Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Honda CR-V submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 33 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 33, in the owner's own words
I bought this car from a private seller and he claimed the vehicle was in good condition. A day later the car has been dying on me while driving. Nothing shows on the check engine that something is wrong with it. The car will start and able to drive but then will die on me again. How do I find if it's covered under a recall?
Engine shuts off while driving. Speeds can be low or high. 20-65 mph. While driving, engine will cut off. Sometimes the electrics remain on and I can use power steering to pull to the side of the road, other times everything shuts down. It can happen while turning or regular straight driving. Sometimes it will restart right after, other times, it won't start for many minutes. We have gotten stuck in turn lanes, middle of intersections, and busy 3 lane city roads. Mechanic says it is not showing any codes and can't find anything wrong with the car.
LEAVING MY HOUSE CAME TO STOP SIGN CAR SHUT OFF IN ROAD. TIMING BELT BROKE FOR THE 2 TIME. ALSO DRIVERS WINDOW WON'T WORK 2 MOTORS IN IT AND STILL NOTHING AND SUNROOF WON'T OPEN. ONLY 2 OWNERS AND CAR BEEN WELL KEPT OIL ON TIME. AND THERE SOMETHING MAKING BELTS GO BAD. *PM
OUR CAR HAD A BURNT VALVE LAST YEAR AT ABOUT 90000 MILES. WE BROUGHT IT TO A NAPA MACHINE SHOP AND HAD IT RE-MACHINED. ABOUT A MONTH AGO WE HAD IT REPAIRED AT OUR LOCAL HONDA DEALER. THEY READJUSTED THE VALVES WHICH THEY SAID WERE WAY TOO TIGHT. THE CAR IS STALLING AGAIN AND IS DIFFICULT TO RESTART. THEY REFERENCED HONDA TECHNICAL BULLETIN 03-038. IN RESEARCHING THIS VIA GOOGLE, IT APPEARS HONDA FAILED TO ADVISE AMERICAN-BUT NOT EUROPEAN-CUSTOMERS OF A VALVE ADJUSTMENT NEED THAT RESULTS IN VALVES RECEDING INTO THE CYLINDER HEADS.
ESTA DENUNCIA ESTA REPORTADA ANTERIORMENTE EL NUMERO ES 10888751 LA VUELVO A COLOCAR PORQUE ME FALTO COLOCAR LOS DATOS DEL DEALER QUE ME ESTAFO: BAM BAM USED AUTOS SALES INC. NOMBRE: MIKE 7864597996 DIRECCION: 1010 N 20TH AVE STE #D HOLLYWOOD FL 33020 COMPRE LA CAMIONETA DE UN DEALER EN HOLLYWOOD, EXPRESAMENTE LE PREGUNTE POR ALGUN PROBLEMA MECANICO QUE LE DEBA CONOCER A LA HONDA Y SU RESPUESTA FUE "NO HAY PROBLEMA MECANICO, MOTOR Y TRANSMISION SIN PROBLEMAS" AL SIGUIENTE DIA FUI A COMPRARLA (07-24-2016) Y A LAS DOS HORAS LA CAMIONETA RECALENTO (OVERHEATING), SE LA LLEVE DE REGRESO AL DEALER Y EL MISMO LE COLOCO AGUA AL RADIADOR, Y ME DIJO QUE SI TENIA ALGUN PROBLEMA LO LLAMARA... OK SAQU LA CAMIONETA Y LA PROBE POR 2 HORAS MAS Y EL CARRO RECALENTO OTRA VEZ PERO YA ERA MAS DE LAS 7PM Y EL DEALER HABIA CERRADO SU NEGOCIO ENTONCES LE ESCRIBI Y ME RESPONDIO QUE YA EL NO PODIA HACER NADA QUE DEBIA LLEVARLO A UN MECANICO Y PAGARLO,LE INDIQUE QUE SE LA HABA ACABADO DE COMPRAR QUE DEBIA RESOLVER ESE PROBLEMA, Y ME DIJO QUE HABLARA CON SU ESPOSA PORQUE EL NO HABLA MUCHO ESPAOL, AL DIA SIGUIENTE LLAME A LA ESPOSA Y ELLA ME INDICO QUE YA NO PODAN NI REPARARLO NI AYUDARME CON EL COSTO DE LA REPRACION QUE SEGUN UN MECANICO ES LA EMPACADURA DE LA CAMARA Y LA REPARACION ESTA ENTRE 1000$ A 1300$
