2018 Honda CR-V Owner Complaints

Vehicle experiences persistent, simultaneous flashing of all dashboard warning lights (Check Engine, Braking System, Traction Control, Steering Assist). This issue blinds the driver from seeing real-time critical vehicle warnings and disables active safety features. Dealer diagnostics confirmed fault codes P0172 (Fuel System Rich) and P0303 (Cylinder 3 Misfire) caused by failing fuel injectors flooding the cylinders. This is a widespread defect on 2018 1.5L Turbo engines that poses an active driving hazard.

NHTSA ID

11776851

Incident

Jul 1, 2023

The steering wheel sticks then breaks free with a jerk. It usually shows up at highway speed. When trying to make a small lane corrections, extra force is required and often causes overcorrection. A ticking or clunking noise also occurs when the wheel sticks or releases. I contacted a dealer and they knew of the problem but said my vehicle wasn't part of the recall. I don't understand why my vehicle can have a known problem and not be covered. I've read of people with this problem having the steering wheel lock completely and running into things. Right now I don't even feel safe driving the car to a dealer for repair.

NHTSA ID

11776425

Incident

Nov 6, 2026

While driving on a very busy highway the vehicle lost power all waring lights came on in the vehicle and it lost power steering wheel became hard to move and I had to get over leave highway pull into gas station where vehicle continue not to function properly I called family for assistance called a tow truck and had it towed home because all dealers were closed at 10:30 pm (which cost 480 dollars . My vehicle had been called for a fuel pump recall which I did take to big star Honda and they repaired in August 8 2026. This incident happen on Nov 4 2026 took car back to Big Star Honda and they said it was the fuel pump now Honda refuses to make this right because the already replaced the fuel pump and I have to pay 1287 for a new fuel pump

NHTSA ID

11776284

Incident

Nov 4, 2026

During a long road trip from [XXX], to [XXX], I started hearing a loud clunking noise coming from the rear suspension whenever I drove over potholes or uneven pavement. I also felt a strong vibration while driving. I pulled over to check the noise, but because it was dark, it was too hard to see anything. The next day, I continued driving and decided to inspect the rear suspension more closely. I noticed a visible gap between the nut and the frame on the stabilizer bar, and the threads were completely stripped out. After consulting the vehicle service manual for guidance, I ended up replacing both rear stabilizer bar links. A few days later, the exact same issue returned—the passenger-side link was coming loose again. This time, I torqued the nut to the manual's exact specifications and applied threadlocker to the bolt, which finally put an end to the problem. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11775939

Incident

Jun 21, 2026

On 10/30/2026, I drove over a metal roadway plate at 30 mph and the car automatically activated the collision mitigation braking system and skidded to a complete stop in the middle of the road.

NHTSA ID

11774638

Incident

Oct 30, 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle lost power with the fuel pressure failure, causing the vehicle to decelerate, and there was heavy smoke coming from the exhaust. The contact pulled over safely and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode while driving back to the residence. The check engine warning light and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact became aware of an abnormal burning rubber odor prior to and during the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was towed to a local dealership, where it was diagnosed with a blown engine head gasket, lack of oil in the engine, and other internal engine damage. The failure mileage was 244,372.

NHTSA ID

11774459

Incident

Oct 6, 2026

Mileage

244,372 mi

The front brake line from the master cylinder to the ABS hydraulic control valve has failed from what appears to be corrosion failure directly related to electrolyte fluid leaking from the battery. The failure caused brake fluid to drain from the master cylinder reservoir and resulted in brake failure while the vehicle was being driven. Multiple warning lamps and warning messages turned on after brake application failure was noted by the driver. The vehicle use was terminated at the time the warning messages appeared and towed into our repair facility.

NHTSA ID

11773669

Incident

Oct 23, 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving, the steering wheel was sticking in mid turn. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the battery needed to be replaced due to the power steering failure. The vehicle was repaired; however, the battery failure persised. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 73,000.

