CarComplaints.com Notes: It's rare when a newer vehicle has defect trends. Judging from the identical 2017 model year, the 2018 Honda CR-V is likely to have at least two — overfilled oil levels with a gas smell, & heat not working.

Both problems affecting the Honda CR-V's 1.5L "Earth Dreams" engine appear to be related to cold-climate regions.

CR-V owners report overfilled oil levels due to fuel in the oil, & sometimes a gas smell in the cabin. That problem appears to be related to fuel injection which Honda hopes to fix via a software update. Honda so far has only conducted a recall in China & a "product update" in Canada.

CR-V owners also report no heat even after warming up their CR-Vs for 30 minutes — not even enough to defrost the windshield. So far, there has been no fix from Honda for this issue.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
9,708 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2018 Honda CR-V electrical problems

electrical problem

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2018 Honda CR-V Owner Comments (Page 5 of 11)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #122

Jan 222022

CR-V

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The Audio Display screen will occasionally start dimming, changing functions, and continually beeping. There are no warning messages or lamps connected with this failure; it just happens randomly. This can be very dangerous if one is using GPS as a navigational aid as I often do and the Audio Display screen fails at a critical time. This problem has been reported by many CR-V owners. Examples of the failure are on YouTube. I have reported the problem to my dealer and will be taking it in to see if they can fix it soon.

- Allen, TX, USA

problem #121

Jan 142022

CR-V

  • miles
Online you can see everyone seems to have this problem to the point there's a class action suit going on I think. My battery died several times while still under warranty but the dealer said this is NORMAL for it to die after sitting for a week and some / many die after 3 days!! I feel this is VERY dangerous! What if it dies after say a trip and you're off site parked in a bad area" Or in bad weather? They did not replace and of course as soon as the warranty ran out it died for good and I had to replace it. I feel this should be looked into as a serious problem. Jim PS - I had reported a problem w/ the collision system a year or two ago....it's still fluky. Just this week it auto slammed on the brakes when I truck was on a bend in front of me so it thought I was going to hit him?" Then it happened on an Interstate! A vehicle coming on via the onramp triggered it at 70 MPH! Not a slam though but scary.

- Allentown, NJ, USA

problem #120

Dec 292021

CR-V

  • miles
The vehicle has a "feature" which rolls down the windows automatically upon pressing the unlock button on the keyfob twice and then holding the button. On multiple occasions the windows have rolled down without the owner's knowledge when keys are carried in pockets, purses, etc. This is considered a safety issue due to risk of windows unrolling in inclement weather and damaging the interior, or due to risk of an unauthorized person obtaining access to the car by reaching through the now opened window and simply depressing the interior unlock button. There is no way to disable this capability.

- Fulton, MS, USA

problem #119

Nov 292021

CR-V

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

All the alerts are going off on the car. Brakes, safety, transmission you name it.

- Haymarket, VA, USA

problem #118

Nov 192021

CR-V

  • miles
The BCM module of the vehicle can fail unexpectedly and cause a complete drain of the vehicle battery overnight. Specific part number of the component: 38809-TMM-A21

- Boston, MA, USA

problem #117

Oct 152021

CR-V

  • miles
Battery failures. Experience battery failures twice within a 3 year period. First incident the vehicle was parked in out garage and required to be towed to dealership and battery replaced and second incident was able to drive to dealership to have battery replaced. Had the electronic system tested at the dealership and tested within operating specifications. When the battery is failing the driver and infotainment displays starts to glitch/malfunction. In both cased there were not any battery messages to alert the driver.

- Burleson, TX, USA

problem #116

Nov 042021

CR-V

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I had been running errands, driving, made 2 stops. When I cranked the car at the 3rd stop, the Dashboard warning system lights all come on and won-??t go off. This includes the TPMS System, Brake Failure warning light, Emergency Brake Light, Lane Assist, VSA warning, etc. The car was drivable, so I took it to the dealer in December 2020. They said battery was low and I bought a new one. October, 2021, it happened again. The battery was under warranty, so they changed it out for a new one. Today, 2 weeks later, November 2021, it happened again. The dealer is keeping it for diagnostics. No resolution yet. The vehicle has less than 25k miles, but of course not under warranty because it was purchased more than 3 years ago.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #115

