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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
134,000 miles · May 26, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE IDLED ERRATICALLY INTERMITTENTLY WHILE SLOWING DOWN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE VALVE WAS REPLACED AT 99,000 MILES. AT 134,000 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED UPON INITIAL ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE MECHANIC, …

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE IDLED ERRATICALLY INTERMITTENTLY WHILE SLOWING DOWN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE VALVE WAS REPLACED AT 99,000 MILES. AT 134,000 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED UPON INITIAL ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE HEAD. THE VALVE MELTED INTO THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER. THE ENGINE HEAD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A NHTSA ACTION NUMBER 10008524 FOR THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI #10158329

159,600 miles · Apr 4, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

2001 HONDA CRV ENGINE VALVES MISFIRED AND BURNED IN 2003 AND AGAIN IN 2006. REPAIR APPEARS COSTLY AND I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED AS A RECURRING ISSUE AMONGST THE 1999-2001 CRV VEHICLES. I AM DISMAYED TO HEAR THAT THIS REPAIR MAY COST $4400 AND THE HONDA DEALER THUS HAS QUOTED AMERICAN HONDA AS SAYING THEY WILL NO…

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2001 HONDA CRV ENGINE VALVES MISFIRED AND BURNED IN 2003 AND AGAIN IN 2006. REPAIR APPEARS COSTLY AND I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED AS A RECURRING ISSUE AMONGST THE 1999-2001 CRV VEHICLES. I AM DISMAYED TO HEAR THAT THIS REPAIR MAY COST $4400 AND THE HONDA DEALER THUS HAS QUOTED AMERICAN HONDA AS SAYING THEY WILL NOT PAY. I UNDERSTAND THAT SERVICE BULLETIN #03-038 ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE AND I DON'T FEEL IT IS ACCEPTABLE FOR THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10154528

82,000 miles · Jan 12, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 2001 HONDA CRV HAD TO HAVE THE CYLINDER HEAD REPLACED AFTER A FLASHING ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. A HONDA DEALER STATED THERE WAS LOW COMPRESSION IN THE #3 CYLINDER. THE REPAIR WAS TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEAD (AT >3200$). I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1999-2001 HONDA CRVS. I NOW HAVE AT LEAST 5 SUBSTANTIATED CAS…

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MY 2001 HONDA CRV HAD TO HAVE THE CYLINDER HEAD REPLACED AFTER A FLASHING ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. A HONDA DEALER STATED THERE WAS LOW COMPRESSION IN THE #3 CYLINDER. THE REPAIR WAS TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEAD (AT >3200$). I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1999-2001 HONDA CRVS. I NOW HAVE AT LEAST 5 SUBSTANTIATED CASES (MY OWN, A COLLEAGUE WHO OWNS A 1999 CRV AND, THE COMPLAINT NUMBERS ON YOUR SITE 10062616, 10124224, 10143720). THERE ARE ALSO MANY UNSUBSTANTIATED BUT IDENTICAL CLAIMS ON MULTIPLE WEBSITES THAT IMPLY A FAIRLY WIDESPREAD MANUFACTURERS DEFECT LEADING TO THIS PROBLEM. THE SYMPTOMS ARE THE SAME. HONDA APPEARS TO KNOW OF THIS DEFECT AS EVIDENCED BY THEIR OWN TSB #03-038 THAT STATES THE PROBLEM AND REPAIR. I ASKED HONDA FOR A GOODWILL WARRANTY (THERE IS SOME PRECEDENCE FOR THIS BY HONDA). I WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED COMPLETE SERVICE RECORDS ....THESE WERE PROVIDED. THESE RECORDS INCLUDE A 60,000 MI SERVICE INCLUDING A TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT THAT WAS DONE JUST THE SUMMER BEFORE (MY VEHICLE HAD 82000 MI AT THE TIME OF THE ENGINE FAILURE). I WAS THEN TOLD TO CONTACT HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE TO FILE A COMPLAINT WHERE EVENTUALLY I WAS TOLD BY HONDA THAT THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE REASON WAS THAT I DID NOT GET VALVE ADJUSTMENTS AT THE TIME OF MY 60000 MI SERVICE. THESE ARE HYDRAULIC VALVES AND ACCORDING TO MY OWN MECHANIC AND VERIFIED BY ANOTHER MECHANIC, THIS IS NOT STANDARD PRACTICE. THIS 'VALVE ADJUSTMENT' RECOMMENDATION IS ALSO NOT PART OF THE MITCHELL OEM RECOMMENDATIONS ALSO THAT WERE FOLLOWED BY MY MECHANIC (TSB 03-038 IS ALSO NOT INCLUDED). THE OUTCOME WAS TO TAKE MY VEHICLE FROM HONDA WHERE THEY DID NOT SUPPORT THEIR PRODUCT DESPITE WHAT APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN AND WIDESPREAD DEFECT AND BRING IT TO MY OWN MECHANIC. I HAVE RETAINED THE PART THAT APPEARS TO HAVE CAUSED MUCH OF THE PROBLEM (DAMAGED EXHAUST VALVE). I STRONGLY SUGGEST THERE BE AN INQUIRY INTO THIS PROBLEM AND REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS REPAIR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10147624

