2018 Honda Cr-v
The Verdict
The 2018 Honda Cr-v has 2,057 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (865 complaints) and body (792 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 5/100, it earns a "Total Klunk" rating. If you're shopping for a Honda Cr-v, consider the 2000 model year which has 93% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2000 has 93% fewer complaints
View the 2000 Honda Cr-v dashboard →
Klunk Score: Total Klunk
Among the most complained-about vehicle years on record. Strongly consider alternatives.
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 | 205 | 102 | 24 |
| 2004 | 121 | 13 | 187 | 169 | 11 |
| 2005 | 119 | 14 | 285 | 38 | 22 |
| 2006 | 105 | 21 | 224 | 25 | 22 |
| 2007 | 293 | 14 | 500 | 33 | 32 |
| 2008 | 340 | 20 | 507 | 46 | 30 |
| 2009 | 130 | 13 | 207 | 17 | 10 |
| 2010 | 125 | 19 | 237 | 67 | 22 |
| 2011 | 134 | 15 | 328 | 46 | 9 |
| 2012 | 157 | 20 | 97 | 96 | 33 |
| 2013 | 100 | 21 | 83 | 108 | 69 |
| 2014 | 211 | 18 | 111 | 202 | 43 |
| 2015 | 193 | 29 | 82 | 280 | 83 |
| 2016 | 122 | 13 | 78 | 150 | 27 |
| 2017 | 494 | 148 | 289 | 726 | 97 |
| 2018 | 792 | 172 | 197 | 865 | 31 |
| 2019 | 473 | 94 | 187 | 295 | 10 |
| 2020 | 150 | 30 | 77 | 74 | 16 |
| 2021 | 214 | 25 | 29 | 50 | 7 |
| 2022 | 201 | 13 | 8 | 25 | 7 |
| 2023 | 410 | 27 | 26 | 44 | 10 |
| 2024 | 267 | 21 | 29 | 59 | 13 |
| 2025 | 155 | 24 | 14 | 48 | 3 |
By Category
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Worst Problems
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See how the 2018 Honda Cr-v stacks up against rivals.
Complaints
One of the rear sensor batteries randomly stopped working. All the features stopped working and would light up the whole dashboard, including TPMS, automatic braking, cruise control, etc. Did not feel safe while driving due to all of the safety features not working. Had it checked out by an independent auto body shop and fixed. No warning lights of the specific problem, just said there was a problem with everything. Happened immediately after pumping gas into my car.
[XXX] It's security risk, Honda customer service not taking any ownership. Anything happens to my family who is going to take responsibility. Please open case against and help all customers who owns HONDA car. I done what ever honda delears recommanded and paid alomost $2000. Please take some action ASAP anything happens to me or my family then HONDA and NHTSA are responsible. Waiting your reply via email and mail as well as Phone call. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while reversing out of the garage, the ABS, traction control, braking system, and check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic and was diagnosed with fuel injector failure. The vehicle was scheduled to be repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the issue by the mechanic. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
Car abruptly lost power while driving. I was barely able to pull over to the side and park the car in lot that happened to be next to where I was driving. The car was towed to a award-winning service facility (non-Honda) and it was determined that P0303 Cylinder Misfire and P16e8 engine error codes due to a blown engine head gasket. According to the head mechanic, they had recently had another Honda CRV experience the same issue. The replacement parts/kit/labor cost almost $4,000. Without it the car was undriveable, most concerning was the abrupt loss of power, thankfully was not on a highway when this happened as there had been no warning or degradation in performance prior to the issue occurring. In searching the internet, apparently many others with Turbo CRV's are reporting this type of issue? I contacted Honda and they were basically of no help other than suggesting I have the car towed to a dealership but with no guarantees that they would cover anything given the 'age' of the vehicle. It has been a very well maintained car.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power and jolted to a complete stop. The vehicle independently restarted. There was no warning light illuminated; however, the message “BRAKE” was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed; however, the contact was informed that no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 78,000.
