Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Honda CR-V problems

Owners filed 494 complaints about the 2003 Honda CR-V with NHTSA between Jul 2002 and Aug 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (131).

Complaints
494
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
49
Reported by owners
Fires
26
Reported by owners
Injuries
47
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags131
  2. Engine and engine cooling86
  3. Electrical system63
  4. Exterior lighting39
  5. Equipment33
  6. Vehicle speed control32
  7. Power train25
  8. Visibility23
  9. Latches/locks/linkages18
  10. Structure16
  11. Service brakes, hydraulic16
  12. Steering15
  13. Suspension13
  14. Seat belts12

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 Nov 10, 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
20024
200340
200461
200540
200629
200720
200825
200921
201029
201129
201223
201318
201416
201570
201617
201711
201813
20196
20204
20219
20223
20231
20242
20252
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

131 reports32 crashes2 fires9 related recalls
“I got over to the edge of the road to avoid hitting a animal, and hit a small rock (with front passenger tire) and then subsequently had a spontaneous deployment and rupture of my passenger airbag, then my driver airbag deployed. A fire then came from the passenger airbag, with lots of dust in the air. I could not understand why a very small bump triggered the airbags and was shocked by the first, I was able to put out the fire but experienced minor burns on my middle finger and thumb on my right hand, I could hear out of left ear and had ringing the right and the next day the hearing is better on the left but still very muffled on the right. I then did some internet searching and saw the airbag recall for my VIN, and the summary of potential failure matched what I experienced. The explosion and the rupturing of the air bags was so load I thought my car had blown up. The vehicle was then towed to Northwest towing in [XXX]. Their number is [XXX]”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 24, 2026Air bagsFire reportedODI 11758984

Engine and engine cooling

86 reports12 fires
“The contact owns a 2003 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated, and the engine fan was inoperable causing the engine to overheat. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who replaced the thermostat, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted regarding the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 29, 2024Engine and engine coolingODI 11611543

Electrical system

63 reports3 crashes9 fires1 related recall
“SRS LIGHT CAME ON 2 MONTHS AGO. FEAR FOR MY SAFETY. RECALL PLEASE. ELECTRICAL. BACK RT WINDOW AND RT FRONT DOOR LOCK CANNOT BE OPERATED FROM FRONT DRIVER DOOR. LIGHTING. BACK INTERIOR LIGHT DOES NOT TURN OFF AUTOMATICALLY. Paint is peeling from all over the car, especially on the front of it. Looks ghastly.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 15, 2025Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bagsODI 11673712

Exterior lighting

39 reports1 fire1 related recall
“Lowbeams went out when I got off work but highneams were working. I bought new bulbs the next day and the problem unchanged. So I checked all fuses and relays those were all fine. I proceeded to remove the steering column cover and disconnected the connectors and the gray one had what looks like Rust and or melted. This is very alarming because until I can replace the connector I have to drive home at nights with high beams. This may cause an accident and or me getting pulled over for having highbeams on. I do have a picture of said connector I took today 8/16/21.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 16, 2021Exterior lightingODI 11429374

Equipment

33 reports
“2003 HONDA CR-V. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR CONDITIONING FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE ADDRESSED I THE RECALL. *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 24, 2019Visibility, EquipmentODI 11196312

Vehicle speed control

32 reports6 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 85 MPH AND WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 45 MPH AND WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED A SECOND TIME TWO YEARS LATER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 90 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. ON BOTH OCCASIONS, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS INOPERATIVE AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EVENTUALLY REGAINED CONTROL OF THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL FUNCTIONALITY. TOM KADLEC HONDA (3333 WILDER RD NW, ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA 55901, (507) 281-2500) WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES BY A WRITTEN LETTER OR CORRESPONDENCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 21, 2018Vehicle speed controlODI 11153102
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

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