50,000 miles · Nov 27, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY VEHICLE STALLS OUT, HAS ROUGH IDLE, AND MISFIRES. IT FIRST STARTED TO HAPPEN ONLY WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD. ONCE IT WARMED UP IT WAS FINE. IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE. DEALER ADVISED ME TO GET A COMPLETE TUNE-UP AND SAID IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX. IT STARTED AGAIN WHEN THE ENG…

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MY VEHICLE STALLS OUT, HAS ROUGH IDLE, AND MISFIRES. IT FIRST STARTED TO HAPPEN ONLY WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD. ONCE IT WARMED UP IT WAS FINE. IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE. DEALER ADVISED ME TO GET A COMPLETE TUNE-UP AND SAID IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX. IT STARTED AGAIN WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD AND THEN AT ALL TIMES. THE DEALER SEEMED TO BE PERPLEXED BY THE WHOLE THING AND ADVISED ME AGAIN TO DO A TUNE-UP. ONCE AGAIN, PROBLEM WAS FIXED FOR AWHILE. THIS LAST TIME IT WENT DOWNHILL QUICKLY. WHEN ENGINE WAS COLD AND THEN STALLING AND DYING AT ANYTIME NO MATTER WHAT THE CONDITIONS WERE. THE MIL LIGHT CAME ON EVERYTIME I HAD THIS PROBLEM. HONDA NOW TELLS ME I HAVE LOW COMPRESSION IN CYLINDER #3 AND MY CAR MISFIRES. THEY ADVISED ME TO HAVE THE HEAD SENT TO THEIR MACHINE SHOP TO INSPECT IT. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE AS OF YET. I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS. HONDA CORP. KNOWS ABOUT THE HEAD PROBLEM. MY OWN RESEARCH FOUND VALVES NEED TO BE ADJUSTED/INSPECTED REGULARLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE A TENDENCY TO TIGHTEN WHICH LEADS AND/OR RESULTS IN THE VALVE RECEDING INTO THE CYLINDER/BURNT VALVE. I AM VERY UPSET DUE TO THE FACT THAT HONDA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS AND THEY HAVE NEVER TOLD ME ANYTHING ABOUT THE VALVES. THE DEALER STILL NEVER DISCLOSED THIS KNOWN PROBLEM WHILE HAVING ME PAYING OVER $1000.00 JUST TO START ON THE REPAIR. IN THE CAR MANUAL IT STATES YOU ONLY NEED TO INSPECT THE VALVES EVERY 105,000 MILES OR IF YOU HEAR A NOISE. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO NOISE FROM MY VALVES. THEY SHOULD BE CHECKED MORE LIKE EVERY 25,000-30,000 MILES. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE TO HAVE YOUR CAR DIE OR STALL. I ASKED HONDA ABOUT THE VALVE. NOW THE SAME PEOPLE SEEM TO KNOW A LOT. AT THIS MOMENT, AMERICAN HONDA CORP. IS OFFERING ME A GOODWILL WARRANTY REPAIR OF 25% TO REPAIR IT, BUT THE CASE IS NOT SETTLED. I HAVE BEEN LIED TO, DECEIVED, RIPPED OFF, AND MOST OF ALL MY SAFETY WAS PUT INTO DANGER WILLINGLY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10143720

