Honda CR-V problems
386 owner complaints with NHTSA, no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
- Body: 31 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 100,000–180,000 mi
- Reliability score 7.2/10 — around the segment average
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.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
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…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2009 Honda CR-V reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.2 out of 10 based on 386 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Honda CR-V is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2009 Honda CR-V?
The 2009 Honda CR-V is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Body: 31 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 100,000–180,000 mi; Reliability score 7.2/10 — around the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2009 Honda CR-V?
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.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
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.
How do I check if my Honda CR-V has open recalls?
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.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2009 Honda CR-V?
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.