Problems · NHTSA complaints
2004 Honda CR-V problems
Owners filed 501 complaints about the 2004 Honda CR-V with NHTSA between Oct 2003 and Apr 2026. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (142).
Complaints
501
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
34
Reported by owners
Fires
39
Reported by owners
Injuries
31
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling142
- Air bags103
- Electrical system73
- Exterior lighting39
- Equipment35
- Vehicle speed control18
- Seat belts17
- Visibility16
- Latches/locks/linkages14
- Fuel system, gasoline14
- Power train13
- Engine12
- Suspension11
- Steering11
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 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
3
90
29
8
16
39
29
37
40
33
17
23
59
12
21
6
11
6
7
1
7
3
2
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 90 |
| 2005 | 29 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 16 |
| 2008 | 39 |
| 2009 | 29 |
| 2010 | 37 |
| 2011 | 40 |
| 2012 | 33 |
| 2013 | 17 |
| 2014 | 23 |
| 2015 | 59 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 21 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 2 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
142 reports21 fires
“WHILE DRIVING FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, THE AC WAS WORKING JUST FINE WHEN A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAL STARTED COMING FROM THE ENGINE. LIFTING MY FOOT OFF THE GAS SEEMED TO HELP AND THE NOISE WENT AWAY, BUT THE NOISE CAME BACK, AND A THUMPING SOUND STARTED TO COME THROUGH AND A SMALL POP HAPPENED, SENDING SOME SORT OF BLACK CANISTER SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER MY CAR AND ONTO THE FREEWAY. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE CAR FOR DAMAGE, NOT SEEING ANY MAJOR MARKS ON THE ENGINE AND NO LIQUIDS LEAKING FROM THE CAR. ONLY WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION AND THE CAR WOULD BLOW BOILING HOT AIR OUT OF THE VENTS DID I NOTICE AND ISSUE. THE DEALER DID AN INSPECTION OF THE CAR, AND TOLD ME THE AC HAD LITERALLY FALLEN OUT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A MAJOR PIECE OF A VEHICLE CAN FALL OUT, AND NOT BE ABLE TO BE REPLACED WITHOUT PAYING $2,000. *TR”
Air bags
103 reports22 crashes9 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2004 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the SRS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not inspected, diagnosed, or repaired. The contact stated that the SRS warning light remained illuminated. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 156,000.”
Electrical system
73 reports14 fires1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2004 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while seated in the vehicle, there was smoke coming from the driver’s side door and the power window master switch was melted. The contact refenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V768000 (VISIBILITY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the VIN was not included in the recall repair. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 125,077.”
Exterior lighting
39 reports1 related recall
“The headlights on both sides, specifically the low beams, will almost randomly turn off for up to 30 seconds. I used to drive about 90 miles at night, and on the highway this is dangerous since the speed limit is 65mph. It’s a danger to other people on the road since it’s incredibly difficult to see with the headlights turn off like that. It’s happened multiple times on my ~90 mile trips but have not taken it to a dealer for it to be checked. After the headlights come back on, it’s rare that it happens again but has happened multiple times within a quick span of each other. I’m quick to turn the high beams on, since they are still functional during this time. I don’t want to blind the vehicle in front of me by potentially shining the high beams through their rear view mirror. There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the problem occurring nor after. The vehicle is available to be inspected.”
Equipment
35 reports
“2004 HONDA CRV. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE PAINT ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHITE SPOTS STARTING APPEARING ON THE HOOD, THEN WINDOWS AND AROUND THE WINDOWS. ALSO, THE AIR CONDITIONER HAD TO BE FIXED.”
Vehicle speed control
18 reports5 crashes
“TODAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY CR-V ACCELERATED BY ITSELF AND WOULDN'T STOP EVEN WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKES. I HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR TO GO TOWARDS THE EXIT. I EVEN TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON BUT IMMEDIATELY REVVED AS IF I WAS PRESSING THE GAS. WOULDN'T SWITCH OUT OF PARK. I GOOGLED AND MY VEHICLE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE TO DO THIS. IS THIS A KNOWN ISSUE TO HONDA?”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.