NHTSA ID

11773270

Incident

Sep 11, 2026

Mileage

73,000 mi

At approximately 57,200 miles, the electronic power steering (EPS) rack assembly failed due to internal mechanical binding. When straightening out from turns, the steering wheel sticks in place and requires deliberate manual force to unbind, creating an overcorrection and lane-departure safety hazard. The issue was confirmed by an authorized Honda dealership technician on Repair Order #51151, who verified the internal binding and recommended full replacement of the EPS rack assembly (Part #53620-TLD-A03). No dashboard warning lamps illuminated before or during the failure.

NHTSA ID

11772713

Incident

Jul 1, 2026

My CRV has been having issues with the steering wheel "sticking" and making a clicking noise when turning. I have had it looked at multiple times and Honda dealerships claim they aren't "feeling" or "hearing" what I am. It's concerning when driving at high speeds on the highway with a steering wheel that is sticking during turns.

NHTSA ID

11772467

Incident

Jun 25, 2025

•Symptom Description: While driving straight at highway speeds (typically between 50 and 70 mph), the steering wheel temporarily locks or catches in a central "notch." When making routine micro-corrections to stay centered in the lane, the wheel physically resists. •The "Catch" Release: To overcome this resistance, I must apply deliberate physical force to "break the wheel free." Once it breaks loose, the sudden loss of resistance causes the vehicle to jerk slightly, making it difficult to maintain a smooth, safe line of travel. •Systems Eliminated: This issue persists regardless of whether the Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) or Road Departure Mitigation (MDS/RDM) are turned on or off. This is a physical, mechanical resistance in the steering column or gearbox, not an electronic driver-assist intervention. •Diagnostic Note: Because this is a mechanical friction/binding issue within the steering components, it does not trigger a dashboard warning light (MIL) or store an electronic diagnostic trouble code (DTC). A standard computer scan will show no faults. These micro adjustments make it difficult to stay centered in the driving lane, putting myself and others at risk of injury. Aggravation and frustration grow the longer the car is driven. The car was inspected at a local Honda dealer and it was suggested that the rack and pinion steering mechanism be replaced at a cost of $5,625.31. I further enquired to Honda Corporate Goodwill Assistance for help repairing this problem (case #16673404) and was told that there would be no financial reimbursement available. The car is drivable but I will not be taking it on any long drives (over an hour) due to this condition.

NHTSA ID

11772062

Incident

May 30, 2026

My car will stop when at red lights or stop signs. It’s like it dies. It also flashed 6 different problems at me: Emissions system problem, AWD system problem, adaptive cruise control problem, collision mitigation system problem, road departure mitigation system problem, auto high beam problem. This is so frustrating considering I just got this car, and there’s no recall, but I believe it’s the fuel pump. Please recall this. I can’t put so much money into this car.

NHTSA ID

11770690

Incident

Oct 8, 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. While the contact's daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, extra effort was needed to turn the steering wheel while driving the vehicle and the vehicle failed to drive in a straight line. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the EPS steering rack needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.

NHTSA ID

11770083

Incident

Jun 1, 2026

Mileage

62,000 mi

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, several unknown warning lights illuminated with an audible alert. The vehicle was previously repaired. The warning lights turned on and off and eventually remained illuminated. While driving, the vehicle failed to exceed 12 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where undisclosed repairs were performed; however, the failure recurred. The dealer determined that there was a leak in the fuel canister. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11769690

Incident

Feb 1, 2025

Mileage

80,000 mi

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the supplemental restraint system and front passenger’s side air bag messages were displayed on the instrument panel. The contact researched and was made aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

NHTSA ID

11769431

Incident

Oct 5, 2026

Mileage

98,000 mi

The Electric Power Steering (EPS) rack failed internally, causing heavy, sticky, and stiff steering accompanied by noise during turns, particularly when making small corrections at freeway speeds. The defect directly put safety at risk by impairing steering control, leading the inspecting authorized Honda dealership technician (Tech #3129) to officially document that the vehicle is "not safe to drive". Both the vehicle and the failing EPS assembly remain unrepaired. The issue was apparent after 4 wheel alignment performed by the dealership on 9/28/2026. ​The steering issue was fully reproduced and confirmed during a test drive and diagnostic procedure by the Honda dealership service department. No dashboard warning lights or error messages appeared prior to or during the failure; the symptoms were entirely physical.

NHTSA ID

11769187

Incident

Sep 29, 2026

Steering wheel sticks when turning causing over correction and safety issues. Other years have a recall-2018 does not. First reported in 2025 at 70,000 miles which is not a reasonable amount of time for a major part like that to break or malfunction

NHTSA ID

11768728

Incident

Sep 19, 2025

Had injectors replaced 2 times before it had 100k miles, HONDA KNEW what was happening. One of the men in the service dept told me while having them replaced the 2nd time. I took my car to the dealership at 123k miles and told them theres a problem with my oil getting gas in it but they blamed it on overdue oil change. I was forced to continue driving the car because I got a $7k quote and I couldnt afford to fix it I kept coolant in it and the car runs fine. David told me the head gasket had been blown so long that spark plug was rusted to the head. Now my car has 190k miles on it and they r refusing to fix it under the warranty extension because I didnt get it fixed at 123k. [XXX] at [XXX] told me if id fixed it I would be reimbursed but I was SOL because I couldnt afford to fix it and shouldnt have to pay for it to begin with. I think honda offering to extend the warranty was an easy out. I bought this car brand new, my 1st brand new car ever... and I always changed oil, maintance, never ran it hot... there is no reason a 2018 honda should be broken already. Please do a recall. This is a known problem and they should make it right. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11768662

Incident

May 17, 2023

The warning lights on the dash all lit up, and upon inspection of the vehicle, gave error code P0172. We took it to the Honda dealership near up, who confirmed that the vehicle needed the fuel injectors replaced. If we did not fix it immediately, our catalytic converter was at risk of also being damaged, along with other parts of the vehicle. We had it fixed, but on our own research, have seen that this is a very common failure in the 2018 Honda CR-V line vehicles.

NHTSA ID

11768532

Incident

Sep 28, 2026

The timing chain and camshaft broke the car froze while driving 70 mh. No warning. With about 67000 mi on it. Yes it can be inspected. At risk on the freeway going 70 mph. Was able to coast to the right side before engine locked the wheels. Not able to restart. Towed to an independent garage. They gave a diagnostic test and then opened it up to find timing chain broke and caused camshaft as well as other damages. No warning! Taking it to Moses Lake Honda dealership tomorrow for another evaluation and replace the engine if needed. Low mileage and well maintained! Should have never happened.

NHTSA ID

11768420

Incident

Sep 16, 2026

I brought my car into a dealership on 09/25/26 due to recall (system update), no maintenance light is on nor any alerts--was told to replace front tires and to have 90k maintenance done. After the software update-- 3 days later, my dashboard lights all lighted up (Christmas tree). Brought the car back on 09/30/26 because I figured technician failed to calibrate after updating the system software but then I was told i needed to replace the fuel injection parts. The car handbook says to use regular unleaded gasoline 87 or higher. I've been using 87 gasoline and now i'm told that my fuel injections are failing and need replacement. Cost for parts and labor is almost $3000. The service technician advised me to not use 87 because of debris and dirt it contains which cause the fuel injections to fail. This is misleading because i'm following what the car handbook says but then it leads to failure of fuel injection which i am responsible for the repair cost?! Additionally, my MPG is averaging 22 MPG when it's advertised as 25 to 28 MPG for city and 31 to 34 MPG for Highway. I use this car mostly on Highway and Freeway, yet my average is lower than the city. I noticed my fuel range mileage goes down very fast (did not even drive 1 mile yet, but range decreased by 2 to 3 miles). The MPG issue has been happening for the past 5 years. Especially noticeable when my fuel range is below 100 miles.

