Service Bulletin - The ACC system error message comes on while driving when outside temperatures are low/near freezing due to snow and ice getting stuck to the front of the millimeter wave radar. This can cause DTC P2583-76 (Temporary stop of Integrated Driver Support System [Misalignment Millimeter Wave Radar]) to be stored.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Honda CR-V cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2018 Honda CR-V have filed 43 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 16,150 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
43
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 CR-V | 24 |
| 2015 CR-V | 15 |
| 2016 CR-V | 21 |
| 2017 CR-V | 28 |
| 2018 CR-V (this page) | 43 |
| 2019 CR-V | 12 |
| 2020 CR-V | 8 |
| 2021 CR-V | 3 |
| 2022 CR-V | 4 |
3crashes
2injuries
What stands out
Of the 22 model years of Honda CR-V we track for cruise control problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 43.
Owners have filed 43 cruise control 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.
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.
Service News - If an Adaptive Cruise Control System Problem comes back on when the vehicle is driven in freezing conditions, inform the customer it is likely due to snow or ice buildup on the radar. Advise the customer of the following procedure to clean the front grille where the radar is located.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2018 CR-V's Honda Sensing suite of safety systems—adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking, and lane-keeping assist—generates the most complaints. Owners report sudden, hard braking at highway and city speeds (30–70 mph) with no obstacle in front, triggered by road conditions like metal plates, shadows, rumble strips, or passing trucks. Multiple owners describe near-misses and the terror of unexpected deceleration.
Separate from braking issues, owners report unintended sudden acceleration—engine revving to 3000–8000 rpm with foot off the gas, sometimes with brakes held, resulting in crashes into walls and trees. Dealers cannot reproduce or diagnose either symptom.
Engine stalling and loss of power during acceleration plague some owners; check engine lights come on, misfire codes appear, and spark plugs and coils require repeated replacement. One owner was quoted $2,700 for a turbo replacement and another $16,000 for engine replacement.
Gasoline contaminating engine oil is documented in at least one low-mileage vehicle (14,700 miles), with the dealer dismissing the owner's concern. Multiple electrical failures appear—dashboard warning lights cycling endlessly, Body Control Module requiring replacement with unavailable parts, and systems working intermittently or not at all. Dealers consistently tell owners no codes are present or problems cannot be replicated.
Same Honda CR-V cruise control reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Unwanted Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) activation
Brake system activates abruptly without an obstacle present. Owners report sudden hard braking while on highways and city roads, often at speeds ranging from 30–70 mph. Incidents triggered by road conditions (metal plates, shadows, wet pavement, rumble strips), distant headlights, passing large trucks, or no identifiable cause. System engages multiple times on single trips or repeatedly over months.
When: Various speeds (30–70 mph), typically on highways and city streets; can occur at any point during vehicle operation
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden hard braking without obstacle in front of vehicle; Brake warning light and beeping alerts with no traffic nearby; Loss of vehicle control or near-accident situations; Abrupt deceleration while cruise control engaged; Cruise control drops out unexpectedly when passing trucks; Lane-keeping assist system interferes with cruise control
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to replicate issues or find sensor faults; no repairs completed. One owner disabled all safety systems to avoid further incidents.
Unintended sudden acceleration
Engine suddenly revs and vehicle accelerates without driver input on accelerator. Incidents occur at low speeds (in driveways, parking lots, at stop signs) and higher speeds. Brake pedal pressed or foot on brake only; no driver contact with gas pedal. In some cases, brakes do not hold vehicle. Airbags deployed in at least two crashes.
When: Low-speed situations (driveways, parking, ~5 mph) and during normal driving; some incidents at stop signs and when coming to halt
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs to 3000–8000 RPM unexpectedly; Vehicle propels forward despite brake application; Vehicle accelerates when cruise control button accidentally or intentionally activated at low speed; Accelerator pedal not depressed but vehicle accelerates; Vehicle crashes into obstacles (garage wall, tree, concrete wall); Airbags deploy
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to reproduce or identify problems on inspection. No repairs completed. Two crashes resulted in property damage and injury.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Case opened with manufacturer in at least one incident.
Engine stalling and loss of power during acceleration
Engine stalls or loses power while accelerating, particularly on highways and during merging. Check engine light illuminates (blinking in some cases). Vehicle enters limp mode, preventing full acceleration. May occur multiple times or intermittently. Associated with misfire codes and suspected turbo or fuel injection issues.
When: During acceleration, highway driving, and merging; can occur on cold startup or after being parked
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls during acceleration; Loss of power preventing vehicle acceleration; Check engine light (blinking or steady); Vehicle shaking on startup; Stuttering sensation when accelerating; Engine feels like it wants to shut off; Vehicle enters limp mode
Codes mentioned: Misfire codes, Turbo issue codes
Repairs/costs cited: Spark plugs and coils replaced multiple times without permanent fix. Fuel injectors replaced. Turbo replacement quoted at $2,700. Owner reports this is a common problem. One dealer unable to provide solution.
Gasoline contamination of engine oil
Fuel leaks into engine oil compartment, contaminating oil with gasoline. Strong gasoline smell present in oil fill area. Oil dipstick shows thin, watery, blackish-colored oil (gasoline mixed with oil). Occurs early in vehicle operation (~14,700 miles). Associated with power reduction warnings and acceleration inability.
