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 6 of 11)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #102

Jan 142020

CR-V

  • miles

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

Intermittingly all malfunction lights in dash display malfunctions, battery drains abnormally, sunroof opens without warning, and windows open. Charged battery and malfunction lights went off for a week; however, after driving periodically all warning lights came back on. Checked and it had partially drained. Have taken to the Honda dealer and no codes displayed issues with the electrical system.

- Emerald Isle, NC, USA

problem #101

Feb 102021

CR-V

  • 15,124 miles
This is the 3D time multiple sensor warnings have appeared: TPMS/acc/brake/downhill assist/lane departure/etc.. warnings. The dealer (brandon hinda) just resets codes with no reason for recurring problem. Reserach shows many have similar problems reported to hinda and there is a class action lawsuit pending alleging 2016-2019 Honda CR-V safety systems are defective; filed in us district court for the central district of California; ward, et al., vs. American Honda motor co., Inc. Et al. Vehicle was stationary when problem noticed.

- Lithia, FL, USA

problem #100

Jan 242021

CR-V

  • 38,009 miles
On three occasions I have returned to my parked car which was locked and had all the windows and power sunroof closed when I left it, to find all four windows half way down and the power sunroof three inches open. On two of these occasions it had rained before or was beginning to rain upon my return to the car and significant damage to the vehicle could have occurred if the rain storm had been worse. The third time this happened, my car was parked in a public parking lot and this malfunction created a safety and security risk for my family and property. The Honda CR-V manual indicates that there is a "feature" where if a person presses the unlock button on the key fob once and then presses it again and holds it for a minimum of 10 seconds, all the windows will be lowered half way and partially opens the sunroof. My key fob however was not in a place where the unlock button could be pushed twice in this pattern and these instances were not due to operator errors. Honda currently denies knowledge of any such issue in spite of the fact that my web search found numerous complaints by other CR-V and certain Acura owners about exactly the same issue. The Honda dealership says unless the service department can reproduce the problem they are advised by american Honda the problem does not exist and they cannot file anything with Honda America regarding the issue. Since this is a low occurrence rate intermittent problem, customers will fruitlessly pay Honda to troubleshoot the problem with no resolution of it unless Honda is forced to acknowledge and address it by the NHTSA. I respectfully request you do whatever is in your power to make Honda resolve this issue as at a minimum, an unlocked vehicle allows for the possibility of a criminal gaining access and being present inside the car when the owner returns.

- Boulder Creek, CA, USA

problem #99

Jan 172021

CR-V

  • miles

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

After leaving out of car wash I parked the car to vacuum. Left the car running in park and all of the sudden all warning lights came on dash. Car still drives normally.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #98

Jan 082021

CR-V

  • 21,000 miles
Our 2018 Honda CRV has a dead battery at 21,000 miles. On the internet, I see many other examples of this battery losing charge. Is this a common problem? we were lucky, as the CRV battery died in our garage. But, it could have died in a less friendly location. From what I read, this battery is prone to parasitic current loss at any time. Thank you. Jim bromwell Carolina shores,

- Carolina Shores,, NC, USA

problem #97

Jan 012019

CR-V

  • miles
Ll systems lights are flashing on my dashboard going on and off since the time of purchase, I took the car to the dealer and they said no issues found, this is happening frequently. I was going through car gurus and so many people who bought Honda CRV during 2018 got impacted with the same issues

- North Brunswick, NJ, USA

problem #96

Nov 132020

CR-V

  • 36,400 miles

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

Have issues sometimes the on board radio, dimming light on display etc will go crazy flipping from bright to dark. Cant use any controls like navigation, gps, use radio and it's happened maybe 6 times. Have to shut off engine then restart then it seems to take care of issue. This occurred while driving.

- Bristol, IN, USA

problem #95

Dec 102020

CR-V

  • 16,400 miles
2018 Honda CRV touring purchase September 8, 2018. Currently has 16,400 miles. On Thursday, December 10, I went out to start my Honda CRV touring in the garage. It would not start. I called the helpline to have a towing company come to take the car to bob brady Honda dealership in Decatur Illinois. I called bob brady Honda service center they told me to just have the towing company jumpstart my car and drive it into the dealership service department. Note, the towing company driver informed me that this is about the 13th Honda 2018 2020 that he has had to jumpstart. Some of the vehicles he's had to revisit to jumpstart. I didn't drive the car after coming home the rest of the day on Thursday. The car started on Friday, December 18, at 11:30 am. The Honda started on Friday, December 18 at 3:30 pm. Saturday, December 19, the car started at 10:00 am. That same day the car started at 1:00 pm. On Sunday, December 13, I went out to try to start my car at 7:00 am. My car would not start! it is my understanding at the Honda dealership in the service department they will not just flip out the battery until they first try to charge it again to see if that helps the problem. It is now December 14, 2020 and I am going to call the Honda dealership to have my car towed in today for the exact same problem of the battery being dead! both times that the car battery died as well it was sitting in my heated garage. I'm not able to take any photographs on a dead battery. But, I have made a video of exactly how the procedure takes place when I have tried to start my car in the garage.

- Decatur, IL, USA

problem #94

Nov 262020

CR-V

  • 36,500 miles
While driving, all of the warning lights come on. A few days after resetting the computer, this recurred. In one occasion, engine power went to a minimum (10 mph on a level road) while driving. Parking brakes engaged lights flashing while driving. This happened on city streets and was reported by others (https://www.cargurus.com/cars/discussion-T76546_ds1113654). Honda dealer admitted they saw this with others but neither they nor corporate Honda will take responsibility for addressing this issue. The first time this happened, I almost got into an accident pulling to the side of a busy road thinking there were engine problems. My car battery is quite new and has been checked before this issue happened so this is not a battery issue. The reported date is the latest - this has recurred about 4 times now.

