The 2003 Honda CR-V has 12 recalls, the most serious being Takata airbag inflators in both the driver and passenger frontal airbags that can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.
Several additional airbag concerns round out the occupant safety picture. On certain vehicles, the driver-side airbag wiring harness was incorrectly connected, which can cause the bag to inflate at the wrong rate in a crash. There is also a separate issue where a replacement passenger airbag may have been installed incorrectly, causing it to deploy improperly. Two electrical recalls address the driver-side power window switch, which can absorb moisture, overheat, smoke, and catch fire, even when the vehicle is parked. On the drivetrain side, the automatic transmission shift cable linkage can corrode to the point where the driver cannot move the selector into Park, and if the parking brake is not set, the vehicle can roll away. A lower-severity recall covers the headlight switch wiring connector, where melting terminal ends can knock out the low-beam headlights and reduce visibility at night.
At a glance
What can fail
Moisture can enter the driver side power window master switch, causing it to fail or melt.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the power window master switch and inspect and replace the wiring harness if damaged.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
The driver frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to high humidity, temperature, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front airbag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front airbag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Driver air bag inflators installed during previous recalls or as service parts may explode during a crash when the air bag deploys due to a manufacturing defect.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver air bag inflator with a different inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement, potentially affecting its ability to deploy properly in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the passenger air bag and replace the module assembly if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger frontal airbag inflator may produce excessive pressure during deployment, causing it to rupture and scatter fragments toward occupants, or damage the airbag module and prevent proper deployment.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the airbag inflator.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Moisture can enter the passenger side front air bag inflator, causing it to rupture when the air bag deploys.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver air bag inflator may rupture due to moisture and manufacturing variations that develop over time.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver-side power window switch may fail or melt, potentially preventing window operation.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and repair or replace the switch at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Tension in the combination switch wiring harness causes the electrical terminal surface to wear, creating copper oxide buildup. This increases electrical resistance and can cause terminal ends to melt inside the connector.
What the fix does
Dealers will repair or replace the low beam terminal harness and lighting switch at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The wiring in the driver's front air bag system was installed incorrectly.
What the fix does
Dealers will repair the wiring to correct the installation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The shift cable linkage can corrode excessively, preventing the automatic transmission from shifting into Park.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a new corrosion-resistant control pin.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
