Engine or transmittion begines to stall in the morning when driving at 50 MPH or higher on highway. It does not happen in the afteroon. I tried to warm up the vehicle for 5 mins before driving, but the simpton remains the same. The software upgrade was done by dealers a couple of times, but the problem continues. *js
2010 Honda CR-V powertrain problems
severe 26 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
26
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
3crashes
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 26 powertrain complaints filed for the 2010 Honda CR-V, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Owners have filed 26 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2010 CR-Vs describe a pattern of powertrain problems that dealers consistently failed to diagnose or address during the warranty period. The most frequent complaint is a metal clunking or grinding noise from the transmission—present from early ownership and reported annually to dealers—that eventually required full transmission replacement (costs $1,510 to $2,838 cited).
Driveline vibration, particularly on downhill highway driving, prompted multiple repair orders with no resolution in several cases; one owner involved a lemon-law attorney.
Acceleration problems are severe: owners report extreme sluggishness from stops and low speeds, making highway merging hazardous and creating near-miss traffic situations. Some vehicles stall intermittently at 50+ MPH, especially mornings, despite software updates under warranty. Unintended acceleration—where brakes fail to respond or the vehicle surges forward when shifting to Park—resulted in at least one crash with injury.
Engine oil consumption is abnormal: owners burned 1–26 oz per 1,000 miles; dealerships and Honda stated this was normal and declined repairs. Excessive oil burning accompanied cold-start noise and check-engine lights. One owner paid $1,212 for timing chain and camshaft work at 62,000 miles, only to have the dealer call it normal wear.
Additional issues include transmission hesitation on downshifts (dangerous when merging), abrupt gear slips from 5th to 3rd at highway speeds, and rollback on inclines. One owner reported the transmission locks in Park during a collision, automatically trapping occupants.
Recall 11V395000 for transmission control module issues was mentioned multiple times, but owners' VINs were excluded from coverage despite meeting the criteria.
Same Honda CR-V powertrain reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2009 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission noise and internal damage
Persistent metal clunking or grinding noise from transmission, particularly when reversing or shifting gears. Owners report the sound was present from early ownership but went undiagnosed for years. Internal transmission failure eventually confirmed, requiring replacement.
When: From November 2010 onward; diagnosed after 62,000+ miles in some cases
Symptoms owners cite: Metal dropping/clunking noise when reversing; Grinding noise between 2nd and 3rd gear; Noise occurs in drive and reverse; Noise present intermittently during service visits but confirmed repeatedly by owners
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement needed; one owner cited $1,510 replacement fee plus $100 deductible. Another owner paid $2,838.36 at transmission shop for broken 5th gear.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 11V395000 (Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Control Module) mentioned in several narratives but VINs reportedly excluded from recall coverage.
Driveline vibration
Vibration from transmission or engine, especially on downhill highway driving or during acceleration. Multiple repair attempts failed to resolve the issue; dealers often reported inability to reproduce the problem.
When: Present from day of purchase or early ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Driveline vibration on downhill highway; Vibration upon acceleration; Underpowered in 40–50 MPH range; 5th gear refuses to downshift
Repairs/costs cited: Five repair orders filed with no resolution in one case. Independent garage noted the vibration but no repair completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service Bulletin issued November 2010 for engine software upgrade; one owner pursued this in March 2011 with minimal improvement. Lemon law claim denied by manufacturer.
Sluggish acceleration and unresponsive throttle
Severe hesitation and lag from low speeds and dead stops. Vehicle accelerates inconsistently and unpredictably; unsafe for merging or crossing traffic. Owners report near-miss accidents due to inability to judge acceleration response.
When: Ongoing from early ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Extremely sluggish acceleration from stops and low speeds; Inconsistent throttle response; Hesitation when downshifting under load; Cannot merge safely on highways; Feet-to-floor throttle required for uphill driveway
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer and Honda customer service acknowledged the problem but stated the car performs as designed; no corrective action offered.
Engine stalling
Engine stalls intermittently, often in morning hours at highway speeds (50 MPH or above). Problem persists for several minutes then stops, may recur in afternoon. Suspected engine-transmission mismatch.
