Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Honda CR-V submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 63 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 63, in the owner's own words
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
VEHICLE WINDOW MASTER SWITCH STARTED ON FIRE WHEN VEHICLE WAS NOT IN USE IN DRIVEWAY
WHEN TRYING TO REVERSE GEAR SHIFT LEVER WASNT ALLOWING FOR GEARS TO SWITCH CAR WAS STUCK ON DRIVE.
THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK DOES NOT WORK AND CAUSES THE LOCKS NOT TO WORK. I AM NOT ABLE TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR WITH A KEY OR AUTOMATIC KEY. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WHICH WAS REPAIRED BY WAY OF A TEMPORARY REPAIRS BY MY MECHANIC IN 2013. I WAS AT LEAST ABLE TO GET INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE WITH MY AUTOMATIC KEY BUT COULD NOT OPEN IT WITH THE KEY. NOW THE DRIVER;S SIDE DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. I CAN ONLY CLIMB IN THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE USING THE KEY ONLY. BACK IN 2013 BEFORE THE TEMP REPAIRS WERE MADE I CONTACTED HONDA TO SEE IF THEY HAD A RECALL AND BASED ON MY VIN # THERE WAS NO RECALL THE THE LOCKS.
THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT HAS BROKEN OVER AND OVER. I'VE PAID THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS REPAIRING IT. I'M DISABLED AND GET VERY ILL IN THE HEAT. THERE WAS A RECALL BUT I WAS NOT TOLD OF IT UNTIL I HAD TOO MANY MILES ON MY CAR BECAUSE I USED TO USE MY CAR FOR WORK AS A SOCIAL WORKER. BUT IT STARTING BREAKING LONG BEFORE THE MILES WERE TOO HIGH. IT'S DEFECTIVE. AND BREAKING AGAIN. THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES SUCH AS THE AUTOMATIC WINDOWS AND DOOR LOCKS. THE PASSENGER FRONT WINDOW DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. AND THE DRIVER DOOR LOCK DOES LOCK WITH THE AUTO LOCKS. AND THE KEY HOLE IS BROKEN. SO EVERY TIME I DRIVE I HAVE TO LOCK THE FRONT DOOR FROM THE BACK SEAT AND THEN USE THE AUTO LOCK. THE DRIVER VISOR HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR YEARS. IT JUST HANGS. SO I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH IT TO THE SIDE. AND IT HANGS LOWER THAN NORMAL. WHICH IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT OBSTRUCTS MY VIEW AND I CAN'T USE IT TO BLOCK OUT THE SUN. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT JUST TO LOOK AT IT & DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. WHICH IS FAULTY DESIGN. BECAUSE THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN BROKEN FOR YEARS. I HAVEN'T DRIVEN MUCH IN THE LAST 8 YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED. AND THESE ISSUES STARTED LONG BEFORE THAT. I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT DATE I FIRST GOT MY AC FIXED. BUT I BELIEVE IT WAS IN 2005. I CAN SEARCH MY GLOVE BOX FOR PAPERWORK IF NEEDED.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 6:30AM THIS MORNING MY LOW BEAMS HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. NOT ABLE TO SEE I PULLED OVER AND PUT MY CRV IN PART. I NOTICED THAT MY LIGHT SWITCH WAS STILL ON BUT I DID NOT HAVE ANY LIGHTS. I PUSHED THE LIGHT CONTROL FORWARDS AND NOTICED I DID HAVE USE OF MY HIGH BEAMS. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND ONLY HAD ABOUT 5 MORE MILE TO GO BEING SATURDAY ON COMING TRAFFIC WAS MINIMAL. WHILE AT WORK I HAD TIME TO RESEARCH WHAT THE PROBLEM MAY POSSIBLY BE THAT'S WHEN I STUMBLED UPON A FEW RECALLS. NEED MY HEADS LIGHTS I WENT TO AUTOZONE AND BOUGHT A REPLACEMENT SWITCH BUT WHILE PLUGGING IN THE NEW SWITCH I NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE CONNECTIONS WAS BURNT. I.E. THE RECALL IN ?. I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE STEPS I NEED TO TAKE SO THAT I CAN GET THIS PROPERLY TAKEN CARE OF. WHILE LOOKING AT THIS RECALL I FOUND 3 MORE ALARMING RECALLS. BOTH AIR BAGS SHOOTING OUT METAL FRAGMENTS AND A DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SWITCH THAT COULD POSSIBLY CATCH FIRE. I'LL BE PARKING OUTSIDE JUST IN CASE BUT ANY ADVICE ABOUT HOW TO GET THIS FIXED WOULD BE GREAT. BEING A 14 YEAR OLD CAR I FEEL LIKE I WILL HAVE TROUBLES WITH THE DEALERSHIPS I HOPE THAT'S NOT THE CASE THE CRV IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION AND I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.
AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTION. LOCKS DO NOT RESPOND TO SIGNAL FROM KEYF FOB NOR FROM ACTUAL DOOR CONTROL BUTTONS ON DOOR. THE VEHICLE IS SITTING IN A PARKED POSITION. I BELIEVE THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR IS FAULTY. I SUSPECT IT TO BE A KNOWN DEFECT BY HONDA. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM? I HAVE A 2004 HONDA CR-V WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND DEPRESSING THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SWITCH, IT FAILED TO OPERATE. IN ADDITION, THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 215,213.
ON TUESDAY MARCH 14, 2017 THE CAR WINDOW MOTOR STARTED ACTING UP, THE WINDOW WOULD GO DOWN ON ITS OWN. AS I STARTED THE CAR I STARTED I BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE, IT APPEARED TO BE COMING FROM DRIVER SIDE DOOR NEAR THE WINDOW. UPON TURNING THE CAR OFF AND REMOVING THE NEGATIVE END TO THE BATTERY THE CAR BEGAN SMOKING MORE AND IN SECONDS THE DRIVERS DOOR WAS UP IN FLAMES. I HAD TO RUN AND GRAB A FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM INSIDE. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT HOWEVER THE DOOR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, THE CAR SEAT WAS BURNED AS WELL AS THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS LUCKILY STATIONARY, AND THE EVENT OCCURRED ON MY PROPERTY WHERE I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITHOUT CAUSING MORE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. I NOTICED ONLINE THAT THERE WERE PREVIOUS RECALLS FOR HONDA AND THE WINDOW SWITCH CAUSING A FIRE. THERE HAD BEEN NO PREVIOUS ISSUES WITH THE WINDOW.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING ODOR FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V48600 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,793. UPDATED 09/08/16*LJ
ALL LOCKS EXCEPT DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT LOCK WHEN USING THE KEYLESS ENTRY. THEY ALL STOPPED WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. WHAT IS GOING ON. OFF COURSE IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY OR IS IT UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY JUST DON'T TELL YOU. PLEASE ADVISE. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY
LOW BEAMS WENT OUT, THEN THE BATTERY BURNED UP. REPLACED BULBS AND BATTERY BOTH WORKED FINE FOR A WEEK THEN HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT BOTH LOW BEAMS AND HIGH. MARKER LIGHTS ARE FLASHING LIKE STROBE LIGHTS. THE BRAKES ARE GRABBING WHEN YOU APPLY THEM. ONE SIDE OF THE REAR BRAKES WEAR OUT FASTER THAN THE OTHER SIDE. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COME ON UNTIL YOU TURN ON THE FAN OR LIGHTS THEN THEY FLASH ON AND OFF.
BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING, BOTH HIGH BEAMS STILL WORK. REPLACED HEADLIGHT LAMPS, LOW BEAMS STILL NOT WORKING. FOUND DEFECT REPORT ONLINE FOR SAME SYSTEM FAILURE. (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11012 NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V136000) TALKED TO HONDA CORPORATE AND TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY RECALL, EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT INDEPENDENTLY REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE REMOTE STARTER PER THE DEALER'S INSTRUCTION, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.
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
MADE LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND A/C STOPPED WORKING AS I WAS ON THE FREEWAY IN GRID LOCK TRAFFIC THE CAR DOES NOT WORK AND I CAN NOT BYPASS THE AC ( THIS IS NOT AN OPINION ON THIS CAR ). SO THE AC IN STANDARD EQUIPMENT. HONDA OF AMERICA SETTLES A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT FOR THIS CAR MODEL. HOWEVER THEY WILL NOT HELP ME GET MY CAR UP AND RUNNING WITHOUT ME PAYING FOR A REPAIR THAT IS DUE TO A BAD DESIGN BY THEY MANUFACTURER. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED AND THIS IS MY ONLY WAY TO GET TO MY DOCTOR AND WORK. *TR
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
BOTH PASSENGER REAR DOORS STOPPED RESPONDING TO THE KEYLESS REMOTE. THEY CAN ONLY BE UNLOCKED MANUALLY FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. DRIVER DOOR STOPPED RESPONDING SHORTLY THERE AFTER. HAVE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK/LOCK THE DOOR WITH THE KEY. THE INTERIOR DRIVER DOOR LOCK CAN NOT BE MOVED UP OR DOWN MANUALLY. ONLY THE KEY CAN MOVE THE DOOR LOCK. NOW THE KEY IS STICKING AND NOT TURNING IN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK. MUST TRY MULTIPLE TIMES TO FINALLY GET IT TO WORK. 3 OUT OF 4 DOOR LOCKS ARE FAULTY AND DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR MALFUNCTIONS AS WELL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER, REAR PASSENGER, AND THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE POWER SWITCH WINDOW FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V486000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , VISIBILITY). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
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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