Service Bulletin - Oil leak at timing chain tensioner inspection cover due to possible insufficient sealant adhesion on inspection cover.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Honda CR-V engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2018 Honda CR-V have filed 387 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 6,804 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 →
Failure mileage
Complaints
387
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 CR-V | 134 |
| 2015 CR-V | 124 |
| 2016 CR-V | 54 |
| 2017 CR-V | 362 |
| 2018 CR-V (this page) | 387 |
| 2019 CR-V | 70 |
| 2020 CR-V | 24 |
| 2021 CR-V | 19 |
| 2022 CR-V | 7 |
3crashes
1fire
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 387 engine complaints filed for the 2018 Honda CR-V, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 22 model years of Honda CR-V we track for engine problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 387.
Owners have filed 387 engine 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 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 - Under certain circumstances, the vehicle may experience driveability issues, which may result in DTCs P0300 (random misfire detected), P0301 (No. 1 cylinder misfire detected), P0302 (No. 2 cylinder misfire detected), P0303 (No. 3 cylinder misfire detected), P0304 (No. 4 cylinder misfire detected), or P0172 (fuel system too rich) or a whirling noise coming from the engine compartment.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, the vehicle may experience driveability issues, which may result in DTCs P0300 (random misfire detected), P0301 (No. 1 cylinder misfire detected), P0302 (No. 2 cylinder misfire detected), P0303 (No. 3 cylinder misfire detected), P0304 (No. 4 cylinder misfire detected), or P0172 (fuel system too rich) or a whirling noise coming from the engine compartment.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2021 Accord 1.5Ts & CR-Vs with a customer complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the DTC P030X (Cylinder Misfire Detected) or P0172 (Fuel System Too Rich) stored. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2021 Accord 1.5Ts & CR-Vs with a customer complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the DTC P030X (Cylinder Misfire Detected) or P0172 (Fuel System Too Rich) stored. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
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 with the 1.5-liter turbo engine generates consistent complaints about gasoline contaminating the engine oil. Owners discover the dipstick reeking of fuel, oil level shooting above the full mark, and the oil becoming thin and watery—sometimes within days of purchase or after just a few hundred miles. One owner found 7.5 quarts when the engine holds 3.7. The gasoline smell seeps into the cabin, particularly when the heater runs, causing headaches, nausea, and throat irritation in occupants.
The oil dilution problem triggers cascading failures. Owners report engine stalling at 40–75 mph without warning, forcing them onto highway shoulders. Dashboard lights flash, all safety systems disable, and the vehicle limps along at 5–10 mph or won't restart at all. Some were stranded for hours waiting for tow trucks in cold weather.
Beyond stalling, owners describe engine overheating without visible coolant leaks, blown head gaskets with coolant seeping into cylinders, turbocharger shaft fractures, and complete engine failure. One owner needed a full engine replacement at 43,568 miles. Spark plugs and fuel injectors fail repeatedly—one owner replaced spark plugs approximately thirty times in three years. Parts remain on back-order for months.
Honda issued service bulletins and software updates, but the dilution issue recurs within days or weeks. Dealers initially offered free oil changes, then claimed the condition is "normal" and refused warranty coverage. Meanwhile, Honda acknowledged the problem publicly in China and Canada but resisted U.S. recalls for years. Owners report dealerships claiming no fix existed, then contradicting each other about what was actually wrong—fuel pump, fuel injectors, head gasket, turbo damage—with no clear resolution.
Same Honda CR-V engine reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Gasoline Intrusion Into Engine Oil (Oil Dilution)
Unburned fuel seeping into the engine oil pan, raising oil level above the full mark on the dipstick and contaminating the oil with a strong gasoline odor. Owners report the dipstick reeks of gas, oil becomes thin and watery, and the oil reservoir overfills. This occurs across a wide mileage range, from as early as 500 km to 12,000+ miles, and happens in both warm and cold climates despite Honda's claim it is temperature-related. The issue persists even after multiple oil changes and software updates.
