Service Bulletin - Due to a new North America regulation which introduces a new refrigerant and oil requirement, the compressor shaft seal may leak. American Honda is extending the warranty on the A/C compressor shaft seal from the original 3 years to 10 years from the original date of purchase, with no mileage limitation. The new refrigerant and oil may cause swelling of the compressor shaft seal. The swelling may lead to abnormal wearing of the seal which may increase seal gaps around the compressor shaft allowing refrigerant to leak out.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Honda CR-V visibility problems
moderate Owners of the 2019 Honda CR-V have filed 22 NHTSA complaints about the visibility, typically surfacing around 10,000 miles at roughly $350 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See visibility across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
22
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
| Model year | visibility complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 CR-V | 16 |
| 2016 CR-V | 11 |
| 2017 CR-V | 28 |
| 2018 CR-V | 31 |
| 2019 CR-V (this page) | 22 |
| 2020 CR-V | 6 |
| 2021 CR-V | 7 |
| 2022 CR-V | 8 |
| 2023 CR-V | 25 |
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 22 visibility complaints filed for the 2019 Honda CR-V, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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
No new NHTSA visibility complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 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.
Service Bulletin - Due to a new North America regulation which introduces a new refrigerant and oil requirement, the compressor shaft seal may leak. American Honda is extending the warranty on the A/C compressor shaft seal from the original 3 years to 10 years from the original date of purchase, with no mileage limitation. The new refrigerant and oil may cause swelling of the compressor shaft seal. The swelling may lead to abnormal wearing of the seal which may increase seal gaps around the compressor shaft allowing refrigerant to leak out.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - Due to a new North America regulation which introduces a new refrigerant and oil requirement the compressor shaft seal may leak. American Honda is extending the warranty on the A/C compressor shaft seal from the original 3 years to 10 years from the original date of purchase, with no mileage limitation. The new refrigerant and oil may cause swelling of the compressor shaft seal. The swelling may lead to abnormal wearing of the seal which may increase seal gaps around the compressor shaft allowing refrigerant to leak out.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - Due to a new North America regulation that introduces a new refrigerant and oil requirement, the compressor shaft seal may leak. The new refrigerant and oil may cause swelling of the compressor shaft seal. The swelling may lead to abnormal wearing of the seal, which may increase seal gaps around the compressor shaft allowing refrigerant to leak out. American Honda is extending the warranty on the A/C compressor shaft seal from the original 3 years to 10 years from the original date of purchase, with no mileage limitation.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Owner Notification Letter - Due to a new North America regulation that introduced a new refrigerant and oil requirement, the compressor shaft seal may leak. The new refrigerant and oil may cause swelling of the compressor shaft seal. The swelling may lead to abnormal wearing of the seal which may increase seal gaps around the compressor shaft allowing refrigerant to leak out.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2019 CR-V report a cluster of visibility and safety failures. The driver-side sun visor repeatedly fails to stay upright, dropping to a 45-degree angle or hanging loose and blocking the driver's sight line—a recurring problem even after replacement parts costing over $150. Multiple owners say they've given up and removed the visor entirely.
Windshields spontaneously develop stress cracks or shatter outright with no impact damage or road hazards. Cracks often originate at the Honda Sensing sensor block or A-pillar. One owner replaced the windshield three times; another experienced water intrusion and electrical damage after shattering. The sunroof and rear cargo window also shatter without warning or external cause, sometimes while driving at highway speed.
In cold weather around 15 degrees and below, the defrost system produces little to no heat while idling, leaving windows covered in ice. Owners must drive at highway speeds for miles before the system works—a serious safety issue in climates like Maine. Dealers have offered only workarounds like running the car in a lower gear or blocking the radiator with cardboard.
Front mirror housings melt from sunlight exposure, requiring multiple replacements. ADAS components malfunction frequently: auto emergency braking fires without traffic, lane departure detection rarely works, and the passenger airbag randomly shows "off" when occupied. All ADAS features display as non-functional in rain, fog, or snow. Dealers have deflected complaints or diagnosed them as owner misunderstanding.
Same Honda CR-V visibility reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Driver-side sun visor won't stay upright or closed
The driver-side sun visor fails to remain in the fully upright or closed position, dropping to a 45-degree angle or hanging loose, blocking the driver's view of the road and requiring constant manual adjustment while driving.
