2003 Honda Cr-v
The Verdict
The 2003 Honda Cr-v has 493 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (204 complaints) and body (143 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 26/100, it earns a "Check Engine" rating. If you're shopping for a Honda Cr-v, consider the 2000 model year which has 71% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2000 has 71% fewer complaints
View the 2000 Honda Cr-v dashboard →
Klunk Score: Check Engine
More complaints than most vehicles. Known issues exist — budget for potential repairs.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
| Year | Body | Brakes | Electrical | Engine | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 43 | 1 | 62 | 18 | 15 |
| 2001 | 43 | 2 | 63 | 37 | 7 |
| 2002 | 143 | 25 | 253 | 79 | 27 |
| 2003 | 143 | 20 | 204 | 102 | 24 |
| 2004 | 121 | 13 | 187 | 169 | 11 |
| 2005 | 118 | 14 | 285 | 38 | 22 |
| 2006 | 105 | 21 | 224 | 25 | 22 |
| 2007 | 290 | 14 | 500 | 33 | 32 |
| 2008 | 339 | 20 | 507 | 46 | 30 |
| 2009 | 130 | 13 | 207 | 17 | 10 |
| 2010 | 125 | 19 | 237 | 67 | 22 |
| 2011 | 133 | 15 | 328 | 46 | 9 |
| 2012 | 154 | 20 | 96 | 96 | 33 |
| 2013 | 100 | 21 | 83 | 108 | 69 |
| 2014 | 211 | 18 | 111 | 201 | 43 |
| 2015 | 193 | 28 | 82 | 280 | 83 |
| 2016 | 121 | 13 | 77 | 149 | 27 |
| 2017 | 485 | 147 | 287 | 709 | 96 |
| 2018 | 775 | 167 | 195 | 844 | 30 |
| 2019 | 460 | 92 | 186 | 283 | 10 |
| 2020 | 142 | 28 | 76 | 66 | 15 |
| 2021 | 202 | 24 | 28 | 46 | 7 |
| 2022 | 185 | 13 | 8 | 23 | 6 |
| 2023 | 402 | 27 | 25 | 40 | 10 |
| 2024 | 253 | 18 | 26 | 56 | 13 |
| 2025 | 145 | 23 | 12 | 44 | 3 |
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Compare Against
See how the 2003 Honda Cr-v stacks up against rivals.
Complaints
Corrosion of the rear frame led to the trailing arm separating, and I nearly hit a tree.
SRS LIGHT CAME ON 2 MONTHS AGO. FEAR FOR MY SAFETY. RECALL PLEASE. ELECTRICAL. BACK RT WINDOW AND RT FRONT DOOR LOCK CANNOT BE OPERATED FROM FRONT DRIVER DOOR. LIGHTING. BACK INTERIOR LIGHT DOES NOT TURN OFF AUTOMATICALLY. Paint is peeling from all over the car, especially on the front of it. Looks ghastly.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated, and the engine fan was inoperable causing the engine to overheat. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who replaced the thermostat, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted regarding the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.
I let my daughter borrow my crv, she was coming backing from making errands going around a corner and she could not control the vehicle, she continued to try to turn the wheel in the direction she wanted to go but it would not, she ended up hitting another vehicle and came to a rest in someone’s yard. The officer on the scene did not want to sight her but had to under the law failure to control, he could see it was a mechanical failure. My vehicle has been maintained by several good mechanics but where the frame broke unless you pulled all the plastic down you would never know the frame was rotted. My daughter was 6.5 months pregnant at the time and her doctors told her to go get emergency ultrasounds done she had 2. The day of the accident and the next day. Everything was fine. I did contact and sent some pictures to Honda and all of the information they asked for but never heard back. I did try to send pictures but it would not let me upload.
