AI Damage2018 Honda CR-V: common problems
Owners of the 2018 Honda CR-V filed 2,161 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and forward collision avoidance. The maker issued 174 service bulletins for this year. We found 1 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 2,161
- involving a crash
- 46
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 174
- YouTube repair videos
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 25% of all complaints
- 2 Forward collision avoidance 18% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel/propulsion system 17% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 15% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 13% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel system 11% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 3% of all complaints
- Engine: 530 complaints (25% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 13.
- Forward collision avoidance: 395 complaints (18% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 7.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 376 complaints (17% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
- Steering: 333 complaints (15% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Electrical system: 285 complaints (13% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 32.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.5 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cylnamed in 41 complaints
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- CVTnamed in 4 complaints
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 2,161 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 530 | 4 | 13 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 395 | 4 | 7 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 376 | 5 | 5 |
| Steering | 333 | 5 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 285 | 5 | 32 |
| Fuel system | 232 | 0 | 29 |
| Service brakes | 196 | 13 | 42 |
| Vehicle speed control | 65 | 5 | 2 |
| Powertrain | 64 | 3 | 2 |
| Lane departure | 46 | 0 | 2 |
| Visibility | 43 | 0 | 20 |
| Electronic stability control | 30 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 27 | 4 | 1 |
| Seat belts | 25 | 1 | 5 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
On February 26, 2026, at approximately 3:59 PM, the driver was traveling northbound on Yukon Territory Avenue in Manteca, CA at approximately 30 mph when the vehicle experienced a sudden brake failure.
At the same time the check engine light began flashing and multiple warning lights illuminated on the dashboard, including the ABS warning light. I was unable to accelerate and the vehicle would not restart after the loss of power.
Defective feel pump causes all lights on the dash to turn on, and also causes the car to stall/misfire. When you try to accelerate. We've had this same problem over and over again even after the recall that supposedly fixed the issue.
Honda CRV in it’s first signs failed to start. Vehicle ignition would fail to function, there was no respond. I had to shut off for 15 minutes then tried initiating, it would start as if nothing happened. I thought this was due to a battery/electrical issue.
Our car was parked in our driveway for hours - at [XXX] on [XXX], our Ring camera captured our CRV roll down the driveway as if its parking brake completely failed/disengaged (the tires are rolling, it is not sliding). It then crashed into our shed. We are so grateful our children were not outside playing.
I was preparing to turn around a curve when my steering wheel locked straight, causing my vehicle to collide with a concrete barrier. My vehicle was the only one involved, and collided with the barrier twice. This has led to several thousands in mechanical and body damages.
The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact nor the other driver sustained any injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was driven to an independent body shop where it was repaired.
There were no warning lights illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. There was no reported fire. The passenger occupant sustained head injuries, and medical attention was provided. The driver and two rear occupants had no injuries, but medical attention was provided at the hospital.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 3 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 1% most complained about).
On average one model year of the CR-V has 631 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 2,161, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Service Bulletin - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which…
Service Bulletin - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, and/or misfire. In some cases, DTCs P0300 through…
- Owner Notification Letter - Honda has developed software updates to the Honda Sensing system to enhance…
Owner Notification Letter - Honda has developed software updates to the Honda Sensing system to enhance driver experience by modifying the circumstances when the advanced driver assist system (ADAS) decelerates the…
- Dealer Message - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may…
Dealer Message - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, misfire, and/or DTCs P0300 through P0304 stored.
- Service Bulletin - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which…
Service Bulletin - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, misfire and/or DTCs P0300 thru P0304 stored.
- Service Bulletin - American Honda has identified a condition that may affect Collision Mitigation Braking…
Service Bulletin - American Honda has identified a condition that may affect Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) operation. Due to software programming issues of the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS)…
- Service Bulletin - Honda has developed software updates to the Honda Sensing system to enhance driver…
Service Bulletin - Honda has developed software updates to the Honda Sensing system to enhance driver experience by modifying the circumstances when the advanced driver assist system (ADAS) decelerates the vehicle or…
- Dealer Message - Due to software programming issues of the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS),…
Dealer Message - Due to software programming issues of the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), unexpected vehicle deceleration may occur.
- Service Bulletin - Oil leak at timing chain tensioner inspection cover due to possible insufficient…
Service Bulletin - Oil leak at timing chain tensioner inspection cover due to possible insufficient sealant adhesion on inspection cover.
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2022 Accord FHEVs, as well as 2017-2022 CR-V 1.5Ls (no 2.4L), & 2020-2022 CR-V FHEVs with a customer complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the DTC P030X…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2022 Accord 1.5Ls (no 2.0L) & FHEVs, as well as 2017-2022 CR-V 1.5Ls (no 2.4L), & 2020-2022 CR-V FHEVs with a customer complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2020 Accords, 2016-2020 Civics, 2017-2020 CR-Vs, & 2018-2020 Odysseys that have been diagnosed to be in need of the low-pressure fuel pump, fuel strainer, fuel meter or fuel tank…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2020 Accords, 2016-2020 Civics, 2017-2020 CR-Vs, & 2018-2020 Odysseys that have been diagnosed to be in need of the low-pressure fuel pump, fuel strainer, fuel meter or fuel tank…
NHTSA lists 174 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Honda CR-V?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, forward collision avoidance, fuel/propulsion system. Total complaints: 2,161. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (20%), fuel system, fuel smell (10%), stalls while driving (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2018 Honda CR-V?
NHTSA lists 174 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2018 Honda CR-V from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2018 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.