79,000 miles · Oct 18, 2005
Tires

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE TIRES ON VEHICLE WERE BAD. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING BADLY. SHE TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER AND THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD HER IT WAS THE TIRES NOT THE STEERING THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON. HE REPLACED ONE TIRE, AND TOLD HER TO CALL NHTSA. HE TOLD HER ONCE IT WAS SETTLED HE WOULD REPLACE THE…

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DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE TIRES ON VEHICLE WERE BAD. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING BADLY. SHE TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER AND THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD HER IT WAS THE TIRES NOT THE STEERING THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON. HE REPLACED ONE TIRE, AND TOLD HER TO CALL NHTSA. HE TOLD HER ONCE IT WAS SETTLED HE WOULD REPLACE THE OTHER THREE TIRES. SHE WANTED TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THE ONE SHE HAD TO REPLACE ON 9-20-05. ALSO, THE CONTACT WANTED TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THE OTHER THREE TIRES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10137233

29,000 miles · Jun 12, 2005
Visibility

POWER WINDOWS FAILURE

NHTSA ODI #10125035

50,000 miles · Jun 5, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

2001 HONDA CR-V. CAR STALLS WHILE IDLING. RISK OF BEING REAR-ENDED WHEN IT OCCURS AT A SIGNAL AND THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN, OR IF I AM IN THE #1 LANE WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT-TURN. HONDA CORP. IS AWARE THAT THEIR 99-01 CR-V MODELS HAVE CYLINDER HEAD PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE THIS, BUT THEY ARE NOT OFFERING TO COVER THE $3000 NEEDED TO R…

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2001 HONDA CR-V. CAR STALLS WHILE IDLING. RISK OF BEING REAR-ENDED WHEN IT OCCURS AT A SIGNAL AND THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN, OR IF I AM IN THE #1 LANE WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT-TURN. HONDA CORP. IS AWARE THAT THEIR 99-01 CR-V MODELS HAVE CYLINDER HEAD PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE THIS, BUT THEY ARE NOT OFFERING TO COVER THE $3000 NEEDED TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEAD.

NHTSA ODI #10124224

38,888 miles · Apr 19, 2005
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, CAUSING FULL REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION, MANUFACTURER OFFERED FREE PART FOR THE TRANSMISSION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10118095

62,000 miles · Mar 16, 2005
Latches/locks/linkages

MY WIFE AND I HAVE A 2001 HONDA CR-V. WITHIN THE SPAN OF A FEW MONTHS, THE DOOR LOCKS ON ALL FOUR DOORS MALFUNCTIONED AND BROKE. THE LOCK ON THE FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE DOOR BROKE IN A POSITION THAT PREVENTS THE PASSENGER FROM BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR, WHICH IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR US. OUR DEALERSHIP INFORMED US THAT IT WOULD…

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MY WIFE AND I HAVE A 2001 HONDA CR-V. WITHIN THE SPAN OF A FEW MONTHS, THE DOOR LOCKS ON ALL FOUR DOORS MALFUNCTIONED AND BROKE. THE LOCK ON THE FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE DOOR BROKE IN A POSITION THAT PREVENTS THE PASSENGER FROM BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR, WHICH IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR US. OUR DEALERSHIP INFORMED US THAT IT WOULD COST OVER $300 PER LOCK FOR REPAIR. WE HAVE NOT YET HAD THE FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE LOCK FIXED DUE TO THE COST, SO THE LOCK IS STILL BROKEN. WE HAVE ALSO NOT YET HAD THE LOCK ON EITHER REAR DOOR REPLACED, ALSO DUE TO THE COST.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10114205

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

HONDA CRV 2001, AIR CONDITIONER PROBLEMS . *BF DURING AN OIL CHANGE, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE OIL DIP STICK CONTAINER HAD DETACHED FROM THE MOTOR AND BROKEN AT THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE OIL DIP STICK HAD BEEN TAMPERED WITH AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10115073

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