Honda CR-V Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy
Every Honda CR-V model year (1997–2026) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.
Honda CR-V Years to Avoid
4 recalls · 1521 complaints
28 reported injuries
Top issue: ENGINE
Problem score: 1589
5 recalls · 1262 complaints
24 reported injuries
Top issue: ENGINE
Problem score: 1325
7 recalls · 782 complaints
23 reported injuries
1 reported death
Top issue: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Problem score: 854
Best Honda CR-V Years to Buy
0 recalls · 63 complaints
Main area: AIR BAGS
Problem score: 69
0 recalls · 69 complaints
Main area: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Problem score: 81
0 recalls · 82 complaints
Main area: AIR BAGS
Problem score: 94
Found the right year? Verify that specific CR-V with a free VIN report.
Honda CR-V — Year-by-Year Problem Report
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Problem Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 135 | — | — | 141 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 4 | 215 | 19 | — | 265 | Good |
| 2024 | 5 | 353 | 8 | — | 384 | Good |
| 2023 | 7 | 405 | 13 | — | 452 | Good |
| 2022 | 3 | 243 | 9 | — | 270 | Good |
| 2021 | 2 | 347 | 12 | — | 377 | Good |
| 2020 | 4 | 290 | 17 | — | 336 | Good |
| 2019 | 7 | 782 | 23 | 1 | 854 | Caution |
| 2018 | 4 | 1521 | 28 | — | 1589 | Avoid |
| 2017 | 5 | 1262 | 24 | — | 1325 | Avoid |
| 2016 | 1 | 264 | 41 | — | 349 | Good |
| 2015 | 0 | 471 | 15 | — | 501 | Good |
| 2014 | 0 | 405 | 39 | 9 | 528 | Good |
| 2013 | 1 | 251 | 6 | — | 266 | Good |
| 2012 | 2 | 243 | 15 | — | 279 | Good |
| 2011 | 7 | 330 | 12 | — | 375 | Good |
| 2010 | 9 | 288 | 9 | — | 333 | Good |
| 2009 | 6 | 227 | 6 | — | 257 | Good |
| 2008 | 6 | 612 | 28 | — | 686 | Caution |
| 2007 | 8 | 566 | 17 | — | 624 | Caution |
| 2006 | 7 | 251 | 16 | — | 304 | Good |
| 2005 | 7 | 306 | 29 | — | 385 | Good |
| 2004 | 6 | 293 | 21 | — | 353 | Good |
| 2003 | 6 | 281 | 22 | — | 343 | Good |
| 2002 | 8 | 348 | 42 | — | 456 | Good |
| 2001 | 0 | 82 | 6 | — | 94 | Excellent |
| 2000 | 0 | 82 | 5 | 2 | 102 | Excellent |
| 1999 | 0 | 86 | 28 | 12 | 202 | Good |
| 1998 | 0 | 69 | 6 | — | 81 | Excellent |
| 1997 | 0 | 63 | 3 | — | 69 | Excellent |
All 30 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.
Honda CR-V Shopping Guide by Era
2018–Present
Best: 2026Recent CR-V models benefit from updated safety systems and revised engineering. The 2026 stands out with just 141 problem points. Always request a pre-purchase inspection and VIN history report.
2013–2017
Best: 2013Mid-decade CR-V units are entering high-mileage territory. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and verify recall completion status. The 2013 shows the lowest problem count for this era.
Pre-2013
Proceed with CautionOlder CR-V models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.
Frequently Asked Questions
What year CR-V should I avoid?+
Avoid the 2018 Honda CR-V if possible. It has 4 recalls, 1521 owner complaints. The overall problem score is 1589 — the highest in our dataset.
What is the best year CR-V to buy?+
The 1997 Honda CR-V is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 69. It has only 0 recalls and 63 complaints on record with NHTSA.
Which CR-V has the fewest problems?+
The 1997, 1998, 2001 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.
More Honda CR-V Research
Check a Specific Honda CR-V VIN
Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.
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