When: Ongoing from purchase; one owner notes the issue recurs after replacement parts fail within months
Symptoms owners cite: Visor drops to 45-degree angle during driving; Visor hangs loose 3-4 inches below headliner; Visor opens inadvertently, blocking road view; Constant need for manual adjustment while operating vehicle; Risk of head impact in sudden stops or accidents
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement parts cost in excess of $150; multiple owners report the replacement part fails with the same defect after a few months of use
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers have informed owners they are responsible for the defect; no recall identified in narratives
Windshield spontaneous cracks without impact
Windshields develop stress cracks or spontaneously shatter with no evidence of impact damage, road hazards, or external cause. Cracks often originate from the A-pillar area or the Honda Sensing sensor block at the top of the windshield.
When: At various mileages; reported from 8,500 miles to well into ownership; one case while parked overnight
Symptoms owners cite: Cracks appear without impact or collision; Fine-line stress cracks in glass; Cracks originate at Honda Sensing sensor block or A-pillar; Cracks grow in length over time; Complete windshield shattering in some cases; Water intrusion after shattering leading to electrical damage
Repairs/costs cited: One owner replaced windshield three times; dealers and warranty administrators state non-impact origin; water damage repairs required in at least one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda declined warranty coverage in at least one case; a class-action lawsuit was filed regarding framing defect causing windshield cracks, reportedly settled without Honda accepting responsibility or issuing a recall
Sunroof spontaneous shattering
The sunroof shatters without warning, impact, or apparent external cause. One owner reported the glass exploded while driving 65 mph on a clear day with no nearby vehicles or road hazards.
When: At 8,500 miles and during normal highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Loud bang or pop sound; Sunroof glass shatters without impact; Occurs during normal driving conditions; No weather, external object, or road hazard present; Water intrusion and electrical damage follows in at least one case
Repairs/costs cited: Repairs are expensive; water intrusion damages electrical wiring and creates secondary failures
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented in narratives
Rear cargo window spontaneous shattering
The rear cargo window breaks spontaneously without any contact or external cause, sending glass pieces into and onto the vehicle.
When: During normal cargo loading
Symptoms owners cite: Window breaks with no contact or impact; Glass pieces fall into cargo area and onto ground; No external cause identifiable
Defrost system inadequate in cold weather
The heating and defrost system fails to produce adequate warmth when the vehicle idles in cold conditions (below 40 degrees or around 15 degrees), leaving the windshield and side windows unable to defrost or clear of ice until the engine is driven at highway speeds for several miles.
When: Cold mornings and temperatures around 15 degrees and below; ongoing since purchase in January 2019 for one Maine owner
Symptoms owners cite: No heat produced at idle in cold weather; Windshield and side windows cannot defrost or clear at idle; Vision severely and unsafely limited; Cold air blowing into cabin even after highway driving for 30 minutes; Engine temperature gauge drops to low at traffic lights after extended driving; System performs as designed according to dealer diagnosis
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers advised running the car in lower gear or placing cardboard in front of radiator as workarounds; no permanent fix provided
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers pronounced vehicle in good shape initially; Honda advised cardboard in front of radiator as a solution; issue noted as affecting 1.5L engine CR-Vs since 2017
Mirror housing units melted
Front driver-side and passenger-side mirror housing units melt without direct contact or accident. Units have required replacement twice within two years.
When: At approximately 13,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Mirror housing units severely melted; Repeated failure after replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Housing units replaced twice within two years
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware and case filed; manufacturer advised contact to report to NHTSA; manufacturer attributed cause to sunlight exposure
ADAS system malfunctions and false warnings
Honda Sensing safety suite components malfunction, including auto emergency braking activating without cause, blind spot warning intermittent operation, lane departure detection failures, and passenger airbag showing 'off' when occupied. All ADAS display as 'not functioning' during rain, fog, or snow.
When: Multiple instances over several years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Auto emergency braking triggers with no traffic present; Blind spot warning operates intermittently; Lane departure warning rarely works; All ADAS systems display 'not functioning' in fog, rain, or snow; Passenger airbag randomly shows 'off' when adult seated; AWD system shows 'not functioning' warning in weather conditions
Repairs/costs cited: Reported multiple times to dealer; no resolution documented
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented; dealer stated 'most people don't even know what all the features do'
Synthesized from 22 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
The contact owns a 2019 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while idled, the heater and defogger system failed to operate above 40 degrees. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that due to the engine size, the heating system performed as designed. The contact was concerned that due to inclement weather, the failure could cause a safety risk…
Had visibility trouble with your 2019 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 2019 Honda CR-V?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 22 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?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most visibility failures cluster between 2,800 and 34,000 miles, with the median around 10,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 2,800; a quarter make it past 34,000. 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 $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/2019/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.