Free. Instant. No signup. Pulls recalls and complaints for your exact vehicle.
Couldn't find that VIN. Check the digits and try again.
severe Owners of the 2016 Honda CR-V have filed 54 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 35,000 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 CR-V | 65 |
| 2013 CR-V | 57 |
| 2014 CR-V | 134 |
| 2015 CR-V | 124 |
| 2016 CR-V (this page) | 54 |
| 2017 CR-V | 364 |
| 2018 CR-V | 388 |
| 2019 CR-V | 71 |
| 2020 CR-V | 26 |
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The reduced performance may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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 - When cold-starting the engine and shifting to Reverse, the engine stalls in the first 10 to 14 seconds. There is too much oil clearance between the input and stator shafts, which allows ATF to drain out of the torque converter during extend off periods. During a cold start, when the torque converter is refilled, air gets trapped in the torque converter. This applies the lock up clutch, which stalls the engine.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - There is a knocking or clicking from the engine during cold startup. The check valve in the cam chain tensioner is worn, allowing oil pressure to leak internally and the cam chain to lose tension after engine is turned off.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service bulletin - When cold-starting the engine and shifting to Reverse, the engine stalls in the first 10 to 14 seconds. There is too much oil clearance between the input and stator shafts, which allows ATF to drain out of torque converter during extend off periods. During a cold start, when the torque converter is refilled, air gets trapped in the torque converter. This applies the lock up clutch, which stalls the engine.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Servicenews article - Does the engine rattle at startup for about 1 to 3 seconds? What?s happening is the lock pin inside the VTC actuator isn?t holding the actuator properly. This lets the vane turn within the housing, causing a short rattle at startup.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Servicenews article - Does the engine rattle at startup for about 1 to 3 seconds? What?s happening is the lock pin inside the VTC actuator isn?t holding the actuator properly. This lets the vane turn within the housing, causing a short rattle at startup.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The 2016 CR-V has a persistent problem with excessive oil consumption and fuel contaminating the engine oil, sometimes appearing within the first 20,000 miles. Owners notice rising oil levels between changes, strong gasoline smell on the dipstick, and in some cases fuel visibly mixed into the crankcase. Multiple dealership oil consumption tests confirm the issue, yet Honda denies excessive consumption exists and refuses warranty coverage once the car leaves the factory warranty period. As diluted oil breaks down, it fouls spark plugs, pistons, and piston rings, leading to engine noise, rough idle, acceleration hesitation, and eventual bearing failure requiring engine teardown or full replacement ($5,000–$10,000).
Fuel pump failures cause sudden loss of power while driving—especially uphill—that forces owners into limp mode or stalling. Warning lights for check engine, power steering, and tire pressure flood the dashboard. The vehicle sometimes restarts and drives normally for weeks before failing again.
Engine stalling without warning is another complaint. Some cars stall randomly at traffic lights; others stall every time owners accelerate from a stop or after restart in the morning. Dealers cannot reproduce the fault and offer no fix.
Water pump seizures at 40,000–75,000 miles allow coolant to breach the engine block and mix with transmission fluid, triggering white smoke from the hood, smoke in the cabin, and engine seizure. No warning lights appear before failure.
Excessive vibration at 600–700 RPM idle is present from as few as 100 miles on the odometer. Motor mount replacement temporarily quiets it, but vibration returns within hours. Dealers claim this is normal 2016 behavior and offer no solution.
A handful of narratives also mention unintended acceleration, connecting rod bearing rattle, transmission neutral shift, CVT failure, gasoline fume odor in the cabin, and heater malfunctions.
Same Honda CR-V engine reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018
Engine burns oil rapidly and fuel contaminates the oil at low mileage. Owners report oil level rising between changes, strong gasoline smell on dipstick, and visible fuel in the crankcase. Multiple dealers confirm the issue but cannot repair it; Honda denies excessive consumption despite test evidence and offers no warranty coverage once out of warranty. This defect causes valve fouling, piston and ring damage, and eventual bearing failure.
