NHTSA lists 9 safety recalls and 450 owner complaints for the 2020 Honda CR-V (including the hybrid). It has 2 open investigations that name this model year.
Head gasket: warranty extended, not recalled. Honda covers the cylinder head gasket of the 2020 CR-V1.5-liter turbo and CR-V Hybrid for 10 years from the original date of purchase or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first (bulletins 26-016 and 26-018). 11 of the 450 complaints to NHTSA about the 2020 CR-V mention a head gasket. Every car in Honda's head gasket warranty extension, and what the dealer does
Recalled components: air bags, electrical system, fuel system, body structure, and 2 more. Most-described problem: the check engine light coming on (38 complaints, 8%), then loss of power or limp mode (34). Most-reported area: forward collision avoidance (89 complaints, 20%).
Fewer complaints than a typical CR-V year
The 2020 drew 116 owner complaints in its first three years, against 229 for a typical CR-V year. It is not picked as a best year: its first three years fell in the pandemic, when people drove less.
Years to avoid: 2017, 2018, and 2023; best year: 2016. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
Data: NHTSA recall, complaint and investigation filesUpdated
Year to avoidBest year
Includes the CR-V Hybrid.
9 safety recalls for the 2020 Honda CR-V
Grouped by the part recalled, largest group first, newest first within each part. Summaries are NHTSA's own wording. Open a recall for what is wrong, the fix and the full notice.
Air bags 2 recalls
sensor · occupant classification · front passenger
Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
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: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
750,114 vehicles.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021CR-V,CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles.
Risk: An overheated battery cable or short circuit can increase the risk of a fire or injury in a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The 12-Volt battery cable routed outside of the body frame is missing a fuse on the power circuit, which can allow the battery cable to short circuit or overheat during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the battery cable, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 29, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is FGB.
106,030 vehicles.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022CR-V Hybrid vehicles.
Risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The DC-DC converter may shut down and prevent the 12-volt battery from recharging, possibly resulting in a loss of drive power.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the power converter unit (PCU) software, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2021. Owners can contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is K9E.
27,838 vehicles.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2020-2021 Insight vehicles.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
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.
Risk: An inaccurate fuel gauge may result in the vehicle unexpectedly running out of fuel and stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The clip for the absorber inside the fuel tank was not secured properly and may detach, which can cause an inaccurate fuel gauge reading.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 5, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is RCB.
212 vehicles.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020 CR-V vehicles.
Risk: A separated rear subframe reduces vehicle handling and can suddenly disable the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The rear subframe bolts were improperly manufactured and may loosen, allowing the rear subframe to separate.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear subframe bolts and retorque them or replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is R6M.
358 vehicles.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020CR-V vehicles.
Risk: An incorrectly sized tire may cause premature tread wear, or a tire blow out, increasing the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The certification label on the driver's side door states incorrect Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR), and tire size information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Fix: Dealers will install a new corrected label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 18, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is CF7.
Fails federal standard 110 (tire and rim labeling) · 5 vehicles.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017, 2020, and 2022 CR-V vehicles.
Risk: An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
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.
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.
448,613 vehicles.
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.
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 2020 Honda CR-V; 2 are still open. An investigation means NHTSA is reviewing reports of a problem. It is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
Loss of motive power
Preliminary evaluation PE25016Open since Oct 28, 2025
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 48 Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) reports and some Early Warning Reporting (EWR) field reports alleging intermittent loss of motive power in Model Year (MY)… NHTSA's full summary
NHTSA listing: CR-V HYBRID. Component: Engine.
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.
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 450 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 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
Check engine light38 · 8%
Loss of power or limp mode34 · 8%
Several warning lights at once31 · 7%
Steering rack problems: sticking, play or pulling29 · 6%
Most named: automatic emergency braking (78); warnings (19)
Engine63 · 14%
Median 49,500 miles at failure, from 20 reports with mileage
Electrical system59 · 13%
Median 13,000 miles at failure, from 15 reports with mileage
Air bags51 · 11%
Brakes51 · 11%
Median 20,000 miles at failure, from 16 reports with mileage
Fuel and propulsion system48 · 11%
Steering48 · 11%
Unknown or other50 · 11%
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 2020 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 2020 drew 116.
Owner complaints
2020: 450 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
2020: 9 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 450 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Honda CR-V, the problems described most are the check engine light coming on (38), loss of power or limp mode (34), and several warning lights coming on at once (31). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2020 Honda CR-V safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2020 Honda CR-V earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2020 Honda CR-V?
Yes. NHTSA has 2 open investigations that name the 2020 Honda CR-V: loss of motive power (PE25016, opened Oct 28, 2025) and inadvertent automatic emergency braking (EA24002, opened Apr 15, 2024). It has closed 1 other. 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, CR-V HYBRID.
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.