Service News - The navigation clock and date are incorrect. This is due to a limited GPS receiver Capacity resulting in a rollover of the internal chip memory; the rollover occurred on January 1, 2022, at 12:00AM local time.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Honda CR-V electrical problems
moderate 252 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
252
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
2crashes
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 252 electrical complaints filed for the 2007 Honda CR-V, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 252 electrical complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 21 model years of Honda CR-V in our records for electrical problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
ServiceNews Article - The clock shows the incorrect time. This issue is due to a limited GPS receiver capacity resulting in "rollover" of the internal chip memory; the "rollover" will occur on January 1, 2022 at 12:00AM local time. As a result, the navigation date and time will be incorrect.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗HONDA: ON SOME MODEL VEHICLES, THERE IS AN ALTERNATOR/STARTER TESTER (AST) MODULE CAPABLE OF TESTING ALTERNATORS, INSTALLED ON GR8 DIAGNOSTIC BATTERY STATION.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗HONDA: MIL COMES ON WITH DTC P0134, P0135, P0171 OR P1157. THE UNDER HOOD TEMPERATURE CAUSES GREASE FROM AN UNDER HOOD FUSE BOX CONNECTOR TO MELT, TRAVEL DOWN THROUGH THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS, AND DRIP ONTO THE A/F SENSOR 4P CONNECTOR.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗HONDA: WARRANTY EXTENSION-VEHICLE WARRANTY MILEAGE. CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ALLEGING THAT THE ODOMETERS ON CERTAIN 2002-2006 HONDA MODELS WERE OVERSTATING MILEAGE. FEDERAL COURT PROVIDED FINAL APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT ON 12/29/07. NO MODELS LISTED.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2007 CR-V has a chronic power door lock actuator defect. Owners describe doors that lock and unlock repeatedly at speeds around 9–15 mph, accompanied by loud clicking or grinding sounds. The failure typically starts with one door—often the passenger side—then spreads to others. Replacement costs $238–$552 per door; some owners report paying $700–$900 to fix multiple doors.
A worse variant traps occupants. Some doors refuse to unlock via remote, key fob, or interior button and relock instantly after unlocking, leaving a half-second to two-second window to escape. Children have been locked inside running vehicles. Manual key access exists only on the driver door; rear passengers cannot unlock from outside.
Doors also spontaneously unlock while the vehicle is moving, allowing occupants to open them mid-drive—a particular hazard with children. Owners report no dealer repairs after the extended warranty expired November 2015, despite a known design flaw documented in Service Bulletins 14-083 and 14-084. A class action lawsuit was filed in January 2013, but coverage was limited and time-bound.
Secondary issues include a starter that clicks loudly and takes 10–20 minutes to crank on cold mornings; rodents chewing through washer hose and wiring insulation made from corn husks; and early AC compressor failure with burning smell at 83,000 miles.
Same Honda CR-V electrical reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Power door lock actuator malfunction—doors lock/unlock at speed threshold
Door lock actuators fail, causing doors to repeatedly lock and unlock automatically when the vehicle accelerates or decelerates through approximately 9–15 mph. Owners report loud clicking or grinding sounds accompanying the cycling. The problem typically begins with one door, then spreads to others over time.
When: Commonly reported between 30,000–83,000 miles; failures documented from a few months to several years after purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Doors lock and unlock repeatedly at specific speeds (9–15 mph); Loud clicking or grinding noise when locks engage; Rear doors particularly prone to unlock while driving; Unable to keep doors locked while vehicle is in motion
Repairs/costs cited: $238–$552 per door for actuator replacement; multiple owners report paying $700–$900 to repair all affected doors; some repairs done under extended warranty program that expired November 2015
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Class action lawsuit filed January 2013; Honda extended warranty program (six-month extension through November 2015) limited to certain models; 2006 CR-V had separate recall for same issue; Service Bulletins 14-083 and 14-084 issued to identify problem; Honda refused repairs after warranty expiration despite known design defect
Power door lock actuator malfunction—door fails to lock or unlock
Door lock actuators fail to engage properly, leaving doors unable to lock or unlock via remote, key fob, interior button, or manual key. Doors may lock immediately after unlocking or remain permanently unlocked. Some doors lock passengers inside the vehicle with no way to exit.
When: Failures documented within first few years of ownership; some failures after 50,000 miles when factory warranty expires
Symptoms owners cite: Door will not unlock using remote, key fob, interior switch, or manual key; Door relocks instantly after unlocking (half-second to two-second window); Door remains stuck in locked or unlocked position indefinitely; Multiple doors fail simultaneously or in sequence; Manual key lock slot available only on driver door; passengers cannot unlock rear doors externally
Repairs/costs cited: $282–$860 per door for actuator replacement and associated fuse box repair; dealer estimates ranged $325–$1000+ depending on number of affected doors and associated panel removal needed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Class action lawsuit filed January 2013 with settlement; Extended warranty program through November 2015 covered front driver door actuator only for some owners; Honda refused warranty coverage after expiration; Some owners report Honda dealership service bulletins addressed issue but did not proactively inform customers of recalls or warranty extensions
Power door lock actuator malfunction—passenger/rear doors unlock unexpectedly while vehicle in motion
Passenger-side front or rear door locks disengage while the vehicle is driving, creating an uncontrolled unlock hazard. Child safety locks alone cannot prevent children from opening doors. Owners report doors can be opened by occupants or unauthorized persons while vehicle is in motion.
