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2001 Honda CR-V

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Honda CR-V are lower than the model-year median of 400.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

73 reports with mileage · 69 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports3 fire reports8 injury reports

What owners actually said

142 reports
60,000 miles · Dec 29, 2008
Latches/locks/linkagesInjury

1. INITIALLY, THE REMOTE DOOR LOCK FOR DRIVER SIDE DOOR STARTED MAKING A BUZZING NOISE, BUT IT STILL WORKED. 2. THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE LEVER (PLASTIC WITH A HARD PLASTIC COATING) TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR BROKE OFF..AND CAUSED SEVERAL CUTS TO MY HAND...BUT...IT WAS STILL POSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DOOR BY APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE STUB…

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1. INITIALLY, THE REMOTE DOOR LOCK FOR DRIVER SIDE DOOR STARTED MAKING A BUZZING NOISE, BUT IT STILL WORKED. 2. THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE LEVER (PLASTIC WITH A HARD PLASTIC COATING) TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR BROKE OFF..AND CAUSED SEVERAL CUTS TO MY HAND...BUT...IT WAS STILL POSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DOOR BY APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE STUB OF THE LEVER. 3. THE REMOTE DOOR ENTRY LOCK (TO THE DRIVER DOOR) STOPPED WORKING, BUT IT WAS STILL POSSIBLE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOOR WITH THE KEY. 4. TODAY, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR WITH THE KEY OR WITH THE REMAINS OF THE INTERIOR DOOR LEVER OR BY ANY OTHER MEANS THAT I CAN FIGURE OUT. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF SEVERAL COMPONENTS THAT SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN THEY HAVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10253124

106,000 miles · Dec 13, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TO MY 2001 HONDA CR-V. IDENTIFIED AS A MISFIRE IN CYL #1, AND LOW COMPRESSION IN THAT CYLINDER. THE HEAD WAS REMOVED, AND ONE OF THE EXHAUST VALVES IN THE #1 CYLINDER WAS BURNED. THE VALVE CLEARANCE ON THAT CYLINDER WAS ZERO. A "VALVE JOB" WAS DONE AND THE ENGINE WAS REASSEMBLED. COST WAS $1450. *…

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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TO MY 2001 HONDA CR-V. IDENTIFIED AS A MISFIRE IN CYL #1, AND LOW COMPRESSION IN THAT CYLINDER. THE HEAD WAS REMOVED, AND ONE OF THE EXHAUST VALVES IN THE #1 CYLINDER WAS BURNED. THE VALVE CLEARANCE ON THAT CYLINDER WAS ZERO. A "VALVE JOB" WAS DONE AND THE ENGINE WAS REASSEMBLED. COST WAS $1450. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10251688

112,000 miles · Dec 8, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR IMPLODED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10251087

110,300 miles · Nov 9, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

2001 HONDA CRV STARTED TO HAVE A ROUGH IDLE FOLLOWED BY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNING ON APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO. TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR A TUNE UP AT A LOCAL DEALER AND PROBLEM TEMPORARILY WENT AWAY. RECENTLY THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THE HONDA DEALER EVALUATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REP…

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2001 HONDA CRV STARTED TO HAVE A ROUGH IDLE FOLLOWED BY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNING ON APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO. TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR A TUNE UP AT A LOCAL DEALER AND PROBLEM TEMPORARILY WENT AWAY. RECENTLY THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THE HONDA DEALER EVALUATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VALVES. I HAD THE DEALER CONDUCT A VALVE ADJUSTMENT AND THEY REPORTED THAT COMPRESSION ON THE #3 CYLINDER ONLY REPORTED 45 PSI AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE CYLINDER HEAD AT A COST OF $4500 DOLLARS. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THE HONDA DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEMS WITH THE HONDA CRV AND HONDA HAS NOT TAKEN ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM NOR OFFERED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE HONDA HAS BEEN AWARE OF PROBLEMS WITH THE 2001 HONDA CRV. REQUEST THE NHTSB CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10248042

134,000 miles · Sep 17, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA CR-V. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED AND FAILED TO HOLD THE SET SPEED. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AUTOMATICALLY ABOVE 45 MPH. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. A TOW COMPANY WAS CALLED AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER WAS ABLE TO REPAIR…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA CR-V. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED AND FAILED TO HOLD THE SET SPEED. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AUTOMATICALLY ABOVE 45 MPH. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. A TOW COMPANY WAS CALLED AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER WAS ABLE TO REPAIR THE MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY WORKING PROPERLY, BUT WILL BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 134,000.

