2003 Honda CR-V Owner Complaints

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

NHTSA ID

11679102

Incident

Aug 3, 2025

SRS LIGHT CAME ON 2 MONTHS AGO. FEAR FOR MY SAFETY. RECALL PLEASE. ELECTRICAL. BACK RT WINDOW AND RT FRONT DOOR LOCK CANNOT BE OPERATED FROM FRONT DRIVER DOOR. LIGHTING. BACK INTERIOR LIGHT DOES NOT TURN OFF AUTOMATICALLY. Paint is peeling from all over the car, especially on the front of it. Looks ghastly.

NHTSA ID

11673712

Incident

Jul 15, 2025

The contact owns a 2003 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated, and the engine fan was inoperable causing the engine to overheat. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who replaced the thermostat, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted regarding the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.

NHTSA ID

11611543

Incident

Aug 1, 2017

Mileage

143,000 mi

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

There was a recall for 2003 CRV will water getting into master door look switch. This switch would cause fire. The smell off burning plastic and smoke came from the door look switch. The the rear driver window didn't work. I don't use the window so it wasn't important. About 6 months later it happened again the smoke almost caused an accident. The passenger side front door wouldn't work. I changed both blown fuses. And smoke started right away and pooped both fuses. I removed the door look master switch. There are burns and melted plastic on switches and plastic body. I called Honda and they say it's the same symptoms but they're not covering it. There was a recall for this on Honda CRVs of this year for the same reason. Please tell me why some vehicles are covered and some are not when it's the same thing happening. So I am going to send this complaint to you and I'm also going to talk to my attorney.

NHTSA ID

11530769

Incident

Feb 3, 2023

June 17, 2022 my daughter was hit on the driver side rear corner panel by a vehicle that ran a red light. The impact had enough force to spin her 2003 Honda CRV 180 degrees yet none of the airbags deployed. The rear driver side wheel was bent inward and had to be towed.

NHTSA ID

11493268

Incident

Jun 17, 2022

The contact owns a 2003 Honda CR-V. The vehicle had previously been serviced at the dealer under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V768000 (Visibility, Electrical System) however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the driver's side front power window switch failed to operate as needed. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.

NHTSA ID

11475072

Incident

Jul 21, 2022

Mileage

102,000 mi

The contact received notification of a recall for a 2003 Honda CR-V she never owned. The contact received several post cards notifications for Takata air bag recalls and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The contact stated that the recall notification was addressed to an unknown individual who never lived at her address. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.

NHTSA ID

11467145

Incident

Jun 2, 2022

The SRS light in my Honda CRV recently went on, and remains on, when the vehicle is in operation. Last week, I took the car to Honda of Princeton (local Honda dealer), who diagnosed the problem as a DTC 15-3 Faulty OPDS Sensor, and further explained that this faulty sensor could potentially cause the passenger-side airbag (replaced in a prior Honda CRV recall) to NOT deploy in the event of an accident. Indeed, the repair documentation included a dealer statement that I had been made aware of the issue. I paid for this diagnostic work, which was overseen by [XXX], who is a service lane manager at the dealer (Tel: [XXX]). The dealer said it would NOT assume financial responsibility for the replacement of this faulty sensor since the defect is not currently the subject of a Honda product recall, and stressed that this defect is not covered by the various Honda airbag recalls, even though the faulty sensor could impair airbag deployment in an accident. This faulty sensor may cause non-deployment of the passenger-side airbag, and it would therefore seem self-evident that the defect places the safety of any front-seat passenger in my Honda CRV at grave risk. Today, I called American Honda Motor Company (Tel: 888-234-2138) concerning the faulty sensor, and spoke with "[XXX]", who opened Case #[XXX] based on our call. [XXX] said the faulty sensor is not currently the subject of a Honda product recall. She also confirmed (I had already found the bulletin online and asked about it) that the Honda CRV's faulty OPDS sensor was the subject of Honda Service Bulletin 06-006, which extended the warranty to 10 years for the faulty sensor, but she noted that the faulty OPDS sensor was no longer covered by this service bulletin or warranty. [XXX] said that American Honda Motor Co. would not assume financial responsibility for the faulty OPDS sensor on this basis, but suggested that I try to 'work with' the local Honda dealer to address the problem. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U

NHTSA ID

11441988

Incident

Nov 29, 2021

Door locks are all malfunctioning. Only 2 work some of the time and the other 3 none of the time. Key works sometimes in 2 of the locks and not at all in the back door.

