"SERVICE BULLETIN - THE MIL COMES ON WITH ONE OF THESE DTCS: P2646/P2651 (ROCKER ARM OIL PRESSURE SWITCH CIRCUIT LOW VOLTAGE). P2647/P2652 (ROCKER ARM OIL PRESSURE SWITCH CIRCUIT HIGH VOLTAGE). NOTE: THE SYMPTOM MAY BE INTERMITTENT AND YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DUPLICATE IT AFTER CLEARING THE DTC. THE ROCKER ARM OIL PRESSURE SWITCH MAY FAIL INTERMITTENTLY."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Honda CR-V engine problems
severe 19 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
2fires
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 19 engine complaints filed for the 2007 Honda CR-V, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 14 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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.
Service bulletin - At cold start-up, the engine rattles loudly for about 2 seconds. The variable valve timing control (VTC) actuator is defective.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗HONDA: DTC P2646/P2651 OR P2647/2652 MAY BE SET. THE ROCKER ARM OIL PRESSURE SWITCH MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO INCLUDED MODEL CIVIC SI MODEL YEAR 2002-2005.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗HONDA: THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF, POWER ON, BUT IN ACCESSORY; NEVER USE CONVENTIONAL WHEEL & TIRE ASSEMBLIES ON PAX VEHICLES; MIL ON AFTER THROTTLE BODY CLEANING OR REPLACEMENT; S/M FIX BRAKE SYSTEM BLEEDING, DIALOGUE FOR DVD SURROUND SOUND FROM FRONT SPEAKERS ONLY. VARIOUS MODELS AND MODEL YEARS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗HONDA: ENGINE HAS A LOUD RATTLING NOISE AT A COLD START UP. UPDATED 11/5/12.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2007 CR-V models report engine and engine-area failures spanning the ownership timeline. A brand-new unit straight from the dealership exhibited a defective oil seal that drained the engine within hours (16–51 miles), creating a trail of oil and prompting the buyer to refuse the vehicle. Around 98,000–100,000 miles, timing chain failure is reported as typical for this model; one owner paid $1,600 for repair and was told by the dealer this was expected wear despite Honda switching to chains instead of belts supposedly to avoid this problem.
Starting and electrical issues plague several examples: the engine won't turn over despite working battery and lights, requiring a key lock/unlock workaround to start. In worse cases, the car stalls 50 feet after accelerating from a stop. Dealers have not diagnosed the root cause; Honda of America reportedly stated no problem exists.
AC compressor clutch failures appear frequently, with owners paying $1,300–$1,800 and citing an unrecalled Service Bulletin #12-072. Some owners report condensers punctured by road debris, though they dispute visible damage claims.
Two rare but serious failures involved engine fire: one during driving at 125,000 miles, another with the hood catching fire while parked at 12,000 miles. Burning odors from the rear tire well at low mileage are described as persistent across multiple CR-Vs. Ignition key release failures, rear differential noise on repeated visits, and gasoline odor in engine oil are also reported.
Same Honda CR-V engine reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Oil seal leak
Defective oil seal causing severe oil loss within hours of purchase, discovered as heavy oil trail under vehicle.
When: 16–51 miles, new vehicle (Nov 2006)
Symptoms owners cite: heavy oil trail under car; oil leaking into garage
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple parts removed and replaced during repair; vehicle no longer considered new after dealership work
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Customer requested replacement; Honda/dealership refused and disputed claim
Timing chain failure
Timing chain failure triggering engine and VSA warning lights; dealer stated typical problem for vehicles over 100k miles.
When: 98,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: engine warning light illuminated; VSA warning light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: $1,600 repair cost
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda blamed owner maintenance (oil changes per warning light instead of more frequent changes), per owner account
Starting/electrical issue
Occasional failure to start with working battery, lights, and radio; requires key lock/unlock cycle or produces stalling during acceleration after starting.
When: Unknown mileage; recurring over multiple incidents
Symptoms owners cite: no engine turning on initial start attempt; lights and radio work but engine won't crank; car stalls 50 feet after accelerating from stop; radio security code blink after restart
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented; owner consulted online forums; dealer could not diagnose
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda of America stated no problem exists despite owner report of widespread online complaints
AC compressor failure
Air conditioning compressor clutch failure causing loss of cold air output. Owners report this as common problem with no recall issued despite multiple complaints.
