CSR

Honda · NHTSA safety record

2020 Honda CR-V

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

345

Complaints

21

Crashes

2

Fires

17

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2020 Honda CR-V have filed 345 safety complaints with NHTSA between January 2020 and August 2026. The most complained-about system is forward collision avoidance, named in 75 of them (22%). The typical failure was reported at 15,350 miles, the median across the 84 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 7 recalls covering this vehicle. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Recalls (7)

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

26V332000 · May 21, 2026

The defect
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.
The risk
Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The 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.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 98,892 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

24V064000 · February 1, 2024

The defect
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.
The risk
An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The 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.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 750,114 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

23V858000 · December 18, 2023

The defect
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.
The risk
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 2,490,460 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

23V524000 · July 27, 2023

The defect
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."
The risk
An incorrectly sized tire may cause premature tread wear, or a tire blow out, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 5 vehicles across all model years covered

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

23V158000 · March 9, 2023

The defect
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.
The risk
An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
The 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.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 448,613 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

22V380000 · May 26, 2022

The defect
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.
The risk
An inaccurate fuel gauge may result in the vehicle unexpectedly running out of fuel and stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 212 vehicles across all model years covered

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

19V865000 · December 5, 2019

The defect
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.
The risk
A separated rear subframe reduces vehicle handling and can suddenly disable the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 358 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (2)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking

EA24002

Still open engineering analysis · opened April 15, 2024

forward collision avoidance

On February 21, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE22003) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), an automatic emergency braking (AEB) system, in model year 2017-2019 Honda CR-V and 2018-2019 Honda Accord vehicles.  The reports allege that activation of the AEB system occurs while driving with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's forward path, resulting in sudden vehicle deceleration. Honda indicated that they were aware of a total of X,XXX reports that may relate to the alleged defect. Honda provided analysis of the alleged defect and alleges that some customers possibly had an inadequate understanding of the CMBS and its limitations.  However, many consumer complaints allege that Honda dealerships were unable to reproduce the condition or state that they were informed that this is considered normal CMBS operation. To date, ODI has received a total of 1,294 consumer complaints of inadvertent activation of CMBS in 2017-2022 Honda CR-V and 2018-2022 Honda Accord vehicles. A total of 31 complaints alleged a crash and 50 alleged an injury.  The Total column in the Failure Report Summary removes duplicate reports and shows the total number of reports with unique VINs from all Manufacturer, ODI, and EWR data sources.  In some cases, there were multiple reports associated with a particular vehicle in which recurring failures were alleged.  In total, there were X,XXX reports, 93 injury incidents and 47 crashes involving vehicles with unique VINs that may relate to the alleged defect. PE22-003 has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis to further assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety related consequences of the inadvertent AEB activations. The scope has been expanded to include assessment of model year 2020-2022 Honda CR-V and Accord vehicles. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

Rear Differential Seizure

PE22011

Closed preliminary evaluation · opened November 28, 2022 · closed July 22, 2024

the power train

On November 29, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE 22-011 after reviewing field reports alleging rear differential seizure in 2018-2022MY Honda CR-V and HR-V vehicles equipped with all wheel drive. To date, ODI has not received any consumer complaints. Some of the field reports received alleged the vehicle’s wheels locked up with no warning while the vehicle was in motion. These vehicles were towed to a dealership. Examination of these vehicles showed the driveshaft had broken and the differential unit was completely damaged. The field reports cited a lack of oil due to damaged oil seals as the cause. Honda provided data including consumer complaints, field reports, and warranty claims they received relating to the loss of oil retention and resulting differential damage. Honda’s data cited 1201 incidents with unique vehicle identification numbers (VINs). The rear differential oil seals  prevent the oil from leaking out and protect internal components from contaminants. A loss of oil lubrication results in failure of the vehicle differential.  Honda stated that the oil seal’s lip contact with the driveshaft may become unstable due to intermittent changes in internal pressure. Their review of field report and warranty data indicated that these failures occurred early in the vehicle’s life thus the failures were covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. Honda stated that in November 2021 they changed the seal specifications and improved the packaging process of the parts for transport.  Honda also enacted an enhanced visual inspection process both before and after the oil seal installation on the assembly line. Honda stated that in the event of differential failure, the operator can control the vehicle without stability loss. After the drive shafts break due to differential failure, the operator will hear noises and the vehicle will still function as a 2WD vehicle preventing complete loss of motive power. Based on the following factors, ODI is closing this investigation: ·       Information regarding field failures does not indicate hazardous outcomes ·       The failures are occurring early in the life of the vehicle ·       Repairs are covered under the manufacturer’s warranty ·       The vehicle can continue functioning as a 2WD without loss of stability control in the event of failure The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist, and the agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 345.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 75 22%
AIR BAGS 47 14%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 43 12%
ENGINE 36 10%
STEERING 36 10%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 35 10%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 35 10%
SERVICE BRAKES 30 9%
POWER TRAIN 19 6%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 11 3%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 10 3%
SEAT BELTS 9 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2024 at 66.

