The contact owns a 2015 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving 60-65 MPH, the vehicle started stalling. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the battery had failed. The contact stated that the…
2015 Honda CR-V engine problems
moderate 124 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
124
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
2crashes
2fires
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 124 engine complaints filed for the 2015 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
Owners have filed 124 engine 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.
Engine accounts for 19% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 12 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: A 2015 CR-V carries documented risk of stalling without warning (including highway stalls), severe vibration at idle that Honda acknowledges but won't fix, excessive oil consumption, and a history of connecting rod bolt defects that caused engine failure and at least one vehicle fire. Multiple engine issues remain unresolved across high mileage; budget for potential engine replacement out of warranty.
The 2015 CR-V engine cluster shows serious, persistent failures across multiple systems. Stalling occurs without warning at stops and highway speeds, sometimes requiring multiple restart attempts. One owner was hit head-on after stalling on a highway; another's engine caught fire at 73,000 miles. A 2015 recall (15V121000) addressed improperly torqued connecting rod bolts causing oil loss and stalling, but many owners report their VINs were excluded or the recall didn't reach them in time.
Excessive vibration at idle plagues this generation. Occurring around 500–600 RPM when stopped in Drive, the shaking is severe enough to cause eye strain, nausea, and headaches. Dealers openly state no fix exists and the issue is "deemed acceptable," even as the problem spread across thousands of vehicles. Software updates and mechanical repairs (valve gaskets, coils, spark plugs, throttle cleaning) failed repeatedly.
Oil consumption is abnormal—one owner documented 1 quart per 1000 miles, which Honda considers acceptable policy but exceeds industry norms. Another confirmed high gasoline contamination in oil via lab testing. Rapid oil depletion can mandate engine replacement, costing $7,500+ out of pocket.
Power loss during acceleration, cylinder misfiring, difficult cold starts, wiring harness melting, and rough idle appear across complaints. Dealers frequently cannot diagnose root causes or offer repairs. Honda's corporate response has been unresponsive or dismissive, leaving owners stuck with vehicles they cannot safely rely on.
Failure modes owners describe
Engine stalling without warning
Engine stalls while driving at various speeds or stopped at traffic lights, sometimes repeatedly. No warning lights in some cases. Vehicle may require multiple restart attempts. Owner in complaint #1 was hit head-on after stalling on highway.
When: Occurs intermittently during driving or at stops; some owners report it happening at highway speeds, some at traffic lights
Symptoms owners cite: Engine loss of power and stall; No warning lights on dashboard in some cases; Multiple restart attempts required; Vehicle deceleration without warning
Repairs/costs cited: Recall 15V121000 issued for improperly torqued connecting rod bolts; full engine short-block replacement recommended. One owner had used engine installed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 15V121000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) - recall issued March 27, 2015 for vehicles built Sept 9, 2014 to Feb 6, 2015 to replace engine short block due to improper connecting rod bolt torque. Some owners report recall not applied to their VIN or timing missed recall window.
Rough idle and excessive vibration at stops
Engine vibrates severely when stopped with vehicle in Drive gear, especially pronounced between 500-600 RPM. Vibration decreases or stops when engine load increases (AC on, lights on, or vehicle in Neutral). Vibration is felt throughout cabin and steering wheel.
When: Occurs when engine warm (5-15 minutes) at complete stop in Drive, RPM 500-600 range. Worsens with electrical load removed. Multiple owners report issue from day of purchase or within first few hundred miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Violent shaking at idle stop, particularly when RPM drops to 500-600 range; Eye strain and difficulty focusing from vibration intensity; Vibration throughout cabin, seats, and steering wheel; Nausea and headaches reported by passengers; Cyclical vibration when light electrical load applied to engine; Vibration decreases when AC or lights turned on
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership service advisors told customers no authorized corrective repair exists. One owner paid $260-$820 across multiple shops for valve gasket replacement, coil and spark plug replacement, throttle body cleaning, and computer updates—all without resolution. PCM and TCM software updates attempted by dealers with no improvement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No official recall issued for vibration. Dealers acknowledge problem is known and widespread but state no fix available. One service manager stated the problem is 'deemed acceptable.' Honda made video acknowledgment in April per one complaint. One owner provided email from Honda acknowledging problem with no resolution offered.
