2009 Honda CR-V problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
386 owner complaints analyzed
12 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 182 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 174 of 386 complaints (45.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 21 | 5.4% |
| Steering behavior | 21 | 5.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 2.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 2.6% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 0.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 174 |
| Electrical System | 42 |
| Unknown Or Other | 30 |
| Structure:Body | 20 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 15 |
| Steering | 15 |
| Suspension | 13 |
| Tires | 12 |
Air Bags: 174; Electrical System: 42; Unknown Or Other: 30; Structure:Body: 20; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 15; Steering: 15; Suspension: 13; Tires: 12
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 39 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 30 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 36 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 29 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 32 |
| 150,000 and above | 16 |
Under 25,000: 39; 25,000 to 49,999: 30; 50,000 to 74,999: 36; 75,000 to 99,999: 29; 100,000 to 149,999: 32; 150,000 and above: 16
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (39). 204 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 19 |
| 2011 | 14 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2013 | 13 |
| 2014 | 19 |
| 2015 | 19 |
| 2016 | 167 |
| 2017 | 24 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 15 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2023 | 31 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2009: 6; 2010: 19; 2011: 14; 2012: 12; 2013: 13; 2014: 19; 2015: 19; 2016: 167; 2017: 24; 2018: 12; 2019: 15; 2020: 8; 2021: 7; 2022: 9; 2023: 31; 2024: 7; 2025: 2; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 11 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 10328415 · 2010-05-02 (May 2, 2010)
WHILE STOPPING OR STOPPED FOR TRAFFIC LIGHT(S), WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, ENGINE REVVED UP TO 2K RPM WITHOUT ANY ACTION ON MY PART. WHEN LIGHT CHANGED, AND BRAKE WAS RELEASED, ACCELERATION AND CAR PERFORMANCE BECAME NORMAL AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE SEPARATE TIMES IN THE PAST SIX WEEKS. IN ADDITION, TURNING THE A/C OFF OR ON HAD NO EFFECT ON ENGINE RPM. NOTE: DURING THE ANOMALY, IF TRANSMISSION WAS MOVED FROM D TO N, ENGINE WOULD REV UP TO 5K RPM, AND WOULD DROP BACK TO 2K RPM WHEN TRANSMISSION PUT BACK INTO D ALL THIS HAPPENED WITH FOOT STILL ON…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10328415 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10331635 · 2010-05-21 (May 21, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA C-RV. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK AT SPEEDS OF 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE HAD ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARRANT. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE ACCELERATION BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE AND INSTEAD, SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10331635 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10313740 · 2010-02-24 (February 24, 2010)
2009 HONDA CRV VEERS TO THE RIGHT. IF EVEN FOR A SPLIT SECOND ONE LETS GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL, THE CRV VEERS IMMEDIATELY INTO THE RIGHT LANE IN A TOTAL TIME OF 2-3 SECONDS. THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN DEFECT OVER THE YEARS AND HONDA HAS REFUSED TO RECALL AND NHTSA HAS FAILED TO FOLLOW THROUGH. IF YOU JUST GOOGLE THIS ISSUE, YOU WILL SEE A NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SKEW THE ALIGNMENT TO OFFSET THIS DEFECT AS A TEMPORARY FIX. CALLS TO HONDA REGIONAL REP SAYS IT IS UP TO THE DEALER TO FIX IT AND REFUSES T…
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10313740 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10327176 · 2010-04-23 (April 23, 2010)
I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 90 MINUTES IN A SNOWSTORM. THE ROAD WAS SNOWPACKED BUT IT WAS DAYTIME AND VISIBILITY WAS ACCEPTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS HANDLING JUST FINE AS ONE WOULD EXPECT WHEN TAKING EXTRA CARE DUE TO INCLEMENT CONDITIONS. I FELT SAFE AND IN CONTROL AT ABOUT 45 TO 50 MPH. WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR BEGAN FEELING STRANGE....LIKE EVERYTHING ABOUT THE HANDLING HAD GOTTEN LOOSE. IT FELT LIKE WE WERE SWAYING, AND LIKE WE WERE SLIPPING INTO RUTS, BUT THERE WERE NONE. ROAD CONDITIONS HAD NOT CHANGED. MY PASSENGER SAID THAT IT FELT LIKE …
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10327176 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10280650 · 2009-08-17 (August 17, 2009)
BOUGHT A CRV HONDA LAST MONTH. RIGHT AFTER PURCHASE, BEGAN GETTING LARGE ELECTRICAL SHOCKS WHILE OPENING OR SHUTTING DOORS--IN A VARIETY OF SHOES AND CLOTHING. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND CORPORATE OFFICE--ALL THEY COULD SAY WAS TO SPRAY THE SEATS AND FLOORS WITH FABRIC SOFTENER. DID SO...LASTED 7-10 DAYS--NOT HAPPY WITH VEHICLE FOR THIS REASON--AFRAID TO GAS THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF CATCHING ON FIRE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10280650 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10351448 · 2010-08-24 (August 24, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CR-V. THAT CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IN THE VEHICLE WITH THE ENGINE OFF THE DOORS INDEPENDENTLY LOCKED. THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WAS NOT A FEATURE ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE BATTERY LIFE WAS LOW, IT WAS SENDING A FAULTY SIGNAL TO THE REMOTE CAUSING THE DOORS TO LOCK INDEPENDENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY AND WITHIN THREE MONTHS, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER SO THEY COULD DUPLICATE THE FAIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,913 miles reported. Look up ODI 10351448 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10324322 · 2010-04-07 (April 7, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CR-V. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH CAUTION. THE RPMS CONTINUED TO INCREASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,335.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10324322 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10575364 · 2014-03-28 (March 28, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THERE WAS A STRONG BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO MANEUVER AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE A/C COMPRESSOR CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000. THE CONSUMER STATED TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 109,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10575364 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10598198 · 2014-06-11 (June 11, 2014)
CPSC: X1440250A. 2009 HONDA CRV. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE AC COMPRESSOR CLUTCH HAD FAILED. ALSO, THE BELT HAD SNAPPED AND STARTED TO BURN, CAUSING SMOKE TO BILLOW INTO THE CAR AND CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING ALONG WITH OTHER FUNCTIONS. *LN
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10598198 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11536118 · 2023-08-02 (August 2, 2023)
The contact owns a 2009 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that the fuel tank guard had separated. The contact stated upon inspecting the subframe, he noticed that the frame was severely corroded. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the subframe needed to be replaced. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V228000 (Structure) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair. The contact stated upon picking up the vehicle from the dealer, he noticed that the dealer h…
Owner-reported narrative. 187,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11536118 at NHTSA ↗