When: 20,000 to 83,500 miles; issues detected at 12,000 to 38,000 miles in many cases
Symptoms owners cite: Oil level rising or diluted with fuel between changes; Strong gasoline smell on dipstick or in engine compartment; Knocking sound from engine, especially at low oil levels; Rough idling and hesitation when accelerating; Engine noise and valve rattle; Fouled spark plugs, pistons, and piston rings (found on teardown)
Codes mentioned: P0741 (oil flow monitor circuit malfunction)
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite piston ring replacement, gasket kits, spark plug replacement, fuel injector service, and full engine replacement costs ranging from $800 to $10,000. One owner reported $4,397.86 for ring/gasket/plug work, another $5,400 for piston/ring/spark plug repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers perform oil consumption tests but many deny excessive consumption despite evidence; Honda has issued Service Bulletin 12-089 for some model years and extended warranties for 2010-2011 CR-Vs and Accords to 8 years/125,000 miles for same defect; a 2013 class-action settlement extended powertrain warranty to 8 years for affected vehicles. No recall issued for 2016 model.
High-pressure fuel pump fails, causing sudden loss of engine power and limp mode, typically while accelerating or driving uphill. Engine light and multiple warning indicators (tire pressure, power steering, stability control) illuminate. Vehicle can be temporarily restarted and may operate normally until failure recurs. Similar recalls exist for 2017-2020 CR-Vs but 2016 model not included despite identical failure.
When: At various mileages up to 90,000 miles; episodes occurring on multiple occasions months apart
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of engine power and entry into limp mode; Inability to accelerate despite pressing gas pedal; Engine light illumination (sometimes delayed); Vehicle unable to maintain highway speed; Power steering warning light; Tire pressure monitoring system malfunction indicator; Vehicle stability assist warning; Temporary recovery after restart
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (codes not specified in narratives)
Repairs/costs cited: High-pressure fuel pump replacement cost over $2,800 plus $400 rental car cost cited by one owner. One dealer declined to service the vehicle due to frequency of fuel pump failures on this model.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: A recall exists for 2017-2020 CR-Vs for identical fuel pump issue, but 2016 model excluded. Honda has not acknowledged the problem for 2016 model year.
Vehicle stalls unexpectedly during normal driving, at traffic lights, after acceleration, or when braking. No warning lights illuminate in most cases. Stalling can occur multiple times in a single day or week. Vehicle may restart after several attempts or immediately. One owner reported stalling led to striking a tree during emergency braking.
When: Various mileages; occurring intermittently over months to years
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls without warning at stops; Stalling during acceleration from a stop; Stalling after vehicle restart in morning; Stalling in middle of intersection; Engine sputtering before stalling; No warning lights in most cases (some cases show check engine light after stall); Vehicle will restart after short delay
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (no specific codes provided)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner's local mechanic found no problem. Dealers unable to reproduce the issue during inspection. No repairs documented as successful.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified in most cases. Honda dealerships unable to diagnose or duplicate fault.
Vehicle accelerates without driver input on the accelerator pedal. Engine revs and vehicle speeds up even with foot off accelerator. Brake pedal application does not stop acceleration. Vehicle can be stopped by shifting to park and restarting engine.
When: Approximately 90,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates without driver depressing accelerator; Engine continues to rev even after shift to park; RPM rising uncontrollably; Brake pedal ineffective at stopping acceleration; No warning lights illuminated; Temporary resolution after restart
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not taken to dealer or mechanic; no diagnosis or repair performed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not informed of failure.
Excessive vibration at idle speed around 600-700 RPM when vehicle is in drive or park. Vibration is present from early ownership (as low as 100 miles) and persists even after motor mount replacement. Vibration can cause driver dizziness and discomfort. Dealer states this is normal behavior for 2016 CR-V but offers no solution.
When: From as early as 100 miles on odometer; continuing to 78,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Severe vibration throughout vehicle at idle; Vibration at 600-700 RPM in drive or park; Vibration stops when RPM increased above 700; Dizziness and inability to continue driving due to vibration; Recurs immediately after motor mount replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Motor mount replacement attempted; vibration returned within 14 hours. Unknown part also replaced; failure recurred. One dealer unable to duplicate issue on first visit.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One dealer states all 2016 CR-Vs idle at 600 RPM and this is normal; no solution offered. Honda claims to have fixed this issue per one complaint, but vibration persists.
Water pump seizes or develops pinhole leak, causing coolant to mix with transmission fluid, overheat drive belt, and trigger catastrophic engine damage. Coolant breach into cylinders can cause engine seizure. Failure occurs at relatively low mileage with no advance warning.