Sep 062021

CR-V

  • miles
Grinding noises were heard in the car twice, before the engine stalled. The car was stopped in the middle of the intersection. Could not restart the car at all, and check engine lights were lit on the dashboard. After 5 minutes passed and after multiple tries to restart the car, the engine started and I was able to get to safety. Upon dealer inspection, the cause was the air condition compressor locking up, possibly due to a leak in the refrigerant. This is confirmed by the car blowing hot air even in AC mode. The lock up caused the engine to stall and go into fail safe mode. This meant the car was stopped and unable to restart in the middle of a busy intersection. Because the car's engine was stopped, it was not possible to get the car moving again. It was incredibly dangerous for me and my passengers, as well as other cars on the road. Even when the lights changed, I was still stuck. There were cars driving around my car, causing more potential traffic incidents. The engine was not able to be immediately restarted, which put multiple cars in traffic in danger for longer than necessary. The car is being serviced by Roush Honda (100 W Schrock Rd, Westerville, OH 43081). Prior to the failure, there were no warning signs and no other issues. This was a sudden and completely unexpected engine stall due to the AC Compressor Failure. This issue is common among CRV (2017 to 2020). https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/Discussion-t72370_ds1082603. There is also another NTSHA notice on this car related to the AC Compressor Leak. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2021/MC-10189868-0001.pdf Please recall this car. This issue puts everyone in an incredibly dangerous situation.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #114

Jul 142021

CR-V 4-cyl

  • miles
My 2018 Honda CR-V loses power and acceleration when driving, sometimes on the freeway. In addition, the computer system goes haywire and lights up all the engine failure lights. I've taken the vehicle to a mechanic four times for this problem, twice to a Honda dealership; the diagnosis each time has been a faulty fuel injector that spews gasoline into the oil. According to Consumer Reports, this problem has been common with the 2017 and 2018 models of this vehicle, and the Honda Co. agreed to extend the warranty on these models to cover the repair of a common problem among the models in these years. However, this visit to Honda of Bedford, Ohio, the dealership has kept the vehicle for four weeks because the Honda corporation refuses to repair a fuel injector that spews gasoline into the oil pan. The fuel injector was faulty but Honda won-??t take responsibility. It-??s a fire hazard as well as it could cause an accident when it loses power. especially in a high traffic area. My request is to compel the Honda Corporation to cover the cost of this repair in that the fuel injector in may of the 2017/2018 models were faulty from the factory. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Mayfield Heights, OH, USA

problem #113

Jan 032020

CR-V

  • miles
Our 2018 Honda CR-V SUV EX 2WD is a very good vehicle except we can't rely on it to start. Since buying it new in April, 2018 we have had to have it towed or jump-started six times because the battery has been drained. Many other owners seem to have similar problems; online it has become known as a "parasitic battery drain" problem. There are at least two class-action suits at present we know of concerning the same problem, one In Iowa, and another in Florida. Also on three different occasions we experienced the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems display flashing indicating some features are not working while driving -- for no apparent reason. However, the systems gradually return to normal after the vehicle has been stopped, re-started, and driven again for several miles. We don't know if the two issues are related (see NHTSA Complaint 11361514). Not being able to start in an out of cell-phone area or an unpopulated area is a serious safety concern. Additionally, I carry a portable, battery-powered oxygen concentrator that can't be recharged when the CR-V won't start and the battery is dead. We have records and documentation to support our CRV problems. We are on our third SUV battery - a top-of-the-line from AAA - and have been doing such obvious things as checking our garage nightly to make sure a dome light isn't on, etc. There are no preliminary cues that we have noted such as lights become dimmer, etc. prior to the non-starting times. Four of six times have been during daylight hours. On one occasion we were able to restart the vehicle using a portable lithium battery power pack; on another this booster failed to start the SUV and we had to call AAA. Our "home" Honda service center has sincerely tried but failed to diagnose the problem and neither was the major Honda garage in Albuquerque, NM able to this past summer. Two different complaints with Honda Motors of America remain unanswered as of today. Honda isn't supporting their dealerships.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #112

Sep 072021

CR-V

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On 9/7/2021 at 10am, my car (housed in a garage) would not start. It unlocked electronically, but when I put my foot on the brake pedal it felt soft and when I depressed the start button, nothing happened. Everything on the car was locked/frozen and would not respond. There were some alerts (related to brake failure) showing on the dashboard and the headlights and taillights were on. I was able to lock the car manually but the lights stayed on. I had it towed to the repair service, they found that the battery had only 8 volts. Nothing else looked unusual on the diagnostic. They had no explanation for the occurrence. The battery was original, Honda factory installed, 3 years old and the car has <7,000 miles on it. This happened very suddenly with no warning. Car had been functioning with no problems noted until then. Something had caused a sudden drain on the battery. (I had not left any lights on.) When I searched online for possible explanations, I found numerous reports of sporadic, sudden battery failures with recent Honda cars, as well as TSR from Honda asking to have removed batteries returned to them. This is a potential safety issue. What if it had occurred when parked on a street after dark when everything was closed? I believe Honda should acknowledge the problem and find a solution other than continually replacing the batteries.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #111

