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 ↗2016 Honda CR-V cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2016 Honda CR-V have filed 21 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 13,360 miles at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 CR-V | 10 |
| 2013 CR-V | 19 |
| 2014 CR-V | 24 |
| 2015 CR-V | 15 |
| 2016 CR-V (this page) | 21 |
| 2017 CR-V | 28 |
| 2018 CR-V | 43 |
| 2019 CR-V | 12 |
| 2020 CR-V | 8 |
11crashes
4injuries
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.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2016 Honda CR-Vs describe a clear pattern of acceleration and throttle problems across a 21-complaint cluster. The most serious issue is unintended acceleration at low speeds—vehicle surges forward with the driver's foot on the brake, often during parking or stop-and-go traffic. Multiple owners report crashes from this problem: hitting garage doors, trees, store windows, and landscape timber, with some sustaining injuries. These incidents occur early in vehicle life (as low as 3,000 miles) and continue through higher mileage.
A separate group of owners report the opposite problem: severe hesitation and dead-pedal feel when accelerating from a stop or in traffic, where the engine doesn't respond for several seconds, then lurches forward. One owner identified a throttle position sensor failure at 43,000 miles; others had the same experience but dealers couldn't diagnose the issue.
Highway cruise control presents another hazard—one owner's CR-V accelerated from 65 to 80 mph unexpectedly while engaged. Engine stalling at highway speeds (spontaneous downshift from 75 to 0 mph) also appears.
A design complaint surfaces: the brake and gas pedals are only 2.5 inches apart, causing foot confusion and unintended acceleration. One additional concern: when the vehicle stalls or decelerates on its own, brake lights don't illuminate because the driver isn't pressing the brake pedal, leaving following traffic unaware.
Dealers consistently report inability to replicate these failures or find diagnostic codes. Honda has not issued a recall, though one owner referenced NHTSA campaign 17V305000 (Engine).
Same Honda CR-V cruise control reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration at low speeds
Vehicle accelerates without driver input when stopped or moving slowly (under 30 mph), often while braking or attempting to park. Multiple owners report the accelerator appears to engage on its own despite foot on brake pedal.
When: 3,000 to 49,000 miles; occurs from initial purchase through higher mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden acceleration when braking or at stop; Vehicle surges forward without warning; Occurs during parking maneuvers; No warning lights in most cases; Brake pedal depressed but acceleration occurs anyway; Intermittent occurrence makes diagnosis difficult
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to replicate issue; some report brakes check out OK; throttle position sensor failure identified in one case (43,000 miles)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA campaign 17V305000 (Engine) referenced by one owner; case opened but no recalls issued despite owner complaints
Cruise control malfunction and sudden acceleration
Vehicle accelerates unexpectedly while cruise control is engaged at highway speeds (65-75 mph). Owner disengages cruise control to stop the acceleration, reaching 80 mph before regaining control.
When: 20,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden acceleration at 65-75 mph with cruise control on; No warning lights illuminated; Vehicle accelerates from 65 to 80 mph uncontrollably; Owner verifies hands and feet not causing issue
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to find error code or replicate problem
Engine stalling and loss of power
Vehicle stalls suddenly while cruising at highway speeds or hesitates severely during acceleration. In one case, vehicle downshifted spontaneously from 75 mph to 0, then stalled.
When: 20,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls while cruise control engaged at 75 mph; Spontaneous downshift from 75 to 0 mph; Engine hesitation during acceleration from stop; Vehicle almost stalls when accelerating in traffic; Engine fails to respond when accelerator pressed; No warning lights
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to duplicate failure; not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer contacted; reference to NHTSA campaign 17V305000 (Engine)
Throttle lag and hesitation during acceleration
Vehicle exhibits dead-pedal feel with several seconds delay before accelerating, or severe hesitation when accelerating from stop or low speeds. Owner describes it as engine not catching up.
When: 4,000 to 43,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Several second delay after pressing accelerator before vehicle responds; Dead accelerator pedal feel; Hesitation when accelerating from 30-50 mph; Engine cannot catch up to driver input; Stalling sensation during acceleration; Vehicle then lurches forward unpredictably
Codes mentioned: Throttle position sensor failure (per dealer diagnosis at 43,000 miles)
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer identified throttle position sensor failure; other instances not diagnosed or repaired by dealerships
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer awareness noted in one case
Brake and gas pedal spacing causing accidental acceleration
Pedals positioned only 2.5 inches apart, causing driver's foot to get tangled between brake and gas pedals. When attempting to brake, foot becomes pinned or slips to accelerator, causing unintended acceleration.
When: Ongoing issue from purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Foot tangled between brake and gas pedals; Foot pinned under brake pedal; Car idles at 5 mph and continues forward when foot removed from brake; Close pedal spacing (2.5 inches) makes correct pedal selection difficult
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reports avoiding crashes due to this design issue; no repair mentioned
No brake light warning during deceleration or stalling
When vehicle stalls or decelerates unexpectedly without driver braking, brake lights do not illuminate to warn following traffic. This creates additional hazard as other drivers are unaware of the vehicle slowing down.
When: Early in ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Brake lights do not illuminate when vehicle slows down unexpectedly; No warning to following traffic during stalling event; Deceleration without brake pedal application produces no brake light signal
Synthesized from 21 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2016 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 2016 Honda CR-V?
It's a meaningful issue. 21 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 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 4,000 and 20,000 miles, with the median around 13,360. A quarter of owners report trouble before 4,000; a quarter make it past 20,000. 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/2016/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.