When: Owners report detecting the issue between 500 km (early November after purchase) and 12,000 miles; some discovered it within weeks of ownership; one owner at 1,200 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Oil level reads well above the full mark on dipstick; Dipstick emits strong smell of raw gasoline; Oil appears dark brown, thin, watery, or soupy instead of normal viscosity; Strong gasoline odor in cabin, sometimes triggering headaches, nausea, dizziness, chest pain, and throat irritation; Gasoline smell inside garage after parking, especially in heated garages; Oil sample shows gasoline mixed with lubricant; Engine rough running or poor performance
Codes mentioned: P0300, P0310
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report dealerships performing free oil and filter changes as temporary measure but stated no permanent fix was available at time of complaint; some reported software updates (referenced as TSB 18-114, 18-124, and '1245A2 Product Update Campaign') involving PCM/TCM reprogramming and AC unit replacement, but the oil dilution issue recurred within days or weeks after these updates in multiple cases; one owner reported $5-$10,000 engine replacement costs; owners note Honda initially blamed cold weather and short-trip driving habits, then later stated the condition is 'normal'
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda acknowledged the issue as 'known' but stated no fix was available at the time of most complaints; issued Service Bulletins and a Product Update Campaign with software reprogramming; offered free oil changes initially, then later refused to cover them and claimed the condition is normal; Honda Canada extended warranty but USA Honda did not universally apply fixes; China recalled 350,000 units; safety recall issued January/February 2024 regarding fuel pump and related engine issues
Engine Stalling and Loss of Power While Driving
Engine abruptly loses power or stalls while the vehicle is in motion, sometimes at highway speeds. Owners report the vehicle suddenly becoming unable to accelerate beyond 5–10 mph, with check engine lights flashing and all system alerts illuminating. The vehicle can often be restarted, but the failure has recurred multiple times for some owners. One owner experienced stalling at 40 mph on a freeway; another at 62 mph on a highway.
When: Reported between 4,200 miles and 92,000 miles; one owner at 6 months of ownership; incidents occurring on highways at speeds of 40–75 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Engine suddenly stalls without warning; Loss of engine power while driving at highway speeds; Vehicle unable to accelerate beyond 5–10 mph after losing power; Check engine light flashing; All system alert indicators illuminating on dashboard; Vehicle requires restart to regain power; Recurrence of stalling on multiple occasions for same vehicle
Codes mentioned: P0300, P0310
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership initially suspected fuel pump failure and attempted replacement, but parts were on back-order for months; diagnostics later revealed misfire codes and fuel injector issues; one owner reported head gasket replacement was recommended instead of fuel pump; another owner reported engine replacement after oil was found blocked; fuel injectors replaced on multiple vehicles with extended warranty coverage but issues persisted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Safety recall issued in January 2024 (NHTSA Recall 23V-858, Honda Campaign KGC) addressing fuel pump and drivability concerns; some owners report recall was rescinded for their VIN despite ongoing symptoms; Honda extended powertrain warranty for fuel injector coverage but does not cover injectors themselves; no clear long-term fix communicated to owners
Ignition Failure and Starting Issues
Vehicle fails to start or respond to ignition, requiring the driver to shut off the vehicle and wait before attempting restart, after which it starts normally. One owner reported the vehicle would not turn on and feared being stranded; another reported the battery draining completely after only 30 minutes of sitting.
When: Early in ownership; one case at first signs of ownership; another at 6+ months of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Ignition fails to function with no response; Vehicle fails to start despite key turning; Vehicle starts normally after shutdown and waiting 15 minutes; Battery drains completely after short periods of sitting (30 minutes reported); No warning lights or messages on dashboard
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported continuing to monitor the issue without repair; dealership initially blamed owner for leaving lights on and stated battery has poor longevity; no clear repair documented
Engine Overheating and Coolant Loss
Engine temperature gauge rises rapidly to high, warning lights illuminate, and the vehicle is unsafe to continue driving. Owners report coolant loss without visible leaks, intermittent overheating that recurs on shorter intervals, and in some cases a blown head gasket with coolant intrusion into cylinders.