NHTSA ID

11768289

Incident

Sep 30, 2026

I am filing this complaint regarding a dispute with Honda concerning reimbursement for a repair that I believe was related to a Honda safety recall involving my vehicle. I own a 2018 Honda CRV-EXL. My vehicle experienced a problem involving the recalled component. I brought the vehicle to Honda, but the issue was not resolved through Honda, and I ultimately had to have the vehicle repaired at another repair facility. I paid approximately $4,700 out of pocket for the repair. I then contacted Honda and requested reimbursement because I believed the repair was related to the recall. Honda eventually sent me a reimbursement of only $250. I have repeatedly attempted to understand why Honda would reimburse only $250 when I paid approximately $4,700 for the repair. However, Honda has not provided me with an exact, detailed explanation showing how they calculated the $250 reimbursement or why the remaining approximately $4,450 was denied. I have asked Honda for an itemized explanation and the specific reason portions of my repair were considered ineligible. Honda has not provided me with a satisfactory explanation or documentation showing how the $250 amount was determined. I believe this matter deserves further review because I incurred a substantial out-of-pocket expense for a repair that I believe was connected to a recalled component, yet Honda has only reimbursed a small portion of the amount I paid. Vehicle: 2018 Honda CRV-EXL VIN: [XXX] Honda Case Number: XXX Amount Paid: Approximately $4,700 Amount Reimbursed by Honda: $250 Amount Still Disputed: Approximately $4,450 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11767990

Incident

Jul 16, 2026

Unknown. Please read! I believe my vehicle may have a fuel-pump failure. I purchased/financed my 2018 Honda CR-V Touring in April 2026 at approximately 169,000 miles. On July 9, 2026, in Garland, Texas, my vehicle began experiencing serious starting and driving issues. Multiple warning lights illuminated on the dashboard, and the vehicle had difficulty starting. The engine would crank for an extended period before eventually starting. Once started, the vehicle would not accelerate normally. The accelerator pedal felt unusually resistant, and the vehicle would have difficulty gaining speed. I had to pull over to the side of the road and restart the vehicle multiple times in order to continue driving. This occurred while I was driving in traffic, including on Highway 635, creating a significant safety concern for me and other motorists because I was unable to reliably accelerate when needed. These problems continued intermittently through approximately mid-August 2026. I did not have the vehicle professionally inspected during that period because the warning lights and symptoms appeared to reset on their own, and the vehicle temporarily returned to normal operation. On September 30, 2026, the problem returned and is now significantly worse. The vehicle will not start at all. It cranks when I attempt to start it, but the engine does not start. The warning lights have also returned. I am currently only at 174,000 miles. I have checked the battery, fuses, and other components and have not identified an issue that would explain the no-start condition. I also previously noticed that I could not hear the normal fuel-pump priming sound when attempting to start the vehicle. I am concerned that the vehicle may have a fuel-pump or fuel-delivery defect. I am submitting this complaint.

NHTSA ID

11767947

Incident

Jul 9, 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under Technical Service Bulletin: 26-091 (Product Update: 2018–20 Accord/2017–19 CR-V CMBS Software Update); however, the failure occurred after the TSB repair. The contact stated that while driving 55–60 MPH, the ABS and several unknown warning lights illuminated. The brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle took longer than normal to stop. The steering wheel was shaking while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that there was a cylinder misfire and that the fuel injector needed to be replaced. The contact associated the failure with Technical Service Bulletin: 21-010 (Warranty Extension: MIL Comes On with DTC P0420, P0430, P030x, and P219A/B (Without Software Update); however, the vehicle was not covered under the TSB. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 77,098.

NHTSA ID

11767685

Incident

Aug 22, 2026

Mileage

77,098 mi

When going around a curving road at 50 mph the steering wheel becomes sticky and the response is notchy and jumpy.

NHTSA ID

11767548

Incident

Sep 28, 2026