COMPRE LA CAMIONETA DE UN DEALER EN HOLLYWOOD, EXPRESAMENTE LE PREGUNTE POR ALGUN PROBLEMA MECANICO QUE LE DEBA CONOCER A LA HONDA Y SU RESPUESTA FUE "NO HAY PROBLEMA MECANICO, MOTOR Y TRANSMISION SIN PROBLEMAS" AL SIGUIENTE DIA FUI A COMPRARLA (07-24-2016) Y A LAS DOS HORAS LA CAMIONETA RECALENTO (OVERHEATING), SE LA LLEVE DE REGRESO AL DEALER Y EL MISMO LE COLOCO AGUA AL RADIADOR, Y ME DIJO QUE SI TENIA ALGUN PROBLEMA LO LLAMARA... OK SAQU LA CAMIONETA Y LA PROBE POR 2 HORAS MAS Y EL CARRO RECALENTO OTRA VEZ PERO YA ERA MAS DE LAS 7PM Y EL DEALER HABIA CERRADO SU NEGOCIO ENTONCES LE ESCRIBI Y ME RESPONDIO QUE YA EL NO PODIA HACER NADA QUE DEBIA LLEVARLO A UN MECANICO Y PAGARLO,LE INDIQUE QUE SE LA HABA ACABADO DE COMPRAR QUE DEBIA RESOLVER ESE PROBLEMA, Y ME DIJO QUE HABLARA CON SU ESPOSA PORQUE EL NO HABLA MUCHO ESPAOL, AL DIA SIGUIENTE LLAME A LA ESPOSA Y ELLA ME INDICO QUE YA NO PODAN NI REPARARLO NI AYUDARME CON EL COSTO DE LA REPRACION QUE SEGUN UN MECANICO ES LA EMPACADURA DE LA CAMARA Y LA REPARACION ESTA ENTRE 1000$ A 1300$
CAR STARTS WITHOUT KEY WHEN REMOTE LOCK IS USED AFTER DRIVING. DOES NOT HAVE KEYLESS START. SOMETIMES THE HEADLIGHTS TURN ON ALSO OTHER TIMES ITS JUST THE ENGINE. YOU HAVE TO PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND SHIFT THE GEAR TO TURN OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES OVER THE YEARS. I TOOK IT TO A HONDA DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE, COULD NOT HAPPEN AND I WAS MISTAKEN. I DO HAVE A VIDEO OF ONE INCIDENT. *TR
CAR STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH, WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE VEHICLE AND SMELLED SMOKE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD. AS THE HOOD WS OPENED, THE ENGINE FELL. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RETURN CALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
HONDA HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN (03-038) FOR A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE CYLINDER HEAD. IN SEARCHING ONLINE, MANY HONDA CUSTOMERS WITH CR-V'S MANUFACTURED IN 2001 HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE. THE REMEDY (AS DEFINED BY HONDA) IS TO ADJUST THE VALVES TO SPECIFIC CLEARANCES DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, BUT THIS INFORMATION WAS NOT PASSED DOWN TO CUSTOMERS & MANY ARE FINDING THEMSELVES IN MY SAME SITUATION WITH THE ENTIRE CYLINDER HEAD NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. A COSTLY REPAIR FOR A FAULTY PART. HONDA IS AWARE OF THIS & IS UNWILLING TO COVER THE REPAIR. *TR
