3rd generation · RE1-RE5 · 4,063 complaints, 2,241 with mileage
Owners filed 4,063 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007–2011 Honda Cr-V, and 2,241 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 40,394 and 101,000 miles. The median is 70,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the airbag system (31.5% of complaints, typically around 75,000 miles), the electrical system (15.4% of complaints, typically around 78,000 miles), latches and locks (11.8% of complaints, typically around 77,000 miles).
15 recall campaigns cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 1,280 | 31.5% | 75,000 | 45,000–112,000 |
| Electrical System | 626 | 15.4% | 78,000 | 56,000–105,000 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 480 | 11.8% | 77,000 | 59,000–98,000 |
| Structure | 296 | 7.3% | 100,000 | 60,000–145,000 |
| Unknown Or Other | 251 | 6.2% | 89,000 | 57,000–111,000 |
| Steering | 141 | 3.5% | 62,000 | 30,000–90,037 |
| Engine | 135 | 3.3% | 80,000 | 54,362–103,000 |
| Power Train | 132 | 3.2% | 53,000 | 20,000–86,000 |
| Suspension | 120 | 3.0% | 58,300 | 20,000–160,000 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 78 | 1.9% | 42,000 | 20,000–65,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 1,161 | 731 |
| 2008 | 1,221 | 741 |
| 2009 | 447 | 226 |
| 2010 | 588 | 269 |
| 2011 | 646 | 274 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 70,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The airbag system accounts for 31.5% of complaints (1,280 reports, 205 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 75,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 45,000 and 112,000 miles.
A single system taking 31.5% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The electrical system accounts for 15.4% of complaints (626 reports, 467 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 78,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 56,000 and 105,000 miles.
Latches and locks account for 11.8% of complaints (480 reports, 408 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 77,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 59,000 and 98,000 miles.
Body structure accounts for 7.3% of complaints (296 reports, 188 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 100,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 60,000 and 145,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 6.2% of complaints (251 reports, 137 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 89,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 57,000 and 111,000 miles.
The steering accounts for 3.5% of complaints (141 reports, 113 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 62,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 30,000 and 90,037 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2008 model year drew the most — 1,221 complaints — while 2009 drew the fewest at 447. The median year sits at 646.
The first year of the generation, 2007, sits above the median. That is a common pattern — early production of a redesigned vehicle tends to surface problems that later years do not repeat — and it is worth weighing when choosing between years.
NHTSA records 15 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (12), body structure (1), the transmission and driveline (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 4,063 complaints filed against this generation, 249 reported a crash; 17 reported a fire; 162 reported an injury; 5 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 6.1% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 40,394 and 101,000 miles, with a median of 70,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the airbag system and the electrical system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The airbag system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 75,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Door lock actuator failure, frequently on multiple doors, with locks cycling on their own or refusing to operate.
A/C condenser puncture from road debris and compressor failure; the condenser sits low and exposed.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 23V228000 | 2023-05-22 | Structure:Frame And Members |
| 19V502000 | 2019-08-12 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 19V500000 | 2019-08-12 | Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module |
| 19V378000 | 2019-07-05 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 19V182000 | 2019-04-10 | Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module |
| 18V661000 | 2018-11-06 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 18V268000 | 2018-06-22 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 18V042000 | 2018-02-16 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 17V545000 | 2017-10-30 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 17V417000 | 2017-08-03 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 17V030000 | 2017-02-22 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 16V061000 | 2017-02-22 | Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module |
| 16V346000 | 2016-11-15 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 11V395000 | 2011-08-27 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) |
| 11V004000 | 2011-01-24 | Electrical System |