Problems · NHTSA complaints
2008 Honda CR-V problems
Owners filed 963 complaints about the 2008 Honda CR-V with NHTSA between Feb 2008 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (325).
Complaints
963
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
44
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
43
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags325
- Electrical system218
- Latches/locks/linkages200
- Structure95
- Steering70
- Suspension38
- Power train37
- Engine23
- Engine and engine cooling19
- Vehicle speed control16
- Tires16
- Seat belts14
- Service brakes, hydraulic14
- Wheels12
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
16
25
21
28
23
143
94
38
321
74
43
22
14
18
20
42
7
8
6
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 16 |
| 2009 | 25 |
| 2010 | 21 |
| 2011 | 28 |
| 2012 | 23 |
| 2013 | 143 |
| 2014 | 94 |
| 2015 | 38 |
| 2016 | 321 |
| 2017 | 74 |
| 2018 | 43 |
| 2019 | 22 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2021 | 18 |
| 2022 | 20 |
| 2023 | 42 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 | 6 |
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
Air bags
325 reports29 crashes9 related recalls
“*(#1)2024 COMPLETELY TURND OFF DEAD STOPEF IN THE MIDDLE FREEWAY HIGHWAY PATROL HAD TO TOW IT AWAY LASY YEAR COST ME $900+ **** AGAIN NOW ALMOST PASSED OUT NO AIR BAG TO SAFE ME***** (#2) 3/6/2025 CAR COMPLETLY CRASHED ,INJURED ,I WAS TAKEN BY 911 TO HOSPITAL. ** BAD AIR BAG DID NOT CAME OUT OR NEVER WORKED TO PROTECTED ME***, I GOT HIT MY CHEST SO BAD , THOGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE THST MOMENT. CURRENTLY I RENTED A CAR TO PAY IT DAYLY $$$$ GO TO DOCTOR FROM MY OWN POCKET.[I CAN AFFORD] SINCE I LOST DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG WILL TAKE TO BE REPLACED MY 2008 HONA CRV ,WITH SAFER VEHICLE. I NEED TO HAVE TRANSPORTATION I SHOLDN'T CHARGED FOR RENTING A CAR AND GET HELP WITH FREE RENT TRANSPORTATION SOONER UNTILL SOMEONE RESOLVE THIS DADLY ISSUE. THANK GODI'M ALIVE”
Electrical system
218 reports4 crashes
“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2008 Honda CR-V. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was 137,000. It was later discovered upon registering the vehicle with the DMV that the mileage was 255,000.”
Latches/locks/linkages
200 reports
“The contact owns a 2008 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the front passenger's door failed to latch as intended. In addition, the front passenger's door had independently unlatched. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed door lock actuator. The contact was informed that the front passenger's side door actuator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue, and a case was filed. The contact referenced an unknown Technical Service Bulletin with a similar failure; however, the contact was informed that the TSB had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000.”
Structure
95 reports4 crashes1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2008 Honda CR-V. The vehicle was recently taken to a dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V228000 (Structure). The contact stated that the dealer was required to perform a rigorous 7-point safety inspection to ensure the frame was structurally sound for the rear trailing arm reinforcement brace to function properly. However, the dealer overlooked a critical rust hole on the frame by the trailing arm brace. The dealer improperly completed the recall repair despite the structural failure and informed the contact that the recall repair was successfully performed. The contact became aware of the issue after arriving to the residence. The contact believed that the issue posed an immediate safety risk. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer for re-evaluation; however, the dealer refused to provide further assistance. The manufacturer was notified of the structural failure. The failure mileage was 191,000.”
Steering
70 reports
“Hello I’m [XXX] and own a 2008 Honda CRV that runs fine. VIN [XXX] , but previous owner never went to the recall and I bought the car in 2014 and recently, during a brake job, I first became aware of the problem when my mechanic alerted me to the recall situation and the rusting out that was putting drivers in a very dangerous situation. My car failed the recall because of the rust causing the degradation of the rear suspension trailing arm, and now I'm left with a car not fit to drive? and I would be liable for whatever happens but I was never offered a solution to buy the car back something to help and I cannot be without one to get to Dr’s or buy food live rural I have no choice living alone at [XXX] need a car. So a question, why am I the problem? when, in the first place, the car was dangerous from the manufacturer to the rusting out situation which was actually life threatening, lose steering, the wheel could collapse or the frame itself, and again, never offered any help at all some compensation, nothing? Just drive it home with the burden of the liability etc. I’m on a Fixed income of only $800 a month how am I to survive living rural without a car at…”
Suspension
38 reports1 crash
“While driving on October 2, 2026, the driver-side rear trailing arm and subframe mounting structure detached from the frame due to severe corrosion. The vehicle was immediately taken to Brandon Honda (Tampa, FL) for inspection under Safety Recall 23V228000 / Campaign 23-032. Brandon Honda documented on Repair Order #250035 that the "DRIVER REAR SUB-FRAME LOOKS TO BE COMPLETELY DETACHED." However, instead of submitting required inspection failure photos to Honda TechLine for corporate repurchase evaluation as mandated by Service Bulletin 23-032, the dealership issued a $4,222.77 customer-pay body shop estimate from Nu Finish Collision Center (Estimate #046670) to replace the suspension crossmember, trailing arm, and frame rails out of pocket. The vehicle has a completely detached rear trailing arm/subframe, fails the safety recall inspection, and is grounded at the dealership as unsafe to drive. The dealership is refusing to follow official recall failure protocol and attempting to shift financial responsibility onto the consumer for a safety defect covered under federal recall mandates.”
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.