Honda Cr-V 2017–2022

5th generation · RW1/RW2, RT5/RT6 (hybrid) · 8,351 complaints, 3,254 with mileage

When failures happen

What fails, and when

By model year

Which systems, and when

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 15,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.

Forward collision avoidance accounts for 16.8% of complaints (1,404 reports, 178 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 36,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 19,000 and 52,101 miles.

The engine accounts for 14.7% of complaints (1,230 reports, 761 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 10,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 3,820 and 22,500 miles.

The electrical system accounts for 11.0% of complaints (922 reports, 435 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 15,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 4,300 and 34,450 miles.

The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 10.8% of complaints (903 reports, 347 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 7,200 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 2,768 and 17,000 miles.

The steering accounts for 10.0% of complaints (834 reports, 160 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 41,500 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 23,000 and 68,000 miles.

Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 7.8% of complaints (650 reports, 282 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 10,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 3,000 and 23,413 miles.

Differences between model years

Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2018 model year drew the most — 2,969 complaints — while 2022 drew the fewest at 312. The median year sits at 992.

That makes 2018 an outlier: roughly 3.0 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.

Recalls and what they cover

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 fuel system (5), the airbag system (3), equipment (3). 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.

Reported severity

Of the 8,351 complaints filed against this generation, 260 reported a crash; 12 reported a fire; 229 reported an injury; 1 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 3.1% 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.

What this means if you are buying one

For a buyer, an early-failure pattern is comparatively good news on a used example: 46% of the reported failures occur in the first 12,000 miles, which on a car of this age means they have already happened or they were never going to. Service history matters more than mileage here.

On inspection, forward collision avoidance and the engine are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The engine in particular shows a median failure mileage of 10,000, 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.

Documented problems

Recalls (15)

What owners reported

Other generations

• Honda Cr-V 1997–2001
• Honda Cr-V 2002–2006
• Honda Cr-V 2007–2011
• Honda Cr-V 2012–2016
• Honda Cr-V 2023–2025