2020 Honda CR-V: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
352 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
16,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 85 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking is the most frequently named component, appearing in 66 of 352 complaints (18.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 92 | 26.1% |
| Steering behavior | 40 | 11.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 27 | 7.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 26 | 7.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 4.3% |
| Engine operation | 15 | 4.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 66 |
| Air Bags | 47 |
| Electrical System | 42 |
| Engine | 38 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 38 |
| Steering | 38 |
| Unknown Or Other | 35 |
| Service Brakes | 30 |
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 66; Air Bags: 47; Electrical System: 42; Engine: 38; Fuel/Propulsion System: 38; Steering: 38; Unknown Or Other: 35; Service Brakes: 30
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 48 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 18 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 48; 25,000 to 49,999: 18; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (48). 267 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 |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 22 |
| 2021 | 28 |
| 2022 | 49 |
| 2023 | 55 |
| 2024 | 66 |
| 2025 | 60 |
| 2026 | 72 |
2020: 22; 2021: 28; 2022: 49; 2023: 55; 2024: 66; 2025: 60; 2026: 72
Recurring complaint themes
The selected narratives raise several distinct concerns rather than one consistent failure mechanism. Braking examples include a hard pedal when starting the vehicle and repeated warning messages. Another owner describes a battery requiring a jump start after the vehicle was parked. A steering-related keyword match describes noise during steering and suspension work, which illustrates why a topic match should not be treated as a confirmed steering-system diagnosis. The examples provide questions to investigate, not an estimate of failure probability.
AI interpretation of four selected source narratives, checked against their recorded text. This is not a summary of every complaint. Generated 2026-09-13 (September 13, 2026). Evidence: 11329027, 11341150, 11403336, 11326329. This interpretation does not establish a defect or predict reliability.
Owner report 11326329 · 2020-05-28 (May 28, 2020)
I PURCHASE A HONDA CR-V 2020 ON FEBRUARY 3 2020 TWO MONTH LATER I STARTED TO HEAR A CLICKING AND CLOCKING NOISE WHILE STEERING AND DRIVING ALONG ALSO ON BUMPS IT WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP ON APRIL 22 2020 TO CURRY HONDA ON APRIL 23 2020 I RECEIVED A CALLED FROM CURRY THAT IT WAS THE FRONT SIDE AXLE THEY REPAIRED THE AXLE AND THE NOISE OCCURRED. CURRY HONDA CHECK SWAYBARLINK AND REMOVE THEM AND THE NOISE STILL OCCURRED THEN CURRY HONDA SAID IT WAS THE STRUCK ASSEMBLY AND THEY SAID THEY REINSTALLED THE STRUCK AND THE NOISE STILL HAPPENED CURRY HONDA …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11326329 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11329027 · 2020-06-15 (June 15, 2020)
APPROXIMATELY 10-15% OF THE TIME, WHEN TRYING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL BEFORE PRESSING THE 'START' BUTTON ON MY 2020 HONDA CR-V, THE BRAKE PEDAL CANNOT BE DEPRESSED. IT IS FIRMLY LOCKED/JAMMED IN PLACE. IN SOME INSTANCES, I CAN APPLY VERY FIRM PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL, JUST ENOUGH TO GET THE ENGINE TO START, BUT IN OTHER CASES, THE PEDAL CANNOT BE DEPRESSED AT ALL. WHEN THIS OCCURS, PRESSING THE 'START' BUTTON INITIATES THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS BUT DOES NOT START THE ENGINE. ONCE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS ARE ON, THE PEDAL SOMETIMES REMAINS FIRMLY LO…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11329027 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11341150 · 2020-07-23 (July 23, 2020)
I BOUGHT THE CAR ON THE 22 OF MAY 2020.ON THE 17TH OF JULY 2020, I LOST ALL BRAKES, TPMS, LANE CONTROL, EMERGENCY BRAKING WARNING. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THEY KEPT IF FOR 5 HOURS. THEY TOLD ME THE COMPUTER WAS UPDATED. ON MONDAY THE 19TH I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER ON TUESDAY THE 20TH OF JULY, I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY KEPT THE CAR AND GAVE ME A RENTAL TELLING THEY ORDERED THE PART FROM GHE MAINLAND(I AM IN HAWAII). THEY SAID IT WOULD TAKE 5 TO SIX DAYS TO GET THE PART AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A NEW CA…
