2023 Honda CR-V Owner Complaints

I am submitting a formal safety complaint regarding our 2023 Honda CR-V because of repeated and increasingly serious problems involving the vehicle's computer/electronic systems, automatic steering/driver-assistance systems, and automatic braking system. My wife and I no longer feel safe driving this vehicle. The problems have occurred repeatedly during September 2026 and have now reached the point where an unexpected hard-braking event caused me neck pain and I am scheduling an appointment with my doctor for evaluation. INCIDENT TIMELINE September 5, 2026: The vehicle began experiencing computer/electronic malfunctions. This was the beginning of the recent series of problems we have experienced with the vehicle. September 9, 2026: While driving, the vehicle unexpectedly began steering on its own. The steering intervention almost caused a collision by directing the vehicle toward active traffic. We did not intentionally place the vehicle into an automatic steering mode. I had to intervene and regain control of the vehicle to prevent a possible accident. This was not the only incident. At this point, my wife and I estimate that we have had to intervene approximately eight times to prevent the vehicle's unexpected behavior from potentially causing an accident. September 10, 2026: Additional unexpected automatic steering/driver-assistance behavior occurred. Again, we had not intentionally activated automatic steering. September 12, 2026: Another incident involving unexpected steering intervention occurred while operating the vehicle. September 15, 2026: The vehicle again exhibited unexpected steering/driver-assistance behavior that required driver intervention. September 19, 2026, approximately 4:30 PM: The vehicle unexpectedly applied the brakes extremely hard. The automatic braking event was sudden and severe and nearly created another traffic incident. The force of the braking caused my body to move suddenly and I developed neck pain following the incide

NHTSA ID

11765576

Incident

Sep 19, 2026

My crv is roasting a problem related to the steering (guide/steering wheel) to what many call Hardened Steering: The steering wheel becomes rigid intermittently, making maneuvers difficult

NHTSA ID

11764476

Incident

Aug 15, 2026

While driving my 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid at approximately 40-45 mph, the vehicle began hesitating and not accelerating smoothly. A Check Engine/Emissions System warning also appeared. The vehicle had approximately 31,873 miles. I took the vehicle to an authorized Honda dealership for diagnosis. The dealer recommended replacement of all fuel injectors and the spark plugs. The vehicle has not yet been repaired and the components remain available for inspection. I am concerned about the safety risk because the hesitation/loss of smooth power occurs while the vehicle is being driven and could affect the ability to accelerate normally in traffic. Honda has issued Service Bulletin 25-044 applicable to 2023-2024 CR-V Hybrid vehicles concerning leaking fuel injectors that can cause an excessively rich air/fuel mixture, foul spark plugs, illuminate the malfunction indicator lamp, and cause drivability problems. The repair procedure can include replacement of the fuel injectors and affected spark plugs. My vehicle has very low mileage for this type of fuel-system failure. I am reporting this incident so NHTSA can evaluate whether similar fuel injector failures and resulting drivability problems in 2023-2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid vehicles represent a broader safety defect.

NHTSA ID

11764437

Incident

Aug 17, 2026

My car is experiencing a failure of the shutter grill motor. It’s a motor that opens and closes the shutters to let air through a cooling radiator. The car is not getting hot. The shutters are fully open. I assume this is an energy efficiency mechanism. However: Since the motor is not working, and the shutters cannot adjust properly, the car is derating my power. THIS IS DANGEROUS. I cannot climb mountains on the interstate at proper speeds. I have also almost had a few wrecks trying to pull into traffic due to loss of power, thus acceleration. The computer is choosing to derate my power and acceleration, but it isn’t necessary. I would like to fix the issue, but it is expensive and I don’t have the money. Why would Honda punish me with dangerous conditions for my inability to pay for a fix on an energy efficiency issue!?!?

NHTSA ID

11762644

Incident

Sep 7, 2026

Car completely shut down with every warning light going off. Before 95,000 the head gasket blew with zero warning signs! All the warning lamps came on only the day the car totally stopped working. No prior warning or signs before.

