Problems · by component

2001 Honda CR-V engine and engine cooling problems

26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Honda CR-V cite engine and engine cooling, 17% of all 152 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
26
17% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“HONDA HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN (03-038) FOR A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE CYLINDER HEAD. IN SEARCHING ONLINE, MANY HONDA CUSTOMERS WITH CR-V'S MANUFACTURED IN 2001 HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE. THE REMEDY (AS DEFINED BY HONDA) IS TO ADJUST THE VALVES TO SPECIFIC CLEARANCES DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, BUT THIS INFORMATION WAS NOT PASSED DOWN TO CUSTOMERS & MANY ARE FINDING THEMSELVES IN MY SAME SITUATION WITH THE ENTIRE CYLINDER HEAD NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. A COSTLY REPAIR FOR A FAULTY PART. HONDA IS AWARE OF THIS & IS UNWILLING TO COVER THE REPAIR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 7, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10434792
“2001 HONDA CRV, AIR-CONDITIONER GETTING READY TO EXPLODE. I LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, BUT LIVE IN BALMY SAN DIEGO COUNTY, SO I'VE USED THE AIR CONDITIONER VERY LITTLE, PERHAPS 25 TIMES ALL TOLD OVER THE PAST NINE YEARS. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, BABY MY CAR, AND GET ALL MAINTENANCE DONE LIKE CLOCKWORK OR SOONER. ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO, THE RARELY-USED AIR CONDITIONER STARTED MAKING A HORRIBLE RACKET IMMEDIATELY ON STARTING IT. I STOPPED USING IT IMMEDIATELY, AND CHECK PERIODICALLY TO SEE IF IT'S STILL BROKEN. IT IS. I'VE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND WAS STUNNED TO FIND SO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 1997-2001 CRV AIR CONDITIONERS EXPLODING, IMPLODING, OR OTHERWISE SELF-DESTRUCTING. I'VE REPEATEDLY CONTACTED VIA EMAIL AND VOICEMAIL THE LAW FIRM OF MAZIE SLATER KATZ & FREEMAN IN ROSELAND, NEW JERSEY WHO IS HANDLING A CLASS ACTION ON THIS VERY ISSUE, THE HONDA A/C DESIGN DEFECTS. BOTH ATTORNEYS MATTHEW MENDELSON AND KAREN KELSON ARE FAR, FAR TOO BUSY WITH THEIR BUSY DAYS TO RETURN VOICEMAILS AND EMAILS, SO I'M ASSUMING THEY'RE ONLY IN IT FOR THE FEES OF THE CLASS ACTION, RATHER THAN PROVIDING ANY TANGIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THIS PROBLEM FOR CONSUMERS, MUCH LIKE HONDA…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 21, 2010Engine and engine coolingODI 10351061
“ON ABOUT APRIL, 2009 IN OUR 2001 HONDA CRV , WITH 68,000 MILES ON IT. MY WIFE WAS 60 MILES FROM HOME WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONAL BLEW UP. THE AIR COMPRESS, RECIVER DRYER, BELT ALL CAME TO $1,600. I ASKED AROUND AND FOUND OUT THAT A LOT OF CRV'S AC WHERE BLOWING UP. THIS SITE SHOWES A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/SEARCH?SOURCEID=NAVCLIENT&IE=UTF-8&RLZ=1T4GWYA_ENUS311US311&Q=2001+HONDA+CRV+AC+BLOWING+UP. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 9, 2010Engine and engine coolingODI 10308195
“WITH OUT ANY WARNING THE RADIATOR CRACKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. AUTO REPAIR SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HONDA. NEW MODELS ARE BEING REPLACED BUT NOT EARLIER MODELS. WHY IS HONDA NOT FORCED TO RECALL THESE WITH SO MANY CARS NEEDING COSTLY REPAIRS.? *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 29, 2009Engine and engine coolingODI 10285631
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA CR-V. HE STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL THEN THE ENGINE MISFIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. THE MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT THE ENGINE VALVES BURNED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND A REPRESENTATIVE CONCLUDED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM; HOWEVER, SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 16, 2009Engine and engine coolingODI 10284197
“AC COMPRESSOR STARTED RATTLING SOUND. WENT TO THE HONDA DEALER AND FOUND OUT PROBLEM WITH THE COMPRESSOR. REPLACED BY DEALER WITH FULL LABOR AND 1/2 PARTS PAID BY HONDA. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 28, 2009Engine and engine coolingODI 10260268

Showing 6 of 26 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2001 CR-V problem areas