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11341150 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11403336 · 2021-03-16 (March 16, 2021)
IF MY VEHICLE IS PARKED FOR A WEEK OR MORE, THE BATTERY HAS TO BE JUMP STARTED. THE CAR HAS UNDER 2000 MILES ON IT. THIS CREATES AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT WHEN THE CAR WON'T START AFTER THAT SHORT OF A PERIOD. THE DEALERSHIP SAID TO DRIVE IT MORE OFTEN! THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,670 miles reported. Look up ODI 11403336 at NHTSA ↗
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11302121 · 2020-01-26 (January 26, 2020)
WHILE PARKED AND LOCKED ALL FOUR WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN WITHOUT ANY ONE IN THE SUV
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11302121 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11318102 · 2020-03-15 (March 15, 2020)
SOON BEFORE DRIVING MY NEW VEHICLE, IN A PRELIMINARY INSPECTION, I FOUND EXTENSIVE RUSTING AROUND THE EXHAUST PIPES AND SYSTEM. THE MECHANIC FROM THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT WAS NORMAL. JUST BEFORE DRIVING, THE MILLAGE SCREEN READ AS 000019. THE DEALER TOLD US THIS IS 0.019 OF A MILE. SOON AFTER I DROVE MY CAR OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP, I EXPERIENCED 4 EPISODES OF CAR BECOMING UNSTABLE, FLIPPING FROM ONE SIDE OF ROAD TO THE OTHER. THIS OCCURRED OVER A 23 MILES OF DRIVING IN HIGH WAY. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY. THEY DISMISSED IT AS …
Owner-reported narrative. 19 miles reported. Look up ODI 11318102 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11318160 · 2020-03-15 (March 15, 2020)
I AM EXPERIENCING THE ENGINE OIL DILUTION PROBLEM. I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AFTER LESS THAN 2000 MILES DRIVEN BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE SPENT OIL (DARK AND CLOUDY) AND SMELLED HEAVILY OF GASOLINE. TECHNICIANS AT HONDA ADVISED THAT I KEEP GETTING THE OIL CHANGED REGULARLY, BUT THAT THERE WAS NO FIX THAT THEY COULD MAKE TO THE OIL DILUTION PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11318160 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11320712 · 2020-04-09 (April 9, 2020)
THIS IS A 2020 HONDA CRV. THE PROBLEM IS AN INTERMITTENT ACCELERATION HESITATION. A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE.
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 11320712 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11326329 · 2020-05-28 (May 28, 2020)
I PURCHASE A HONDA CR-V 2020 ON FEBRUARY 3 2020 TWO MONTH LATER I STARTED TO HEAR A CLICKING AND CLOCKING NOISE WHILE STEERING AND DRIVING ALONG ALSO ON BUMPS IT WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP ON APRIL 22 2020 TO CURRY HONDA ON APRIL 23 2020 I RECEIVED A CALLED FROM CURRY THAT IT WAS THE FRONT SIDE AXLE THEY REPAIRED THE AXLE AND THE NOISE OCCURRED. CURRY HONDA CHECK SWAYBARLINK AND REMOVE THEM AND THE NOISE STILL OCCURRED THEN CURRY HONDA SAID IT WAS THE STRUCK ASSEMBLY AND THEY SAID THEY REINSTALLED THE STRUCK AND THE NOISE STILL HAPPENED CURRY HONDA …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11326329 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11329027 · 2020-06-15 (June 15, 2020)
APPROXIMATELY 10-15% OF THE TIME, WHEN TRYING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL BEFORE PRESSING THE 'START' BUTTON ON MY 2020 HONDA CR-V, THE BRAKE PEDAL CANNOT BE DEPRESSED. IT IS FIRMLY LOCKED/JAMMED IN PLACE. IN SOME INSTANCES, I CAN APPLY VERY FIRM PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL, JUST ENOUGH TO GET THE ENGINE TO START, BUT IN OTHER CASES, THE PEDAL CANNOT BE DEPRESSED AT ALL. WHEN THIS OCCURS, PRESSING THE 'START' BUTTON INITIATES THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS BUT DOES NOT START THE ENGINE. ONCE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS ARE ON, THE PEDAL SOMETIMES REMAINS FIRMLY LO…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11329027 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11329549 · 2020-06-18 (June 18, 2020)
