This page covers 3 recalls, 386 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2016 Honda CR-V.
27 mpg combined
8.7 L/100km
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
For the 2016 Honda CR-V, the heaviest concentration of complaints centers on the engine and fuel/propulsion systems, followed closely by electrical issues. On the engine side, owners frequently describe oil dilution, gasoline mixing into the engine oil, which they notice through a rising oil level and fuel smell from the dipstick. This is the single most recurring theme in the complaint set. The fuel/propulsion complaints often overlap, with owners reporting rough running, stalling, and hesitation under acceleration. Electrical complaints cover a range of symptoms: headlights cutting out while driving, multiple warning lights illuminating simultaneously alongside a loss of power, and battery drain tied to the smart locking system on door handles. Several owners describe repeated battery failures before tracing the drain to a faulty door handle sensor rather than the battery itself.
386
Total Complaints
40
Crash-Related
4
Fire-Related
28
With Injuries
By System
The 2016 Honda CR-V has 3 recalls, the most serious being a defect in the driver's airbag inflator housing that can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, sending metal fragments into the cabin and raising the risk of serious injury to the driver or passengers.
The airbag inflator issue affects the metal housing surrounding the driver's frontal airbag. If the housing fails during deployment, it can break apart and scatter fragments rather than directing the inflation safely, which is the same class of defect seen in widely publicized Takata-related recalls. The third recall applies only to vehicles that have already received a replacement engine: the replacement may have been fitted with incorrect pistons, which can reduce engine performance to the point where the engine stalls unexpectedly while driving.
At a glance
What can fail
Some replacement engines in 2015-2016 CR-V vehicles may contain wrong pistons, which could affect engine performance.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the engine and replace incorrect components at no cost.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver airbag inflator may have a flawed metal housing or improper stamping. During deployment, inflator parts could separate and send fragments toward occupants, or damage the airbag module and prevent proper inflation.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace your driver frontal airbag module.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The metal housing around the driver's air bag inflator may have been manufactured incorrectly, potentially affecting its function.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
