Problems · by component

2003 Honda CR-V electrical system problems

63 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Honda CR-V cite electrical system, 13% of all 494 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
63
13% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
9
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“There was a recall for 2003 CRV will water getting into master door look switch. This switch would cause fire. The smell off burning plastic and smoke came from the door look switch. The the rear driver window didn't work. I don't use the window so it wasn't important. About 6 months later it happened again the smoke almost caused an accident. The passenger side front door wouldn't work. I changed both blown fuses. And smoke started right away and pooped both fuses. I removed the door look master switch. There are burns and melted plastic on switches and plastic body. I called Honda and they say it's the same symptoms but they're not covering it. There was a recall for this on Honda CRVs of this year for the same reason. Please tell me why some vehicles are covered and some are not when it's the same thing happening. So I am going to send this complaint to you and I'm also going to talk to my attorney.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 6, 2023Electrical systemODI 11530769
“The contact owns a 2003 Honda CR-V. The vehicle had previously been serviced at the dealer under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V768000 (Visibility, Electrical System) however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the driver's side front power window switch failed to operate as needed. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 21, 2022Electrical system, VisibilityODI 11475072
“Door locks are all malfunctioning. Only 2 work some of the time and the other 3 none of the time. Key works sometimes in 2 of the locks and not at all in the back door.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 26, 2021Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11430622
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MASTER SWITCH HAD BEGAN TO EMIT A GRAYISH SMOKE AFTER HE HAD MADE AN ATTEMPT TO WIND DOWN HIS PASSENGER FRONT WINDOW. SINCE THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WINDOW NO LONGER OPERATED. THE CONTACT THEN CALLED HONDA OF PASADENA(1965 E FOOTHILL BLVD, PASADENA, CA 91107) WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V768000 (VISIBILITY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 1, 2021Electrical system, Visibility/wiperFire reportedODI 11398574
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V768000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY). THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING AND ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW, THE WINDOW FAILED TO ROLL BACK UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND AN UNKNOWN REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR IF THE WINDOW WAS ROLLED BACK DOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 16, 2020Electrical system, VisibilityODI 11383661

Showing 6 of 63 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Electrical system

Free remedy

Honda is recalling certain model year 2002-2006 CR-V passenger vehicles, manufactured from February 19, 2002, through July 28, 2006. The driver-side power window switch may fail or melt.

Electrical systemReported Oct 5, 2012NHTSA 12V486000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 27, 2026

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