Dealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is investigating certain 2012-2016 CR-Vs with a customer complaint of the front wiper motor inop completely or inop on certain speed setting. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Honda CR-V visibility problems
moderate 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $350 · see visibility across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
What stands out
No new NHTSA visibility complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 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 visibility 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.
Dealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is investigating certain 2012-2016 CR-Vs with a customer complaint of the front wiper motor inop completely or inop on certain speed setting. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is investigating certain 2012-2016 CR-Vs with a customer complaint of the front wiper motor inop completely or inop on certain speed setting. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Fog Light Lenses look melted or discoloredf?- All models with fog lights affected vehicles
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe two distinct glass problems on the 2016 CR-V: one affecting the windshield and sunroof in sudden, catastrophic failures, and another involving rear windows shattering without impact. Five separate complaints detail rear windows imploding or exploding inward—either while parked in driveways or while driving at highway speeds—with no evidence of collision. One vehicle was only 6 months old with under 10,000 miles when the rear window shattered at 70 mph. Two owners report sunroof glass exploding during highway driving, with one at 55 mph and another at 65 mph; a third describes sunroof explosion while parking. Owners note insurance companies have seen this pattern repeatedly. Windshield durability is a separate concern: one owner reports three consecutive CR-V models (2010, 2013, 2016) chipped easily from road debris, with repairs causing cracks to spread. Wiper issues are reported by two owners—both experiencing sudden stoppage during rain with restoration only after vehicle restart. Dealerships consistently report inability to replicate wiper faults and refuse further diagnostics. A fifth issue concerns wiper blade design: owners note a 1.5-inch blind spot at the windshield bottom, confirmed by Honda as intentional. Glass failures fall outside warranty coverage, forcing owners toward insurance or out-of-pocket repair.
Same Honda CR-V visibility reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Wiper system intermittent failure/stoppage
Front windshield wipers stop working without warning during or intermittently while in use, often in rain. Vehicle restart restores function. Dealerships unable to replicate the malfunction and refuse to authorize diagnostics.
When: While driving in rain; failure occurs intermittently. One case at 96,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Wipers disengage and stop mid-operation; No response to wiper control adjustments (speed changes, intermittent settings); No response to wiper fluid spray attempt; Full function returns after vehicle restart
Repairs/costs cited: Honda dealers and manufacturer refuse to authorize repair due to inability to replicate malfunction during inspection. Case #09402884 filed with American Honda.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: American Honda case #09402884 filed; dealership denies authorization due to inability to replicate.
Windshield chips and cracks from road debris
OEM windshield chips easily from small stones or pebbles during highway driving. Initial repair attempts cause cracks to spread, necessitating full replacement. Owner reports three consecutive Honda CR-V models (2010, 2013, 2016) experienced this issue.
When: During highway driving when struck by road debris; no specific mileage provided.
Symptoms owners cite: Windshield chips easily from small stone or pebble impact; Chips spread into cracks even during repair attempts; Full windshield replacement required; Replacement with PPG OEM observed to be more durable
Repairs/costs cited: Safelite repair attempt failed; crack spread during repair. Replacement windshield (PPG OEM) cost approximately $300 through Norman's Glass in Burlington, NJ.
Sunroof spontaneous glass explosion
Sunroof glass explodes outward suddenly during highway driving with no external impact. Owners report loud popping sound and glass shattering. One case occurred while vehicle was parked. Internal sunroof cover may jam closed after failure.
When: While driving at 55-65 mph on highway; one case at 38,954 miles. Also reported while parked.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loud explosion or pop sound; Glass shatters and showers into vehicle; No external impact or collision; Internal sunroof cover may stick closed; Glass continues to crack after explosion; One incident reported while vehicle parked (no driving involved)
Repairs/costs cited: Glass company replacement performed in at least one case. Tiger Honda dealership contacted but no repair completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware in at least one case. Insurance company reported seeing this issue multiple times.
Rear window spontaneous shattering
Rear side window shatters without warning or external impact while vehicle is parked or driving. Window implodes inward (when driving) or explodes outward. No pre-existing damage noted. Occurs across multiple vehicles and appears to be a pattern.
When: While parked in driveway overnight; while driving at 70 mph on interstate; at unknown mileage. One vehicle only 6 months old with under 10k miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Rear window suddenly shatters without impact or collision; Window previously undamaged with no cracks or chips; Glass implodes into interior of vehicle when driving; Occurs while parked with no one touching vehicle; Abundant small glass shards throughout rear seat/floor area
Repairs/costs cited: Safelite replacement cost $250. Honda warranty does not cover glass failure. Insurance deductible ($500) exceeds repair cost, leaving owner without coverage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda warranty explicitly does not cover the failure. No recall issued. Honda directs owners to insurance company.
Windshield wiper blade insufficient clearance/visibility
Wiper blades stop approximately 1.5 inches from the windshield edge, leaving a blind spot at the bottom of the windshield during driving. This is design specification per Honda and dealer.
When: During driving; design characteristic present throughout vehicle life.
Symptoms owners cite: Large blind spot at bottom edge of windshield; Wipers do not clear full windshield area; Reduced visibility when driving
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda dealer and manufacturer state this is intentional design specification for the 2016 CR-V.
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Honda cr-v. The contact stated that while pulling the vehicle into the garage, the contact heard an abnormal sound prior to the rear windshield shattering without impact. The contact stated that recently the same rear windshield had shattered after the vehicle had being parked for several hours. The contact was concerned that the two events were related in the…
Had visibility 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 visibility problem on the 2016 Honda CR-V?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $350 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the visibility typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, visibility issues most often appear around 28,386 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $350 for visibility 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 visibility?
No active recalls currently cover visibility 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.