KnownCarProblems2018 Honda CR-V Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 2,158 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Honda CR-V, most often about the fuel system (28% of complaints, typically around 8,500 miles). It is the most complained-about CR-V model year since 2000 and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2018 Honda CR-V problems
Fuel system
608 complaints · 28%Half of these problems showed up before 8,500 miles. Parts named most often: fuel injection system, delivery.
-gas leaking into the oil confirmed by the local dealer. "approximately 1/2 quarters extra". -oil level is confirmed to be above the plastic indicator reaching to the metal part of the dipstick way above the normal level stated on the (owners manual). -oil smells exactly like gas confirmed. -fluctuating engine…
At around 7200 miles I checked the oil and found it to be above the full line. The oil was very thin and had the distinct smell of gas. After short drives at lower speeds, the passenger compartment smells of gas. I don't smell gas in the passenger compartment when traveling long distances at high speeds.
Engine
544 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 6,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
Rising oil level due to contamination of oil with fuel and water, 2018 Honda crv ex. On june 18, 2018, while my wife was traveling at 70 MPH on cruise control, every computer assisted warning unexpectedly evented on the dash (hill assist, acc, collision mitigation, brake system, cel, TPMS, road departure, traction…
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. While driving 25 MPH, the engine stalled and the check engine indicator illuminated and flashed. The contact was able to restart the engine and regain normal function. The vehicle was taken to helena Honda (3377 US highway 12, east helena, montana 59601, ([phone]). The dealer…
Driver assistance
414 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 36,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic emergency braking, warnings, adaptive cruise control, assist.
While driving, all of the warning lights come on. A few days after resetting the computer, this recurred. In one occasion, engine power went to a minimum (10 MPH on a level road) while driving. Parking brakes engaged lights flashing while driving. This happened on city streets and was reported by others…
I was driving straight in an open street, no obstacles at all. However, my vehicle started beeping and slammed the brakes to a complete stop. I was almost thrown out of my seat but thank god I had my seatbelt on. I checked my dash camera footage aswell no sign of obstacle, nothing at all. I believe its the collision…
Steering
330 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 52,500 miles. Parts named most often: rack and pinion, electric power assist system.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while merging onto the highway at approximately 30 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the steering. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with steering failure…
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would automatically brake with the braking warning light illuminating. The contact stated that there are no objects on the road when the failure occurred. The contact stated that there would be a shadow on the roadway…
Electrical
284 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 15,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, software, 12v/24v/48v battery, body control module/bcm.
While driving the audio system starts beeping, the screen flashes and it makes random phone calls. I took it to the dealer and was told that they did not have a fix for this problem. I am afraid that this distraction could cause an accident. I looked online to find other owners had the same problem. This happens on…
We were driving from bridgeport,wv to new jersey on 2/9/19. Four hours into the trip carall the lights on dash board came on and car slowed down and accelerator did not work at that point. Car stopped on the high way. We pulled over called aaa service and toyota. We took the car in to Honda of turnersville, nj they…
Other or unspecified
209 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 6,000 miles.
Rising oil level due to contamination of oil with fuel and water, 2018 Honda crv ex. On june 18, 2018, while my wife was traveling at 70 MPH on cruise control, every computer assisted warning unexpectedly evented on the dash (hill assist, acc, collision mitigation, brake system, cel, TPMS, road departure, traction…
I was travelling approximately 50 MPH on local highway. No cars directly in front of me for a 1/4 mile. It had rained overnight and the road conditions were slightly damp but no puddles. I was crossing through an intersection and the car's 'brake' alarm (forward collision system) falsely triggered on the dashboard and…
Brakes
199 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 15,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
Driving down a country road doing about 55mph on july 28,19 my vehicle suddenly came to a dead stop for no reason. Closest vehicle in front was 9-10 car lengths ahead. Nothing on the side of the road or directly in front of me. If a vehicle was behind me I would have been rear ended. A malfunction such as this could…
Brand new all wheel drive 2018 vehicle. It could not stop on snow road near 20mph even lower speed couple times! Two times slipped over the traffic lights due to could not stop! Scared to death!!!
