"Service bulletin - American Honda is extending the warranty coverage on the Piston Rings and Pistons for 2010-11 CR-V 2WD and 4WD to 8 years from the original date of purchase or 125,000 miles, whichever comes first. The warranty extension does not apply to any vehicle that has ever been declared a total loss or sold for salvage by a financial institution or insurer, or has a branded, or similar tittle under any state's law."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 Honda CR-V engine problems
severe 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 13 engine complaints filed for the 2009 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 6 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 - 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 ↗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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Catalytic converter issues are widespread: heat shield bolts rust through within one to three years, and in some cases even repaired mounts corrode again. Owners report dealer denials of warranty coverage on rust-related failures. One owner had mounts temporarily rigged with radiator hose clamps.
Engine control problems are serious. Multiple owners report unintended revving to 2K–5K RPM at stoplights while braking, with no diagnostic codes found at Honda dealers despite memory dumps. One owner hit a cement barrier during sudden acceleration in a parking lot; damage was $2,500. Another owner experienced repeated deceleration to 18 mph during traffic, sometimes followed by no-start conditions requiring multiple restart cycles.
Oil leaks appear across mileage ranges: brand-new vehicles leak from the pan, and higher-mileage examples (55K–88K) leak at engine-transmission seals that require transmission removal to access.
Heat damage from the exhaust pipe to the right rear tire is documented, causing premature belt failure and burning rubber odor in the cabin. A/C compressor issues include sudden clutch noise and smoke, along with gradual cooling loss.
One engine seized at 188,000 miles after overheating; another accumulated a recurring Check Engine light despite extended warranty repairs.
Same Honda CR-V engine reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2008 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Catalytic converter heat shield rust and fastener failure
Heat shield mounting bolts rusted through and failed, mounts corroded within 1–3 years of ownership. In at least one case, dealer temporarily held shield on with radiator hose clamps. Repaired bolts corroded again after dealer repair.
When: 1–3 years of ownership; 35,000 miles (one complaint)
Symptoms owners cite: Rattling noise from underneath vehicle; Heat shield moving or loose; Bolts rusted and deteriorated
Repairs/costs cited: Replaced catalytic converter heat shield and fasteners; failure persisted after repair in at least one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda dealership told owner this was normal and not covered under rust warranty
Exhaust heat damage to rear tire
Exhaust pipe positioned too close to right rear tire. Heat from exhaust causes accelerated tire deterioration and burning rubber smell in cabin.
When: Occurred during normal driving and parking
Symptoms owners cite: Burning rubber smell in cabin when parking; Premature tire belt failure; Heat damage visible on tire
Repairs/costs cited: Original tire required replacement; same condition recurred on replacement tire. Repair suggestion: wrap exhaust pipe with insulating tape
Oil pan and seal leaks
Oil leaks from engine, originating at oil pan (brand-new vehicle) and engine-to-transmission interface (higher mileage). Gallery bolt seal failure at engine-transmission junction required transmission removal to access.
When: As early as ~100 miles (oil pan); ~55,000–88,000 miles (gallery bolt/seal)
Symptoms owners cite: Oil pooling under vehicle; Oil leaking between engine and transmission
Repairs/costs cited: Oil pan seal replacement on new vehicle; gallery bolt and seal replacement (parts 12208-P8C-A01 and 90401-PR4-000) requires transmission removal, 16 hours labor
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in at least one case
Uncontrolled engine speed and sudden acceleration
Engine revved to 2–5K RPM at traffic lights with foot on brake and no driver input. Separate incident of sudden acceleration at low speed in parking lot resulted in collision with cement barrier. Memory dumps at dealer showed no diagnostic fault codes.
When: Occurred multiple times over six-week period; low-speed incident resulted in $2,500 damage
Symptoms owners cite: Unintended engine rev-up to 2K RPM while stopped at traffic light, foot on brake; Engine rev to 5K RPM when transmission shifted to Neutral; Sudden acceleration at low speed without driver input; No response to brake application during acceleration event; No stored diagnostic codes
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; dealer claimed no fault found
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda dealership stated nothing was wrong after memory dumps; no recall action noted
Limp-mode speed limitation and hard start
Vehicle suddenly decelerated to ~18 mph with no recovery during acceleration, forcing driver to pull over. Occurred multiple times. One episode prevented engine start the following morning; required repeated on/off cycling to resume normal operation.
When: Occurred during traffic driving and at least once overnight
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden speed loss to ~18 mph; Unable to accelerate back to normal speed; Hard start or no-start condition following occurrence; Normal operation resumed after multiple restart attempts or overnight rest
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented in complaint; owner cited recall 19E068000
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda dealer claimed no open recall for this vehicle
Engine overheating and seizure
Engine overheated and seized during driving at undisclosed speed. Engine failure confirmed at dealer; replacement required.
When: 188,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine overheating during normal driving; Complete engine seizure
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required; not repaired before complaint filed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified
Check Engine light reoccurrence
Check Engine indicator illuminated four times in succession. Dealer repairs in September and October 2013 were made under extended warranty, but problem recurred after warranty expired.
When: September–October 2013 and after warranty expiration
Symptoms owners cite: Check Engine light illumination
Repairs/costs cited: Repairs performed under extended warranty in September and October 2013; no details on root cause
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended warranty coverage applied initially, but expired before final recurrence
A/C compressor clutch failure and smoke
Upon engine start, A/C line cold and loud sound from compressor clutch with visible smoke, even with A/C off and fuse 35 removed. Indicates electrical or mechanical compressor malfunction.
When: Occurred at engine startup
Symptoms owners cite: Cold A/C line with A/C off; Loud noise from A/C compressor clutch; Smoke from compressor area
Gradual A/C system failure
A/C cooling performance degraded gradually over time until complete loss of function.
When: Progressive failure over unspecified timeframe
Symptoms owners cite: A/C cooling output gradually declining; Complete A/C failure
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
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 replace them, it's 16 hours' work. It's so unreliable and costly to fix.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Honda cr-v. The contact stated that there was oil leaking from the engine. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who diagnosed that the seal plug needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.
Had engine trouble with your 2009 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 2009 Honda CR-V?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 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 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 35,000 and 88,000 miles, with the median around 65,312. A quarter of owners report trouble before 35,000; a quarter make it past 88,000. 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/2009/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.