Loss of engine power and acceleration hesitation
Engine loses power without warning during acceleration or highway driving. Hesitation when depressing accelerator, vehicle almost stalls in traffic. Acceleration delays cause dangerous lane-change situations where following vehicles close rapidly. Some owners report 'sleep mode' where car loses acceleration power for seconds.
When: Occurs at various speeds and during acceleration; one owner reports happening multiple times during normal driving, on interstate, and pulling from stop signs
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of motive power while driving; No acceleration response when pedal depressed; Vehicle hesitation before responding to throttle; Almost-stalling in traffic; Loud revving with no response from vehicle; Multiple warning lights illuminated in some cases
Codes mentioned: Crank shaft position sensor fault (CKP)
Repairs/costs cited: CKP sensor replacement performed on one vehicle; failure recurred. Another owner reports multiple repairs attempted (spark plugs, injectors, starter, oil change) with no resolution. One owner references recall 17V305000 but vehicle not included under it.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 17V305000 referenced by owners for reduced engine performance. Technical Service Bulletin 16-011 (CKP sensor no signal and engine wire harness) cited by one owner. Multiple owners report dealer unable to determine cause or no repair available.
Excessive oil consumption and low oil level
Engine consumes oil at abnormally high rate. Oil level drops rapidly between service intervals, requiring multiple quarts of top-up. No visible oil leaks found. One owner reports oil-gasoline mixture and confirmation of high gasoline levels in oil via Blackstone Labs testing.
When: Observed around 80K miles in one case; another owner at 128K miles found engine 3 quarts low; issues span from ~80K to 128K+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Oil warning light illuminates; Rapid oil level drop between changes; Engine runs rough before oil added; High gasoline contamination in oil (confirmed by lab); Oil dipstick rising over weeks; Potential oil sludge formation in cold weather conditions
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers recommend oil consumption test (1000-mile intervals); test results of 1 quart/1000 miles deemed 'acceptable' by Honda standard per one owner. One owner faced $7,527.72 out-of-pocket engine replacement cost due to oil issue beyond warranty. Another owner installed used engine after original catastrophic failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer states 1 quart per 1000 miles is within Honda policy standards. Honda declined to cover or acknowledge issue in multiple cases. One owner reports Honda showed no interest when informed of consumption problem.
Engine overheating and failure to warm up
Engine fails to warm up to operating temperature during driving. Thermostat issues suspected. In one case, engine failed to warm up at various speeds multiple times over repeat dealer visits.
When: Mileage 6,900 miles at first occurrence
Symptoms owners cite: Engine fails to reach warm operating temperature; Condition occurs at various driving speeds; Failure recurs after thermostat replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Thermostat replacement performed, failure recurred. Vehicle kept at dealer for two days on third visit with no diagnosis or repair completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware of failure; no documented resolution.
Cylinder misfiring and spark/fuel system issues
Engine misfires with multiple warning lights illuminated. Cylinder #3 reported leaking air. Vehicle backfires during cold starts and struggles to start. Abnormal gasoline odor reported.
When: Recurring at approximately 169,000 miles in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Multiple unknown warning lights illuminated; Cylinder #3 misfiring with air leak; Backfiring during cold starts; Multiple restart attempts required; Abnormal gasoline odor through vents; Vehicle speed capped at 15 MPH after power loss
Codes mentioned: Cylinder #3 misfire detected
Repairs/costs cited: Spark plugs and valve adjustment performed; injector replacement recommended but not completed by one dealer. Another owner had complete fuel pump failure on highway requiring replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Technical Service Bulletin 16-011 (CKP sensor and engine wire harness) referenced. TSB related to similar issues but vehicle still experienced recurrence.
Engine wiring harness melting and electrical faults
Engine wiring harness melted and frayed, causing multiple blown fuses in succession. When replaced, fuses continue to blow. Vehicle dead battery despite new battery, inability to start, brake lights stuck on.
When: Issue discovered after parking vehicle; multiple fuse failures followed
Symptoms owners cite: Melted and frayed wiring harness; Multiple sequential fuse failures in engine compartment and under-dash; Vehicle battery drain and dead battery; Brake lights malfunction (unable to turn off); Sluggish performance when leaving garage (transient issue that resolved)
Repairs/costs cited: Engine wiring harness replaced at Honda dealer. Two independent garages unable to determine root cause before diagnosis made.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No documented response; issue resolved by dealer harness replacement.
