Comprehensive guide to Honda CR-V lemon law claims, common defects, NHTSA recalls, and your legal rights as an owner.
Model years covered: 2017-2024
The Honda CR-V is consistently one of the best-selling compact SUVs in America, praised for its practicality, efficiency, and overall dependability. However, even highly rated vehicles can experience significant manufacturing defects. For the 2017-2024 model years, a notable number of CR-V owners have reported persistent issues that compromise the safety, use, and value of their vehicles, leading to numerous lemon law claims and class action lawsuits.
The most prominent issues affecting these CR-V models include the 1.5L turbocharged engine's tendency to mix gasoline with engine oil (oil dilution), unexpected and dangerous "phantom braking" from the Honda Sensing system, and recurring electrical and A/C compressor failures. When a dealership is unable to repair these substantial, warranty-covered defects after a reasonable number of attempts, or if the vehicle spends an extended period out of service, the vehicle may qualify as a lemon.
Owners experiencing these recurring problems should meticulously document every repair attempt, keep all service invoices, and note any days the vehicle is out of service. Understanding your rights under state and federal lemon laws is crucial, as qualifying vehicles may entitle the owner to a manufacturer buyback, a replacement vehicle, or a cash settlement, often with the manufacturer covering all legal fees.
Total recalls: 13
The 2017-2024 Honda CR-V has been subject to several significant safety recalls. Major campaigns include a massive recall for defective fuel pumps that can fail and cause engine stalling while driving, affecting numerous models including the CR-V.
Another critical recall addressed the electronic power steering system in 2017-2018 models, where a dislodged magnet could cause a sudden loss of steering assist.
More recently, 2023-2025 CR-V models were recalled due to an incorrectly manufactured steering gearbox assembly that causes excessive internal friction and difficulty steering. Other recalls have addressed front seat belt buckle interference and incorrect certification labels.
View all Honda recalls and NHTSA safety alerts
Honda has issued numerous Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) for the CR-V to address common complaints that do not rise to the level of a safety recall. Notable TSBs address the 1.5L turbo engine oil dilution issue, providing software updates and extended warranty coverage for affected components.
Other significant TSBs cover the CVT transmission shudder, offering software updates and fluid changes to mitigate vibration and hesitation. TSBs have also been issued for infotainment system glitches, providing software patches to resolve freezing screens and connectivity issues, as well as bulletins addressing A/C compressor shaft seal leaks.
Honda has faced several significant class action lawsuits regarding the 2017-2024 CR-V. A major lawsuit (Cadena, et al. v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc.) addressed the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) "phantom braking" defect in 2017-2019 CR-Vs, where the system falsely detects objects and applies hard braking.
Another prominent class action targeted the 1.5L Earth Dreams turbocharged engine found in 2019-2021 CR-Vs, alleging that gasoline leaks into the engine oil (oil dilution), causing premature wear and stalling.
Additionally, a nationwide class action (Cruz, et al. v. American Honda Motor Company, Inc.) was filed concerning a parasitic draining defect in 2017-2019 CR-Vs, where electrical components fail to shut down, repeatedly draining the battery and leaving motorists stranded.
Yes, if your CR-V's 1.5L turbo engine continues to experience oil dilution (gasoline mixing with oil) after multiple repair attempts by the dealership, it can qualify as a lemon. This is considered a substantial defect that impairs the vehicle's reliability and value.
Yes. The 'phantom braking' issue associated with the Honda Sensing system is a serious safety defect. If the dealership cannot fix the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) after a reasonable number of attempts, your vehicle may qualify for a buyback or replacement.
No, a recall is simply the manufacturer acknowledging a defect and offering a free repair. However, if the dealership performs the recall repair and the problem persists, or if the vehicle is out of service for an extended period (often 30 days or more) waiting for recall parts, it may then qualify under the lemon law.
While it varies by state, generally, a vehicle may be considered a lemon if it has been in the shop for the same problem four or more times, or two or more times for a severe safety defect. It may also qualify if it has been out of service for a cumulative total of 30 days or more for warranty repairs.
In most cases, no. Under state lemon laws and the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, if you win your case, the manufacturer (Honda) is required to pay your reasonable attorney's fees and costs. Most lemon law attorneys work on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing upfront.