NHTSA ODI #10242567

87,185 miles · Sep 10, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

A/C COMPRESSOR FOR A 2001 HONDA CR-V. FIRST WENT OUT IN JULY 2007; END RESULT WAS THAT I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PARTS AND HONDA AMERICA FOOTED THE BILL FOR LABOR BASED ON THE FACT THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR ALL CR-VS BUT WAS NOT RECALLED. IT IS NOW SEPTEMBER 2008 AND THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AGAIN. A FAULTY C…

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A/C COMPRESSOR FOR A 2001 HONDA CR-V. FIRST WENT OUT IN JULY 2007; END RESULT WAS THAT I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PARTS AND HONDA AMERICA FOOTED THE BILL FOR LABOR BASED ON THE FACT THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR ALL CR-VS BUT WAS NOT RECALLED. IT IS NOW SEPTEMBER 2008 AND THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AGAIN. A FAULTY COMPRESSOR IS ABSURD AFTER 1 YEAR OF SERVICE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10241767

102,000 miles · Jul 22, 2008
EquipmentFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA CR-V. AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT, WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE AIR CONDITIONER. HE THEN HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND NOTICED FUMES RISING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, OPENED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR HAD RUPT…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA CR-V. AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT, WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE AIR CONDITIONER. HE THEN HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND NOTICED FUMES RISING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, OPENED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR HAD RUPTURED TO THE POINT THAT ONLY HALF REMAINED. HE COLLECTED A FEW PIECES FROM INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR A REPAIR ESTIMATE. THE REPAIRS WOULD COST $1,631. THE MANUFACTURER ASSIGNED HIM A CASE NUMBER SO THAT ONE OF THEIR ENGINEERS COULD IDENTIFY THE DEFECT. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS, NO ONE CALLED THE CONTACT BACK. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY ASSIGNED HIS CASE TO ANOTHER ENGINEER, IN WHICH NOW THEY DO NOT FEEL IT WAS A DEFECT. THEY BELIEVE THAT THE CONTACT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR RUPTURING. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AND HAS BEEN THERE FOR TEN DAYS. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 102,000.

NHTSA ODI #10235360

59,800 miles · Jul 9, 2008
Equipment

HONDA 2001 A/C COMPRESSOR BLOWN, METAL FILINGS IN SYSTEM CAUSING EVAPORATOR AND OTHER PARTS TO NEED REPLACING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10233669

163,400 miles · Jun 30, 2008
Tires

FOLLOWING FIRESTONE TIRE JUST EXPLODED WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN PARKED CONDITION. IT HAPPENED ON THURSDAY, 06/26/08 IN GREENVILLE,NC, 27834. TIRE DETAILS: DUELER H/T P205/70/R15 DOT: EMYT JMJ1601 IF YOU NEED THE EXPLODED TIRE PLEASE CONTACT ME . I CONTACTED FIRESTORE BUT THEIR IS NO RESPONSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10232677

Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2008
Exterior Lighting

I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE POLYMER HEADLIGHT OUTER SURFACE/LENS OF MY 2001 HONDA CRV HAS STARTED TO DISCOLOR/HAZE/CRAZE THUS REDUCING THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ROAD WAY. I HAVE NOTICED THIS SAME CONDITION WITH NUMEROUS OTHER VEHICLES BOTH FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. IS THERE A REQUIREMENT THAT THE MATERIALS USED FOR HEADLIGHT LENSES ( AS W…

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I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE POLYMER HEADLIGHT OUTER SURFACE/LENS OF MY 2001 HONDA CRV HAS STARTED TO DISCOLOR/HAZE/CRAZE THUS REDUCING THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ROAD WAY. I HAVE NOTICED THIS SAME CONDITION WITH NUMEROUS OTHER VEHICLES BOTH FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. IS THERE A REQUIREMENT THAT THE MATERIALS USED FOR HEADLIGHT LENSES ( AS WELL AS THE INTERNAL REFLECTORS ) BE ABLE TO REMAIN CLEAR FOR ANY PARTICULAR NUMBER OF YEARS/MILEAGE? SHOULD DEALERS/SERVICE SHOPS/SMOG CHECK SHOPS/LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES/ETC. MONITOR VEHICLES AND NOTIFY THE DRIVERS/OWNERS THAT THE LENSES HAVE DETERIORATED TO A DEGREE THAT THEY MAY BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD/MUST BE REPLACED? IF THERE ARE CERTIFICATION OF DURABILITY/MINIMUM USEFUL LIFETIME REQUIREMENTS PLACED ON EQUIPMENT/VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS; AND THESE LENSES ARE NOT MEETING THEM, SHOULD DEALERS ETC. BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE THEM WITH MORE DURABLE VERSIONS? A SUGGESTED INVESTIGATIVE STARTING POINT WOULD BE TO LOOK AT YOUR OWN HEADLIGHT LENSES AND THOSE OF OTHER VEHICLES YOU PASS ON THE ROADS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10218902

Official recalls

1

20V027000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 17, 2020

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2001-2002 Acura 3.2CL, 2000-2003 Acura 3.5RL, 2000-2001 Acura 3.2TL, Honda CR-V and Honda Odyssey, 2001-2002 Acura MDX and 2000 Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Coupe, and Civic Sedan vehicles. These vehicles may have received a replacement driver frontal air bag module as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bags in the vehicles, replacing the driver frontal air bag inflator with an inflator of a different design, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Honda CR-V problems