2003 Honda CR-V Body & structure Problems

Corrosion of the rear frame led to the trailing arm separating, and I nearly hit a tree.

NHTSA ID

11679102

Incident

Aug 3, 2025

I let my daughter borrow my crv, she was coming backing from making errands going around a corner and she could not control the vehicle, she continued to try to turn the wheel in the direction she wanted to go but it would not, she ended up hitting another vehicle and came to a rest in someone’s yard. The officer on the scene did not want to sight her but had to under the law failure to control, he could see it was a mechanical failure. My vehicle has been maintained by several good mechanics but where the frame broke unless you pulled all the plastic down you would never know the frame was rotted. My daughter was 6.5 months pregnant at the time and her doctors told her to go get emergency ultrasounds done she had 2. The day of the accident and the next day. Everything was fine. I did contact and sent some pictures to Honda and all of the information they asked for but never heard back. I did try to send pictures but it would not let me upload.

NHTSA ID

11563992

Incident

Dec 20, 2023

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO CLOSE WHEN THE POWER WINDOW SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MARTIN HONDA (205 E CLEVELAND AVE, NEWARK, DE 19711, 302-738-5200) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 198,000.

NHTSA ID

11091571

Incident

Nov 20, 2017

Mileage

198,000 mi

MY SON WAS DRIVING MY 2003 HONDA CRV ON HIGHWAY 101 SOUTH NEAR EXIT 484A, IN ROHNERT PARK, CA JUST SOUTH OF THE TODD RD. OVERPASS/ON RAMP. IT WAS A WINDY DAY. THE HOOD OF THE CRV CAME UP AND HIT/BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. MY SON WAS ABLE TO LOOK SIDEWAYS TO GUIDE HIMSELF OFF THE FREEWAY. HE WAS ABLE TO GUIDE HIMSELF INTO A SAFETY ZONE NEXT TO THE FREEWAY, BUT COULDN'T GET OUT OF HIS CAR. HE REACHED AROUND FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT, AND WAS ABLE TO PULL DOWN THE HOOD SOMEWHAT (HE'S 6'4"). HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE DOWN FARTHER TO A MORE SAFE AREA ON THE WILFRED AVENUE OFF/RAMP. HE WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, AND FURTHER CLOSE THE HOOD. THE WINDSHIELD IS SHATTERED, AND THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE HOOD. THE FORCE CAUSED TWO AREAS OF THE HOOD TO BEND NEAR THE WINDSHIELD. THE HOOD WON'T OPEN NOW. IT IS IN A OPENED POSITION. THERE ARE SMALL DENTS IN THE HOOD FROM THE IMPACT. FROM THIS LOCATION, HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES HOME, USING BACK ROADS AND STICKING HIS HEAD OUT OF THE WINDOW TO SEE WHERE HE WAS GOING. THIS HAPPENED ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON IN A RUSH TIME ON THE FREEWAY. LUCKILY, MY MIDDLE AGED SON WAS STRONG ENOUGH AND TALL ENOUGH TO CLOSE THE HOOD WHILE IN THE SAFETY LANE. I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO SO, DUE TO BEING ELDERLY. WE HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET OF MULTIPLE INCIDENTS WITH THE HONDA CRV 2002-2006 HOOD OPENING UP AND HITTING THE WINDSHIELD, YET NO RECALL HAS BEEN INITIATED. THERE IS BELIEVED TO BE A DEFECT IN THE HOOD LATCH. WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER 2003 CRV, AND I AM NOW SCARED TO DRIVE THAT ONE TOO, KNOWING THIS COULD HAPPEN WITH THAT CRV TOO. MY SON CALLED OUR INSURANCE AND ARRANGED FOR THE WINDSHIELD REPAIR RIGHT AFTER THE ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, WE HAVE REALIZED THERE IS MORE DAMAGE. WE WILL BE CALLING OUR INSURANCE AND LOCAL HONDA DEALER (MANLY HONDA OF SANTA ROSA) TO SEE HOW TO PROCEED FROM HERE.