NHTSA ID

11762270

Incident

Jul 22, 2026

I was driving my 2023 Honda CRV Hybrid on the [XXX] on Sunday, XXX. 5 minutes prior to reaching the interchange where the [XXX] connects to the [XXX], all of the lights on my dashboard flash on, but the car was still running. I got onto the [XXX] and prior to reaching the [XXX] exit, my car suddenly stops accelerating at full power. As I push on the accelerator, I can barely move my car. I pull over to the side of the highway and put my car in park. Quietly panicking (not to stress out my [XXX] old who was sleeping in the backseat), I put my car back in drive and see that I can slowly move forward. I get back onto the freeway and exit via the [XXX] exit. There is a park right there so I slowly circled around until I found a spot to park my car. I called AAA and they came and tested my battery and said there weren't any issues. They advised me not to drive my car anymore and called a tow, and brought my car to the Honda Dealership back near me home 45 minutes away. The dealership was closed, but they called me on Monday and said they would need to diagnose my car. I preferred that my mechanic take care of my car, so I had my car towed there instead. The issue he diagnosed is provided in the screenshots: "P2101 Electric Throttle Control System (ECTS) Malfunction". Both my mechanic and I looked online and there seems to be an open investigation into this (NHTSA ID 11556108) and when you look online, there are MANY other owners complaining about the same thing happening, some with much less miles on their car than mine. There is clearly an issue and something needs to be done. Having your car all of a sudden slow down drastically while driving on an extremely busy [XXX] highway with a [XXX] in your backseat was terrifying. Please investigate this further, I know I'm not the only one who has experienced this with the same model of car. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11761629

Incident

Aug 30, 2026

Vehicle was brought in for steering gearbox recall repair. After the recall was performed, the vehicle developed a loud thumping noise from the front passenger side. Upon returning to the dealer for diagnosis, the dealer found the passenger front wheel was missing 3 lug nuts and had only 1 lug nut holding the wheel on. The lug lock was also loose. The vehicle was driven at highway speeds in this condition. The dealer's own work order confirms these findings. The missing lug nuts were a direct result of the recall repair service.

NHTSA ID

11760859

Incident

Aug 24, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the message "Engine Overheating Do Not Drive" displayed, and a red Check Engine warning light illuminated. The contact smelled smoke and observed smoke coming from the interior vents. On each occasion, the contact pulled over safely, turned off the vehicle for nearly an hour, and then restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the head gasket had failed with potential engine damage, and the head gasket and engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with an unknown recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 193,000.

NHTSA ID

11760450

Incident

Aug 26, 2026

Mileage

193,000 mi

The contact owns a 2023 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, several warning lights remained illuminated, including the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), power steering, and check engine warning lights. Additionally, the steering wheel became difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the steering rack needed replacement. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,000.

NHTSA ID

11760036

Incident

Aug 27, 2025

Mileage

48,000 mi

Battery overheats and emits visible smoke from positive terminal and strong sulfur (rotten egg) odor. Notices the problem a few days ago. Called AAA for assistance on Sunday August 23 and technician stated that a lot of Hondas have had this issue including his own and it is due to a recall. A search online shows a recall issued for approximately 98 2023 Honda crv hybrids for Electrical system: Propulsion system: Traction battery date 2024-10-02 Recall no. 24V745000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The high voltage battery modules may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the battery terminal or busbar to break and spark.

NHTSA ID

11758943

Incident

Aug 19, 2026

I own a 2023 Honda CR-V EX-L 1.5L turbo. My vehicle has repeatedly displayed an “Active Grille Shutter System Problem” warning while driving. Diagnostic trouble code P16E8 has also been associated with the active grille shutter system. The problem has occurred multiple times, particularly during hot weather and while driving on steep grades. When the active grille shutter warning occurs, the vehicle can go into reduced-power mode, significantly limiting its performance. Turning the vehicle off and restarting it may temporarily clear the warning and restore normal operation, but the problem can return. The vehicle has not been overheating when this occurs. I am concerned because unexpectedly entering reduced-power mode while driving, especially on a highway or steep grade, could create a safety hazard. I am reporting this issue so NHTSA can document and investigate whether there is a recurring defect involving the active grille shutter system on 2023 Honda CR-V vehicles and determine whether a safety recall or other action is warranted.

NHTSA ID

11758127

Incident

Jun 12, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Honda CR-V. The contact scheduled an appointment for a maintenance repair on the vehicle and was informed that recall services would also be performed on the vehicle while the vehicle was with the dealer. The vehicle received repairs under 23-049 (HYBCKP Emission Recall) and 24-049 (HTBrid Press Fuel Safety Recall). Upon retrieving the vehicle, the contact stated that an "Engine Temperature Too Hot" message was displayed on the instrument panel within 5 miles of driving. The dealer was alerted to the failure, and the contact was instructed to bring the vehicle back to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the vehicle the following day and another message "Avoid Acceleration and High-Speed Engine Temperature Near Limit" was displayed on the instrument panel. A diagnostic test was performed, and the contact was notified of a head gasket leak in cylinder #1, and that the head gasket needed to be replaced. The contact contested that the vehicle was never test driven once the initial repairs were performed and believed that the dealer was aware of the issue prior to returning the vehicle. The dealer maintained that the fault was not on the dealer and the vehicle remained with the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was provided a case number. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 79,276.

NHTSA ID

11756906

Incident

Aug 11, 2026

Mileage

79,276 mi

The contact owns a 2023 Honda CR-V equipped with Michelin Tires, Tire Line: Michelin, Tire Size: 235/55/19, DOT Number: (N/A). The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced and the tires were rotated; the technician became aware that the tires were not properly aligned. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that all four tires needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

NHTSA ID

11756452

Incident

Aug 11, 2026

Mileage

30,000 mi

2023 Honda CRV hybrid bought from dealership in Clarksville, Indiana. at 63,000 miles the head gasket blew causing major damage. Regular maintenance and oil changes done. Technician said the component just failed for no known reason and exploded. Repair priced at $5300 Honda Corporation refusing to provide any assistance. Research shows many people having same issues of blown head gaskets at only around 60,000 miles of CRV Hybrid.

NHTSA ID

11756315

Incident

Jul 23, 2026

I purchased this vehicle in November 2025. There was an existing recall remedy under NHTSA 24V-744. In December 2025 I took my vehicle to Brickell Honda to have the official steering gearbox safety recall performed. However, the dangerous "sticky" and binding steering sensation remained. On July 30, 2026, the dealership diagnosed the car and confirmed that the entire power steering rack is bad and must be replaced at a cost of over $4,400.00. The dealership offered a 50% goodwill split, leaving me with a $2,251.00 out-of-pocket expense. I formally declined the 50% offer, and I requested that Honda Corporate cover 100% of the parts and labor to replace the steering rack. The initial recall remedy failed to resolve the safety hazard in my vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11755800

Incident

Nov 17, 2025

The rock and pinion is not working. The is an issue with the fuel emission. Engine light is on for both.

NHTSA ID

11755607

Incident

Aug 1, 2026

On my 2023 Honda CR-V with 79,567 miles, the engine experienced a cylinder 1 misfire while driving, causing the vehicle to lose power and enter limp mode. At the same time, every warning light on the dashboard illuminated. The sudden loss of power created a serious safety risk because I was unable to accelerate normally and had to safely maneuver the vehicle out of traffic, increasing the risk of a collision. I took the vehicle to an authorized Honda dealership, where the problem was confirmed and the engine was diagnosed with a blown head gasket. The vehicle has been inspected by the Honda dealership but has not been inspected by police, insurance representatives, or any other parties. Prior to this incident, there were no warning lights or messages indicating a problem.

NHTSA ID

11754673

Incident

Jul 28, 2026

The honda dealer states that the clip/ brackt that holds the multi view camera has broken. There is no damaged to the windshield or housing of the camera, the clip just failed and they could not tell me why. The vehicle has never been in any accident and has never had any damage. Adaptive cruise, cruise control, auto high beam, lane keep assist, Road departure, object detection, collision mitigation, traffic jam assistance, Sign recognition, and low speed braking control are not functioning as a result. Car is displaying multiple error messages. The honda dealer inspected and confirmed all the effective systems because the camera not being properly secure to the windshield by the broken clip.

