HONDA: WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE TURNED OFF, THEY INTERMITTENTLY DO NOT STOP (PARK) AT THE CORRECT LOCATION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD OR THEY CONTINUE TO RUN.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Honda CR-V visibility problems
moderate 19 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $350 · see visibility across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering visibility 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.
WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY DO NOT PARK OR TURN OFF. UPDATED 2/21/08.
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 Honda CR-Vs report multiple visibility-related failures across the model. Cold-weather washer issues dominate complaints: nozzles and feed hoses freeze below 32°F despite using -20°F-rated fluid, leaving windshields smeared with salt and debris. Wipers themselves freeze in place or get stuck in oversized wells that collect snow and ice, requiring manual de-icing to restore function. Some wipers freeze because the blade sits exposed below the windshield without any heating element.
Wiper motor and control problems recur frequently. Wipers fail to turn off when activated, stick mid-windshield instead of parking properly, cycle erratically in intermittent mode, and sometimes quit working entirely when washer function is triggered. One owner reported needing to manually clear windows 50 times due to power window failures. Power windows on passenger sides grind or stick in the down position.
Side-view mirrors lack convex curvature, creating substantial blind spots—especially driver-side—where vehicles remain invisible despite proper mirror adjustment. Multiple owners report near-miss collisions directly attributable to this design.
Windshield lamination defects appeared on brand-new units; Honda service confirmed all CR-Vs on their lot had the same issue but declined to repair. Dealerships acknowledged these failures as widespread, yet no recalls were issued.
Same Honda CR-V visibility reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Windshield washer nozzles and hoses freezing in cold weather
Windshield washer nozzles and supply hoses freeze below 32°F, preventing washer fluid from spraying. One owner used -20°F rated fluid without success. Salt spray and road debris then coat the windshield, reducing visibility. Dealership confirmed multiple complaints of the same issue.
When: Below 32°F; occurs every winter
Symptoms owners cite: No washer fluid spray in freezing temperatures; Salt and debris accumulate on windshield; Impaired visibility
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued per dealership
Snow and ice buildup in wiper well, causing wipers to freeze and stick
Large well beneath wiper blades accumulates snow and ice during winter precipitation. Frozen precipitation sticks to wiper blades and well, causing wipers to get stuck and become inoperable. Owners must manually break up ice and snow to restore function.
When: Winter precipitation, cold weather; recurring over multiple seasons
Symptoms owners cite: Wipers stick and do not move; Ice and snow buildup in wiper well; Reduced wiper functionality; Unsafe operation in snowy conditions
Repairs/costs cited: Manual ice/snow removal required to restore operation
Windshield wiper motor control malfunction
Wipers malfunction intermittently and with increasing frequency. In wash mode, wipers continue after release and may require turning off the car. In intermittent mode, wipers wipe multiple times then single wipe irregularly. In normal/fast mode, wipers work without issue. Rear wiper unaffected.
When: Intermittent, increasing frequency over time
Symptoms owners cite: Wipers do not stop when activated for wash; Uncontrolled wiper cycling in intermittent mode; Wipers require car shutdown to stop; Normal and fast speeds work correctly
Windshield wipers fail to park in home position
Wipers do not return to proper parked position below windshield. They stop in the middle of the windshield, obstructing driver's line of sight. Intermittent setting fails to function. Problem happens repeatedly over multiple attempts to turn wipers off. Occurrence noted in service bulletin 07-071.
When: Intermittent failures; happens during or after rain events
Symptoms owners cite: Wipers do not park properly; Wipers stop mid-windshield; Vision obstruction from blade position; Intermittent setting does not work; Distraction while driving
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda Service Bulletin 07-071
Windshield wiper function stops when washer fluid is activated
When washer function is activated, wiper blades stay raised and will not lower. Wipers quit working entirely in response to washer activation.
When: When attempting to use washer fluid function
Symptoms owners cite: Wipers stay up position; Wipers will not lower; Wiper function ceases
Front windshield wiper freezes without heating element
Front windshield wipers freeze in winter precipitation because the wiper blade rests in an exposed position below the windshield with no heating element to thaw it. Manual clearing is the only solution.
When: Below freezing temperatures during precipitation; occurs every winter
Symptoms owners cite: Frozen wiper blade; Significantly reduced visibility; Requires manual de-icing
Repairs/costs cited: Manual de-icing required
Large side-view mirror blind spot
Side-view mirrors are not convex as on most vehicles, creating a large blind area especially on the driver's side. Vehicles remain invisible in mirror adjustment range, causing near-miss collision incidents. Problem confirmed by multiple CR-V owners.
When: Ongoing; noted across 2007 and newer CR-V models
Symptoms owners cite: Large blind spot on driver side; Vehicles hidden from view; Near-miss collisions despite checking mirrors; Unsafe lane changes
Power window motor failure - passenger front window
Passenger front power window motor fails. Window goes down slowly, then stops responding. Eventually will not roll up at all, remaining stuck in down position. Owner unable to drive in bad weather.
When: After approximately 2 months of operation; failure occurred
Symptoms owners cite: Window moves up very slowly; Window fails to respond periodically; Window remains stuck in down position; Inoperable window motor
Power window control malfunction
Power window devices and controls do not function properly. Owner required to stop vehicle 50 times to manually clear windows. Dealer and manufacturer stated they could not diagnose or assist.
When: At low mileage (2,400 miles on vehicle)
Symptoms owners cite: Power window controls inoperative; Windows do not open or close properly; Requires frequent manual window clearing; Safety risk
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated no assistance available; Honda stated no diagnosis possible
Windshield lamination defect
Windshield has lamination problems known to Honda. Impairs driver vision. All CR-Vs on dealership lot exhibited the same problem. Honda customer service acknowledged the issue but declined to address it.
When: Present on brand new 2007 CR-V
Symptoms owners cite: Vision impairment while driving; Windshield lamination failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda customer service acknowledged problem but declined to act
Passenger side window regulator or switch failure
Driver-side power window switch does not control passenger front window. Passenger window does not roll down or up smoothly or at all.
Symptoms owners cite: Window does not roll down smoothly or at all; Window does not roll up smoothly or at all; Driver-side switch ineffective for passenger window
Windshield wipers self-activate at speed
Windshield wipers turn on and off on their own while vehicle is being driven. Owner had to restart the vehicle to stop the malfunction. No formal diagnosis or repair attempted.
When: At 99,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Wipers activate involuntarily; Wipers cycle on and off unprompted; Requires vehicle restart to stop
Wiper motor noise and control failure
Loud cracking or grinding sound from front of car by windshield when wipers are turned on. Wipers fail to turn off and stop in middle of windshield. Do not differentiate between speed settings. Problem recurs repeatedly, with better performance on initial activation.
When: Recurring intermittently
Symptoms owners cite: Loud cracking or grinding noise; Wipers will not turn off; Wipers park in middle of windshield; No speed differentiation; Better performance on first activation
Driver-side window washer function failure
Driver-side window washer does not work when hood is closed.
Symptoms owners cite: Driver-side washer inoperative when hood closed
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had visibility 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 visibility problem on the 2007 Honda CR-V?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 19 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $350 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the visibility typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most visibility failures cluster between 20,000 and 101,000 miles, with the median around 93,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 20,000; a quarter make it past 101,000. 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 $350 for visibility 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 visibility?
No active recalls currently cover visibility 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.