Problems · by component

2003 Honda CR-V power train problems

25 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Honda CR-V cite power train, 5% of all 494 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
25
5% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE EMITTED A LOUD NOISE AND HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STOPPED ON THE SHOULDER AND SAW THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO WEAR AND TEAR. IN ORDER TO REPAIR VEHICLE, THE DRIVE SHAFT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 250,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 16, 2012Power trainODI 10465772
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CRV. IN AN ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE ONLY WHEN MAKING AN EXTREME TURN, SUCH AS INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL FLUID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,352 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000. UPDATE 06/10/08 *BF UPDATED 06/10/08”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 6, 2008Power trainODI 10226799
“TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 50,000 MILES ONLY. NEVER EXPECTED THIS FROM HONDA CAR. HAD TO GET THE A NEW TRANSMISSION WHICH AMOUNTED TO AROUND $3,200 AND HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR A WEEK. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 27, 2007Power trainODI 10210077
“WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT A STEADY 60MPH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIFTED FROM 5TH GEAR TO 2ND GEAR WITH NO WARNING OR INDICATIONS OF ANY KIND. THIS ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAD THE RECALL REPAIR IN 2004 FOR A KNOWN TRANSMISSION FAULT BUT THIS HAS OBVIOUSLY NOT FIXED THE ISSUE. THE INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 29, 2007Power trainODI 10207269
“2003 HONDA ODYSSEY WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 73,000 AND I QUESTION IF RELATED TO THE RECALL AND I AM LOOKING FOR SUGGESTIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS OF THE VEHICLE. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 4, 2007Power trainODI 10198496
“VEHICLE: 2003 HONDA CRV WITH 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSIMISSION. ON JANUARY 23, 2007 DURING NORMAL DRIVING THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION ON THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE SYMPTOM OF THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE VEHICLE POPPED OUT OF THE GEAR THAT IT WAS ENGAGED IN WITHOUT ANY WARNING . THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO A COMPLETE STOP, AND THE OPERATOR WAS ABLE GET THE CAR INTO 2 GEAR ONLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP WHERE IT REMAINED FOR TWO MONTHS WHILE THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE FOLLOWINGWAS A LIST OF PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED WHICH DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM: MANUAL CLUTCH, MANUAL TRANSMISSION, PRESSURE PLATE AND CLUTCH CABLES. *AK TH OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM HAD TO DO WITH THE THRUST BEARINGS AND THRUST WASHERS BEING WORN AND IT WOULD REQUIRE THE SHORT BLOCK TO BE REPLACED. ALL WORK WAS COMPLETED AT A HONDA DEALER. HONDA HAD TO ENGAGE A HONDA CERTIFIED TECH TO REVIEW THE VECHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 23, 2007Power trainODI 10185987

Showing 6 of 25 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

Power train: automatic transmission

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF THE SHIFT CABLE LINKAGE COULD PREVENT THE DRIVER FROM SHIFTING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO PARK.

Power trainReported Jul 29, 2003NHTSA 03V274000
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.