When: Failures documented throughout ownership; some reported within first few months to several years of operation
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger-side door unlocks while vehicle is moving; Door can be opened from inside or outside while vehicle is in motion; Lock disengages at random or predictable speed thresholds; Child safety lock insufficient to prevent door opening; Remote lock does not keep door locked
Repairs/costs cited: $238–$552 per door; multiple repairs common as failure spreads across doors
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended warranty program through November 2015; Class action litigation; Honda declined repairs outside warranty period despite acknowledged design defect
Door locks cycle continuously or lock occupants inside vehicle
Door locks engage in uncontrolled automatic cycling (locking and unlocking repeatedly) or lock all occupants inside the vehicle. Occupants may be unable to exit manually or via electronic controls. Children have been trapped inside vehicles during engine-off events.
When: Documented failures within first few years of ownership; one case reported 9 months after purchase, escalating over following year
Symptoms owners cite: All four doors lock immediately after engine shutdown, trapping occupants; Doors relock automatically within seconds of unlocking; Uncontrolled cycling of all door locks simultaneously; Manual unlocking from inside followed by immediate relock; No way to unlock doors from exterior except via power system
Repairs/costs cited: $325–$900+ for actuator replacement; one case estimated $900 for full repair of all doors; some repairs covered under extended warranty through November 2015
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended warranty program through November 2015; Honda dealership advised disabling automatic locking to prevent rapid wear on newly installed actuator; Computer reset occurred in one vehicle after theft recovery, temporarily resolving issue
Starter makes loud clicking noise on cold start; turns over reluctantly
Starter produces grinding or clicking noise when engine is first cranked, particularly in morning cold starts. Vehicle sometimes fails to turn over on first attempt, requiring multiple key turns or extended cranking time. Honda issued statement that this is a 'known quirk' with starter relay system and advised customers to turn key faster rather than repair.
When: One case documented after 7 years of ownership without prior incident; failed to start on first try for several months before incident reported
Symptoms owners cite: Loud clicking noise on startup, especially in morning; Engine fails to turn over on first try; Requires 10–20 minutes of cranking to start after vehicle sits for 1+ hour; Once started, vehicle may stall after short drive and require extended cranking to restart
Repairs/costs cited: None documented; Honda service manager statement indicates replacement starter will have same problem; dealer advised turning key faster as workaround
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda corporate issued statement to dealerships stating clicking noise is known quirk with starter relay system and should not be repaired; Honda tech-line unable to recreate problem during extended dealership testing
Windshield washer hose damage from rodent chewing; wiring insulation eaten by mice
Rodents gain entry to vehicle engine bay and chew through windshield washer tubing and electrical wiring insulation. Wiring insulation made from recycled corn husks and dried bean pods is attractive to rodents. Left clearance light wiring completely chewed through. Insulation displacement affects A/C and heating systems; damaged wiring creates potential fire hazard from short circuits.
When: Discovered during washer fluid refill; rodent damage included nest-building and relocated insulation in firewall access area
Symptoms owners cite: Washer fluid leaks from vehicle during refill; Pieces of tubing found chewed through in multiple locations; Rodent nesting material found in engine compartment, particularly near firewall access panel below windshield wipers; Left clearance light wires completely severed; Insulation moved by rodents affecting climate control systems
Repairs/costs cited: Owner performed own repairs as former mechanic; no Honda-provided repair documented; wiring insulation appears to be vulnerability across newer Japanese vehicles using food-grade materials
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda regional representative contacted owner but declined to identify entry point or provide solution to rodent problem; suggested owner make own repair
Instrument cluster illumination creating driver confusion regarding headlight status
Brightly lit LED or electro-fluorescent instrument clusters remain illuminated whenever vehicle is in operation, regardless of headlight status. This design causes drivers to assume headlights and taillights are on when they are actually off. Daytime running lamps at low intensity compound the problem. No warning indicator alerts drivers to lamp-off condition, and no feedback from instrument cluster confirms actual lamp status.
