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The 2016 Honda CR-V has 1 critical safety recall on file — the kind NHTSA opens when crashes, fires, or injuries are documented. 392 owner complaints alongside. Read those first.
The 2016 Honda CR-V has 392 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). The most-reported system is electrical at 59 complaints (~$850 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 CR-V | 381 | 2 |
| 2014 CR-V | 587 | 1 |
| 2015 CR-V | 670 | 3 |
| 2016 CR-V (this page) | 392 | 3 |
| 2017 CR-V | 1,762 | 7 |
| 2018 CR-V | 2,133 | 5 |
| 2019 CR-V | 1,091 | 8 |
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open.
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.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: electrical is flagged severe on this model . Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 3 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 6.2/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
OEM battery failures. Car would not start. Stopped on city street. Safety issue. Failed at home too. Manufacturer defect.
Vehicle was sitting idle at a stop light, after being driven for approximately 15 minutes at speeds ranging from 25-50mph. The instrument panel flashed, then went dark, though the vehicle was still running with no other issues immediately noted. Driver pulled into a parking…
Takata recall. I hace problems. I notice the air bag no working. Ligths are off all the time. I am a driver for uber. When im driving the light is off. Turn off. I dont know what happen in case of an accident. I am very worried. Please contact me. I prefer talk in spanish.
Unknown electrical problem. Both headlights will go out simultaneously without warning while driving. Frequent malfunction of running lamps, headlamps, break lamps.
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The reduced performance may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.2 out of 10 based on 392 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Honda CR-V has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
The 2016 Honda CR-V is a higher-risk ownership prospect. Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open. The record behind that call: Electrical system: 59 complaints, classified severe; Engine: 55 complaints, classified severe; Reliability score 6.2/10 — around the segment average; 3 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the electrical first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 59 owner complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 6.2 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 392 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is electrical. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is electrical, with 59 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop.
The electrical is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
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.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 392 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $850, 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.