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The 2009 Honda CR-V has 6 critical safety recalls on file — the kind NHTSA opens when crashes, fires, or injuries are documented. 386 owner complaints alongside. Read those first.
The 2009 Honda CR-V has 386 NHTSA owner complaints and 12 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is airbags at 174 complaints, typically surfacing around 78,802 miles (~$1,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 CR-V | 398 | 13 |
| 2007 CR-V | 885 | 12 |
| 2008 CR-V | 960 | 11 |
| 2009 CR-V (this page) | 386 | 12 |
| 2010 CR-V | 480 | 15 |
| 2011 CR-V | 551 | 13 |
| 2012 CR-V | 400 | 3 |
Significant reliability concerns on file. Read the trouble spots before buying.
The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the body was repaired or replaced.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 78,802 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 12 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 2.4/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
The contact owns a 2009 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving at approximately 15 MPH, the rear passenger’s side wheel started to feel abnormal on the roadway. No warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway and became aware that…
The car started to leak oil at about 55000 miles. The oil leaks between engine and transmission. The Honda dealer checked and said it may be caused by the gallery bolt and seal, the part numbers are 12208-p8c-a01 and 90401-pr4-000 and the transmission has to be removed to…
Ice build up on the windshield of the passenger side occurs whenever there is snow or freezing rain. This has been a constant problem since the car was new. Even with the defroster on the highest setting this occurs. I bought an AWD vehicle as I live in vermont so expected a…
Brake pedal continues to be squishy, having to be pushed all the way down to the floor to stop, after having replaced the master cylinder and brake booster Twice, flushing and replacing brake fluid, clearing air out of the brake line multiple times! Dealer has no idea how to…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 2.4 out of 10 based on 386 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Honda CR-V has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
On the NHTSA data, the 2009 Honda CR-V is one to avoid unless a specific vehicle proves otherwise. The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the body was repaired or replaced. The record behind that call: Body: 31 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 100,000–180,000 mi; Reliability score 2.4/10 — below the segment average; 12 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the airbags first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 174 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 78,802 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 2.4 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 386 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is airbags. Typical failure occurs around 78,802 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 174 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 78,802 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 78,802 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 386 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.