Honda CR-V years to avoid
The Honda CR-V years to avoid are 2018, 2017, 2019, 2008, 2007, 2015, 2014, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2003, 2006, 2012, 2013, 2020, 2021, 2022 — each drew complaint volumes well above the model's norm or has an open safety investigation. The 1997 is the cleanest year on record.
21,270
Total complaints
65
Recall campaigns
1997–2026
Years covered
17
Years to avoid
Complaints by model year
CR-V years to avoid
| Year | Why | Complaints | vs avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | High complaints + open investigation | 2,997 | |
| 2017 | High complaints + open investigation | 2,642 | |
| 2019 | High complaints + open investigation | 1,538 | |
| 2008 | High complaint rate | 1,221 | |
| 2007 | High complaint rate | 1,162 | |
| 2015 | High complaints + open investigation | 977 | |
| 2014 | Open safety investigation | 798 | |
| 2002 | Open safety investigation | 661 | |
| 2004 | Open safety investigation | 603 | |
| 2005 | Open safety investigation | 602 | |
| 2003 | Open safety investigation | 581 | |
| 2006 | Open safety investigation | 522 | |
| 2012 | Open safety investigation | 512 | |
| 2013 | Open safety investigation | 500 | |
| 2020 | Open safety investigation | 469 | |
| 2021 | Open safety investigation | 462 | |
| 2022 | Open safety investigation | 319 |
Every CR-V year
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 177 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 359 | 1 | |
| 2024 | 546 | 2 | |
| 2023 | 656 | 3 | |
| 2022avoid | 319 | 3 | |
| 2021avoid | 462 | 4 | |
| 2020avoid | 469 | 7 | |
| 2019avoid | 1,538 | 8 | |
| 2018avoid | 2,997 | 5 | |
| 2017avoid | 2,642 | 7 | |
| 2016 | 545 | 3 | |
| 2015avoid | 977 | 3 | |
| 2014avoid | 798 | 1 | |
| 2013avoid | 500 | 2 | |
| 2012avoid | 512 | 3 | |
| 2011 | 648 | 13 | |
| 2010 | 588 | 15 | |
| 2009 | 447 | 12 | |
| 2008avoid | 1,221 | 11 | |
| 2007avoid | 1,162 | 12 | |
| 2006avoid | 522 | 13 | |
| 2005avoid | 602 | 14 | |
| 2004avoid | 603 | 13 | |
| 2003avoid | 581 | 14 | |
| 2002avoid | 661 | 16 | |
| 2001 | 159 | 1 | |
| 2000 | 156 | 2 | |
| 1999 | 158 | 3 | |
| 1998 | 136 | 3 | |
| 1997 | 129 | 2 |
Common questions
What are the worst Honda CR-V years?
Based on NHTSA complaint rates and open investigations, the CR-V years to avoid are 2018, 2017, 2019, 2008, 2007, 2015, 2014, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2003, 2006, 2012, 2013, 2020, 2021, 2022. The cleanest year on record is 1997.
What is the best year for the Honda CR-V?
By complaint volume, 1997 has the cleanest NHTSA record among CR-V years with enough data to compare.
How many recalls does the Honda CR-V have?
Across all model years, the CR-V has 65 distinct NHTSA recall campaigns and 21,270 consumer complaints on file.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through August 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated August 28, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.