Engine fire during operation
Engine caught fire while vehicle was driving (turning into parking lot). White smoke then black smoke and flames emitted from engine. Fire department called to extinguish fire. Vehicle destroyed.
When: At 73,000 miles, while driving up an incline after right turn into parking lot
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shut off without warning while driving; White smoke from hood; Flames and black smoke from engine; Vehicle destroyed by fire
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed; no repair possible.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but offered no assistance. Owner linked failure to NHTSA Campaign 15V121000 (Engine and Engine Cooling).
Burning rubber odor from engine
Burning rubber odor emanates from inside vehicle at engine start. Odor strong enough to cause medical distress in one owner.
When: Observed at 30,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Burning rubber smell inside vehicle upon start; Odor severe enough to cause anaphylactic shock in one owner; Medical attention required
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer could not determine cause. Dealer applied interior dressing after recall repair despite owner requesting engine/exterior recall only.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified in initial complaint.
Difficult starting and multiple restart attempts required
Vehicle requires numerous attempts to start, particularly in winter or cold conditions. Issue described as widespread problem affecting thousands of Honda owners per one complaint.
When: Intermittent issue; one owner reports 4-month duration; another notes correlation with hot weather
Symptoms owners cite: Multiple restart attempts needed to start engine; Intermittent starting failure; Hesitation before engine cranks; Battery replaced but issue persists; Safety concern noted in cold weather or when away from home
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports typical repair costs $600-$1,000 cited online. Battery replacement performed in one case without resolution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda customer service reported unhelpful and unresponsive per one owner.
Carbon buildup on intake valves and bent valves
Significant carbon buildup accumulated on intake valves and bent valves discovered during cylinder head inspection. Occurs despite owner following all manufacturer maintenance schedules and using top-tier gasoline.
When: At 89,000 miles during loss of acceleration event
Symptoms owners cite: Misfiring; Major loss of acceleration while driving uphill; Bent intake valves detected upon inspection
Repairs/costs cited: Cylinder head and fuel injectors replaced under manufacturer's extended warranty after initial denial.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended warranty initially denied due to carbon buildup on GDI engine despite no scheduled intake cleaning in maintenance. Eventually covered under warranty after dispute.
VTC (Variable Timing Control) actuator issues
VTC actuator failures in 2.4L engines cause rough idle, lack of power, or stalling. System relies on proper oil pressure for continuous intake valve timing adjustments. When VTC system fails, valve timing becomes fixed (non-variable).
When: Issue common across 2011-2016 Honda engines with 2.4L displacement; one owner notes out-of-warranty refusal despite manufacturing defect
Symptoms owners cite: Rough idle; Loss of engine power; Stalling episodes; Check engine light illumination (potential)
Codes mentioned: VTC system control disabled
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reports Honda unable or unwilling to repair out of warranty; states Honda resolved issue in 2017 models onward.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued for 2015 model. Dealer refuses repair claiming out of warranty. Owner reports Honda corporate customer service hangs up calls regarding issue.
Transmission slipping and CVT system issues
Transmission slips gears during operation. Rough idle and rough gear changes reported. Vehicle stalls on incline while driving, creating dangerous situation.
When: August 2021 and February 2022 occurrences on same vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission gear slipping; Rough idling; Extremely rough gear changes; Vehicle stalling on incline while driving; Unsafe acceleration behavior
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented in complaint.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented.
Synthesized from 124 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
The contact owns a 2015 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50-60 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. On several occasions the contact was able to depress the accelerator pedal several times and regain forward motive power. The contact stated that other times the vehicle was coasted to the side of the roadway and restarted several times before regaining motive…
Honda cr-v vibrates on acceleration from stop to turning right on city street causing driver to rattle/panic and cause the accident.needs help to complain to Honda,any legal advice?
I noticed some vibration on the front seats of the car when I am at the stop sign an my car is in the drive mode (d) with my foot on the brake paddle. There is vibration when the car is in idle mod and this is very annoying,
Had engine 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 engine problem on the 2015 Honda CR-V?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 124 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 54 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 13,000 and 76,263 miles, with the median around 36,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 13,000; a quarter make it past 76,263. 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/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.