When: Around 4 years/12,000–55,000 miles depending on complaint
Symptoms owners cite: A/C blows warm air; A/C stops blowing cold air while driving
Repairs/costs cited: $1,300–$1,800 repair cost; Service Bulletin #12-072 referenced by owners but described as unlisted by Honda/NHTSA
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls issued; dealership service reps acknowledged as common problem
Engine stalling with power loss
Engine stalls and loses power randomly during driving at varying speeds; engine and VSA warning lights illuminate.
When: Timing varies; one case at approximately 125,000 miles with fire outcome
Symptoms owners cite: vehicle loses power randomly; stalls at 20, 40 mph etc.; jerks during acceleration; engine warning light; VSA warning light
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented in these complaints
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer wanted to charge diagnostic fee; owner noted similar complaints posted on multiple websites suggesting manufacturer should address
Engine fire
Engine stalled during driving and then caught fire. Second incident: hood caught fire with engine running in park at very low mileage.
When: 125,000 miles and 12,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: engine stall followed by fire; hood fire
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; vehicles towed; one case not diagnosed by dealer, one extinguished by owner
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not made aware in first case; second case not diagnosed by dealer
AC condenser puncture/failure
Air conditioner condenser damaged, attributed to road debris by dealers, causing refrigerant leak and loss of cooling. Owners dispute dealers' road-damage diagnosis.
When: 55,000 miles and other instances
Symptoms owners cite: A/C stops blowing cold air
Repairs/costs cited: $800–$1,000 repair cost for condenser replacement; some owners dispute damage claim finding no visible sign of impact
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued despite owner reports of problem existing for years with multiple vehicles
Ignition key release failure
Gear system failure preventing key release from ignition switch; failure recurred multiple times.
When: 140,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: key cannot be removed from ignition; recurring multiple times
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle repaired at dealer; no failure code found
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified
Burning smell from rear tire well
Burning odor emanating from rear tire well area during idling and after parking, drawn into cabin and aggravating asthma. Described as existing problem since late 1990s on multiple CR-Vs.
When: 5,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: burning smell from rear tire well; odor drawn into vehicle; odor aggravates asthma
Repairs/costs cited: Maintenance shop stated smell would burn off by 15,000–20,000 miles
Shafer sensor failure (check engine light, transmission D flashing)
Check engine light and transmission D indicator flashing; dealer diagnosed Shafer sensor failure.
When: 75,000 miles (failure mileage); 85,000 miles (current)
Symptoms owners cite: check engine warning light; D flashes on instrument panel; doors lock and unlock intermittently
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer stated replacement needed; vehicle not repaired per complaint
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer contacted but outcome not stated
Gasoline odor in engine oil
Gasoline odor detected in engine oil during routine self-check prior to first oil change and again later, unusual condition suggesting possible fuel system issue.
When: Noted before first oil change (May 2018, ~7 months ownership); recurred in October 2018
Symptoms owners cite: gasoline odor in engine oil
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership representative dismissed as non-issue
Rear differential noise
Rear differential noise occurring when backing and turning; second repeated occurrence suggesting recurring or unresolved issue.
When: Unspecified mileage; recurring issue
Symptoms owners cite: rear differential noise when backing; rear differential noise when turning; potentially dangerous handling
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle taken to dealer for repair twice for same issue
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
I purchased a 2007 Honda crv in sept 2011 and recently the car failed and began to lose power randomly. A few days ago the engine light came on and the vsa light as well. When you hit 20 MPH 40 MPH etc the vehicle stalls and jerks. I attempted to fix the problem looking at the owners manual but I couldn't find or do anything on my own to fix it. I took it to the Honda dealer in orlando where I…
Had engine 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 engine problem on the 2007 Honda CR-V?
It's a meaningful issue. 19 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 17 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 14,400 and 120,000 miles, with the median around 75,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 14,400; a quarter make it past 120,000. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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.