2001 HONDA CRV, AIR-CONDITIONER GETTING READY TO EXPLODE. I LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, BUT LIVE IN BALMY SAN DIEGO COUNTY, SO I'VE USED THE AIR CONDITIONER VERY LITTLE, PERHAPS 25 TIMES ALL TOLD OVER THE PAST NINE YEARS. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, BABY MY CAR, AND GET ALL MAINTENANCE DONE LIKE CLOCKWORK OR SOONER. ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO, THE RARELY-USED AIR CONDITIONER STARTED MAKING A HORRIBLE RACKET IMMEDIATELY ON STARTING IT. I STOPPED USING IT IMMEDIATELY, AND CHECK PERIODICALLY TO SEE IF IT'S STILL BROKEN. IT IS. I'VE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND WAS STUNNED TO FIND SO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 1997-2001 CRV AIR CONDITIONERS EXPLODING, IMPLODING, OR OTHERWISE SELF-DESTRUCTING. I'VE REPEATEDLY CONTACTED VIA EMAIL AND VOICEMAIL THE LAW FIRM OF MAZIE SLATER KATZ & FREEMAN IN ROSELAND, NEW JERSEY WHO IS HANDLING A CLASS ACTION ON THIS VERY ISSUE, THE HONDA A/C DESIGN DEFECTS. BOTH ATTORNEYS MATTHEW MENDELSON AND KAREN KELSON ARE FAR, FAR TOO BUSY WITH THEIR BUSY DAYS TO RETURN VOICEMAILS AND EMAILS, SO I'M ASSUMING THEY'RE ONLY IN IT FOR THE FEES OF THE CLASS ACTION, RATHER THAN PROVIDING ANY TANGIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THIS PROBLEM FOR CONSUMERS, MUCH LIKE HONDA ITSELF RESPONSE TO THIS PROBLEM: IGNORE IT. MAYBE IT WILL GO AWAY. I'M DISGUSTED WITH BOTH FIRMS AT THIS POINT. OTHERWISE MY CAR IS IN FINE SHAPE, I'M VERY PLEASED WITH IT AND IT'S VERY LIKELY THE BEST CAR I'VE EVER OWNED. HOWEVER, THIS GLARING PROBLEM, WHEN IT RIPENS AS IT HAS FOR COUNTLESS OTHER HONDA DRIVERS, COULD DESTROY MY ENGINE, AND FRANKLY I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO FIX IT. LIVING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, SUCH AN EVENT WOULD SHUT DOWN MY LIFE ACROSS THE BOARD. I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT IF HONDA ACTUALLY DID WHAT ADULTS DO, TAKE CHARGE, TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DESIGN DEFECTS WITH REGARD TO THIS COMPONENT, ISSUE AN APOLOGY, AND WE CAN ALL GET ON WITH OUR LIVES. AS FAR AS THE MAZIE KATZ LAW FIRM, I THINK THEIR ACTIONS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. *TR
ON ABOUT APRIL, 2009 IN OUR 2001 HONDA CRV , WITH 68,000 MILES ON IT. MY WIFE WAS 60 MILES FROM HOME WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONAL BLEW UP. THE AIR COMPRESS, RECIVER DRYER, BELT ALL CAME TO $1,600. I ASKED AROUND AND FOUND OUT THAT A LOT OF CRV'S AC WHERE BLOWING UP. THIS SITE SHOWES A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/SEARCH?SOURCEID=NAVCLIENT&IE=UTF-8&RLZ=1T4GWYA_ENUS311US311&Q=2001+HONDA+CRV+AC+BLOWING+UP. *TR
WITH OUT ANY WARNING THE RADIATOR CRACKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. AUTO REPAIR SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HONDA. NEW MODELS ARE BEING REPLACED BUT NOT EARLIER MODELS. WHY IS HONDA NOT FORCED TO RECALL THESE WITH SO MANY CARS NEEDING COSTLY REPAIRS.? *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA CR-V. HE STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL THEN THE ENGINE MISFIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. THE MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT THE ENGINE VALVES BURNED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND A REPRESENTATIVE CONCLUDED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM; HOWEVER, SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135000.