This car has the same Steering Rack sticking problem for this Model and year that there is a recall for but the VIN for this car is not included in the recall. The problem has been confirmed by a Honda dealer. They want me to pay close to $5,000 to repair it. They told me to reach out to HNTSA. Hoping you can correct this. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Every warning light possible randomly came on a few months ago. The lights stay on for about a week, then go off for about two weeks. Took to Honda, first time they said nothing was wrong and preformed a relearn. Lights were all off for 300 miles, then came back on. Took back to Honda and they diagnosed as fuel injector misfire and quoted me $1800 for replacement. I was doing research and found that premature fuel injector failure with the 2018 CRV is a known issue. My local mechanic tells me it's a safety issue to drive around with misfired cylinders and can damage the engine. When the lights are on, none of my car's sensors work and I cannot use cruise control. I do not have $1800 to spend on something that should be a recall. I have only had the car 2 years. Thank you so much for your time and assistance.
I took my Honda in to a dealership for a trade-in value assessment. The dealership used automatic start with my key fob. Once they got in, they began to drive it in immediately it would not go past 10 mph, began jerking, and steering became an issue. It begin throwing the following check engine light codes: Tire pressure monitor problem. Electric Parking Brake problem. Road Departure Mitigation system problem. Collision mitigation system problem. Adaptive cruise control problem. Hill start assist problem. Vehicle stability, assist problem. Power steering system problem. Brake hold system problem. Brake system problem. Emissions system problem. Trade-in became impossible and it was not safe to even drive off the lot. It remains sitting in the car dealerships parking lot, leaving me without a vehicle.
I was driving 35 mph and my car automatically braked suddenly despite no object in the road. Afterwards I checked the front of my vehicle and there was no obvious dirt/bugs/etc on the front radar or camera. I now turn off the collision mitigating braking system each time I start the car as I'm afraid it will brake again without cause.
Head Gasket failure due to coolant interference in engine
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The failure was a recurring failure. The contact associated the failure with Technical Service Bulletins: 19-032 and 19-037. The dealer was contacted and diagnosed the vehicle with fuel injector failure. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.
Vehicles began starting very rough. Had spark plugs and coils. Replaced still continued to have issues with rough starting. Got an engine overheating message and the thermostat begin reading hot cold hot cold. Discovered coolant jug was almost empty. Refilled that and then noticed every few days to a week. It would need refilling. Car was pressure tested three times showed no leaks.. Finally independent mechanic took it in and took it apart and replaced the head gasket which had blown. He said it was a design flaw the way the parts were connected and an engineer should have caught that before it was even put into the vehicle. So I was a victim of what is apparently a relatively common part flaw with this age CRV. I have seen and heard of multiple issues with head gaskets in 2017 and 2018 CRV‘s.
The steering on my 2018 Honda CR-V intermittently sticks around the center position. When making small steering corrections, the steering wheel does not move smoothly and requires additional force to move past the center position. This creates difficulty making precise steering corrections and is a safety concern, particularly at highway speeds. I am concerned about a potential steering gearbox/EPS steering defect. I contacted Honda Customer Service regarding this issue, but Honda denied assistance because there is currently no recall associated with my VIN. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether this represents a safety-related defect affecting 2018 Honda CR-V vehicles. I want to report this as a potential safety defect and Honda should rectify with their own cost. This is similar to hundreds of other complaints.