When: 38,000 to 74,879 miles
Symptoms owners cite: White smoke from under hood progressing to thick gray smoke; Smoke entering cabin; Vehicle stalls without warning; Coolant mixed with CVT transmission fluid; Thick gray smoke from engine compartment; Fumes from AC vent; All warning lights flash on dashboard; Vehicle will not start after stall; Gasoline smell from failed cooling system
Repairs/costs cited: Water pump replacement performed in one case. Engine replacement quoted at $10,000 for new engine or $3,000-$4,000 for used engine of similar mileage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified and case number provided in one instance; no additional assistance provided beyond case number. No recall or warranty extension offered.
Engine hesitates or stutters during acceleration, requiring prolonged throttle input to build speed. Hesitation occurs after turns, during traffic acceleration, or immediately after starting vehicle. Vehicle feels 'choked' and jerky during acceleration events.
When: Various mileages; one remanufactured transmission issue at 20,000 miles; fuel pump issues recurring from 50 MPH onward
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation when pressing accelerator; Delay of several seconds before acceleration begins; Stuttering and jerky acceleration response; Vehicle feels 'choked' and constricted; Loss of smoothness after turns; Prolonged throttle input required to accelerate; Body lurches forward and backward with speed changes
Codes mentioned: P0741 (in transmission-related case)
Repairs/costs cited: Remanufactured transmission replacement did not resolve hesitation issue (one case). Fuel tank replacement attempted in another case without resolution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Remanufactured transmission installed instead of new unit. No fix identified or offered for hesitation issues.
Engine produces loud rattling noise from inside, consistent with connecting rod bearing failure. Noise is audible on startup and during driving. Owners report recall exists for certain 2016 Hondas with same noise but their vehicle excluded. No preventive repair or recall issued.
When: Present from ownership; mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Loud rattling noise from engine on startup; Rattling noise during driving; Noise consistent with connecting rod bearing failure
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs performed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall exists for certain 2016 Hondas for connecting rod bearing noise but specific vehicle not included. No explanation provided for exclusion.
Strong gasoline or fuel vapor smell enters cabin while driving or parked in garage. Smell is persistent and unpleasant, similar to gasoline fumes from a lawnmower. Odor present from early ownership and continues despite dealer visits. No fix available per dealer; owners report fire and health hazard concerns.
When: As early as 12,000 miles; reported from November 2016 onward
Symptoms owners cite: Strong gasoline smell in cabin while driving; Gasoline odor when car parked in garage overnight; Persistent unpleasant fuel vapor smell; Smell intensifies with vehicle running or during acceleration; Noxious fumes causing headaches and lightheadedness (in some cases)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer confirmed issue but stated no repair available (2017). Owners cite possible oil pan issue from forums but unconfirmed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda dealership confirmed awareness of problem but stated no fix available. Honda America insists fuel smell is normal. Honda initially denied awareness in some cases. Class-action lawsuit mentioned for this issue but availability restricted by state.
CVT transmission fails completely or partially, limiting vehicle speed to under 30 MPH and causing stalling at traffic lights. Failure prevents normal acceleration and creates safety hazard of rear-end collision. Matches Honda Service Bulletin 16-053 from September 2016.
When: 94,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission limited to under 30 MPH; Near stalling at traffic lights and stop signs; Complete transmission failure; Loss of normal acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Complete transmission replacement at 94,000 miles cost $5,700.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda Service Bulletin 16-053 dated September 9, 2016 addresses CVT failure. Owner did not receive recall notice.
Transmission suddenly shifts to neutral (N-gear) during forward motion, causing vehicle to decelerate abruptly and oil pan to crack. Dealer denies transmission can shift unexpectedly.
When: August 2018 at low mileage in early ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission suddenly shifts to neutral during forward motion; Abrupt deceleration due to loss of power; Oil pan cracked
Repairs/costs cited: Oil pan repair cost $469.89; owner charged despite dealer dismissing the complaint.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer rejected owner's claim that transmission could shift unexpectedly and refused to cover repair.
Synthesized from 54 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
Honda crv has this vibration when I stop for a red light.
It's a meaningful issue. 54 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
Across the 26 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 13,000 and 72,100 miles, with the median around 35,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 13,000; a quarter make it past 72,100. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
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.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover engine issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.