2020 2024 2026
2020 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

STEERING

2 injured · crash · towed

While travelling home from Champaign, IL on [XXX] towards Springfield, IL, we had been on the road for approximately an hour, when there was a loud metallic bang & I lost all steering control. The CR-V violently jerked to the right and exited the interstate at approximately 70mph (I was on cruise control), travelled down an embankment hitting several trees and came to a stop in trees on the edge of a farm pond. All airbags deployed, and per the Tow company, the engine and transaxles departed the vehicle and were found a short distance in front of the vehicle. The car stayed upright and continued straight after departing the roadway. what component failed & is it available for inspection -

NHTSA complaint 11570137, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · 11,500 miles

The contact owns a 2020 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while his wife was attempting to park the vehicle at 1 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated without warning. The vehicle jumped a curb and crashed into a tree which stopped the acceleration; the contact, who was in the passenger seat, was able to place the vehicle into neutral and shut off the engine. The contact stated that the airbags did not deploy upon impact. The police were called the scene and a police report was filed. The contact was able to drive the vehicle back home despite the severe front-end damage. The contact was also able to drive the vehicle to an independent body shop as several warning lights had appeared

NHTSA complaint 11441001, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 3,200 miles

MY VEHICLE ( 2020 HONDA CRV) WAS TRAVELING APPROX. 50 MPH ON A HIGHWAY WHEN HIT BY A FORD 350 VAN AS IT ATTEMPTED TO CROSS THE HIGHWAY. MY VEHICLE WAS HIT DIRECTLY ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DEMOLISHING DRIVERS SIDE BACK PASSENGER DOOR AND A PORTION TOWARD BACK END INCLUDING FUEL DOOR. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED !!! MY DRIVERS DOOR WAS JAMMED! I WAS UNABLE TO EXIT MY VEHICLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND HAD TO CRAWL OUT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE . I WAS INJURED IN THIS ACCIDENT

NHTSA complaint 11387168. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

1 injured · crash · towed · 17,000 miles

The contact owns a 2020 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked with the engine on, the emergency parking brake was not engaged, she reached the vehicle to push the push/start button to turn off the vehicle, and the vehicle started to roll backward. The contact stated that the vehicle rolled over both legs and she required medical attention. A police report was filed. The contact stated that the vehicle stopped once it collided with the neighbor's house across the street. The vehicle was towed to a collision shop for diagnostic testing and body repairs. The diagnostic testing has not been performed on the vehicle. The dealer was contacted and advised the contact to call

NHTSA complaint 11446166, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The back glass shattered. I got into the car and shut the door. There was a loud pop and when I looked in the rearview mirror the back glass had shattered. There was nothing against the glass. It had not been in an accident. I was not aware of any issue with the back window shattering. I have read up on this and there seems to be other car owners that this has happened to. I feel lucky that I was not driving and especially with my grandson in the car. Yes it is tempered glass but if I had been driving the glass pieces could have blown back into the car. My insurance is paying for the replacement for free but it goes as a glass claim against me. I tried calling Honda but they are not open on

NHTSA complaint 11757129, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
SRS AIR BAG PROBLEM IN THE DASHBOARD GO ON AND OFF HONDA TECHNICIAN FOUND THIS CODE AIRBAG INFLATOR

NHTSA complaint 11756839. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
On the evening of [XXX], I started my vehicle while it was parked in my garage. Within approximately five minutes, the vehicle suddenly produced a violent and unusually loud mechanical noise, followed by visible smoke billowing from beneath the hood. Recognizing the immediate potential fire and safety hazard to both myself and my property, I immediately shut the vehicle down. The following morning, I took directly to Honda North, an authorized Honda dealership in Clovis, California, for a professional diagnostic inspection. The dealership's certified inspection determined that the A/C compressor had suffered a catastrophic internal mechanical failure and had completely seized. According to

NHTSA complaint 11756507, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration August 11, 2026. Dear Sir, Madame, I am writing regarding a safety issue with my 2020 Honda CR-V, purchased about one year ago. There is a serious issue with the steering column, and American Honda has declined assistance with repairs. I am seeking expedited assistance from NHTSA. This issue was first noted on the day I drove the vehicle to the Honda Dealership for maintenance (XXX). My daughter has been driving this vehicle, and did not report anything abnormal. I routinely schedule maintenance for her car when I have a day off. So I noticed this "sticking" of the steering wheel during my drive, especially at higher speeds and on the

NHTSA complaint 11756296, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
While driving at highway speeds, my steering wheel physically binds, catches and then suddenly jerks when trying to make normal adjustments. This creates an unpredictable control hazard. This is similar to NHTSA Recall 24V-744 and Honda TSB 24-011. The internal steering gearbox is binding due to the same design & manufacturing tolerances.

NHTSA complaint 11755882. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
While driving at higher speeds and I turn to the left the steering wheel would stick. It would take a second to unstick to be able to move the wheel back to the right. I took it into my local Honda dealership and they said my power steering has an issue and needs to be replaced. I researched and found multiple 2020 Honda CR-V have had this issue and Honda has issued a recall from 2022 and newer CR-V and not for the 2020's. I have logged a complaint with Honda of America. My Honda is only 6 years old with 65,670 miles on it.

NHTSA complaint 11755444. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Honda CR-V

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 118 0
2025 239 1
2024 375 2
2023 511 3
2022 250 3
2021 320 4
2019 1,079 8 1
2018 2,117 5
2017 1,753 7
2016 389 3
2015 668 3
2014 585 1 3
2013 381 2
2012 400 3
2011 551 13
2010 480 15 1

Other 2020 Honda models

Every Honda on this site — 187 vehicles, 362 recall campaigns and 10 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst