2018 Honda CR-V Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 8,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

The warning lights on the dash all lit up, and upon inspection of the vehicle, gave error code P0172. We took it to the Honda dealership near up, who confirmed that the vehicle needed the fuel injectors replaced. If we did not fix it immediately, our catalytic converter was at risk of also being damaged, along with other parts of the…Owner complaint, filed 2026

I brought my car into a dealership on 09/25/26 due to recall (system update), no maintenance light is on nor any alerts--was told to replace front tires and to have 90k maintenance done. After the software update-- 3 days later, my dashboard lights all lighted up (Christmas tree). Brought the car back on 09/30/26 because I figured…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 6,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle lost power with the fuel pressure failure, causing the vehicle to decelerate, and there was heavy smoke coming from the exhaust. The contact pulled over safely and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode while driving back to the residence. The check…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 244,372 miles

My 2018 Honda CR-V with the 1.5L turbo engine experienced an overheating condition while being driven. The temperature gauge fluctuated and reached the red zone, creating a potential risk of engine failure and loss of vehicle operation. The vehicle was inspected by a Honda dealership, which reported that the coolant was empty and…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 36,000 miles. Parts named most: Automatic emergency braking (314), Warnings (101), Adaptive cruise control (47).

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

On 10/30/2026, I drove over a metal roadway plate at 30 mph and the car automatically activated the collision mitigation braking system and skidded to a complete stop in the middle of the road.Owner complaint, filed 2026

Collison Mitigation system turns off without warning periodically, if I turn the car off and then restart it comes back on, but then goes out again shortrly thereafter. Other times it stays on and seems to operate properly, so I can't replicate the problem. All of this happened in completely dry weather, so system clearly not blocked due…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 52,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving, the steering wheel was sticking in mid turn. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the battery needed to be replaced due to the power steering failure. The vehicle was repaired; however…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 73,000 miles

My CRV has been having issues with the steering wheel "sticking" and making a clicking noise when turning. I have had it looked at multiple times and Honda dealerships claim they aren't "feeling" or "hearing" what I am. It's concerning when driving at high speeds on the highway with a steering wheel that is sticking during turns.Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 15,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

ALL of the warning lights go off one day, then the very next day it does not happen. This cycle has been happening for almost two straight years of “normal” driving. The vehicle is working totally fine and has never broken down because of this. Two different Honda dealerships told me that it is unsafe to drive and that the fuel injectors…Owner complaint, filed 2026

My body control module (BCM) seems to have failed on my 2018 Honda CRV, my first indication was my alarm going off and me being unable to enter my vehicle with my key fob. Once I manually unlocked the car with the embedded key inside the key fob, I was unable to turn off my instrument cluster or lights by hitting the start switch of the…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 15,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

The front brake line from the master cylinder to the ABS hydraulic control valve has failed from what appears to be corrosion failure directly related to electrolyte fluid leaking from the battery. The failure caused brake fluid to drain from the master cylinder reservoir and resulted in brake failure while the vehicle was being driven.…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated and then turned off. In addition, the contact stated that two days later, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes independently activated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 109,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 16,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

Started car. Pulling out of garage going forward. Pushed the cruise control button on steering wheel instead of radio volume button by accident. Car suddenly began to rapidly accelerate. Took me a second or two hit brake to stop car. Pushing brake did stop car. If you activate the cruise control with the car running and in drive at any…Owner complaint, filed 2024

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle unintentionally accelerated. Additionally, the RPM was fluctuating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was made…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 40,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 9,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

The transmission had a MAJOR failure after a routine trans fluid drain and fill done by Phillipsburg Easton Honda. They tried blaming me and dismissing it as an already compromised transmission. But breaking down on a very busy road and losing all control over a LOCKED up car was terrifying and dangerous. Im just glad nobody was injured.…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact’s friend owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. While the friend was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended, with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to exceed 30 MPH. The contact stated that the transmission sounded clunky while shifting. The vehicle…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 60,500 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 16,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

• The Incident: "The rear window shattered spontaneously while the vehicle was in motion. My wife was driving, I was in the passenger seat, and our two children were in the back seat." • The Risk: "The explosion of glass occurred inches away from my children's heads. This is a severe safety hazard caused by a known manufacturing defect…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while idling at a stop light, there was a loud pop coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated that the rear glass had fractured into several pieces without impact. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who confirmed that the glass needed to be replaced. The vehicle…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 102,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 4,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that the driver’s side seat belt failed to latch as designed and became inoperable. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 65,000.Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 65,000 miles

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V158000 (SEAT BELTS); 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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 12,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (22).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

Problem Description: While driving at approximately 35 MPH, the primary and secondary vehicle hood latches failed, causing the hood to unlatch completely and fly up against the windshield. This completely obstructed my forward visibility, forcing me to execute sudden, emergency braking to bring the vehicle to a safe stop. Consequences…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The power driver liftgate strut exploded and hit the top of the hatchback, snapping the bolt in half and damaging the threads which attach the stud bolt to the hatch.Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 21,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the supplemental restraint system and front passenger’s side air bag messages were displayed on the instrument panel. The contact researched and was made aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 98,000 miles

On March 30, 2026, a safety issue was documented regarding a 2018 Honda CR-V currently located at Crash Champions collision center. The driver-side steering wheel airbag module is entirely missing from the vehicle due to a physical loss/theft, rendering the supplemental restraint system (SRS) completely non-functional and leaving the…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 12,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

I was driving on the interstate and the tread just separated from the sidewalks. 235/65R17. I didn’t hit anything. There was no damage to the tire. It just disintegrated.Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal thumping sound coming from the tires. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the tires were cupping, and the tread was deteriorating and…Owner complaint, filed 2025

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed around a curve, the passenger's side upper control arm fractured. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 92,000 miles

I am writing today because I am trying to avoid and accident involving injury and possible death as a result of a situation which is present on on above referenced 2018 Honda CRV, with just 54,000 miles on the odometer, we are needing to consider replacement on what would be our 3rd set of tires, as the result of premature tire wear, on…Owner complaint, filed 2023