When: Low mileage (~14,700 miles); occurred after 7–10 minutes of driving on highway
Symptoms owners cite: Strong gasoline smell in engine oil compartment; Gasoline leaks into oil fill area; Oil appears thin, watery, blackish color; Power Reduced – Power Grille Problem warning on display; Vehicle cannot accelerate to normal speed; Warning clears after stopping for 5–10 minutes, then reappears
Repairs/costs cited: Owner asked dealer to check dipstick to confirm gasoline contamination; dealer refused. Dealer claimed gasoline smell is normal from combustion. No repair attempted. Recently changed synthetic oil (90% remaining) was contaminated.
Multiple electrical and safety system failures (Body Control Module malfunction)
Multiple dashboard warning lights and error messages appear simultaneously, including VSA, Hill Start Assist, ACC, Collision Mitigation, Road Departure Mitigation, Power Steering (EPS), Electric Parking Brake, Emissions, and Brake System alerts. Systems fail to respond or work intermittently. Associated with Body Control Module (BCM) failure requiring replacement. Electrical reboot temporarily clears errors but failures persist.
When: Occurs suddenly while driving (one case during spouse's normal driving); errors remain persistent across multiple restart attempts
Symptoms owners cite: Multiple simultaneous warning lights on dashboard; All or most safety systems show error messages; Cannot use cruise control, lane-keep assist, or brake hold; Vehicle harder to control, handling changes; Systems work intermittently or not at all; Warning lamps and messages persistent and recurring; Chiming alerts cycling through dashboard for extended periods
Repairs/costs cited: Electrical system reboot in accessory mode temporarily resolved one case but errors returned. BCM replacement part (Honda PN: 38809-TMM-A21) unavailable for extended period despite escalation to corporate level. Windows and other non-driving systems also affected. One case noted other Honda models of same year have BCM issues with active recall.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda advised disconnect and reconnect battery as workaround. Corporate escalation made but no reliable estimate provided for BCM part availability. Recall active for similar BCM issues on other 2018 Honda models.
Intermittent acceleration hesitation and response lag
Vehicle hesitates or delays when accelerating, failing to provide expected power. Occurs during critical maneuvers (merging, highway acceleration). Can happen multiple times or intermittently. In at least one case, vehicle will not move past 10–15 mph on cold start until restarted several times.
When: Cold starts (morning or after extended parking), highway merging, acceleration attempts; variable timing
Symptoms owners cite: Engine hesitation when pressing accelerator; Reduced acceleration response; Vehicle unable to move faster than 10–15 mph after cold start; Sometimes comes to complete stop mid-road when accelerating; Lack of expected power during merging maneuver
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reports requiring multiple restarts and slow driving before accelerator responds normally. No dealer diagnosis or repairs documented in narratives.
Lane Keeping Assist System interference and false activation
Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) engages incorrectly, triggering false lane departure warnings and disengaging cruise control during normal driving. System sensitivity causes it to detect shadows, wet roadways, or passing trucks as lane departures. Inconsistent performance (works only 2 of 5 times). Interferes with safe passing maneuvers.
When: Highway and city driving; occurs during truck passing, normal lane position maintenance, and various road conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Lane departure warning without actual lane drift; Unexpected cruise control disengagement while passing; Vehicle brakes when passing large trucks; Lane warning system intermittent (unreliable activation); False detection of shadows or wet road as lane departure; System engages while driving straight on open street
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer attributed one incident to truck proximity being 'caught' by system, but owner denied observing truck proximity. No repair or adjustment offered.
Dashboard display malfunction and system alert cycling
Center dashboard display malfunctions, showing warning messages repeatedly, chiming constantly, and displaying erratic information. Brightness slider appears and won't disappear. Radio changes channels and volume involuntarily. Loud verification-type beeping occurs repeatedly. Alerts cycle through repeatedly for extended periods (30+ minutes). Only stops when vehicle is shut down or display is turned off completely.
When: During highway driving at 73 mph and city traffic; can last 30+ minutes before stopping
Symptoms owners cite: Center display goes haywire with rapid alerts and chiming; Multiple simultaneous warning messages (ACC, CMBS, etc.); Brightness slider appears and cannot be dismissed; Radio signal changes channels involuntarily; Radio volume changes involuntarily; Loud repetitive beeping similar to system verification tone; Warning messages cycle continuously for extended period
Repairs/costs cited: Turning off center display completely is only known workaround. No repairs documented.
Cruise control dysfunction and unexpected behavior
Cruise control exhibits hyperactive or unpredictable behavior. System loses track of vehicle ahead, then suddenly brakes when relocating it, creating unsafe passing situations. At low speeds (under 20 mph), activating cruise control causes unintended rapid acceleration to 20 mph. ACC drops vehicle out of cruise unexpectedly.
When: Highway passing situations, low-speed parking lot scenarios, various driving conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control loses car ahead, causing sudden acceleration; Cruise control suddenly brakes when target car is reacquired; Unexpected exit from cruise control during passing maneuver; Unintended rapid acceleration to 20 mph when cruise activated at low speed; System engages multiple times (10–12+ incidents over vehicle ownership)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to reproduce issue after complaint; vehicle returned unfixed.
Synthesized from 43 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 2018 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 2018 Honda CR-V?
It's a meaningful issue. 43 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 24 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 6,700 and 35,800 miles, with the median around 16,150. A quarter of owners report trouble before 6,700; a quarter make it past 35,800. 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/2018/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.