NHTSA ID

11430622

Incident

Aug 2, 2021

Lowbeams went out when I got off work but highneams were working. I bought new bulbs the next day and the problem unchanged. So I checked all fuses and relays those were all fine. I proceeded to remove the steering column cover and disconnected the connectors and the gray one had what looks like Rust and or melted. This is very alarming because until I can replace the connector I have to drive home at nights with high beams. This may cause an accident and or me getting pulled over for having highbeams on. I do have a picture of said connector I took today 8/16/21.

NHTSA ID

11429374

Incident

Aug 12, 2021

Similar to an NHTSA campaign No. 19V053000 of Honda 2017-2019 Ridgelines recall, there is a hairline crack on the fuel pump feed port of my 2003 Honda CR-V that is 'spewing' gasoline whenever the car key is in "ON" position, and much more leakage when the engine is running. There is NO engine CODE that is showing in my dashboard. The vehicle is running fine. The only indication is a VERY strong smell of gasoline in the cabin, and traces of fuel leak from underneath the vehicle (along the outside of the gas tank).

NHTSA ID

11425509

Incident

Jul 10, 2021

The ac compressor and drier on my 2003 Honda CR-V failed and contaminated my whole entire ac system. Contaminants from the compressor have been released. This issue is common for Honda crvs from the earlier 2000’s, because the compressors are substandard. Unfortunately Honda never alerted me of the faulty ac compressor, so I could ensure the ac compressor was replaced in time. Due to this substandard ac compressor, my whole entire ac system needs to be flushed and replaced. I have a new baby and I am not sure if she or I inhaled any contaminants from this issue. This issue was checked and confirmed by a mechanic, and the vehicle is available for inspection. I did not receive any alert or warning messages from my car for this issue.

NHTSA ID

11424814

Incident

Jul 5, 2021

The front end underneath of the honda is completely rusted and corroded. The car is unsafe to drive.

NHTSA ID

11418425

Incident

May 25, 2021

[XXX] . I TOOK MY 2003 HONDA INTO LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH OF 2021 (UNSURE WHEN EXACTLY) FOR THEM TO WORK ON ANOTHER RECALL. I HAD RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL LETTER FROM HONDA NATIONAL CORP. THE DEALERSHIP SAID I HAD ALREADY HAD THIS DONE. BUT NOW I LOOKED UP MY VIN ON NHTSA WEBSITE AND IT SAYS THERE IS ONE "UNREPAIRED RECALL" FROM JUNE 27, 2019. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11406270

Incident

Mar 1, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MASTER SWITCH HAD BEGAN TO EMIT A GRAYISH SMOKE AFTER HE HAD MADE AN ATTEMPT TO WIND DOWN HIS PASSENGER FRONT WINDOW. SINCE THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WINDOW NO LONGER OPERATED. THE CONTACT THEN CALLED HONDA OF PASADENA(1965 E FOOTHILL BLVD, PASADENA, CA 91107) WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V768000 (VISIBILITY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11398574

Incident

Jan 1, 2021

Mileage

150,000 mi

MY LOW BEAMS DO NOT WORK ON 2003 HONDA CRV. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2015, AND SEE THERE WAS A LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT RECALL IN MARCH/ APRIL OF 2012. SINCE THE ISSUE JUST STARTED IN MY VEHICLE, AND THERE WAS A PRIOR RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, I WOULD LIKE THE RECALL TO BE SENT TO ME. ALSO, MY VEHICLE IS SHOWING A CODE P1259 VTEC SYSTEM MALFUNCTION SHOWING UP.

