2015 Honda CR-V Powertrain (other) Problems

The contact owns a 2015 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated to respond while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that while making a turn from a complete stop, the vehicle temporarily stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact attempted to contact the local dealer several times, but the dealer was unreachable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 147,000.

NHTSA ID

11682778

Incident

Dec 1, 2024

Mileage

147,000 mi

While driving at normal speed, the vehicle suddenly began to shudder and produce unusual mechanical noise. Within seconds, the car lost all ability to accelerate despite pressing the gas pedal. The vehicle lost power in live traffic and had to be coasted to the side of the road. There were no warning lights, no error codes, and no fluid leaks. This was a sudden, dangerous failure. A family member who is a new driver was operating the vehicle at the time, with passengers on board. This created a serious safety risk to both my family and surrounding drivers. The situation could have resulted in a serious accident if it had occurred on a highway instead of a city street. The problem was diagnosed by a trusted independent repair shop as a complete internal failure of the CVT transmission. They confirmed the component failure occurred without any external damage or signs of neglect. The transmission had to be replaced at significant cost. The component has not been inspected by Honda. However, I have dashcam video showing the moment of failure, including the vehicle shuddering, power loss, and driver reaction. The video clearly shows the dangerous nature of the incident and is available for inspection upon request. To my knowledge, this is a known issue affecting this generation of Honda CR-Vs with CVT transmissions. Honda refused reimbursement assistance despite full documentation, citing the vehicle being out of warranty — even though this is the type of premature mechanical failure their Goodwill Assistance policy is supposed to address. No warning lamps, messages, or prior symptoms appeared before the failure.

NHTSA ID

11673521

Incident

Jun 6, 2025

While driving on highway at 70 mph on cruise control, the transmission went out of gear causing the engine to rev and the vehicle to slow. Pulled over to side of road, turned off engine, turned it back on and could not get transmission to go into any gear. Had to be towed

NHTSA ID

11578054

Incident

Mar 17, 2024

Car shaking vigorously when stopped in traffic and gears is engaged in drive mode, engine and transmission make loud noises when driving in low RPM between 1000 and 2000.

NHTSA ID

11571160

Incident

Jul 30, 2015

I was driving 55 miles an hour on a country road and a transmission completely disengage from the engine. There were no warning signs or messages on dashboard at all about any kind of transmission issue

NHTSA ID

11565923

Incident

Dec 5, 2023

For a few years now, my 2015 CRV EX has made whinning sounds when driving. At stoplights/stop signs when the vehicle was not in motion, it would shake violently at times. As time has progressed (approx 114000 miles), there is now a grinding and clicking noise that worsens when accelerating. Even in park, the grinding noise has become more noticeable. When going downhill, the gears do not want to change as they should because once I am on level ground, the RPM decreases but does not when car is in motion downhill. At times, my CRV jerks when the transmission finally changes gears. A more noticeable whine/whistling can be heard constantly when my vehicle is in motion. At stop signs/lights, the grinding has become more audible and it shakes to the point of embarrassment. There is a click noise when I start it to let it warm up. As each day passes the symptoms get worse. Additionally, the battery in the 2015 Honda CRV EX must have a bad electrical flaw. I have had consistent battery drainage issues shortly after purchasing it new in 2015. I have had batteries replaced several times. Now, to insure my vehicle will start in the mornings, I have had to disengage the battery terminals overnight and each time I get out of my vehicle. This problem existed basically since I purchased it. There are some serious flaws with this vehicle, and the way it shakes at time along with the straining, clicking, and grinding transmission sounds that something may malfunction and cause me to have an accident while the vehicle is in motion. I have researched where other 2015 Honda CRV EX owners have had the same issues. There is a problem, and these issues need to be addressed to protect drivers and their passengers. As of today, I will never own another Honda. As a driver of the vehicle, when you feel unsafe traveling or wake up to a dead battery that has been drained overnight, the issue should be addressed and cconsumers' concerns should be seriously considered.