When: Early morning and afternoon driving at 50+ MPH
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls at 50 MPH or above; Stall lasts a few minutes then resolves; Recurs in afternoon; Check engine light illuminated in some cases; Abnormal sound under hood before stall
Codes mentioned: PCM malfunction (per owner report in narrative #25)
Repairs/costs cited: Software updates performed under factory warranty with no resolution. One owner performed PCM diagnostic showing malfunction.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Software updates issued but did not resolve stalling. Owners report PCM recall exists for some 2010 CR-Vs but their VINs not included.
Unintended acceleration and brake failure
Vehicle surges forward unexpectedly when shifting into Park or during normal driving. Brake pedal does not respond. Vehicle accelerated to 80 MPH without driver input; one crash resulted in tree impact and injury.
When: Intermittent; one failure at 1,465 miles; others at 60,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle surges forward when shifting to Park; RPM fluctuations; Brake pedal unresponsive; Sudden acceleration to 80 MPH while braking; Engine shut-off during heavy rain approach
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle deemed total loss after crash into tree. Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired in multiple cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 11V395000 mentioned; dealership stated VIN not included in recall. Technician stated failure was common and vehicle operated normally.
Transmission gear slipping and shifting issues
Transmission drops out of gear or slips, particularly 5th gear. Erratic downshift behavior when merging or accelerating. Vehicle shifts from 5th to 3rd gear abruptly at highway speeds.
When: At various mileages; reported up to 82,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle goes out of gear and will not pull; Transmission hesitates to downshift under full throttle; Abrupt downshift from 5th to 3rd at 65–70 MPH; 5th gear grinds or damaged
Repairs/costs cited: Broken 5th gear required replacement; one owner paid $2,838.36 for repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No response documented in narratives.
Excessive oil consumption
Engine burns oil at abnormal rate, requiring frequent top-ups. One owner reports burning 1 quart per 1,000 miles; another reports 26 oz per 1,000 miles. Accompanied by cold-start cranking noise, oil/gas smell from filler cap, and check engine light.
When: Evident by 62,000 miles in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Quart of oil burned every 1,000 miles; 26 oz oil consumed per 1,000 miles; Cold-start cranking noise; Check engine light; Oil and gas smell from oil filler area; Oil consumption tests confirmed by dealership
Repairs/costs cited: Timing belt, timing chain tensioner, and camshaft replacement performed at 62,000 miles for $1,212.40; one owner notes camshaft was severely deteriorated. Dealers and Honda state consumption is normal.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda stated 1 quart per 1,000 miles is normal and within spec. Letter sent to owner but Honda declined to perform repairs. No warranty coverage offered.
AWD system malfunction
All-wheel-drive system fails to engage in snow, causing vehicle to slide and oversteer without stabilization. Owner reports European models received software upgrade but US models refused.
When: At low speed (10 MPH) in snow
Symptoms owners cite: AWD does not kick in during snow driving; Vehicle slides without stabilization; Oversteer not corrected by system; Multiple failures reported
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda issued software upgrade for Europe but refused US market update. Owner references CartThrottle article documenting issue across multiple model years.
Transmission locking in Park during collision
Transmission automatically locks in Park when vehicle is rear-ended, automatically locking all doors and trapping occupants. Creates fire/water escape hazard.
When: Upon rear-end collision impact
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission forced into Park; All doors automatically locked; Occupants trapped
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No corrective action documented.
Vehicle rollback on incline in Drive
Vehicle rolls backward while on an incline in Drive gear. Requires full accelerator pressure to prevent rollback.
When: On uphill slopes
Symptoms owners cite: Rollback on inclines in Drive; Vehicle only stops when accelerator pressed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership stated rollback is customary for Honda models.
Synthesized from 26 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had powertrain trouble with your 2010 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 powertrain problem on the 2010 Honda CR-V?
It's a meaningful issue. 26 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 2,000 and 75,000 miles, with the median around 55,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 2,000; a quarter make it past 75,000. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/2010/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.