Problems · NHTSA complaints

2002 Honda CR-V problems

Owners filed 527 complaints about the 2002 Honda CR-V with NHTSA between Jan 2002 and Apr 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (145).

Complaints
527
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
52
Reported by owners
Fires
17
Reported by owners
Injuries
50
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags145
  2. Electrical system96
  3. Exterior lighting60
  4. Engine and engine cooling59
  5. Equipment39
  6. Power train29
  7. Vehicle speed control26
  8. Seat belts25
  9. Seats24
  10. Service brakes, hydraulic20
  11. Visibility17
  12. Suspension16
  13. Tires13
  14. Latches/locks/linkages12

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200236
200343
200441
200524
200616
200732
200821
200920
201026
201156
201229
201319
201426
201580
20168
201716
20188
20199
20202
20214
20225
20233
20242
20250
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

145 reports33 crashes1 fire8 related recalls
“My 2002 Honda CRV's ENTIRE Passenger Side Airbag Assembly was REPLACED on 11-20-2019, per Honda. This was done as (per Honda) the Inflator bolt was broken and the applicable part to remedy the recall would not be available for approximately 3 months. An open recall (NHTSA Recall # 19V-501) from 06-27-2019 still is showing on my vehicle - If the ENTIRE Passenger Side Airbag Assembly was replaced on 11-20-2019, there should be no open NHTSA recall on my vehicle issued prior to 11-20-2019.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 23, 2024Air bagsODI 11584736

Electrical system

96 reports3 crashes12 fires2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2002 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that when his wife opened the driver’s side door, the driver’s side power window master switch began to release a white smoke. The contact stated that eventually the smoke dissipated. Prior to the failure, the front passenger’s side window was rolled down and could not be rolled up after the failure. The contact initially called the manufacturer and was informed that his vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V768000 (Visibility, Electrical System) which he linked to the failure. The contact then took the vehicle to the dealer where they replaced the power window master switch; however, the repair did not correct the failure. The contact was then given an estimate to diagnose the vehicle. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 178,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 25, 2022Electrical system, VisibilityODI 11481248

Exterior lighting

60 reports1 crash1 fire1 related recall
“SMOKE STARTED ARISING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET DURING THE DAYTIME. DRIVER WAS NOT USING LIGHTS AT THE TIME AND WAS USING NORMAL OCCASIONAL TURN SIGNALS FOR A URBAN METROPOLITAN AREA. THE TURN SIGNAL WAS EVALUATED AND SHOWED MELTING OF THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH AND THE TERMINAL HARNESS. THIS IS SIMILAR TO WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA 12V-136 OR 12V-486. HONDA AMERICA AND HONDA DEALERSHIPS SAID THE 2002 HONDA CR-V WAS NOT INCLUDED, BECAUSE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. HOWEVER, THE MODEL AND YEAR OF THE CAR WERE INCLUDED AND HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS DESCRIBED AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED RECALLS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 22, 2019Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11270135

Engine and engine cooling

59 reports1 crash1 fire
“THE A/C COMPRESSOR HAS FAILED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME AT 106101 MILES IN 2008 AND THE SECOND TIME AT 135567 MILES ON MAY 3, 2012. SO IT LASTED JUST 29466 MILES. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND UPSETTING. THE NEW ONE IS ALREADY STARTING TO ACT UP BUT AT LEAST IT'S UNDER WARRANTY SINCE IT HAS ONLY BEEN 3 WEEKS SINCE IT WAS INSTALLED. HONDA NEEDS TO REDESIGN THE COMPRESSOR SO PEOPLE CAN AT LEAST GET A RELIABLE REPLACEMENT PART. HONDA SHOULD LOSE THEIR REPUTATION FOR BUILDING QUALITY CARS AND I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE BECAUSE OF THIS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 25, 2012Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10459694

Equipment

39 reports
“IN 2006 WITH 66000 MILES AND UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM STARTED TO GIVE OFF BURNING SMELL WHICH CAUSED HEADACHES AND NAUSEA BEFORE THE SYSTEM FAILED COMPLETELY. A/C COMPRESSOR WAS FOUND TO HAVE FAILED AND IT WAS REPLACED. THEN IN AUGUST 2013 WITH 95000 MILES THE UNIT FAILED AGAIN WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND SAME TOXIC FUMES. AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEALTH IMPACT OF THIS ESPECIALLY DUE TO THE FREQUENCY OF THIS FAILURE. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THIS COMPONENT IS OF INADEQUATE DESIGN AND HONDA LOST A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT DUE TO FREQUENT FAILURES. THIS FAILURE RATE, WHILE NOT IMPACTING THE SAFETY OF THE CAR, DOES HAVE POTENTIAL HEALTH HAZARDS FOR THE OCCUPANTS BEYOND REASONABLE RISK. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 5, 2013EquipmentODI 10542094

Power train

29 reports4 crashes1 related recall
“Shaking at different speeds wheels feel like they are going to fly off crv. Torque converter shuttering cause tires to shake uncontrollable. Torque converter shakes so bad causes other problems with crv. This major safety issue been for years with Honda. Honda knows it. They just passing time. Then to fix it solve the problem for hundreds even thousands of people There transmission is flawed because their so many on the road they won't recall a transmission because the money. They scammed people . Even if you put new transmission or torque converter you end up with the same problem because it's poorly made. No one should have to drive a vehicle that shakes and makes the wheels feel like they going to fall off. If you don't find that major safety issue then this department isn't doing it's job.. stop letting these car mandatories get away with bad vehicles.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 19, 2022Power train, Wheels, Unknown or otherODI 11480263
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026

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