years

  • 2018245.3 per year5.83
  • 2019141.8 per year3.37
  • 202063.8 per year1.52
  • 202175.3 per year1.79
  • 202270.0 per year1.66
  • 2023170.4 per year4.05
  • 2024175.0 per year4.16
  • 2025161.4 per year3.84

Honda CR-V problems, complaints & recalls by model year ›

What owners complain about

  • Engine539 · 25.3% · 1.14×
  • Fuel system363 · 17.1% · 3.97×
  • Steering301 · 14.1% · 2.17×
  • Driver-assist systems263 · 12.4% · 2.16×
  • Electrical238 · 11.2% · 0.71×
  • Brakes149 · 7.0% · 1.15×
  • Interior & equipment113 · 5.3% · 0.59×
  • Body & structure53 · 2.5% · 0.27×

vs. all vehicles: 1.00 = All-vehicle average

Engine · Common terms in reports

  • oil346
  • smell152
  • gasoline165
  • dipstick93
  • dilution78
  • level123

Fuel system · Common terms in reports

  • fuel306
  • gasoline210
  • distribution disconnect160
  • exceeded reasonable175
  • reasonable amount175
  • received notification178

Steering · Common terms in reports

  • steering295
  • wheel193
  • rack86
  • sticky61
  • sticks53
  • gearbox43

Problem areas: Steering · Engine · Driver-assist systems · Fuel system · Electrical · Brakes · Interior & equipment · Body & structure · Airbags & seat belts · Transmission / powertrain · Wheels, tires & suspension

When complaints were filed

2017: 2 2 2017 2018: 263 263 2018 2019: 319 319 2019 2020: 113 113 2020 2021: 106 106 2021 2022: 258 258 2022 2023: 211 211 2023 2024: 397 397 2024 2025: 281 281 2025 2026: 178 178 2026
  • Crashes reported: 46
  • Fires reported: 2
  • Injuries: 47
  • Deaths: 0

Vehicle age at incident

  • <1 yr17.6%
  • 1–2 yrs13.2%
  • 2–3 yrs4.6%
  • 3–5 yrs17.8%
  • 5+ yrs46.8%

Median age at incident: 57 months

What owners report

Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.

Segment peers · 2018 · Compact SUVs

ModelsComplaintsComplaints per year on the roadComplaint index
2018 Mazda CX-511713.50.32
2018 Kia Sportage16218.70.44
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan28833.20.79
2018 Toyota RAV434539.80.95
2018 Hyundai Tucson39145.11.07
2018 Chevrolet Equinox40346.51.11
2018 Subaru Forester49356.81.35
2018 Jeep Cherokee68278.61.87
2018 Nissan Rogue70280.91.92
2018 Jeep Compass936107.92.56
2018 Ford Escape1,778205.04.87
2018 Honda CR-V2,128245.35.83

Safety recalls (5)

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER Campaign 26V332000 · 2026-05-21

Summary: 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.

Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP Campaign 23V858000 · 2023-12-18

Summary: 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.

Risk: 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.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY Campaign 23V158000 · 2023-03-09

Summary: 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.

Risk: An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP Campaign 21V215000 · 2021-03-25

Summary: 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.

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

Remedy: 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.

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM Campaign 18V663000 · 2018-09-27

Summary: 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.

Risk: The unintended steering input reduces vehicle maneuverability and increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

How to check whether your car has an open recall ›

Investigations

Frequently asked questions

How many complaints were filed for the 2018 Honda CR-V?

2,128 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Honda CR-V, or about 245.3 per year on the road.

What is the most common problem reported for the 2018 Honda CR-V?

The most common category is Engine, accounting for 25.3% of complaints.

Does the 2018 Honda CR-V have any recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 safety recall(s) for this model year. 3 NHTSA defect investigations cover this model year; the most recent is “Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking” (opened 2024-04-15, still open).

Is the 2018 Honda CR-V still generating complaints?

In the last 12 months 235 new complaints were filed, versus 348 in the 12 months before — the pace is falling.

How does the 2018 Honda CR-V compare with similar vehicles?

NHTSA has received 2,128 owner complaints about the 2018 Honda CR-V, or 245.3 per year on the road — far more complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 5.83, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 73 model-year 2018 vehicles we track, it ranks #73 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Honda models its rate is 236% higher; against other Compact SUVs it is 295% higher.