What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2003 Honda CR-V

Typical pattern

8% of complaints about the 2003 Honda CR-V came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2003 vehicle — around the middle of the 228 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 8.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is air bags (125 complaints), typically at 12.3 yr or about 103,595 miles.

Complaints
565
Median age at failure
8.3 yr
Median mileage
75,000 n=411
Crash / fire / tow
14.9% of reports
Safety recalls
10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Air bags
125 reports · 103,595 mi
12.3 yr
24%
Engine cooling
82 reports · 64,000 mi
5.6 yr
13.4%
Electrical system
62 reports · 97,500 mi
9.9 yr
17.7%
Exterior lighting
45 reports · 121,000 mi
9.1 yr
4.4%
Speed control
31 reports · 80,000 mi
8.8 yr
19.4%
Equipment
30 reports · 66,000 mi
4.8 yr
0%
Other
24 reports · 99,980 mi
13.4 yr
25%
Power train
23 reports · 41,000 mi
3.3 yr
4.3%
Latches / locks
17 reports · 70,000 mi
6.1 yr
5.9%
Visibility
16 reports · 99,793 mi
9.3 yr
0%
Service brakes, hydraulic
15 reports · 24,905 mi
1.0 yr
6.7%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

20V768000 2020-12-10
Visibility:power window devices and controls

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2002-2006 CR-V vehicles. Moisture may enter the driver side power window master switch, causing the switch to fail or melt.

If the switch fails, it could overheat and smoke, increasing the risk of a fire.

19V501000 2019-06-27
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

19V499000 2019-06-27
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

19V182000 2019-03-06
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containi

An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

18V268000 2018-04-26
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012 Ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.

An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

15V370000 2015-06-15
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic vehicles manufactured March 21, 2000, to January 20, 2005, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX vehicles manufactured June 14, 2000, to August 19, 2004, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid vehicles manufactured February 24, 2002, to January 18, 2005, 2003-2007 Honda Accord vehicles manufactured February 21, 2002, to August 28, 2007, 2002-2004 Honda CR-V vehicles, 2002-2003 Honda Odyssey vehicles manufactured June 19, 2001, to July 12, 2003, 2003 Acura MDX vehicles manufactured September 19, 2002, to June 19, 2003, 2003 Honda E

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the passenger seat occupant or other occupants possibly causing serious injury or death.

15V320000 2015-05-28
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

14V700000 2014-11-04
Air bags

American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic, 2003-2004 Civic CNG and Element, 2002-2005 CR-V, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2005 Accord, Pilot, Civic Hybrid, and Acura MDX, 2005 Acura RL and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Saipan, Guam, and American Samoa are addressed by this recall. Upon dep

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

14V353000 2014-06-20
Air bags

American Honda Motor Company, Inc.'s (Honda) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2003-2005 Accord, Civic, CR-V, Pilot and Acura MDX, model year 2003-2004 Odyssey and Element, and model year 2005 Acura RL, and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in California, and equipped with Takata-brand air bag inflators. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

12V486000 2012-10-05
Electrical system

Honda is recalling certain model year 2002-2006 CR-V passenger vehicles, manufactured from February 19, 2002, through July 28, 2006. The driver-side power window switch may fail or melt.

If the switch fails, it could overheat, smoke, and cause a fire. A switch failure, and a fire, could occur even if the vehicle is not in use. As a precaution, owners are advised to park outside until the recall repair has been performed.

In owners’ own words

Equipment mileage not reported 2 mo in service
CONSUMER FOUND ERRORS IN THE OWNERS MANUAL REGARDING THE OIL CHANGE. ITS STATED THAT THE OIL SHOULD BE CHANGED EVERY 10,000 MILES. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO STATED IT SHOULD BE CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES. THE DEALER THEN CALLED THE HONDA 800 NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE OIL SHOULD BE CHANGED EVERY 5000 MILES. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE INDIFFERENCE. *NLM
Equipment 11,941 mi 1.8 yr in service
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE USE OF A CELL PHONE INSIDE THE VEHICLE WILL CAUSE THE AIR BAGS TO DEACTIVATE. *AK
Equipment 58,643 mi 2.8 yr in service
CONSUMER VEHICLE A/C STOP WORKING DUE TO A BAD COMPRESSOR. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE LENGTH OF TIME IT WAS TAKING THE SALES DEALER TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM, THEREFORE THE COMPRESSOR WAS REPLACED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE DAY AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE THE COMPRESSOR BEGAN MAKING NOISE AND THE CONSUMER COULD FEEL POWER DRAINING. THE CONSUMER HAD TO WAIT TWO WEEKS FOR ANOTHER COMPRESSOR. *NM
Service brakes, hydraulic mileage not reported 8 mo in service
I GOT A 2003 HONDA CR-V, I NOTICED THAT WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE IT'S MAKING A CLICKING SOUND. I WENT TO THE DEALER SO THEY CAN CHECK IT BUT ONE OF THE GUYS SHOWED ME A DIAGRAM OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. HE SAID THAT IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM WITH CR-V AND CIVIC. THEY CAN PUT GREASE ON IT BUT AFTER A WHILE YOU WILL HEAR THAT CLICKING SOUND AGAIN. FOR ME THIS A MAJOR PROBLEM. THEY CALL IT "SLIDING DISC BRAKES". *NLM

Other CR-V model years

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998

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