Service bulletin - The tailgate won?t open from the outside handle in temperatures near freezing or colder, but will open in warmer temperatures. There is an internal failure of the tailgate outer handle switch.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Honda CR-V cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2015 Honda CR-V have filed 15 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 22,200 miles at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 CR-V | 14 |
| 2012 CR-V | 10 |
| 2013 CR-V | 19 |
| 2014 CR-V | 24 |
| 2015 CR-V (this page) | 15 |
| 2016 CR-V | 21 |
| 2017 CR-V | 28 |
| 2018 CR-V | 42 |
| 2019 CR-V | 12 |
5crashes
What stands out
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 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 cruise control 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 - SOME CUSTOMERS HAVE REPORTED FEELING ONE OR MORE DIFFERENT VIBRATIONS FELT PRIMARILY THROUGH THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE IDENTIFIED VIBRATIONS MAY OCCUR UNDER THESE CONDITIONS: DRIVING MODE 1: WHILE STOPPED WITH VEHICLE IN GEAR. DRIVING MODE 2: WHILE BETWEEN 1,0001,200 RPM AT TAKEOFF."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗WHILE ACTIVATING OR USING ACC THE ACC OFF MESSAGE APPREARS DUE TO MISINTERPRETATION OF MULTIPURPOSE CAMERA SOFTWARE
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The narratives describe a consistent pattern of dangerous powertrain behavior in 2015 CR-Vs. The most serious complaint is unintended acceleration—vehicles surge and accelerate on their own during startup, while braking, and during parking maneuvers. Multiple owners report total loss of control resulting in collisions and property damage. One owner struck two vehicles and crashed into a wooded area; another flipped the vehicle. Dealers repeatedly cannot duplicate these failures when tested.
Equally alarming are sudden losses of power and complete stalling at highway speeds. One owner describes the vehicle decelerating from 80 to 50 MPH without foot lift and entering limp mode with a Check Engine light. Another reports stalling from 60 to 0 MPH on interstate highways—described as "almost killing us." One owner experienced ongoing stalling since January 2017 with a dealership that refused to diagnose or repair.
From the earliest miles, new CR-Vs exhibit transmission hesitation and vibration that one dealership service advisor confirmed is common across all 2015 models with no available fix. An owner with under 1,000 miles on a brand-new vehicle had multiple surge events on hills that the dealership called "normal" behavior.
Failure-to-accelerate complaints describe the accelerator pedal not registering for 4 to 5 seconds, causing dangerous deceleration during lane changes. One instance traced to an aftermarket floor mat; a software update failed to resolve another.
Same Honda CR-V cruise control reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration
Vehicle accelerates on its own without driver input, ranging from mild surging at startup to rapid acceleration during parking or driving. Multiple owners report sudden acceleration that caused loss of control and collisions.
When: At startup, while braking, during parking, at low and highway speeds; complaints span from 400 miles to 38,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine surges to high RPM (4000 RPM reported) at startup; Vehicle accelerates while foot is on brake pedal; Rapid uncontrolled acceleration during parking maneuvers; Vehicle does not respond to braking; Leaping forward after shifting into Drive
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to duplicate failure in most cases; one vehicle repaired but failure not detailed
Loss of power / failure to accelerate
Vehicle fails to respond when accelerator pedal is depressed, causing sudden deceleration or inability to accelerate. Some instances linked to floor mat obstruction; others remain unexplained.
When: At various speeds including 35 MPH; mileage from 4,188 to 15,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal does not register for 4-5 seconds; Vehicle decelerates without driver input; Inability to accelerate beyond 20 MPH; Vehicle fails to respond when depressing accelerator
Repairs/costs cited: One instance resolved by removing extra floor mat that was blocking accelerator; software update performed on another vehicle without resolution
Stalling in motion
Engine stalls abruptly during highway driving at speed, creating dangerous loss of vehicle control. Owners report sudden stop from 60 MPH with no warning.
When: During highway driving; one owner reported issue ongoing since January 2017
Symptoms owners cite: Complete stall while driving at highway speeds; Vehicle goes from 60 MPH to stop instantaneously; Engine begins to stall and pull back; Vehicle does not respond to accelerator after stalling event
Codes mentioned: Misfire codes
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles taken to dealer for overnight testing; one owner reports dealership refused to diagnose or repair
Limp mode / speed limiting
Vehicle enters limp mode, automatically reducing speed to 50 MPH or lower without driver action. Check Engine light illuminates. Vehicle becomes unresponsive to accelerator input.
When: During highway driving; mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Check Engine light appears; Vehicle speed reduces to 50 MPH or lower without driver input; Vehicle does not respond to accelerator pedal; Vehicle stalls and pulls back; Limp mode condition persists
Codes mentioned: Misfire codes
Transmission hesitation and vibration
New vehicles exhibit intermittent hesitation, shuddering, and vibration that owners describe as feeling like a wheel out of alignment or black ice. Related to transmission behavior on hills. Dealership confirmed this is common to 2015 CRV models with no fix available at time of complaint.
When: From new; mileage under 1,000 miles reported
Symptoms owners cite: Intermittent hesitation and shuddering; Vibration described as wheel out of alignment; Vibration at traffic lights; Transmission shifts erratically on hills (downshifts, then upshifts); Lack of power when backing up
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service advisor confirmed all 2015 CRV models have this issue with no fix available
Engine surge while braking
Engine races to high RPM when braking on hills or during normal braking operations, creating noise and feeling of loss of control. One owner experienced engine racing uncontrollably with motion apparently seized.
When: While braking on hills and in normal braking situations; early in vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Extremely high rev/engine race when braking; Incredible engine noise; Engine rev out of control; Engine surges and pulses around 4000 RPM
Start-up failures
Vehicle fails to start or cranks without starting despite battery being functional. Lights illuminate but engine does not turn over.
When: Ongoing issue for one owner since January 2017; no mileage specified
Symptoms owners cite: Lights come on but engine does not crank; Car does not start up; Failure to start despite new battery
Repairs/costs cited: New battery installed; dealership refused to diagnose further
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Engine accelerates automatically while leg on brake, which happened at stop light and then at home while parking.
Had cruise control trouble with your 2015 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 cruise control problem on the 2015 Honda CR-V?
It's a meaningful issue. 15 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 8,000 and 28,000 miles, with the median around 22,200. A quarter of owners report trouble before 8,000; a quarter make it past 28,000. 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 $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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/2015/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.