NHTSA ID

11515185

Incident

Apr 3, 2016

Differential problem, converter torque locked up transmission and froze engine. No engine light or warnings were given, this happened in the middle of rush hour traffic where I could have been rear ended from sudden engine failure and was very dangerous for me to exit my vehicle for help. I had the vehicle repaired at Lithia Honda Medford oregon.

NHTSA ID

11502675

Incident

Nov 29, 2022

The contact owns a 2015 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that after completing a routine oil change and tire rotation, the TPMS warning light continuously remained illuminated. While the vehicle was parked, the vehicle moved and made an abnormal transmission sound. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to identify the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.

NHTSA ID

11496408

Incident

Aug 1, 2015

Mileage

5,000 mi

Vehicle stalls when in reverse and backing up after it has sat for a period of time, sometimes as little as 16 hours. While backing up, the vehicle stalls and shuts off.

NHTSA ID

11491338

Incident

Oct 28, 2022

While traveling approximately 65 mph on a heavily traveled, two-laned interstate portion with minimal emergency lane access, my vehicle suddenly lost all power: first slowing down and struggling for power around 40 mph, then, completely shutting down and losing all power leaving the vehicle completely without any power and minimal control to exit the roadway or move to a safer location. I managed to coast and pull my vehicle over to the side of the interstate just after a busy cloverleaf on-ramp and on an overpass and call for assistance from the State Highway Patrol who in turn called for a tow truck. On-ramp traffic was unable to move over to the left lane as they were on-coming and merging with existing interstate traffic, coming dangerously close to myself and the State Trooper at times. So much so, I truly feared for my safety and the safety of the trooper. Also, because of the location, I was unable to get out of my car and stand to the side out of harm's way. The vehicle was diagnosed at the Honda Dealership in Tucson as a "complete transmission failure" and would have to be replaced with a new transmission for approximately $6,000.

NHTSA ID

11482770

Incident

Sep 2, 2022

I was driving on an expressway on July 25, 2022 and my car stopped accelerating at a speed of 70mph. The RPMs would move but there was no acceleration and the speedometer wouldn’t go above zero. After pulling over I had to have the car towed. The dealer indicated that the transmission was damaged due to lack of transmission fluid. My safety and the safety of my son were compromised as I was driving on a busy expressway and the transmission just stopped working with no warning. There were no warnings that transmission fluid was low (yet I get warnings for things like tire pressure and oil?). I regularly have this vehicle serviced so I feel like this is some defect and do not understand how this could happen with no warning. The car is still being repaired so I do not know if the parts are still available.

NHTSA ID

11479436

Incident

Jul 25, 2022

no engine light, honda dealer misdiagnosed the issue and told me the car was safe to drive. I broke down and then was told I needed a new transmission, there is only 87k miles on it

NHTSA ID

11457769

Incident

Mar 15, 2022

This vehicle shakes pretty badly at idle. We took it to Honda for repairs, there is no recall for this but they did have a service bulletin for the issue. They replaced the headrest and two mounts, one was for the transmission and the other I think was for the condenser unit and recalibrated the idle. The car did improve although the shaking was still there at idle. This was done in October and in the last two weeks the problem has gotten worse then when we first took it to Honda. The car shakes very badly and doesn't feel safe for my kids. I have resorted to putting the vehicle in Neutral at stop lights which helps.

NHTSA ID

11450855

Incident

Oct 25, 2021

Purchased used at 64,000 miles. Second day of ownership/operation vehicle began stalling while in operation on the road. This happened when coming to a stop, when accelerating from a stop and while at high speeds on the highway. I am not sure if th problem is caused by drivetrain, fuel delivery, engine, or electrical issues.

NHTSA ID

11447642

Incident

Dec 26, 2021

The contact owns a 2015 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, the vehicle lost motive power but did not shut-off. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal were depressed but failed to respond. The contact veered to the side of the road where she attempted to drive the vehicle again but was unsuccessful. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 123,000.