NHTSA ID

10870312

Incident

May 20, 2016

Mileage

138,784 mi

THE DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT ALLOW KEY TO BE INSERTED. BEEN THIS WAY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND IT STARTED WITH LOCKS DIFFICULT TO TURN. NOW NO LOCKS WORK AFTER FRANK ANCONA HONDA OF OLATHE KANSAS "REPAIRED" THEM A FEW YEARS BACK AND EVEN MADE NEW KEYS. THEY JUST TOLD ME TO FORCE THE KEYS IN AND TWIST HARD THEN TRIED TO CHARGE ME FOR SOMETHING THAT WASN'T FIXED. I DID NOT PAY FOR THE UNSATISFACTORY WORK. I'VE REPLACED DOOR LOCKS ON SEVERAL OTHER MAKE VEHICLES AND HAVE CARS THAT ARE 35 YEARS OLDER AND THOSE DOOR LOCKS WORK PERFECTLY. ONLINE I'VE NOTICED NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OF VERY DISGUSTED PEOPLE. THIS PROBLEM PREVENTS US FROM BEING ABLE TO LOCKS THE DOORS WHEN LEAVING THE CAR ANYWHERE. AS A ROAD POLICE OFFICER OF 30-31 YEARS NOW I KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF SECURITY OF BELONGINGS OR EVEN WHEN SITTING STATIONARY IN A BAD NEIGHBORHOOD. HONDA DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO REPAIR THE CRV'S DOOR LOCKS. THEY PUT DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT INTO THE CRV. I JUST GAVE UP AND DON'T KEEP ANYTHING IN THE CRV WITH ANY HINT OF PERSONAL INFORMATION ON IT OR PROPERTY I'M NOT PREPARED TO LOSE. I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE CAR DUE TO THEFT. OR HAVE SOMEONE PULL THE HOOD RELEASE AND STEAL BATTERY, ENGINE PARTS,... HONDA IS WORTHLESS.

NHTSA ID

10821202

Incident

Jun 1, 2011

Mileage

85,000 mi

PEELING PAINT ON ROOF AND HOOD. MA 10/5 UPDATED 11/22/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10734169

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

Mileage

48,000 mi

ALMOST 100% OF THE TIME I USE THE REMOTE TO UNLOCK AND LOCK THE 2003 HONDA CR-V EX. WHEN RECENTLY TRYING THE KEY, IT DID NOT WORK IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK. AS A RESULT OF DISCOVERING THIS DEFECT, I TRY THE KEY OCCASIONALLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEEING WHAT HAPPENS IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK. OTHER KEY/LOCK OBSERVATIONS: 1. USUALLY THE KEY DOESN'T EVEN GO INTO THE LOCK. 2. SOMETIMES THE KEY GOES IN THE LOCK ALL THE WAY, BUT WON'T TURN EITHER WAY. 3. OCCASIONALLY THE LOCK WORKS PERFECTLY, WITH NO RESISTANCE OR APPARENT PROBLEM, LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE LOCK. 4. EACH OF THESE SPORADIC ISSUES HAPPEN WITH TWO OTHER HONDA-MADE "SIDEWINDER" KEYS FOR THE CAR, WHICH ARE LIKE NEW. (THE MAIN KEY IS ALWAYS USED FOR THE IGNITION AND IS WORN THEREFROM.) 5. THE OTHER LOCKS ON THE CAR (IGNITION, FRONT PASSENGER & 5TH DOOR) DO NOT EXPERIENCE THESE PROBLEMS. HONDA SERVICE CLAIMS THE LOCKS PINS HAVE WORN OUT. HOW CAN THE LOCK PINS WEAR OUT WHEN THEY ARE BARELY USED? IF THE PINS HAVE WORN OUT, WHY DOES THE KEY GO ALL THE WAY INTO THE LOCK SOMETIMES? AND WHY DOES THE LOCK WORK PERFECTLY SOMETIMES? THIS IS A PERSONAL SAFETY ISSUE, AS WELL AS AN ISSUE REGARDING A BASIC FUNCTION OF THE CAR. DESPITE SERVICE BULLETIN 03068 (NHTSA ID NUMBERS 10004794 AND 10012644), HONDA SERVICE INSISTS THAT THE CONSUMER PAY TO HAVE THE PART(S) FIXED. THIS APPEARS TO BE EITHER A MANUFACTURING OR MATERIALS DEFECT, OR A MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL ISSUE WHICH CONSUMER COULDN'T CAUSE, AND FOR WHICH THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BEAR THE COST TO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID

10650615

Incident

Mar 1, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

BOTH REAR DOORS STOPPED RESPONDING TO THE MAIN LOCK AT THE DRIVERS SIDE FROM INSIDE.THEY CAN ONLY BE UNLOCKED MANUALLY FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. THE INTERIOR DRIVER DOOR LOCK WHEN MOVED UP OR DOWN MANUALLY ONLY WORKS ON FRONT TWO DOORS. SOMETIMES THE KEY IS STICKING AND NOT TURNING IN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK. MUST TRY MULTIPLE TIMES TO FINALLY GET IT TO WORK. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE FRONT DOOR MALFUNCTIONS AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10611111

Incident

Jul 15, 2014

Mileage

131,755 mi

WHILE I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, I DECIDED TO TAKE THE FREEWAY (INSTEAD OF THE NORMAL ROADS) BACK HOME. I WAS HITTING SPEEDS THAT WERE 60MPH-65MPH. IT WAS UNTIL I WAS 15 MINUTES INTO MY DRIVING THAT I HEARD SOMETHING SNAP IN THE FRONT OF MY CAR AND HEARD A DENSE WHOOSH. THE HOOD OF MY CAR SLAMS UP AGAINST MY WINDSHIELD AND I AM COMPLETELY BLINDED; I CAN NOT SEE IN FRONT OF ME. THANKFULLY, I USE MY REAR VIEWS WHILE I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY AND MANAGE TO DRIVE OFF TO THE SHOULDER. IF I HAD BEEN SURROUNDED BY CARS OR IF THIS HAD HAPPENED DURING A HEAVIER TRAFFIC PERIOD I MIGHT NOT HAVE MADE IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10594800

Incident

May 28, 2014

Mileage

61,000 mi

WHEN I PLACED THE CR-V IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY MY FOOT SLIP FROM THE BRAKE AND HIT THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR CATAPULTED HITTING MY HONDA ACCORD ON THE REAR PANEL OF THE DRIVER SIDE, MY ACCORD WAS PARKED PERPENDICULAR TO THE DRIVING PATH I INFORMED HONDA RECOMMENDED DESIGN CHANGES.. I REMEMBER THAT I USED TO OWN A TOYOTA CAMRY WHERE THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD ENOUGH GAP THAT I COULD PLACE MY FOOT BETWEEN THE TWO PEDALS. WILL GLADLY FURNISHED PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL . *TR

NHTSA ID

10515421

Incident

Apr 8, 2003

Mileage

96,000 mi

HEATER CORE LEAKING INTO PASSENGER SIDE AND DRIPPING ON PASSENGER'S FOOT. PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED BUT POTENTIAL FOR BURN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10495136

Incident

Jan 6, 2012

Mileage

100,000 mi

WHILST DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, OUT OF NOWHERE THE HOOD FLIPPED UP OVER THE WINDSHIELD AND BLOCKED ALL VIEW. I ALMOST GOT INTO A HUGE ACCIDENT AND WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE IN THE LEFT LANE. THE HOOD IS UNFIXABLE, THE ROOF IS DAMAGED WHERE THE HOOD IMPACTED AND THE ELECTRIC ON THE INSIDE SECTION OF THE ROOF NO LONGER WORK. THE HOOD HAD NOT BEEN OPENED FOR A WHILE AND WAS CLOSED CORRECTLY. I HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER DRIVERS OF THE SAME MODEL. I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE AND IT ENDED UP COSTING ME $2000 IN REPAIRS. WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL WHEN HONDA HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM IN NEWER MODELS? THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10451591

Incident

Feb 7, 2012

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CRV. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE HOOD DETACHED FLEW OPEN AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

NHTSA ID

10439893

Incident

Dec 12, 2011

Mileage

124,000 mi

DT*:THE CONTACT STATED THE PLATE COVERING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE PLATE WAS OBSERVED HANGING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND CORROSION ON THE BOLTS OF THE UNDER CARRIAGE. THERE APPEARED TO BE NO WATER DAMAGE. *AK UPDATED 1/25/2006 - THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. THEY CLAIMED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS A NON-WARRANTED AREA AND THAT THE CONSUMER WOULD BE CHARGED FOR REPAIRS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10146864

Incident

Dec 17, 2005

Mileage

18,000 mi