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2016 Honda CR-V Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2016 Honda CR-V carries 3 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering engine and inflator module. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “High-pressure fuel pump failure with power loss.” Honda vehicles use the Maintenance Minder system — your dashboard displays a Code A (oil change) or Code B (oil change plus inspections) along with sub-codes 1-6 for additional services. Intervals adjust based on how you drive. The schedule below reflects Honda's underlying targets.

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3 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

ENGINE

Campaign #17V305000 · Apr 5, 2017

Issue: 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.

Fix: 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.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Campaign #15V714000 · Oct 29, 2015

Issue: 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.

Fix: 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.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Campaign #23V858000 · Dec 18, 2023

Issue: 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.

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.

Recall data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2016 Honda CR-V.

Reported to NHTSA

High-pressure fuel pump failure with power loss

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

15 NHTSA complaints · 2020-08 → 2026-01

“I was driving to work and all of the lights on my dash came on and the vehicle would not go over 15 mph. I had semis passing me trying to get my car back home. I had it towed to the nearest Honda dealership where all of my Hondas are repaired, John Hinderer in Heath, OH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11682546
“While I was driving about 70 mph on highway, the car suddenly stopped responding to the gas paddle and I heard a noise from near the fuel tank. I was able to pull up to the side of the road and the check engine light was showing”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11620275
“The 2016 CR-V was operating normally, when trying to accelerate from a stop at a stoplight the vehicle began to hesitate and would not accelerate at a normal or acceptable rate if I had needed to maneuver out of the way”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11670251

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Battery drain tied to door lock and smart entry

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

19 NHTSA complaints · 2019-10 → 2026-03

“2016 Honda CR-V’s smart locking system failed. The smart locking system caused the car battery to drain if it wasn’t driven within 24 hours. After numerous car battery replacements, a Honda auto repair replaced the door handle and repaired the smart locking system”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11703960
“The drivers and passenger smart door handles have failed this year. It caused parasitic battery drain over 3 days and the doors would unlock automatically just by walking within 5 feet of the car”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11654834
“IF CAR IS NOT DRIVEN FOR A FEW DAYS THE BATTERY WILL BE DEAD. CAR HAS NEW BATTERY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11605989

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Vibration at idle with vehicle in gear

ENGINE

15 NHTSA complaints · 2019-11 → 2026-01

“I CONSISTENTLY EXPERIENCE SEVERE VIBRATION FELT IN BOTH FRONT SEATS WHEN THE CAR IDLES. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE RPM IS ABOUT 750 OR LESS. IT OCCURS ANY TIME I COME TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11310835
“The car vibrates so much my hands will shake on the steering wheel while idling and at time while driving. Any items in the car will shake”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11437175
“WHEN THE GEAR IS IN DRIVING MODE, D, MY VEHICLE STARTS VIBRATING SO MUCH THAT ALL PASSENGERS CAN FEEL IT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11300347

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Tailgate release switch inoperative in cold weather

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

6 NHTSA complaints · 2019-12 → 2024-01

“ELECTRONIC TRUNK SYSTEM/HATCH BACK DOOR SWITCH REPEATEDLY DOES NOT OPERATE IN COLD CONDITIONS . THERE IS NO WAY FOR A CONSUMER TO MANUALLY OPEN HATCH BACK DOOR WHEN IT FAILS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11449457
“When the weather gets under 50F, the trunk will not unlock and will not open. It seems as if the actuator freezes”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11439454
“THE REAR TRUNK RELEASE SWITCH DOES NOT WORK ONCE THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE FALLS BELOW ABOUT 40 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11384691

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Sunroof and window glass shattering without impact

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

6 NHTSA complaints · 2020-12 → 2026-06

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11746254
“Driver's side rear door window exploded without cause and shattered while it was parked in the garage, with most falling to the ground and some landing on the back passenger seat and floor”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11420934
“Was fine yesterday. Went out this morning and went to back up and realized I couldn’t see out the rear window. Looked and the entire window is shattered”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11488164

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine stall and hesitation while driving

ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

30 NHTSA complaints · 2019-10 → 2025-06

“This vehicle has intermiitent stalling when accelerating and has died in the middle of an intersection several times leaving me vulnerable to oncoming traffic. This has been happening on a daily occurence for months”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11590916
“Car shuts down intermittently after coming to a complete stop and accelerating to continue”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11543034
“The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle lunged forward and stalled. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle was choking. There were no warning lights illuminated”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11614357

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Excessive oil consumption and fuel-diluted oil

ENGINE

14 NHTSA complaints · 2019-10 → 2025-08

“CAR ENGINE **UNDER WARRANTY** IS BURNING EXCESSIVE OIL WHICH CAN EVENTUALLY LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11271014
“The pistons and piston rings have failed, and the engine burns oil rapidly. There is no indication by the vehicle of the issue as far as any dashboard lights, etc”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11471382
“Level for oil change was at 30%, took it in and it only had 2.5 quarts of oil. No indication I was low, no oil leak, and it affected the valves”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11683634

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Unintended acceleration from a stop or low speed

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

11 NHTSA complaints · 2019-10 → 2026-07

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11753953
“Upon moving into a parking spot, I slowed down, and suddenly the car surged unbelievably fast. I ran into a brick wall about 4 or 5 feet in front of the car”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11425872
“The contact stated that while pulling into a parking spot, she depressed the brake pedal, however, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly and crashed into the windows of a store”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11536043

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Note: NHTSA also opened 1 defect investigation(s) on this vehicle that closed without action.

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Code A)

Every 7,500 mi

Replace 0W-20 full-synthetic oil and filter. The Maintenance Minder triggers Code A between 7,500 and 10,000 miles depending on driving conditions.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation (Sub-code 1)

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate tires front-to-back to even out wear. Honda triggers Sub-code 1 alongside every other oil change.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection (Code B)

Every 15,000 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake. Code B includes a multi-point inspection of brakes, suspension, and fluids.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid (Sub-code 5)

Every 45,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 3 years regardless of mileage to prevent moisture absorption and corrosion of ABS components.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission / CVT Fluid (Sub-code 3)

Every 30,000 mi

Replace ATF or CVT fluid. Honda CVT models (Civic, HR-V, Accord LX) use Honda HCF-2 — do not substitute. The Maintenance Minder triggers earlier under heavy stop-and-go.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Rear Differential Fluid (AWD models, Sub-code 5)

Every 30,000 mi

AWD CR-V, Pilot, Passport, Ridgeline: replace rear diff fluid every 30,000 miles, sooner if towing.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Engine Air Filter (Sub-code 4)

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Honda uses a long-life cellulose element on most port-injected engines.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Spark Plugs (Sub-code 6)

Every 105,000 mi

Honda uses iridium-tipped plugs rated for 100,000+ miles. Replace at 105,000 miles or whenever Sub-code 6 displays.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Coolant (Sub-code 5)

Every 60,000 mi

Honda Long-Life Type 2 (blue) coolant: first change at 120,000 miles, then every 60,000 miles. Do not mix with other coolant types.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter (Sub-code 3)

Every 15,000 mi

Replace the cabin air filter — accessible behind the glove box on most Hondas. Honda recommends 15,000 miles in dusty conditions, longer in clean climates.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Valve Clearance Adjustment (Sub-code 6)

Every 105,000 mi

Inspect and adjust valve clearances at 105,000 miles. Critical on K-series and L-series engines to prevent valve recession.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$495–$535

Shop

~$345–$375

DIY

Pro only

Mechanical-bucket valvetrains (many Honda 4-cyls, older Toyotas) need this. Hydraulic lifters don't. Shop work — feeler-gauge precision required.

Timing Chain — No Replacement

On condition / lifetime

Modern Honda engines (K-series, L-series, R-series, plus all Earth Dreams 1.5T and 2.0T) use a timing chain designed to last the life of the engine. No scheduled replacement.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Pro only

Timing chains are normally lifetime. Listen for rattle on cold start — that's the actionable signal. Replacement is major work, quote separately.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

118 crashes 1990–2024

How the 118 occupant deaths break down

80

driver deaths

38

passenger deaths

118

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2016 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

40

complaints mentioning a crash

4

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2016 Honda CR-V reflects Honda's published service intervals and the Maintenance Minder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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