RoadVitals

2009 Honda CR-V Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Jun 26, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 386 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Honda CR-V submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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.

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Visibility
Filed Jun 26, 2020

AC COMPRESSOR, THIS IS THE 2ND CAR I HAVE OWED SAME YEAR. BECAUSE I OBVIOUSLY LOVE THESE CARS THAT THE AC COMPRESSOR HAS NEEDED FIXED. SO IT'S OBVIOUSLY BAD. *TR

NHTSA ID
11331069
Incident
Jun 26, 2020
Mileage
131,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 17, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CR-V. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 TO 60 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS NO INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TO HAVE THE SUN ROOF REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DISCLOSED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. *TT

NHTSA ID
11196943
Incident
Jan 1, 2017
Mileage
55,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 9, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CR-V. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER (SMART HONDA, 11206 HICKMAN RD, DES MOINES, IA 50325, (515)-253-3040) WAS CONTACTED TO SCHEDULE A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,371.

NHTSA ID
11139329
Incident
Sep 26, 2018
Mileage
118,371 mi
Visibility
Filed May 18, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CR-V. WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED, IT BLEW OUT EXTREMELY HOT AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ID
10986351
Incident
Mar 1, 2017
Mileage
65,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 23, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CR-V. WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE GLASS TO FRACTURE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS ABLE TO ORDER THE PARTS TO REPLACE THE GLASS AND THE SEALS FOR THE SUN ROOF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ID
10735956
Incident
Jul 19, 2015
Mileage
75,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 3, 2015

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN THE WIPERS WERE ON DELAY AND TURNED ON COMPLETELY BY THEMSELVES. I TRIED TO TURN THEM OFF AND THEY WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I TURNED THEM BACK TO DELAY AND EVENTUALLY, THEY STARTED TO OPERATE CORRECTLY. THE INCIDENT RE-OCCURS FROM TIME TO TIME.

NHTSA ID
10723146
Incident
Feb 2, 2015
Mileage
68,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 24, 2015

DROVE ABOUT 30 MILES IN RAINY WEATHER WITH THE WIPERS WORKING PERFECTLY FINE AT A STEADY SPEED, WHEN SUDDENLY I NOTICED THAT THE WIPERS WERE SLUGGISH. THEN THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY WHILE IT WAS RAINING AND I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. I TRIED TO GET THEM TO WORK BUT THEY WOULDN'T BUDGE. THE REAR WIPER WAS STILL WORKING. I PANICKED AS I THOUGHT I MAY HAVE ENGINE PROBLEMS. I HEADED FOR THE NEAREST EXIT. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE CHECK, THEY SAID THAT THE WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEFECTIVE WIPERS ARE A SAFETY HAZARD AS MY VISIBILITY WAS IMPAIRED WITHOUT THE USE OF FUNCTIONING WIPERS. HONDA SHOULD PAY FOR THIS REPAIR AS IT IS VERY COSTLY OVER $500. *TR

NHTSA ID
10701288
Incident
Mar 20, 2015
Visibility
Filed Feb 2, 2013

WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID TO FRONT WINDSHIELD FROZE, OUTSIDE TEMP IN TEENS TO TWENTIES. ABLE TO DEFROST BY POURING HOT WATER ON NOZZLES BUT REFREEZES WITHIN MINUTES AT HIGHWAY SPEED. WASHER FLUID RATED TO -20 BEING USED. OCCURS EVEN WITH ALCOHOL ADDED TO FLUID. DANGEROUS PROBLEM IN WINTRY AREAS!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10496169
Incident
Jan 18, 2013
Mileage
36,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 29, 2012