NHTSA ID

11752263

Incident

Jul 20, 2026

This complaint is a formal report of a FAILED RECALL REMEDY regarding NHTSA Campaign 24V-744 (Honda TSB 24-052) on a 2023 Honda CR-V (VIN: [XXX]). The official recall remedy (worm gear spring replacement and grease application) was previously performed and marked as completed on this VIN. However, the vehicle is actively exhibiting a complete reoccurrence of the exact severe safety defect described in the recall. At highway speeds, the steering wheel exhibits sudden "sticky," binding resistance, requiring increased physical effort to turn, which leads to immediate overcorrection and a severe crash hazard. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Honda dealership for diagnosis of the recurring symptom. The dealership service department confirmed there was an issue and recommended a total steering rack replacement. American Honda Corporate has refused to cover the replacement, claiming a "steering rack" is separate from the recall scope. However, the defective worm gear targeted by Campaign 24V-744 is located entirely within the steering gearbox, which is structurally integrated into the steering rack assembly. The manufacturer's remedy has failed to permanently cure the safety defect on this vehicle, leaving it unpredictable and dangerous to operate. The manufacturer is currently refusing to provide a secondary remedy to make the vehicle roadworthy. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11751610

Incident

Jul 6, 2026

I was driving in Houston and I tried to turn left to avoid someone hitting me from the back do to a slow down and I couldn’t turn left my gear was too stiff to turn. I got hit from behind and it turn into a hit and run. That affected me a lot due to the hurt and lack of work due to it all became behind and I am still suffering from that accident. I informed Honda and requested a buy back and help with the damages and losses but they denied the help and have affected my credit because since that accident it has been very hard for me to manage because of the recovery process.

NHTSA ID

11750971

Incident

Dec 18, 2023

2023 CR-V Sport Hybrid suffered a catastrophic cylinder 3 coolant leak/head gasket failure at 76,884 miles. Due to a lack of available Honda gasket kits and extreme dealership repair quotes, a full engine replacement was required.

NHTSA ID

11750473

Incident

May 1, 2026

Vehicle: 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid Component: Steering (Electronic Power Steering / EPS Gearbox) Description of Safety Defect: While driving at highway speeds (above 45 mph), the steering wheel experiences a severe "sticky," "notchy," or binding sensation. It catches when making minor directional adjustments, requiring excessive and abrupt physical force to break the wheel free. This causes a dangerous over-correction hazard, creating an immediate risk of a crash or loss of vehicle control. This vehicle is exhibiting the exact mechanical failure symptoms described in NHTSA Safety Recall 24V-744 (Honda Service Bulletin 24-052) regarding a swollen worm gear and overtightened spring preload. However, when entering my 17-digit VIN into the NHTSA lookup tool, the vehicle shows up as excluded from the current recall population. The local authorized Honda dealership has diagnosed the vehicle, confirmed a complete failure of the electronic power steering rack assembly, and quoted a $5,000 out-of-pocket replacement. I am filing this complaint to formally report that the manufacturing defect identified in Recall 24V-744 is actively impacting vehicles outside of Honda's currently defined VIN production window. I request that the NHTSA investigate and expand the recall population to include all 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid vehicles suffering from this systemic, catastrophic steering column failure.

NHTSA ID

11748837

Incident

Jul 7, 2026

While driving my car it will randomly go into limp mode, the dashboard lights up, and rotates through a list of issues wrong including brake systems, AWD, cameras, lane assist, etc. the dealership had me pay $450 for a system update, 10 hours after picking it up the problem occurred again and my car broke down in an intersection on a country road. I had it towed to the dealership and paid $270 for a new battery because they said it failed. I picked the car up the night of 7/2/26 and today (7/6) it broke down as I was leaving work with the same error. The dealership said there is no bulletin for the issues I am experiencing and they will get a Honda Tech involved.

NHTSA ID

11748631

Incident

Jun 30, 2026

While slowing down to enter a parking place and appling brakes car suddenly surged forward causing the car to jump a curb which could have caused an accident if there had been another car in the way

NHTSA ID

11746387

Incident

Jun 24, 2026

Delaminating paint

NHTSA ID

11741958

Incident

May 25, 2026