There was a recall for 2003 CRV will water getting into master door look switch. This switch would cause fire. The smell off burning plastic and smoke came from the door look switch. The the rear driver window didn't work. I don't use the window so it wasn't important. About 6 months later it happened again the smoke almost caused an accident. The passenger side front door wouldn't work. I changed both blown fuses. And smoke started right away and pooped both fuses. I removed the door look master switch. There are burns and melted plastic on switches and plastic body. I called Honda and they say it's the same symptoms but they're not covering it. There was a recall for this on Honda CRVs of this year for the same reason. Please tell me why some vehicles are covered and some are not when it's the same thing happening. So I am going to send this complaint to you and I'm also going to talk to my attorney.
June 17, 2022 my daughter was hit on the driver side rear corner panel by a vehicle that ran a red light. The impact had enough force to spin her 2003 Honda CRV 180 degrees yet none of the airbags deployed. The rear driver side wheel was bent inward and had to be towed.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda CR-V. The vehicle had previously been serviced at the dealer under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V768000 (Visibility, Electrical System) however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the driver's side front power window switch failed to operate as needed. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.
The contact received notification of a recall for a 2003 Honda CR-V she never owned. The contact received several post cards notifications for Takata air bag recalls and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The contact stated that the recall notification was addressed to an unknown individual who never lived at her address. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.
The SRS light in my Honda CRV recently went on, and remains on, when the vehicle is in operation. Last week, I took the car to Honda of Princeton (local Honda dealer), who diagnosed the problem as a DTC 15-3 Faulty OPDS Sensor, and further explained that this faulty sensor could potentially cause the passenger-side airbag (replaced in a prior Honda CRV recall) to NOT deploy in the event of an accident. Indeed, the repair documentation included a dealer statement that I had been made aware of the issue. I paid for this diagnostic work, which was overseen by [XXX], who is a service lane manager at the dealer (Tel: [XXX]). The dealer said it would NOT assume financial responsibility for the replacement of this faulty sensor since the defect is not currently the subject of a Honda product recall, and stressed that this defect is not covered by the various Honda airbag recalls, even though the faulty sensor could impair airbag deployment in an accident. This faulty sensor may cause non-deployment of the passenger-side airbag, and it would therefore seem self-evident that the defect places the safety of any front-seat passenger in my Honda CRV at grave risk. Today, I called American Honda Motor Company (Tel: 888-234-2138) concerning the faulty sensor, and spoke with "[XXX]", who opened Case #[XXX] based on our call. [XXX] said the faulty sensor is not currently the subject of a Honda product recall. She also confirmed (I had already found the bulletin online and asked about it) that the Honda CRV's faulty OPDS sensor was the subject of Honda Service Bulletin 06-006, which extended the warranty to 10 years for the faulty sensor, but she noted that the faulty OPDS sensor was no longer covered by this service bulletin or warranty. [XXX] said that American Honda Motor Co. would not assume financial responsibility for the faulty OPDS sensor on this basis, but suggested that I try to 'work with' the local Honda dealer to address the problem. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Door locks are all malfunctioning. Only 2 work some of the time and the other 3 none of the time. Key works sometimes in 2 of the locks and not at all in the back door.
Lowbeams went out when I got off work but highneams were working. I bought new bulbs the next day and the problem unchanged. So I checked all fuses and relays those were all fine. I proceeded to remove the steering column cover and disconnected the connectors and the gray one had what looks like Rust and or melted. This is very alarming because until I can replace the connector I have to drive home at nights with high beams. This may cause an accident and or me getting pulled over for having highbeams on. I do have a picture of said connector I took today 8/16/21.
Similar to an NHTSA campaign No. 19V053000 of Honda 2017-2019 Ridgelines recall, there is a hairline crack on the fuel pump feed port of my 2003 Honda CR-V that is 'spewing' gasoline whenever the car key is in "ON" position, and much more leakage when the engine is running. There is NO engine CODE that is showing in my dashboard. The vehicle is running fine. The only indication is a VERY strong smell of gasoline in the cabin, and traces of fuel leak from underneath the vehicle (along the outside of the gas tank).