ICE BUILD UP ON THE WINDSHIELD OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OCCURS WHENEVER THERE IS SNOW OR FREEZING RAIN. THIS HAS BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. EVEN WITH THE DEFROSTER ON THE HIGHEST SETTING THIS OCCURS. I BOUGHT AN AWD VEHICLE AS I LIVE IN VERMONT SO EXPECTED A DEFROSTER THAT WOULD PERFORM UNDER FREEZING CONDITIONS. WHILE DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE, THE ICE BUILD UP ON THE WINDSHIELD AFFECTS VISIBILITY SO GREATLY THAT I HAVE TO STOP DRIVING AND TRY TO BREAK UP ICE ON THE WINDSHIELD AND WIPERS. THIS IS NOT SAFE TO DO DURING BAD WEATHER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10490477
Incident
Dec 1, 2009
Mileage
3,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed May 22, 2009
Crash reported

I PURCHASED A 2009 HONDA CRV IN FEB. I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE REAR/SIDE VISIBILITY DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE AND VOICED MY CONCERN TO THE SALESWOMAN. SHE ASSURED ME THAT I "WOULD GET USED TO IT." WELL, I HAVEN'T! I HAVE SERIOUS VISIBILITY PROBLEMS WHEN BACKING UP AND CHANGING LANES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. (I AM A VERY SAFE DRIVER AND HAVE NEVER BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY TRAFFIC VIOLATION OTHER THAN 1 SPEEDING TICKET OVER 30 YEARS AGO AND 1 PARKING TICKET THAT COULD NOT BE AVOIDED.) I BACKED INTO A SIGN POLE IN A PARKING LOT IN MID APRIL, DAMAGING THE REAR RIGHT CORNER OF THE VEHICLE-IN THE BLIND SPOT. TWO DAYS AGO, WHILE I WAS VERY SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, I CAME VERY CLOSE TO A WOMAN PUSHING A BABY IN A CART. I WAS HORRIFIED AND IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE DEALER WHO SOLD ME THE CAR AND AMERICAN HONDA-BOTH UNSUCCESSFULLY. I SPENT HOURS E-MAILING AND TALKING ON THE PHONE, ASKING FOR A SOLUTION FOR THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM FROM BOTH THE DEALER AND AMERICAN HONDA. A MAN THAT I SPOKE WITH AT AMERICAN HONDA TOLD ME THAT THE DESIGN OF THE '09 CRV IS THE SAME AS THE '07 CRV WHICH HE OWNS. HE STATED THAT HE HAD PARTIALLY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BY ADDING SMALL ROUND CONCAVE MIRRORS LIKE THOSE USED FOR TRAILERS/RV'S, BUT DID NOT DOCUMENT THAT HE HAD SAID THIS. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT I OWN A NEW, BUT DAMAGED, VEHICLE THAT HAS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW WHICH CAUSES MAJOR BLIND ZONES. I FEAR THAT IF SOMETHING IS NOT DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM ON ALL OF THESE CRV'S DRIVING AROUND, MORE PEOPLE WILL BE INJURED OR KILLED. I FEEL THAT AMERICAN HONDA NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DESIGN FLAW. FINALLY, TODAY THE ASSIST. MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED THAT I HAVE SENSORS PUT ON THE VEHICLE AT MY OWN EXPENSE AND REMARKED: "THEY'RE NOT CHEAP." UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10269674
Incident
Apr 16, 2009
Mileage
2,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 4, 2009

BRAND NEW TWO-WEEK OLD 2009 HONDA CRV. DEFECT IN WINDOW WASHER NOZZLES. FREEZE UP WHEN TEMPS DROP WELL BELOW FREEZING WHICH IN NE PENNSYLVANIA HAPPENS OFTEN. DRIVING ON TURNPIKE IN SNOW SQUALLS--WASHERS FROZE UP AND WE COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD. CONTACTED HONDA DEALER AND THEY TOLD US HONDA DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS RECURRING PROBLEM TO BE A SAFETY FACTOR. IT IS A DEFINITE SAFETY FACTOR WHEN YOU CANNOT SEE THE ROAD. PROBLEM MUST BE RECTIFIED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10257410
Incident
Jan 25, 2009
Mileage
75 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .