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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling142
  2. Air bags103
  3. Electrical system73
  4. Exterior lighting39
  5. Equipment35
  6. Vehicle speed control18
  7. Seat belts17
  8. Visibility16
  9. Latches/locks/linkages14
  10. Fuel system, gasoline14
  11. Power train13
  12. Engine12
  13. Suspension11
  14. 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
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
20033
200490
200529
20068
200716
200839
200929
201037
201140
201233
201317
201423
201559
201612
201721
20186
201911
20206
20217
20221
20237
20243
20252
20262

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

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 1, 2015Engine and engine coolingODI 10691341

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 10, 2026Air bagsODI 11723392

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 15, 2026Electrical system, VisibilityODI 11731479

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 6, 2024Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11613134

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 6, 2014Structure, EquipmentODI 10566166

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?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 11, 2019Vehicle speed control, Service brakesODI 11195715
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.