Speed control
65 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 16,000 miles. Parts named most often: cruise control, accelerator pedal.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving into the garage at his condominium, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly, and the front driver's side of the vehicle crashed into the wall of the garage. The contact stated that the garage was damaged. There was no warning light illuminated. The air…
Stalling while I was traveling in traffic. Oil dip stick smells like gasoline is "overfull" on oil mark. Vehicle hesitated and stalled because ok had been drained to a lower level once and replaced 2 times. Consumer stated fuel injectors were replaced.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2018 Honda CR-V recalls
Air bags: front passenger
Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed july 7, 2026. Owners may contact honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are bol, wo9, ooa, wom, xoh, noc, pod, boe, uof, pob, eog, aoi, qo8, toj, do7, and sok. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24v064. Vehicle identification numbers (vins) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning may 29, 2026.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 acura tlx, 2019-2024 rdx, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 mdx, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 honda ridgeline, 2017-2022 pilot, 2019-2021 passport, 2018-2026 odyssey, 2019-2022 insight, 2019-2021 hr-v, 2018-2020 fit, 2020-2022 cr-v hybrid, 2017-2022 cr-v, 2017-2018, 2021 civic type r, 2017-2021 civic hatchback, 2016-2020 civic coupe, 2016-2022 civic, 2017-2022 accord hybrid, and 2016-2022 accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
Fuel system: fuel pump
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed september 6, 2024. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are kgc and kgd. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21v-215 and 20v-314.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 honda accord, civic coupe, civic sedan, civic hatchback, civic type r, cr-v, hr-v, ridgeline, odyssey, acura ilx, mdx, mdx hybrid, rdx, rlx, tlx, 2019-2022 honda insight, passport, 2020 honda cr-v hybrid, 2018-2019 honda clarity phev, fit, and 2015-2020 honda accord hybrid, pilot, acura nsx vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Seat belts: buckle assembly
Risk: An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belt buckle release buttons or the buckle assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed april 18, 2023. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are nda, qdb, bdc, mdd, ld9. Tdf, fdg, odh, ydi, zde.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2017-2020 cr-v, 2018-2019 accord and accord hybrid, 2018-2020 odyssey, 2019 insight, and 2019-2020 acura rdx vehicles. A manufacturing issue with the front seat belts may cause the seat belt buckle channel to interfere with the release button, preventing the seat belt buckle from latching.
Fuel system: fuel pump
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed may 18, 2021. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Note: this recall is an expansion of recall 20v-314.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 acura mdx, mdx sport hybrid, rdx, tlx, honda accord, civic hatchback, insight, 2019 acura ilx, honda accord hybrid, civic coupe, civic coupe si, civic sedan, civic sedan si, civic type r, fit, hr-v, odyssey, passport, pilot and ridgeline, and 2018-2019 cr-v vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk: The unintended steering input reduces vehicle maneuverability and increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gearbox assembly, free of charge. The recall began november 9, 2018. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are c2n, p2o.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2017-2018 honda civic and cr-v vehicles. The magnet that controls the torque sensor output signal for the electronic power steering system may not be properly secured, allowing the magnet to become dislodged. During a full lock turn, the dislodged magnet may cause steering assist to be applied in the opposite direction.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Inadvertent automatic emergency braking
Summary
On february 21, 2022, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened preliminary evaluation (pe22003) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the collision mitigation braking system (cmbs), an automatic emergency braking (aeb) system, in model year 2017-2019 honda cr-v and 2018-2019 honda accord vehicles.â the reports allege that activation of the aeb system occurs while driving with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's forward path, resulting in sudden vehicle deceleration. Honda indicated that they were aware of a total of x,xxx reports that may relate to the alleged defect. Honda provided analysis of the alleged defect and alleges that some customers possibly had an inadequat
Rear differential seizure
Summary
On november 29, 2022, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe 22-011 after reviewing field reports alleging rear differential seizure in 2018-2022my honda cr-v and hr-v vehicles equipped with all wheel drive. To date, odi has not received any consumer complaints. Some of the field reports received alleged the vehicleâs wheels locked up with no warning while the vehicle was in motion. These vehicles were towed to a dealership. Examination of these vehicles showed the driveshaft had broken and the differential unit was completely damaged. The field reports cited a lack of oil due to damaged oil seals as the cause. Honda provided data including consumer complaints, field reports,
Inadvertent automatic emergency braking
Summary
On february 21, 2022, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened preliminary evaluation (pe22003) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the collision mitigation braking system (cmbs), an automatic emergency braking (aeb) system, in model year 2017-2019 honda cr-v and 2018-2019 honda accord vehicles.â the reports allege that activation of the aeb system occurs while driving with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's forward path, resulting in sudden vehicle deceleration. Honda indicated that they were aware of a total of x,xxx reports that may relate to the alleged defect. Honda provided analysis of the alleged defect and alleges that some customers possibly had an inadequat
Questions about the 2018 Honda CR-V
- What are the most common problems with the 2018 Honda CR-V?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: fuel system (608 complaints, typically around 8,500 miles); engine (544 complaints, typically around 6,000 miles); driver assistance (414 complaints, typically around 36,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2018 Honda CR-V have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 21, 2026 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2018 a bad year for the Honda CR-V?
- It is the most complained-about CR-V model year since 2000, with 2,158 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.