When: Reported between 20,340 miles and 92,000 miles; one case at 43,568 miles with head gasket failure; another at 170,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine temperature gauge rapidly rises to high; Warning messages indicating cooling system issue; Coolant level depleted without visible leaks; Intermittent overheating, intervals shortening over time; Misfires and power loss accompanying overheating; Complete engine failure in some cases; Blown head gasket with coolant leaking into cylinders 2 and 3
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required in at least one case due to head gasket failure; coolant leaks into cylinders causing misfire; repair costs cited as $5,000–$10,000 for head gasket replacement or engine replacement; one owner reported coolant depleted to half tank within 4 days of repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership offered goodwill repair consideration but then requested inspection fee and declined repair citing vehicle not serviced at their location; no formal recall or warranty coverage found for head gasket defect despite class action lawsuit filed (Bissell v. American Honda Motor Co., December 2024)
Engine Misfires and Rough Running
Engine misfires, runs rough, stumbles, and does not respond smoothly to acceleration. Dashboard warning lights illuminate, and the vehicle may be limited to low speeds (20 mph or less). Issue persists or recurs even after spark plug and ignition coil replacement, with ceramic portions of spark plugs cracking.
When: Reported at 3+ years of ownership and progressively worsening; one case with 42,000 miles; another at 123,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine runs rough and stumbles; Misfiring on multiple cylinders; All dashboard warning lights illuminating; Vehicle limited to low speeds (20 mph) or unable to accelerate normally; Rough engine performance accompanied by lane-keep assist and other system failures; Ceramic portion of spark plugs cracking; Issue recurring within 6 months of spark plug and coil replacement
Codes mentioned: P0300, P0310
Repairs/costs cited: Owners replaced spark plugs and ignition coils multiple times (approximately 30 spark plugs and 3 ignition coil sets reported by one owner); fuel injectors replaced on multiple vehicles; issue recurs within months; one owner reported monthly visits to dealership with no permanent resolution
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended warranty issued for spark plug and fuel injector issues, covering unlimited miles, but Honda has not identified or fixed the underlying cause; dealership reports indicate Honda is aware of the issues but no root cause correction has been implemented
Fuel Injector Failure
Fuel injectors become faulty, causing rough engine running, misfires, and all dashboard warning systems to malfunction simultaneously. Owners report fuel injectors on back-order for extended periods, sometimes months, making parts unavailable.
When: Reported at various mileages including early ownership and 89,000+ miles; parts shortages occurring months into complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Engine runs rough with misfiring; All dashboard warning lights illuminating simultaneously; Lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, collision mitigation braking system, vehicle stability assist, and other features disabled; Engine stumbling and poor acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel injector replacement required, with extended warranty coverage on powertrain; however, warranty does not cover fuel injectors themselves; repair costs cited as over $1,100; parts chronically on back-order across multiple dealerships, with months-long waits reported
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended warranty issued to cover powertrain (but not fuel injectors); no recall issued; Honda aware of widespread fuel injector failures but has not resolved underlying cause
Unintended Acceleration from Stop
When removing foot from brake pedal at a stop or when pressing lightly on brake in low-speed situations (parking, traffic light), engine RPM instantly increases from idle (~700 RPM) to approximately 1,000 RPM and vehicle moves ahead with no pressure on accelerator pedal. Vehicle can reach 7 mph on level pavement unintended.