INSTRUMENT DISPLAY WENT DARK AND FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. CAR STILL RAN AND WAS DRIVABLE, BUT I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT SPEED OR ENGINE STATUS. WHILE TAKING IT TO THE DEALER LATER THAT DAY, THE DISPLAY BECAME VISIBLE BUT ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON IN SEQUENCE REPEATEDLY. THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED HONDA AND AFTER 2 DAYS IN THE SHOP DETERMINED IT WAS DUE TO AN INSTRUMENT DISPLAY CLUSTER FAILURE. I AM STILL AWAITING A FINAL RESOLUTION/REPAIR. NOTE THAT THE LIGHTS DID NOT FAIL DURING THIS EVENT, BUT IT STILL WAS VERY DISCONCERTING FOR NIGHT DRIV…
Owner-reported narrative. 105 miles reported. Look up ODI 11329549 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11341150 · 2020-07-23 (July 23, 2020)
I BOUGHT THE CAR ON THE 22 OF MAY 2020.ON THE 17TH OF JULY 2020, I LOST ALL BRAKES, TPMS, LANE CONTROL, EMERGENCY BRAKING WARNING. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THEY KEPT IF FOR 5 HOURS. THEY TOLD ME THE COMPUTER WAS UPDATED. ON MONDAY THE 19TH I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER ON TUESDAY THE 20TH OF JULY, I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY KEPT THE CAR AND GAVE ME A RENTAL TELLING THEY ORDERED THE PART FROM GHE MAINLAND(I AM IN HAWAII). THEY SAID IT WOULD TAKE 5 TO SIX DAYS TO GET THE PART AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A NEW CA…
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11341150 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
7 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
19V865000 · Structure:Frame And Members
Reported: 2019-12-05 (December 5, 2019)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 CR-V vehicles. The rear subframe bolts were improperly manufactured and may loosen, allowing the rear subframe to separate.
Consequence: A separated rear subframe reduces vehicle handling and can suddenly disable the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear subframe bolts and retorque them or replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is R6M.
NHTSA campaign record ↗22V380000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 2022-05-26 (May 26, 2022)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020 CR-V vehicles. The clip for the absorber inside the fuel tank was not secured properly and may detach, which can cause an inaccurate fuel gauge reading.
Consequence: An inaccurate fuel gauge may result in the vehicle unexpectedly running out of fuel and stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 5, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is RCB.
NHTSA campaign record ↗23V158000 · Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
Reported: 2023-03-09 (March 9, 2023)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2020 CR-V, 2018-2019 Accord and Accord Hybrid, 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019 Insight, and 2019-2020 Acura RDX vehicles. A manufacturing issue with the front seat belts may cause the seat belt buckle channel to interfere with the release button, preventing the seat belt buckle from latching.
Consequence: An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belt buckle release buttons or the buckle assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 18, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are NDA, QDB, BDC, MDD, LD9. TDF, FDG, ODH, YDI, ZDE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗23V524000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 2023-07-27 (July 27, 2023)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017, 2020, and 2022 CR-V vehicles. The certification label on the driver's side door states incorrect Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR), and tire size information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence: An incorrectly sized tire may cause premature tread wear, or a tire blow out, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new corrected label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 18, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is CF7.
NHTSA campaign record ↗23V858000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 2023-12-18 (December 18, 2023)
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.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V064000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger
Reported: 2024-02-01 (February 1, 2024)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
Consequence: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
NHTSA campaign record ↗26V332000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger
Reported: 2026-05-21 (May 21, 2026)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
Consequence: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
NHTSA campaign record ↗