The ac compressor and drier on my 2003 Honda CR-V failed and contaminated my whole entire ac system. Contaminants from the compressor have been released. This issue is common for Honda crvs from the earlier 2000’s, because the compressors are substandard. Unfortunately Honda never alerted me of the faulty ac compressor, so I could ensure the ac compressor was replaced in time. Due to this substandard ac compressor, my whole entire ac system needs to be flushed and replaced. I have a new baby and I am not sure if she or I inhaled any contaminants from this issue. This issue was checked and confirmed by a mechanic, and the vehicle is available for inspection. I did not receive any alert or warning messages from my car for this issue.
The front end underneath of the honda is completely rusted and corroded. The car is unsafe to drive.
[XXX] . I TOOK MY 2003 HONDA INTO LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH OF 2021 (UNSURE WHEN EXACTLY) FOR THEM TO WORK ON ANOTHER RECALL. I HAD RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL LETTER FROM HONDA NATIONAL CORP. THE DEALERSHIP SAID I HAD ALREADY HAD THIS DONE. BUT NOW I LOOKED UP MY VIN ON NHTSA WEBSITE AND IT SAYS THERE IS ONE "UNREPAIRED RECALL" FROM JUNE 27, 2019. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MASTER SWITCH HAD BEGAN TO EMIT A GRAYISH SMOKE AFTER HE HAD MADE AN ATTEMPT TO WIND DOWN HIS PASSENGER FRONT WINDOW. SINCE THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WINDOW NO LONGER OPERATED. THE CONTACT THEN CALLED HONDA OF PASADENA(1965 E FOOTHILL BLVD, PASADENA, CA 91107) WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V768000 (VISIBILITY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.
MY LOW BEAMS DO NOT WORK ON 2003 HONDA CRV. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2015, AND SEE THERE WAS A LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT RECALL IN MARCH/ APRIL OF 2012. SINCE THE ISSUE JUST STARTED IN MY VEHICLE, AND THERE WAS A PRIOR RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, I WOULD LIKE THE RECALL TO BE SENT TO ME. ALSO, MY VEHICLE IS SHOWING A CODE P1259 VTEC SYSTEM MALFUNCTION SHOWING UP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V768000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY). THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING AND ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW, THE WINDOW FAILED TO ROLL BACK UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND AN UNKNOWN REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR IF THE WINDOW WAS ROLLED BACK DOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
I WAS REVIEWING A LIST OF RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE AND I JUST WANTED TO KNOW ARE THERE STILL RECALLS ON IT. I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON 02/21/2020 AND I NOTICED THE FUSE BOX WAS ONLY WORKING ON ONE SIDE. AND THEN RIDING THE INTERSTATE IT SLOWED DON'T AND GRADUALLY PICKED BACK UP SPEED. I THINK IT'S THE FUEL PROPULSION SYSTEM AS I READ FROM AN EARLIER REPORT.
I PURCHASED THE 2003 HONDA CRV FROM ANTHONY AUTO SALES IN THOMSON, GA ON 2/21/2020. AFTER PURCHASE I NOTICED MY CIGARETTE LIGHTER/CHARGING PORT DIDN'T WORK. DID A FUSE TEST ON IT ONLY TO DISCOVER HALF OF THE FUSES WEREN'T WORKING IN THE FUSE BOX UNDER THE HOOD. I CALLED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT MAY BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM I COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE IN BECAUSE I WAS HAVING SURGERY THE FOLLOWING WEEK. ON FEBRUARY 25 WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN BUT PICKED ITS SPEED BACK UP AND FOR SOME REASON IT SEEMS TO GET POOR GAS MILEAGE. I LIKE MY VEHICLE I JUST WANT TO KNOW OF ANY FUTURE AND PAST RECALLS AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEM RECTIFIED SINCE I NOW OWN THE VEHICLE. PAST REPORTS HAVE ALSO SHOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAGS AS WELL. THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR LOCKS AS WELL.
493 total