NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 2,169 owner complaints for the 2018 Honda CR-V. It has 1 open investigation that names this model year.
Head gasket: warranty extended, not recalled. Honda covers the cylinder head gasket of the 2018 CR-V1.5-liter turbo for 10 years from the original date of purchase or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first (bulletin 26-016). 53 of the 2,169 complaints to NHTSA about the 2018 CR-V mention a head gasket. Every car in Honda's head gasket warranty extension, and what the dealer does
Recalled components: air bags, fuel system, seat belts, and steering. Most-described problem: fuel in the oil or a rising oil level (333 complaints, 15%). Most-reported area: engine (530 complaints, 24%; median mileage when it happened: 5,800).
One of the CR-V years to avoid
The 2018 drew 697 owner complaints in its first three years, against 229 for a typical CR-V year: 3 times as many.
Years to avoid: 2017, 2018, and 2023; best year: 2016. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
A manufacturing issue with the front seat belts may cause the seat belt buckle channel to interfere with the release button, preventing the seat belt buckle from latching.
Risk: An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belt buckle release buttons or the buckle assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 18, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are NDA, QDB, BDC, MDD, LD9. TDF, FDG, ODH, YDI, ZDE.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2020CR-V,2018-2019 Accord and Accord Hybrid, 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019 Insight, and 2019-2020 Acura RDX vehicles.
The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-314.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2018-2019CR-V vehicles.
The magnet that controls the torque sensor output signal for the electronic power steering system may not be properly secured, allowing the magnet to become dislodged. During a full lock turn, the dislodged magnet may cause steering assist to be applied in the opposite direction.
Risk: The unintended steering input reduces vehicle maneuverability and increases the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gearbox assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are C2N, P2O.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Honda Civic and CR-V vehicles.
NHTSA listing: CR-V. Honda campaign C2N, P2O.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA has opened 3 investigations that name the 2018 Honda CR-V; 1 is still open. An investigation means NHTSA is reviewing reports of a problem. It is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
Inadvertent automatic emergency braking
Engineering analysis EA24002Open since Apr 15, 2024
On February 21, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE22003) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), an automatic… NHTSA's full summary
Preliminary evaluation PE22011Closed Jul 22, 2024 (opened Nov 28, 2022)
On November 29, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE 22-011 after reviewing field reports alleging rear differential seizure in 2018-2022MY Honda CR-V and HR-V vehicles equipped with all wheel drive.
Preliminary evaluation PE22003Closed Apr 18, 2024 (opened Feb 21, 2022)
On February 21, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE22003) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), an automatic… NHTSA's full summary
A preliminary evaluation is NHTSA's first step, to gather information and decide whether to look further. An engineering analysis is a deeper review, usually opened after a preliminary evaluation. NHTSA lists investigations by make, model and model year only, so one can apply to only some versions of a model, such as one engine; its summary says which.
What owners report
Owners have filed 2,169 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 CR-V. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Oil dilution: fuel in the oil or a rising oil level333 · 15%
Median 5,000 miles at failure, from 266 reports with mileage
Steering rack problems: sticking, play or pulling208 · 10%
Median 66,100 miles at failure, from 54 reports with mileage
Several warning lights at once160 · 7%
Median 70,500 miles at failure, from 70 reports with mileage
Stalling or shutting off141 · 7%
Median 20,000 miles at failure, from 92 reports with mileage
Fuel smell or fuel leak112 · 5%
Median 4,000 miles at failure, from 94 reports with mileage
Phantom braking or false collision alerts99 · 5%
Median 14,000 miles at failure, from 25 reports with mileage
Loss of power or limp mode97 · 4%
Median 41,000 miles at failure, from 44 reports with mileage
Misfires or rough running77 · 4%
Median 39,000 miles at failure, from 20 reports with mileage
Median 5,800 miles at failure, from 354 reports with mileage
Forward collision avoidance397 · 18%
Most named: automatic emergency braking (315); warnings (97) · Median 35,200 miles at failure, from 58 reports with mileage
Fuel and propulsion system376 · 17%
Median 4,000 miles at failure, from 172 reports with mileage
Steering335 · 15%
Most named: rack and pinion (6) · Median 52,400 miles at failure, from 87 reports with mileage
Electrical system286 · 13%
Most named: instrument cluster/panel (7); 12v/24v/48v battery (3) · Median 14,900 miles at failure, from 125 reports with mileage
Fuel system232 · 11%
Most named: fuel injection system, injectors (7) · Median 77,100 miles at failure, from 77 reports with mileage
Brakes194 · 9%
Median 15,100 miles at failure, from 107 reports with mileage
Unknown or other210 · 10%
Median 5,900 miles at failure, from 75 reports with mileage
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Honda CR-V recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2018 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2017 CR-V drew the most (835) and the 2018 drew 697.
Owner complaints
2018: 2,169 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Honda CR-V
Model year
Complaints
2010
483
2011
555
2012
403
2013
382
2014
588
2015
674
2016
396
2017
1,782
2018
2,169
2019
1,110
2020
450
2021
448
2022
354
2023
634
2024
485
2025
300
2026
189
Safety recalls
2018: 5 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Honda CR-V
Model year
Recalls
2010
15
2011
13
2012
3
2013
2
2014
1
2015
3
2016
3
2017
7
2018
5
2019
8
2020
9
2021
5
2022
6
2023
8
2024
5
2025
6
2026
2
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 2,169 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Honda CR-V, the problems described most are fuel in the oil or a rising oil level (333), steering rack problems such as sticking, play or pulling (208), and several warning lights coming on at once (160). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2018 Honda CR-V safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2018 Honda CR-V earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2018 Honda CR-V?
Yes. NHTSA has 1 open investigation that names the 2018 Honda CR-V: inadvertent automatic emergency braking (EA24002, opened Apr 15, 2024). It has closed 2 others. An investigation is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
How do I check if my CR-V has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Honda dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: CR-V.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.