- Berkeley, CA, USA

problem #93

Nov 192020

CR-V

  • 25,800 miles
Entered the vehicle and began to drive. The problem lights all appeared as driving: Steering, tire pressure, emergency brake, engine. The car stalled as driving and steering was made difficult, did the der der der noises. I felt endangered with my children and puppy in the vehicle.

- Elmwood Park, NJ, USA

problem #92

Oct 172020

CR-V

  • 36,000 miles

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

2 problems, when vehicle is moving, audio display panel glicthes in/out, brightness goes from bright to dim to completely blacked out display without being touched. Glitches out like that for several minutes, completely uncontrollable and cannot use your audio display/radio nothing. While stationary car would not start. When you attempt to start car display says brake problem, and then parking brake problem, no audio display lights up nothing, engine start button blinks red and car goes off completely, smelled gas during this attempt to start car. Jumped started the car took it to local auto parts store to check car battery, battery has more than enough charge. Attached pics and video.

- Rockwall, TX, USA

problem #91

Oct 262020

CR-V

  • miles
While driving in town, multiple warning lights were displayed repeatedly. They reset when the engine is turned off. We took the vehicle to the dealer, but they could not find a problem, and no action was taken.this happened already four times, and we are concerned that it could become worse, and cause a more serious outcome.

- Gainesville, FL, USA

problem #90

May 012020

CR-V

  • 3,000 miles
"hands free" tailgate opener does not work when foot is kicked under rear of car

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #89

Sep 272020

CR-V

  • 34,567 miles
For no apparent reason the dash warning lights (forward collision warning, etc.) begin flashing when the vehicle is being driven. When the vehicle is stopped and engine turned off for a brief period and then restarted the dash display returns to normal with the warning lights correctly working again. Has happened 3 times.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #88

Sep 182020

CR-V

  • miles
All of the lights came on for my vehicle indicating that I have problem in all areas of the car. This is a 2018 Honda CRV. This car is 2 years old and the relay module is malfunctioning. This car is too young to be malfunctioning at this point. Because I am at 37,000 miles, Honda is telling me that I am out of warranty of the car and I would be responsible for repairing the relay module which is a major expense. Again this car is too young to be malfunctioning. Honda needs to repair this car or give me my money back.

- Hollis, NY, USA

problem #87

Sep 192020

CR-V

  • miles
I was driving to the store I pulled up and parked reached over to get a mask out and the chime went off. So I looked at the dash and found that the display was saying power steering was disable then the vehicle stability control then the tire pressure monitor then the engine then the brakes and it just keeps chiming in displaying each message for all listed above. I restarted the car hoping it would clear the problem but it did not. Hope the warranty covers it and towing.

- Craig, CO, USA

problem #86

Aug 242020

CR-V

  • 24,200 miles
On 8-24-2020, the 4 windows and sunroof opened spontaneously. No on in car or near car with key fob (which has nothing to do with windows and sunroof).

- Ben Lomond, CA, USA

problem #85

Jan 252020

CR-V

  • 56,752 miles
Vehicle dashboard gave multiple warnings while in motion on the highway; the Honda sensing system no longer functioned at this time. Took to nearby independent mechanic who narrowed malfunction to ECM. Took car to dealer who replaced vsa modulator. After approximately 30 days, vehicle would not start; engine starts but shuts back off immediately. Vehicle was towed to dealer; body control module was replaced.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #84

Aug 072020

CR-V

  • 40,000 miles
This the third incident, where I was driving the vehicle and the car lost power, stalled, shut down, and all the sensors on the vehicle went off. The vacaville Honda dealership on the second time refuse to document my issue or look at the battery without me paying for a service. I brought the car in for service. I feel really unsafe in this vehicle and vacaville Honda has a history of not documenting my concerns. The vehicle was in motion and I came to a stop sign where I turned right and noticed the car was not moving when I pressed the gas. The car turned off and then turned on and all the sensors came on. I was able to get the car rolling by going down hill going about 2 mph, even though the speedometer said 16 mph. There was not way I was going at that speed. I had to have the car towed locally to another Honda where I lived and they were unable to tell me why all the sensors went off.

- Vallejo, CA, USA

problem #83

Jul 282020

CR-V 4-cyl

  • 11,760 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. the contact stated that while driving at 58 mph, the vehicle independently made an abrupt stop while switching lanes on the highway. The contact also stated that the brake system failure, road departure mitigation system failure and the adaptive cruise control failure was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle resumed normal operation without driver input. The contact stated that while in line at a drive thru, the vehicle started buzzing and the display screen blacked out and started buffering. After leaving the drive thru, the vehicle failed to accelerate properly with the accelerator pedal depressed. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was later taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that there were defects related to the messages displayed on the instrument panel. The mechanic took the vehicle to jim coleman Honda (12441 auto dr, clarksville, md 21029) to have the vehicle serviced under warranty however, the dealer refused to service the vehicle without explanation. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 11,760. Consumer says that on 08/22/2020 vehicle braked on its on while exiting an interstate highway at 45 mph. After the car braked on its own, the car started to wobble as though the wheels are about to unbuckle, and the brake light started to flash. Consumer experienced whiplash from the sudden braking. Consumer says that there were no other vehicles around at the time of the incident. On 08/25/2020 consumer took vehicle to jim coleman Honda to be diagnosed and repaired.

- Columbia, MD, USA

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