I sometimes get a reduced engine power shutter grill problems
I am writing to report a severe, premature safety defect in the steering system of my 2018 Honda CR-V.While attempting to turn the vehicle,I noticed an audible grinding sound accompanied by a distinct feeling of "stickiness" and resistance in the steering wheel. Despite being a low-mileage vehicle with approximately 54,412 miles,the vehicle's steering has experienced a significant mechanical failure.Two independent, certified mechanics have thoroughly inspected the vehicle and confirmed that the steering column assembly has failed internally and requires a complete replacement.Both mechanics stated that the mileage was too low for this kind of issue.There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the failure, nor have any began occurring.The vehicle was last inspected in April of 2026 by the Honda dealership and passed.The failed steering column causes unpredictable mechanical binding, grinding, and a sticky sensation while turning.This creates a severe safety hazard as the steering wheel catches and requires increased physical effort to steer safely, significantly increasing the imminent risk of a collision or loss of vehicle control.The failure occurred under normal driving conditions without any prior collision or external damage.I have official diagnostic reports from two separate repair facilities confirming this diagnosis.There is currently a very limited existing steering recall for this generation (NHTSA Campaign 18V663000),but my VIN is excluded despite exhibiting identical hazardous symptoms.I am requesting that the NHTSA investigate this widespread steering column/gearbox failure trend in 2018 Honda CR-Vs to force an expanded safety recall before a catastrophic accident occurs.I contacted Honda's official recall department to report this defect.The representative documented the issue but stated there was nothing further they could do.When I asked if the case could be reviewed for a potential recall, I was told there is no formal process.
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 independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 109,000.
Before the recall repairs, I did not experience any loss of acceleration, hesitation, jerking, or flashing warning lights. These symptoms began only after the recall service was completed. 1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The vehicle experienced a loss of acceleration while driving. The vehicle also began to jerk or stumble, and multiple warning lights flashed on the dashboard. The vehicle is currently at the Honda dealership and is available for inspection. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The loss of acceleration created a potentially dangerous situation because the vehicle would not respond as expected while driving. I did not feel safe operating the vehicle, especially in traffic, because the vehicle hesitated and lost power. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. The vehicle was inspected by a Honda dealership. The dealership initially diagnosed a shutter grille issue (code P16E8). After that repair did not resolve the problem, the dealership later indicated that the fuel injectors might be the cause. The symptoms persisted after the initial repair. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The vehicle has been inspected by an authorized Honda dealership. It has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms before the failure, and when did they first appear? Multiple warning lights began flashing after the recall service was completed. The symptoms, including loss of acceleration and vehicle hesitation, first appeared after the recall repairs were performed.
While driving safely on the highway at 55mph speeds, my 2018 Honda vehicle suddenly displayed multiple unexpected warning lights and alerts on the dashboard. The vehicle experienced an abrupt loss of normal operation behavior, posing an immediate safety hazard and risk of a collision in fast-moving traffic. I took the vehicle to an authorized Honda dealership for diagnostics, paying a $200 diagnostic fee. The dealership confirmed a severe mechanical failure involving the head gasket. Because the vehicle is out of the limited warranty window, the dealership quoted a prohibitively high repair cost and advised me to trade the vehicle in rather than fix it. As a Costco employee who relies entirely on this vehicle for my livelihood and commute, this sudden catastrophic engine failure jeopardizes my employment. A core engine component like a head gasket failing prematurely at highway speeds is a critical safety and structural defect that puts drivers at risk. I am filing this complaint to request a federal investigation into potential 2018 Honda 1.8L engine and gasket defects.
The steering on my 2018 Honda CR-V intermittently sticks around the center position. When making small steering corrections, the steering wheel does not move smoothly and requires additional force to move past the center position. This creates difficulty making precise steering corrections and is a safety concern, particularly at highway speeds. I am concerned about a potential steering gearbox/EPS steering defect. I contacted Honda Customer Service regarding this issue, but Honda denied assistance because there is currently no recall associated with my VIN. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether this represents a safety-related defect affecting 2018 Honda CR-V vehicles. I want to report this as a potential safety defect and honda should rectify with their own cost.
Cylinder head gaskets failure with coolant migrating into the cylinders, available for inspection upon request; Dahl Honda Sheboygan took videos of inspection and liquid in the cylinders. Upon starting the car, the engine sounded strange and sluggish. As I started to drive, engine sounded like it was misfiring. I was able to drive only 10-25 mph (safety issue) from residence to the Dahl dealership (2.8 mi). All electrical warning lights were flashing. I thought it was my battery or a loose connection. They appeared all at once upon starting the car that morning, no prior warning.
2057 total