NHTSA ID

11426149

Incident

Jul 19, 2021

Mileage

123,000 mi

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN MY 2015 HONDA CR-V AWD TOURING EDITION AUTOMATICALLY DOWNSHIFTS INTO A LOWER GEAR WHEN I START DRIVING DOWN A HILL. THIS CAUSES THE ENGINE TO REV HIGH AND WHINE LOUDLY UNTIL I REACH THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL WHEN IT FINALLY UPSHIFTS AND WORKS CORRECTLY. THE ENGINE IS WORKING TOO HARD TO MAINTAIN A SLOW SPEED DURING THE DESCENT. CAN THE TRANSMISSION BE ADJUSTED SO IT DOESN'T DOWNSHIFT AND HOLD THE VEHICLE BACK? OR IS THIS A DEFECT WITH THIS TRANSMISSION THAT WILL BE COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY? IF SO, HOW CAN I GET A REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION INSTALLED?

NHTSA ID

11398449

Incident

Feb 24, 2021

Mileage

59,925 mi

DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON STRAIGHT STRETCH OF THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 60MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF FREEWAY. PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND THEN TURNED OFF VEHICLE. STARTED RIGHT UP BUT WHEN I SHIFTED THE ENGINE WOULD REV BUT NOT ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION. NONE OF THE GEARS WOULD ENGAGE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GOODYEAR TIRE AND AUTO IN DAVIS, CA AND ASSESSED FOR PROBLEM. THEY CONTACTED THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT $4600. THE VEHICLE HAD 87,000 MILES ON IT AND THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 80,000. WE CONTACTED HONDA BUT THEY SAID THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO. IT SEEMS THAT THIS YEAR HONDA HAD A SOFTWARE RECALL WHICH WAS COMPLETED ON THIS VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES OF USE IN 2016. THE SOFTWARE RECALL FIXED A PROBLEM THAT WOULD LEAD TO THIS EXACT FAILURE IN THE TRANSMISSION. IF DAMAGE HAD OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE SOFTWARE FIX THEN IT SEEMS LIKELY IT COULD SHORTEN THE EXPECTED LIFE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND CONTRIBUTED TO THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

11363583

Incident

Oct 7, 2020

Mileage

87,000 mi

WHEN I PULLED THE CAR OUT FROM GARAGE, THE CAR STOPPED. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE IN TWO WEEKS.

NHTSA ID

11361656

Incident

Sep 28, 2020

Mileage

35,000 mi

ENGINE IS A LEMON I PAID $40000 AND THE 3 RD CYLINDER OF THE MOTOR IS BAD MY MECHANIC SAID I NEED A NEW MOTOR BUT HONDA WILL NOT HELP ME I DON'T RECOMMEND IT TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS

NHTSA ID

11355482

Incident

Jul 8, 2020

Mileage

130 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF DRIVE INTO REVERSE OR NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY, WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUTOFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO VALLEY HONDA (4173 OGDEN AVE, AURORA, IL 60504) WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT'S SON CHECKED THE VIN FOR RECALLS HOWEVER, NO RECALLS WERE DISCOVERED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,000.

NHTSA ID

11352779

Incident

Sep 1, 2018

Mileage

2,000 mi

LOUD RATTLE NOISE ON COLD START AND LASTS FOR 1-2 SECONDS. MY LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT IT'S THE VTC ACTUATOR AND CURRENTLY THERE'S NO FIX FOR IT. IF REPLACED, IT WILL EVENTUALLY COMES BACK AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