HONDA CR-V MOTOR VALVES DEFECT OR RECALL. *TR
AC COMPRESSOR STARTED RATTLING SOUND. WENT TO THE HONDA DEALER AND FOUND OUT PROBLEM WITH THE COMPRESSOR. REPLACED BY DEALER WITH FULL LABOR AND 1/2 PARTS PAID BY HONDA. *TR
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TO MY 2001 HONDA CR-V. IDENTIFIED AS A MISFIRE IN CYL #1, AND LOW COMPRESSION IN THAT CYLINDER. THE HEAD WAS REMOVED, AND ONE OF THE EXHAUST VALVES IN THE #1 CYLINDER WAS BURNED. THE VALVE CLEARANCE ON THAT CYLINDER WAS ZERO. A "VALVE JOB" WAS DONE AND THE ENGINE WAS REASSEMBLED. COST WAS $1450. *TR
AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR IMPLODED. *TR
2001 HONDA CRV STARTED TO HAVE A ROUGH IDLE FOLLOWED BY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNING ON APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO. TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR A TUNE UP AT A LOCAL DEALER AND PROBLEM TEMPORARILY WENT AWAY. RECENTLY THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THE HONDA DEALER EVALUATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VALVES. I HAD THE DEALER CONDUCT A VALVE ADJUSTMENT AND THEY REPORTED THAT COMPRESSION ON THE #3 CYLINDER ONLY REPORTED 45 PSI AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE CYLINDER HEAD AT A COST OF $4500 DOLLARS. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THE HONDA DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEMS WITH THE HONDA CRV AND HONDA HAS NOT TAKEN ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM NOR OFFERED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE HONDA HAS BEEN AWARE OF PROBLEMS WITH THE 2001 HONDA CRV. REQUEST THE NHTSB CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION. *TR
A/C COMPRESSOR FOR A 2001 HONDA CR-V. FIRST WENT OUT IN JULY 2007; END RESULT WAS THAT I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PARTS AND HONDA AMERICA FOOTED THE BILL FOR LABOR BASED ON THE FACT THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR ALL CR-VS BUT WAS NOT RECALLED. IT IS NOW SEPTEMBER 2008 AND THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AGAIN. A FAULTY COMPRESSOR IS ABSURD AFTER 1 YEAR OF SERVICE. *TR
2001 HONDA CR-V SE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON, IDLE BECAME EXTREMELY ROUGH AND STALLING WHILE DRIVING. NOTHING UNUSUAL PRECEDED THIS INCIDENT. TOOK THE CAR INTO TO BE DIAGNOSED AND WAS TOLD THE 4TH CYLINDER WAS ONLY HOLDING 15-20% OF REQUIRED PRESSURE, IT HAD GONE SOFT. RESEARCHED ISSUE AND FOUND HONDA HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #03038 REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE HONDA CR-V AS THE HONDA MAINTENANCE GUIDE DOES NOT RECOMMEND ANY VALVE MAINTENANCE UNTIL 105,000 MILES. HOWEVER, IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT THE ENGINE'S HIGH COMPRESSION RATE CAUSES THE VALVES TO WARP AND BECOME SOFT UNLESS THEY ARE ADJUSTED EVERY 30,000-35,000 MILES. HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH HONDA AND ALL THEY ARE WILLING TO DO IS SPLIT THE COST 50/50 OF THIS MAJOR REPAIR, OVER $3,000. THEY ARE MANY DOCUMENTED CASES OF THIS OCCURRING WITH THE 1999-2001 HONDA CR-VS THAT USE THE B210Z ENGINE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT STALLED. SHE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER TWO TO THREE ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADJUSTED THE HEADS IN THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 109,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
CHECK ENGINE CAME ON AT 76,000 MILES. ACCORDING TO DEALER THE EXHAUST VALES BURNT INTO CYLINDER HEAD, #4 CYLINDER WAS AT 25 PSI. ACCORDING TO DEALER THIS HAPPEN BEFORE TO THIS VEHICLE. *NM
EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE: ENGINE RUNNING POOR FAILURE: BURNT VALVES, LOST 1 CYLINDER, 2 VALVES CORRECTION: REBUILT HEAD AND DO VALVE ADJUSTMENTS SOONER THAN MAINTENANCE RECORDS REQUIRE AND $1,500 IN REPAIRS PLUS RENTAL CAR COSTS. *NM
ROUGH IDLE, ENGINE WOULD STUMBLE BUT RECOVER SEVERAL TIMES WHEN IDLING BEFORE FULLY WARMED UP, POOR FUEL MILEAGE. NO MIL (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT), AND NO CODES OR PENDING CODES DETECTED. DEALER TESTED AND STRONGLY RECOMMENDED VALVE ADJUSTMENT. ONLY 63K MILES ON IT AND VALVES WERE NOT NOISY. OWNER'S MANUAL STATES, "ADJUST VALVES AT 105, 000 MILES OR IF NOISY". NEITHER WERE TRUE. I RESEARCHED CR-V MESSAGE BOARDS AND FOUND LOTS OF "1ST GEN." CR-V'S (MAINLY FROM '99 TO '01) WERE HAVING PROBLEM WHEREBY SOME VALVE SEATS WERE RECEDING INTO CYLINDER HEAD CAUSING NEED FOR PREMATURE VALVE ADJUSTMENTS, BURNT EXHAUST VALVES, OR SOME EVEN NEEDING TO REPLACE CYLINDER HEAD. MOST PEOPLE WHO HAD THE MORE SEVERE PROBLEMS ALSO EXPERIENCED MIL LIGHTING UP & CODE INDICATING ENGINE MISFIRE. I CALLED AMERICAN HONDA CORP SEVERAL TIMES. THE 1ST TIME WAS LIKE PULLING TEETH TO GET THEM TO ADMIT THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AND THE CORRESPONDING TSB (SERVICE BULLETIN) SENT TO DEALERS. THEY FINALLY ADMITTED IT. BUT AFTER REVIEWING MY CASE TWICE, BOTH TIMES THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE VALVE ADJUSTMENT. THEY CLAIMED: 1) DEALERS ARE FRANCHISED & HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM, 2) IT'S A MACHINE, AND MACHINES NEED ADJUSTING FROM TIME TO TIME, 3) I DIDN'T PURCHASE EXTENDED WARRANTY SO THEY CAN'T HELP ME, 4) MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL IS JUST A GENERAL GUIDELINE, VALVES SHOULD BE ADJUSTED SOONER, AND 5) SHOULD I REQUIRE CYLINDER HEAD REPLACEMENT IN THE FUTURE, THEY MIGHT OFFER ME SOME KIND OF RESTITUTION, BUT NO GUARANTEES. ENGINE RUNS FINE NOW AFTER VALVE ADJUSTMENT, BUT WHO'S TO SAY IN ANOTHER 10 TO 30K IT WON'T NEED IT AGAIN, PERHAPS ONLY TO FIND OUT IT'S TOO FAR OUT OF SPEC & WILL NEED NEW CYL. HEAD! IT'S PRINTED CLEARLY, IN BLACK & WHITE IN OWNER'S MANUAL: "ADJUST VALVES AT 105,000 MILES OR IF NOISY". PERHAPS WE SHOULD START CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST HONDA. THEY NEED TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT, REDESIGN THE CYL. HEADS AND DO A RECALL! BUYERS BEWARE! *NM
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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