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 ↗2008 Honda CR-V brakes problems
severe 15 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
3crashes
2injuries
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes 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.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2008 CR-Vs report two serious brake issues: complete brake failure in winter conditions and premature wear of rear brake components.
Multiple owners describe total brake loss on snow and ice. One driver tapped the brake pedal repeatedly with no response while descending a snowy highway at 25 mph, eventually hitting a concrete divider. Another owner sliding on ice and pressing the brake pedal hard as they could—with the wheels off the pavement—felt the vehicle accelerate, not slow, resulting in collision with an oncoming car. A third owner suspects the AWD system and braking system conflict, with the stability system continuing to drive power while brakes are applied. One owner lost brakes at 5 mph while parking on ice but received no dashboard warning of brake failure.
Rear brake pads wear abnormally fast. Owners report pads worn at 14,000–25,000 miles while front pads remain at 80% thickness, sometimes with gentle driving. At 18,000 miles under warranty, one owner was charged $152 for rotor resurfacing and pad work, with the dealer blaming "overheating" but providing no proof. Another experienced rotor vibration at highway speeds on downgrades and faced repeated dealer recommendations for rotor and pad replacement starting at 22,000 miles.
One owner encountered brake booster failure at 40,000 miles with hydraulic noise from the pedal. Another experienced spongy brake feel diagnosed as ABS modulator failure, with repair estimates of $1,500–2,000 and uncertainty it would fix the problem. Honda denied coverage under its Accord brake settlement despite matching failure patterns.
Same Honda CR-V brakes reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Complete brake failure on snow/ice
Brakes unresponsive to pedal application in winter conditions. Multiple owners report tapping or pressing brake pedal with zero response, resulting in loss of vehicle control and collisions.
When: Winter driving conditions; one incident at 25 mph on snowy downgrade; another at 20-25 mph sliding on ice
Symptoms owners cite: No brake response when tapping pedal; No brake response with steady pressure on pedal; Vehicle continues moving despite braking attempts; Loss of braking on icy surfaces; Suspected conflict between AWD and braking system preventing wheels from stopping
Codes mentioned: B6 (Brake Service)
Repairs/costs cited: Honda inspections conducted after incidents; no permanent repair solutions documented
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda stated no brake issues in database; agreed to inspect vehicles after collisions; told consumer they do not report individual incidents until multiple are reported
Premature rear brake pad wear
Rear brake pads wearing out far faster than front pads, sometimes requiring replacement at very low mileage with light driving. Front pads often remain 80% intact while rear pads are completely worn.
When: 14,000-25,000 miles; as early as 16,000 miles with gentle driving; wear observed within one year
Symptoms owners cite: Rear brake pads completely worn or nearly gone; Rear rotors damaged from worn pads; Front pads remaining at 80% or 8mm thickness while rears fail; Uneven brake wear between front and rear
Codes mentioned: B6 (Brake Service)
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of rear brake pads and rotors required; one owner paid $152 for rotor resurfacing and pad sanding at 18,000 miles under warranty
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda denied coverage under Accord settlement despite similar failure pattern; one dealer suggested this matches Accord recall settlement pattern
Rotor overheating and warping
Brake rotors showing signs of overheating, warping, or poor quality leading to vibration and premature wear. Owners report rotors may be undersized or defective from purchase.
When: 18,000-22,000 miles; occurring during downgrade braking at highway speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Vibration when applying brakes on downgrades at 60+ mph; Vibration during braking; Dealer diagnosis of rotor overheating; Rotor resurfacing needed
Repairs/costs cited: Rotor resurfacing at 18,000 miles cost $152; second owner required rotor and pad replacement at 22,000 miles; one owner notes rotors may be too small
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued; warranty claims denied at early mileages despite active warranty coverage
Brake booster failure
Brake booster failing prematurely, causing hydraulic noise from brake pedal and reduced braking function.
When: 40,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Hydraulic sounding noise from brake pedal when stopped; Reduced braking performance
Repairs/costs cited: Brake booster replacement required at 40,000 miles; dealer stated Honda would cover all but $100 of repair cost
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer submitted to Honda; Honda indicated partial coverage (all but $100); Honda did not return consumer phone calls regarding issue
Spongy brakes and ABS modulator failure
Brake pedal becomes spongy with soft feel; ABS modulator diagnosed as failing, causing brake system malfunction.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Spongy brake pedal feel; Suspected ABS modulator failure
Repairs/costs cited: Honda dealer estimated ABS modulator replacement at $1,500-2,000 before labor; repair may not resolve the problem
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued; consumer believes recall is warranted
Brake and rotor corrosion from non-use
Brake rotors and components corroding due to vehicle sitting unused during recall service periods.
When: Extended non-use due to airbag recall
Symptoms owners cite: Brake rotor corrosion; Brake system corrosion
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Airbag recall required vehicle to be parked
Poor traction control performance in winter
Vehicle unable to climb snowy slopes or maintain traction even with partial snow clearing. Traction control system ineffective in winter conditions.
When: Winter conditions; vehicle only 5 months old; 6 inches of snow on upward slope
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle slides easily in winter; Traction control does not work well during winter; Vehicle unable to move forward on snowy uphill slope even after plowing; Vehicle only able to reverse, not proceed forward on incline
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle checked by Honda customer service; no defect found
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda inspection in IL found nothing wrong with vehicle; no recall or TSB issued
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2008 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 brakes problem on the 2008 Honda CR-V?
It's a meaningful issue. 15 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 17,000 and 40,000 miles, with the median around 23,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 17,000; a quarter make it past 40,000. 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 $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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/2008/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.