11343617

Incident

Aug 6, 2020

VEHICLE STALLS WHILE REVERSING IN A PARKING LOT WHILE IN MOTION. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE RELATED TO HONDA/SERVICE BULLETIN 18-072 AS ATTACHED. THIS HAS BEEN OBSERVED 3 TIMES. ON COLD START AFTER ABOUT 5-10 SECONDS THE ENGINE DIES. ADDITIONALLY NO DIAGNOSTIC ERROR CODE OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES GIVING NO INDICATION THERE IS A PROBLEM. THE CAR DOES START AFTER THIS HAPPENS ALTHOUGH IT HAS IN THE PAST, NOT THE LAST TIME THIS ISSUE OCCURRED, I DID HEAVE TO CHOKE THE ENGINE TO GET IT TO START. DURING THE LAST INCIDENT THE AMBIENT OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS ~70F. THE CAR WAS STARTED AND PUT INTO REVERSE WITHIN THE FIRST 5 SECONDS OF IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS ON A FLAT SURFACE DURING THE INCIDENT. NO ACCESSORIES WERE RUNNING EXCEPT FOR THE HEADLIGHTS. I WAS NOT TURNING BUT BACKING UP STRAIGHT INTO A PARKING SPOT BEFORE LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL.

NHTSA ID

11340483

Incident

Jul 19, 2020

Mileage

39,900 mi

2015 HONDA CRV FRONT SEAT VIBRATES. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO FIXED IN ACCORDANCE TO TSB 15-046. THE VIBRATIONS IS STILL APPARENT AFTER 20K MILES LATER. WHEN MY CRV IS STOPPED WITH VEHICLE IN GEAR (AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT). I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TECHNICIAN A MARKING THE ISSUE AS NORMAL VIBRATIONS. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER WAY FOR HONDA NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE POOR ENGINEERING. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE VIBRATIONS WILL EVENTUALLY LOOSEN UP THE SEAT BOLTS. THERE ARE A FEW VIDEOS OF 2015 HONDA CRV FRONT SEAT VIBRATIONS ON YOUTUBE.

NHTSA ID

11299144

Incident

Jun 4, 2016

MY SON COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR INJURED BECAUSE OF THIS VEHICLE. I BOUGHT THIS 2015 CRV USED WITH APPROXIMATELY 31,400. MILES. CHECKED THE CAR FAX NO PROBLEMS NO ACCIDENTS REPORTED. THE CAR DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE CAR AND SERVICED IT. IT HAD AN OIL JOB, BATTERY, TIRES REPLACED. DROVE IT FOR 4 MONTHS WITH NO PROBLEMS. I AM STILL UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. THEN DECEMBER 17 THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE MY 22 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING IT ON THE ROADWAY. JUST LOST POWERS. SOMEONE EVENTUALLY PUSHED HIS CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF ROAD AND OUT OF TRAFFIC. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO JOYCE HONDA. ALTHOUGH UNDER WARRANTY THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT. SAID THE CAR HAD ONLY 1 GALLON OF TRANSMISSION FLUID. NO LEAKS. THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS PRIOR, NO LIGHTS LITE UP ON THE DASHBOARD WARNING US TO SERVICE OR CHECK THE ENGINE. NO FUMES. WE DIDN'T EVEN OWN THE CAR LONG ENOUGH TO NEED AN OIL JOB YET. I SPOKE TO OTHER MECHANICS WHO SAID IT'S DEFECTIVE. IT COULD NOTBHAVE BEEN DRIVEN FOR FOUR MONTHS ON ONE GALLON TRANSMISSION FLUID. I KNOW HONDA HAS HAD MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT'S A DEFECTIVE TORGUE CONVERTER THAT IS BURNING OFF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. I HAVE A CASE OPEN WITH HONDA BUT THEY REFUSE TO HONOR MY POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. THIS IS A $4800 REPAIR! HONDA NEEDS TO STAND BY ITS WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID

11297357

Incident

Nov 17, 2019

Mileage

34,500 mi

2015 HONDA CR-V SUV WAS TRAVELING HIGHWAY SPEED (55MPH) IN ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL MODE. WEATHER AT THE TIME OF IMPACT WAS 50F. ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DETECT VEHICLE IN FRONT AND ACCELERATION OCCURRED RESULTING IN IMPACT.

NHTSA ID

11291003

Incident

Nov 27, 2019

Mileage

110,000 mi