2016 Honda CR-V problems, complaints & recalls

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 194 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Honda CR-V, most often about engine. There are 3 recalls for this model year.

Complaints
194
Recalls
3
Crashes
17
Fires
1
Injuries
16
Median mileage
48,000 mi
at time of problem

Key facts

  • Engine is the most-reported problem area, named in 63 of 194 complaints (32%).
  • Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion (39) and electrical system (37) follow.
  • Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 48,000 mi.
  • Owners reported 17 crashes, 1 fire and 16 injuries.
  • The 2016 Honda CR-V has 3 recalls on file.
  • NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation covering this vehicle.
  • It ranks 9th of 22 Honda CR-V model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
  • That is 12% more complaints than the 2015 model year (173).

2016 Honda CR-V problems by category

  • Engine · 5 crashes
    63 complaints
  • 39 complaints
  • Other / Unknown · 3 crashes
    38 complaints
  • 37 complaints
  • 24 complaints
  • Airbags · 8 crashes
    17 complaints
  • Steering · 2 crashes
    12 complaints
  • Body & Structure · 1 crash
    11 complaints
  • Acceleration & Cruise Control · 5 crashes
    10 complaints
  • Brakes · 5 crashes
    8 complaints
  • Driver Assistance & Safety Tech · 2 crashes
    6 complaints
  • Seats & Seat Belts
    6 complaints
  • Visibility & Wipers
    5 complaints
  • Suspension
    4 complaints
  • Wheels & Tires
    4 complaints

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)Complaints
Engine61
Unknown or other38
Electrical system36
Fuel/propulsion system33
Power train24
Air bags17
Steering12
Structure:body10

When problems happen (mileage)

3Under 10k1610k–30k2330k–60k1660k–100k4100k–150k3150k+
Mileage at the time of the problem, for 2016 Honda CR-V complaints that list mileage.

2016 Honda CR-V recalls (3)

  • Recall 23V858000Dec 18, 20232,490,460 vehicles
    FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The 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.

    Remedy: 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.

  • Recall 17V305000May 4, 201716 vehicles
    ENGINE

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Honda CR-V vehicles that recently received a replacement engine. The replacement engine may have been built with the wrong pistons, potentially affecting the engine's performance.

    Risk: The reduced performance may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engines and replace the incorrect components, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KF6.

  • Recall 15V714000Oct 29, 2015515 vehicles
    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

    American Honda Motor Company, Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2016 CR-V vehicles manufactured October 12, 2015, to October 19, 2015. The metal housing surrounding the driver's air bag inflator in these vehicles may have been manufactured incorrectly.

    Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began in November 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda'a number for this recall is JV9.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • EA19001Opened Apr 19, 2019Closed Sep 19, 2024led to recall 20V024

    Electrical overstress

    The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.  During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mount…

NHTSA 5-Star safety ratings

VersionOverallFrontalSideRollover
2016 Honda CR-V SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆
2016 Honda CR-V SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆

Recent 2016 Honda CR-V complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

  1. Filed Sep 23, 2026ILVisibility & Wipers
    Upon going out to my vehicle noticed that the moonroof had shattered the glass is pointing upwards and I found information reduarding a possible lawsuit claiming Honda knows of this the vehicle is a 2016 Honda crv I have video and multiple photos of the vehicle to use for a claim
    NHTSA complaint #11766387 · source
  2. Filed Sep 8, 2026TXEngineOther / Unknown
    On August 8, 2026, while operating a 2016 Honda CR-V (62,459 original miles) at highway speeds, the engine’s factory water pump experienced a sudden, catastrophic internal failure and froze completely. The seized water pump instantly sheared and shredded the serpentine belt. This induced an immediate, sudden loss of alternator charging, engine cooling, and power steering assist while driving at high highway speeds. This instantaneous component failure created a severe,…
    NHTSA complaint #11762711 · source
  3. Filed Sep 2, 2026NYEngine
    My 2016 Honda CR‑V has only had one driver since purchase and currently has approximately 86,000 miles. It has been properly maintained, yet it is experiencing the same symptoms described in Honda’s recent warranty extension concerning head-gasket failures. Despite its relatively low mileage and limited use, the vehicle appears to have experienced a premature engine-related failure. I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate whether this issue affects earlier model-year…
    NHTSA complaint #11761494 · source
  4. Filed Aug 28, 2026OHElectrical System
    While I was driving on I-75 in Cincinnati OH my vehicle suddenly lost all power with no advanced warning. My car was working fine on the way to work and even when I began my commute home but then suddenly every light on my dash illuminated, my steering wheel became almost impossible to steer and the car stalled. I was on a bridge overpass with little shoulder and I had to call 911 to get a ODOT truck to help protect me from the traffic. I then waited over an hour to get a…
    NHTSA complaint #11760361 · source
  5. Filed Jul 31, 2026MNAcceleration & Cruise Control
    Last night I was stopped at a light with my foot on the brake waiting for the light to turn green. The car suddenly wanted to move forward and was fighting the brake. I'm not a two-footed driver, so only my right foot was on the brake. I took my foot off the brake for a second and the car lurched forward on its own, so I had to apply the brake to stay stopped or the car would have entered a very busy intersection on a red light. Once the light turned green I used the…
    NHTSA complaint #11753953 · source
  6. Filed Jun 24, 2026CAOther / Unknown
    Spontaneously shattered sunroof. I was driving on the freeway going 50mph and I heard an extremely loud 'bang' and then glass was falling down on me and my passenger. The sunroof had completely shattered with no explanation or prior indication of cracks, etc. No extreme temperatures fluxes - this was in San Francisco on June 23, 2026. I know there are over 50,000 reports of this exact same thing happening with Honda vehicles.
    NHTSA complaint #11746254 · source
  7. Filed Jun 19, 2026VAAirbags
    Front passenger airbag light is on and I have been told it is the sensor. This has been recalled on other 2016 CRVs. I think more cars may be affected than those that are recalled.
    NHTSA complaint #11745196 · source
  8. Filed Mar 29, 2026DEElectrical System
    November 2024 I had a new battery and tires put on my 2016 Honda CRV. 14 months later my car would not start. I had to have a jump start. I had to have it jump started a few times more than took it to have it checked out. They put in a new battery February 2026. A month later my car would not start. I took it to a mechanic who found the door handle sensor bad. I have seen many other owners having the same problem. I also found out that it costs upward of $1,000 to fix. This…
    NHTSA complaint #11727756 · source

Compare the 2016 Honda CR-V with another vehicle →

Other 2016 Honda models

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology