1998 Honda CR-V problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
105 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
123,552 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 39 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 105 complaints (17.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 12 | 11.4% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 9.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 9.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 8.6% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 4.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 18 |
| Air Bags | 13 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 13 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Tires | 6 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 5 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
Electrical System: 18; Air Bags: 13; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 13; Engine: 6; Tires: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Electrical System:Ignition: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 12
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 66 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 10 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 19 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2000: 10; 2001: 4; 2002: 19; 2003: 10; 2004: 8; 2005: 2; 2006: 5; 2008: 4; 2009: 4; 2010: 7; 2011: 1; 2012: 2; 2014: 6; 2015: 1; 2016: 3; 2017: 3; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2020: 12; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10161333 · 2006-07-03 (July 3, 2006)
THIS SPRING, WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE MY 1998 HONDA CR-V SUDDENLY STALLED. NO WARNING AT ALL. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER. TURN THE IGNITION OFF, WAIT A WHILE AND RESTART THE CAR WITHOUT ANOTHER PROBLEM. A WEEK OR SO LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON LOCAL ROADS ONCE ONE DAY AND TWICE ANOTHER DAY. EACH TIME, I WAS BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THE CENTER TURN LANE OR OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT GETTING REAR ENDED. IT HAPPENED SEVERAL MORE TIMES BEFORE WE COULD FIGURE THIS OUT. MY MECHANIC CHECKED OUT THE CAR AND CO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10161333 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10231502 · 2008-06-18 (June 18, 2008)
I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT AN IGNITION PROBLEM ON A 98 HONDA CRV. MY CAR HAS 97,000 MILES ON IT. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE HONDA SHOULD HAVE INFORMED EVERY OWNER THAT THESE SWITCHES WERE FAILING ON ALMOST ALL OF THEIR VEHICLES. THIS CAUSES YOUR CAR TO STALL RANDOMLY IN TRAFFIC. IT IS A HAZARD. WE OWNERS DESERVED TO KNOW THAT THIS IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAILING ON ALL THEIR CARS. I WOULD HAVE REPLACED IT BEFORE IT STALLED PERMANENTLY IN DOWNTOWN IRONWOOD IF I HAD BEEN INFORMED. IT IS NOT EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR BUT THE SYMPTOMS ARE A MYSTE…
Owner-reported narrative. 97,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10231502 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10076113 · 2004-07-15 (July 15, 2004)
THE FRONT ROTORS WARPED PREMATURELY. AS A RESULT, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES FROM A HIGH SPEED, THE FRONT END SHOOK VIOLENTLY, MAKING STEERING DIFFICULT. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10076113 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10132871 · 2005-08-15 (August 15, 2005)
DT: CONSUMER OWNS A 1998 HONDA CRV. SHE SAID THE VEHICLE JUST SHUT OFF. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS. WHEN IT SHUT DOWN VEHICLE WAS IN TRAFFIC A COUPLE DIFFERENT TIMES, AND THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN ON AUGUST 15, 2005 WHILE SHE WAS IN TRAFFIC ON HILTON AVENUE IN BALTIMORE MARYLAND. SHE WAS ALMOST STRUCK IN THE REAR, SHE DID NOT PANIC, PUT ON EMERGENCY FLASHERS, NOTIFYING THE TRAFFIC SHE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS. THE CONTACT WAS NOT HIT, BUT IT DID SCARE HER. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE VEHICLE SHUT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10132871 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10222882 · 2008-03-31 (March 31, 2008)
THE BATTERY WENT DEAD ON MY 1998 HONDA CR-V. I HAD IT REPLACED, AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SRS(SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM WAS DISABLED AS A RESULT OF DETERMINING THAT A NEW BATTERY WAS NEEDED. I CONTACTED A HONDA SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT AS LONG AS THE SRS LIGHT WAS ON, THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WAS OFF AND THAT IT WOULD COST ABOUT $90 TO HAVE IT TURNED OFF. I ALSO WAS TOLD TO DRIVE IT FOR A WEEK (WITHOUT PROTECTION FROM THE SRS AND PERHAPS THE COMPUTER WOULD RECYCLE AND TURN THE SRS BACK ON. MY COMPLAINT IS THIS: BECAUSE OF POOR ENGINEERING OF …
Owner-reported narrative. 114,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10222882 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003743 · 2003-01-27 (January 27, 2003)
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION, AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH HONDA'S. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 53,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003743 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017868 · 2003-04-30 (April 30, 2003)
AFTER THE RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH 02 V 120 000 WAS COMPLETED THE DEFECT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 47,923 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017868 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10342109 · 2010-07-08 (July 8, 2010)
WITHOUT WARNING OUR 1998 HONDA CRV (112K MILES) DIED ONE AFTERNOON WHILE WIFE WAS TAKING KIDS TO THE POOL. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGNS OR DASH LIGHTS TO WARN OF A PROBLEM. THE ENGINE STOPPED. FORTUNATELY SHE WAS WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE AT AN INTERSECTION WITH NO TRAFFIC BEHIND HER. VEHICLE STARTED AGAIN AFTER A MINUTE AND SHE WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE POOL LOT. AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS, ENGINE WOULD START, BUT JUST CAUGHT OFF. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL MECHANIC WHO FIRST ASSUMED IT WAS A BAD DISTRIBUTOR. AFTER REVIEWING POSSIBLE CAUSES ON I…
Owner-reported narrative. 112,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10342109 at NHTSA ↗