May 142018

CR-V 4-cyl

  • 12,466 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle accelerated even though consumer was not depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact also stated that the touch screen display would not engage and allow the contact to use the screen. The contact also stated that the high beam headlights would independently flicker on and off. Additionally, the automatic cruise control warning light was illuminated on the control panel. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with nothing needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 12,466.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #110

May 042020

CR-V

  • 30,000 miles
Driving on city street and interstate the infotainment system in the vehicle will randomly go out. This has happened in the past but has progressively gotten worse. The infotainment system houses the gps and climate control (defrost) system along with the car settings (adas) and entertainment system. When you are dependent on the gps for navigation and you loose the directions you go into a panic situation trying to figure things out. When the windshield fogs and you can't use the defrost system it becomes a visibility issue. Dealership has updated the software but still continues to happen.

- Williamsburg, VA, USA

problem #109

Apr 182021

CR-V

  • 60,000 miles
All of the warning lights are lighting up in the instrument panel. The car was parked and turned on (idle) in driveway when all the instrument panel lights turned on. 2 days later, they all turned off. Then 2 days later they all turned on again when the car was idle in driveway. Multiple warning lights are on, including power steering problem, however, the power steering is fine. Car runs normally. I read online this is an issue with multiple Honda 2017-2018 CR-V's. most people have spent a lot of money at dealerships and never fixed the problem. I replaced the battery 1 yr ago because the factory battery died. Not sure if the 2 are related.

- Richfield, OH, USA

problem #108

Mar 312021

CR-V

  • 44,500 miles
The touchscreen on the main infotainment display failed to work immediately on startup of the vehicle. In addition the mechanical volume/power button on the display would not work either. Radio control (source/station/volume) was available thru steering wheel controls but no other functions of the display were available. A normal key cycle did not resolve the issue.

- Parkersburg, IA, USA

problem #107

Mar 112021

CR-V

  • 30,000 miles
When I star on and drive, the yellow warning stay on, red brake light blink, all computer safety system malfuncion, electric brakes, tires pressure, collision, a.C, power stering, etc. Car drive but feel lighs the brake is on. This is a dangerus trash car. Brakes problem "the main safety divice for recall. "

- Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA

problem #106

Mar 162021

CR-V

  • 39,271 miles
When I star the car and drive the yellow warning light stay on and the red light blink and not go off. All warning light. (tps, collision mitigation problem, emisin syst. Problem, electric brake problem, etc.). aslo this happen already 4 times before. Couple times I use my brakes when I was drive and I felt that the car no stop righ at time and almost hit the other car. Also I change my motor oil and the old one is mix with gasoline and is more volume that I put in. Also some time when I drive the car star to stalling.

- Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA

problem #105

Mar 062019

CR-V

  • 20,000 miles
I would like to report a potential safety issue that exists in my 2018 Honda CR-V. the infotainment system on my Honda will, arbitrarily, cycle through various menus and start beeping loudly. This is extremely distracting and diverts the driver's attention away from the road. It is unbelievably annoying and it completely destroys a driver's situational awareness. After doing some research, I have found that this is an endemic problem with the 2017-2019 CR-V as well as other Honda models. It can occur at any time while driving and numerous examples of this failure mode can be found on youtube. Honda, has suggested that the software is at fault and issued an update, but this has done nothing to solve the problem. In the interest of safety, I write this letter in the hope that the national highway safety administration takes action and investigates this recurring problem. There are countless stories on Honda forums of drivers being distracted and removing their attention from the road as the center infotainment screen starts flashing and beeping incessantly. Ref:https://www.youtube.com/watch?V=hu60Q1cb5K4

- Grapevine, TX, USA

problem #104

Mar 122021

CR-V

  • 3,000 miles
Many times I start and drive the car and the yellow warning lights stay on and and also the red light brake keep blinking. When this hapen cruise, presure tires malfuncion. One the las time I parked and turn off and when I tried to star again the brakes stay engaged and no go any wheare. I have to disconect the batery 2 times for reset the alarms. Also when I drive low speed the motor start to stalling. When I changed motor oil I smelled gas and old oil is mix with gas and is more volume that the original

- Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA

problem #103

Mar 042021

CR-V

  • 36,700 miles
Without warning numerous dash warning lights spontaneously deployed and vehicle slowed to 10 miles per hour. Warning lights included lane departure, emissions, emergency brake, brake hold, adaptive cruise, such as the brake system, acc & forward collision warning illuminated on the dash. Second time this occurred in two years. Car was in motion.

- Mckees Rocks, PA, USA

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