NHTSA ID

11386044

Incident

Nov 28, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V768000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY). THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING AND ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW, THE WINDOW FAILED TO ROLL BACK UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND AN UNKNOWN REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR IF THE WINDOW WAS ROLLED BACK DOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID

11383661

Incident

Aug 16, 2020

Mileage

170,000 mi

I PURCHASED THE 2003 HONDA CRV FROM ANTHONY AUTO SALES IN THOMSON, GA ON 2/21/2020. AFTER PURCHASE I NOTICED MY CIGARETTE LIGHTER/CHARGING PORT DIDN'T WORK. DID A FUSE TEST ON IT ONLY TO DISCOVER HALF OF THE FUSES WEREN'T WORKING IN THE FUSE BOX UNDER THE HOOD. I CALLED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT MAY BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM I COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE IN BECAUSE I WAS HAVING SURGERY THE FOLLOWING WEEK. ON FEBRUARY 25 WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN BUT PICKED ITS SPEED BACK UP AND FOR SOME REASON IT SEEMS TO GET POOR GAS MILEAGE. I LIKE MY VEHICLE I JUST WANT TO KNOW OF ANY FUTURE AND PAST RECALLS AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEM RECTIFIED SINCE I NOW OWN THE VEHICLE. PAST REPORTS HAVE ALSO SHOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAGS AS WELL. THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR LOCKS AS WELL.

NHTSA ID

11317104

Incident

Feb 25, 2020

Mileage

233,407 mi

I WAS REVIEWING A LIST OF RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE AND I JUST WANTED TO KNOW ARE THERE STILL RECALLS ON IT. I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON 02/21/2020 AND I NOTICED THE FUSE BOX WAS ONLY WORKING ON ONE SIDE. AND THEN RIDING THE INTERSTATE IT SLOWED DON'T AND GRADUALLY PICKED BACK UP SPEED. I THINK IT'S THE FUEL PROPULSION SYSTEM AS I READ FROM AN EARLIER REPORT.

NHTSA ID

11317096

Incident

Feb 25, 2020

WAS TOLD BY LOCAL DEALER SRS LIGHT LED TO SEAT BELT BUCKLE.. WOULD NOT FIX WITHOUT BIG DIAGNOSIS FEE AND COST OF PART. DID SOME RESEARCH ON WEB AND FOUND THIS LOOKS LIKE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11302478

Incident

Jan 28, 2020

Mileage

70,000 mi

I HAVE RESPONDED TO HONDA'S REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION RE: I NO LONGER OWN MY VEHICLE AT LEAST FOUR TIMES! I PROVIDED TRADE IN INFO IN 2008 WHEN I PURCHASED A NEW CAR. WHY HAVEN'T THEY RECORDED THE INFORMATION I PROVIDED? I FEEL HONDA IS NOT ACTING IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC WHEN I SEE THEY DON'T RECORD INFORMATION SUCH AS I'VE PROVIDED NUMEROUS TIMES.

NHTSA ID

11280650

Incident

Nov 15, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ACTIVE UNKNOWN RECALL ON HIS VEHICLE DUE TO DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CURRY HONDA GEORGIA (5525 PEACHTREE INDUSTRIAL BLVD, CHAMBLEE, GA 30341, (770) 451-2700) WHERE THE RECALL REMEDY WAS PERFORMED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE TO BE RESOLVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11233417

Incident

Apr 1, 2019

"TAKATA RECALL" THE AIR CONDITIONER GOES OUT WHEN THE CAR HITS ANY POT HOLES ARE BUMPS IN THE ROAD. ALSO THE SUSPENSION SYSTEMS DIDN'T WORK VERY WELL.

NHTSA ID

11210645

Incident

Mar 1, 2019

Mileage

7 mi

2003 HONDA CR-V. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR CONDITIONING FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE ADDRESSED I THE RECALL. *JS

NHTSA ID

11196312

Incident

Sep 1, 2018