When: Existing since new vehicle purchase; reported at 2+ years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Engine RPM instantly increases from ~700 to ~1,000 RPM when foot removed from brake at stop; Vehicle moves ahead suddenly without accelerator pedal pressure; Vehicle 'jumps' ahead during slow parking maneuvers; Requires increased brake pressure to prevent unintended acceleration; Occurs when transmission in Drive and engine at normal operating temperature
Repairs/costs cited: Two dealership service visits found 'no DTCs' and 'normal/proper operation' despite owner's clear description of the issue; vehicle not repaired
Engine Temperature Gauge Malfunction and Slow Warmup
Engine temperature gauge climbs very slowly and loses temperature on colder days. After driving 15–30 minutes, the gauge would drop when the vehicle stopped at a traffic light or parking lot, sometimes dropping to 1–2 marks on the gauge. HVAC system blows cold when temperature gauge drops. Issue present across multiple dealers and deemed 'normal' by Honda engineering team, though later found to be associated with oil dilution issue.
When: Noticed within weeks of ownership on 2017 model; issue ongoing across multiple months of troubleshooting
Symptoms owners cite: Engine temperature gauge extremely slow to climb; Temperature gauge loses temperature on colder days; Gauge drops to 1–2 indicator marks after vehicle stops, even with engine running; HVAC system blows cold when gauge drops (no heat available); Issue occurs in both stop-and-go and highway driving
Repairs/costs cited: Two separate dealers troubleshot without resolution; Honda technical/engineering team reviewed and deemed the issue 'normal'; owner later found gasoline smell on dipstick, linking this to oil dilution issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda of America assigned customer advocate; regional manager reviewed with technical/engineering team and deemed condition 'normal'; no repair or warranty coverage offered
Turbocharger Damage from Oil Contamination
Turbocharger damaged or shaft fractured due to dirty engine oil from gasoline intrusion. Turbocharger bolt intrusion or shaft fracture causes loss of motive power and abnormal sounds from engine.
When: Failure mileage unknown but related to oil dilution warranty extension
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of motive power while driving at 70 mph; Multiple warning lights illuminated; Abnormal sound from turbocharger area; Turbocharger shaft fractured or bolt intruded
Repairs/costs cited: Turbocharger required replacement; Honda denied assistance citing dirty oil and missing oil change receipts as reason
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer denied warranty claim citing oil contamination and lack of service records, despite the oil contamination being a known manufacturing defect
Synthesized from 387 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2018 Honda cr-v. The contact noticed that fuel was mixing with the engine oil. There was also a loss of power and brake functionality as various warning indicators and gauges flashed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was towed to southeastern Honda (3125 us-1, palm bay, fl 32905, (321) 984-4224), but the cause of the failure could not be determined. A loaner vehicle was…
I first noticed an issue with my car on October 16th. ALL the dashboard lights came on as if the car had a new battery while I was driving. My Honda dealership said: Explanation: fuel system too rich due to faulty fuel injectors. Repairs to be completed: replace fuel injectors, gaskets, spark plugs All suggested repairs were done because I need a car The cost, $2,557.28 I filed a case with…
Honda gas in oil. When in for their recall. Oil was changed and a/c module replaced. I never checked the oil for gas but feel this problem must cause some engine damage. Would like to see a formal recall with proper corrective action. Dealer seemed evasive when asked to explain the problem, no big deal just gas in the oil.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact’s son stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle made a loud screeching sound. The contact then noticed that the engine skid plate had detached. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to reattach the skid plate; however, the contact stated that the failure persisted the following day. The dealer was not…
October 2018 we took our new c rv on a trip to nashville, tn from traverse city, mi. The check engine light came on and the oil can icon lit up. I called the Honda dealer where I bought the c rv from and they had no idea what was going on. I got out and checked the oil and found it high. I brought the Honda to a quick lube to check it. They changed the oil then sent me on my way. After…
Had engine 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 engine problem on the 2018 Honda CR-V?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 387 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 252 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 3,500 and 14,200 miles, with the median around 6,804. A quarter of owners report trouble before 3,500; a quarter make it past 14,200. 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 $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.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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.