When: Occurs during dusk driving when visibility is ambiguous; driver may not notice for 10+ minutes that exterior lamps are off
Symptoms owners cite: Instrument cluster remains brightly lit while driving; Driver assumes exterior lights are on based on cluster illumination; Headlights and taillights actually off despite cluster brightness; Daytime running lamps create false sense that vehicle lights are engaged; No warning light or indicator to alert driver to lamp-off condition; Only way to determine actual status is by toggling light switch on/off
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented; design issue affects multiple Japanese manufacturers (Honda CR-V, Honda Civic, Lexus RX/LS, Nissan Versa)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented; complaint requests NHTSA mandate warning light requirement for vehicles with automatic lamps feature
Engine failure to start or stalling after short drive
Engine exhibits intermittent starting failure, requiring extended cranking (up to 24 minutes) after vehicle sits for 1+ hour. Once started, vehicle may run briefly and then stall unexpectedly, leaving driver stranded. Dealership unable to replicate issue during three separate service visits and three-week extended diagnostic period.
When: Documented within 7 months of new vehicle purchase; occurred 15+ times across different drivers
Symptoms owners cite: Difficult or impossible start after vehicle parked for 1+ hour; Requires 10–24 minutes of continuous cranking; Vehicle starts then stalls after short drive (2 miles reported); Stalling in traffic intersection creates hazardous stranding; No fault codes or issues detected during dealership testing
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle returned to dealership after stalling in intersection; rental provided; no permanent repair documented
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership unable to replicate issue after three service visits and three-week extended diagnostic hold; Honda tech-line consulted but unable to recreate problem
AC compressor premature failure with overheating and burning smell
Air conditioning compressor fails prematurely, producing burning rubber smell and overheating. Blue discoloration on compressor housing indicates metal has reached high temperatures. Compressor pulley shows no wear, ruling out belt or mechanical wear as cause. Parts unavailable in North America for replacement.
When: Failure documented at 83,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Burning rubber smell immediately after vehicle purchase, attributed to mountain driving; AC system stops cooling without warning in 107-degree ambient temperature; Blue discoloration on compressor housing metal; No belt wear or mechanical damage visible; Complete AC failure with no gradual degradation
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement compressor unavailable in North America at time of complaint; repair not completed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented
Key fob casing weak and fails; door lock intermittently disables access
Key fob outer casing is poorly designed and breaks easily, risking key loss. Dealership service manager charges $40 to replace casing (twice for one owner), indicating design weakness is known to dealers. Separately, door locks intermittently fail to lock or unlock, requiring physical key to manually operate.
When: Casing failures documented requiring repeated replacement; door lock intermittent failures occur unpredictably
Symptoms owners cite: Key fob casing breaks, risking key loss at any time; Weak encasing requires repeated replacement; Door intermittently locks owner out or prevents unlocking; High humidity environment appears to exacerbate issues
Repairs/costs cited: $40 per casing replacement (known to dealership service managers); $300+ estimated for door lock repair diagnosis; owner unable to afford additional repairs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented; issue appears known to dealership service staff based on prompt replacement without question
Synthesized from 252 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
My Honda cr-v 2007 just started to have problem with the door lock/unlock system. I started to notice the problem probably in november 2013. The car locking default set-up was at 15mph (meaning even if I forget to lock the doors, they will be locked when the car reach 15mph). However, one of the door just unlock all by itself right-after it get locked. This is a huge safety concern if you have…
> door locks malfunctioning - (actuator replacement) left rear door lock does not remain in locked position. All doors lock, except for rear door lock on driver's side, engages but slowly reverts to unlocked position, which poses security risk to life (self, children and pets) in addition to unsecured property... This is an ongoing issue and the second time we encountered problem, and had…
Passenger side door lock will not stay locked! And the other three doors lock seconds after unlocking them with remote? *dt
All car locks make a loud noise when unlocking/locking. Only driver side door will stay unlocked when you unlock. Others will typically lock in 1-2 seconds making it a pain to allow someone into the vehicle. Driver side lock switch was replaced under warranty at 9,197 miles. Problem resurfaced 3 or 4 years ago, but we;ve just been tolerating it since we didn't want to spend the money on 8 year…
2007 crv purchased new. 198,000. Car has been failing to furn over intermittently for a couple of months on first try. All lights on dashboard light up, but only a low wurring noise. Turn key back, wait a second or two and it starts right up. Today, when I started the car the check engine light was on. After driving for about 3 - 4 miles, both the vsa light and the trangle light came on and the…
I made the decision to buy this car for safety reasons. Now I can lose my key at anytime or leave me stranded bc the fob encasing is weak and they know this because the service manager at the dealership in my town felt bad and took pity on me and "replaced" the casing for me twice now and 'only' charged me $40 each time. The door intermittently locks me out or comes on and off. I went to have it…
Both passenger side door locks are malfunctioning. They make a very loud noise when attempting to lock/unlock. More importantly, they will only stay unlocked for a brief moment before moving back to the locked position. Manually maneuvering the lock is next to impossible, which creates a big safety hazard of the vehicle potentially locking passengers inside with no means of opening the doors. *tr
Had electrical trouble with your 2007 Honda CR-V?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2007 Honda CR-V?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 252 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 200 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 59,943 and 105,000 miles, with the median around 80,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 59,943; a quarter make it past 105,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Honda/CR-V.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.