Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2020-2021 Civics, 2020-2022 CR-Vs, 2022-2023 Pilots & Passports with a customer complaint of the center display flickering, flashing, or frozen (Civics and CR-Vs only). To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect information from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2022 Honda CR-V electrical problems
severe Owners of the 2022 Honda CR-V have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the electrical at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 CR-V | 247 |
| 2019 CR-V | 141 |
| 2020 CR-V | 36 |
| 2021 CR-V | 26 |
| 2022 CR-V (this page) | 12 |
| 2023 CR-V | 22 |
| 2024 CR-V | 26 |
| 2025 CR-V | 17 |
| 2026 CR-V | 17 |
1injury
What stands out
Of the 22 model years of Honda CR-V we track for electrical problems, this one has the fewest owner complaints on file (12).
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical 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 searching for certain 2020-2021 Civics, 2020-2022 CR-Vs, 2022-2023 Pilots & Passports with a customer complaint of the center display flickering, flashing, or frozen (Civics and CR-Vs only). To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect information 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 2020-2021 Civics & 2020-2022 CR-Vs with a customer complaint of the center display flickering, flashing, or frozen. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect information 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 2020-2021 Civics & 2020-2022 CR-Vs with a customer complaint of the center display flickering, flashing, or frozen. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect information 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 2020-2021 Civics & 2020-2022 CR-Vs with a customer complaint of the center display flickering, flashing, or frozen. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect information 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
Owners of 2022 CR-Vs cite a pattern of electrical failures that hit safety systems directly. Phantom braking—sudden, hard stops on freeways with clear road ahead—has occurred repeatedly for at least two owners. One reported witness accounts of the intensity; the dealership response was to tell owners to manually disable the system before each drive rather than fix the underlying problem.
Body Control Module (BCM) failures appear in multiple complaints. One owner experienced total BCM failure at 45,200 miles: security alarm cycling continuously, key fobs dead, all warning lights on, loss of communication with ABS and Traction Control. That owner flagged it matches symptoms from a 2018–2020 Honda recall (20V771) that apparently never extended to the 2022 model year.
Battery drain is chronic. One owner had a dead battery the day after purchase, then replacement battery smoking and leaking fluid. Another had dead batteries in November 2023 and February 2024, each requiring roadside assistance. Dealerships offered no root cause diagnosis—just told owners to charge the battery manually or start the car every three days.
Broader electrical breakdowns appear too: all dashboard warning lights and alarms firing simultaneously, complete power loss, vehicle stranded. One owner reported this three times in one day, visited two dealerships with no diagnosis. A front camera/radar failure occurred at 2,000 miles, and parts for recall campaign 23V844000 remain unavailable long after notification. Dashboard and screen flickering, especially at night, round out the reported issues.
Same Honda CR-V electrical reports on nearby years: 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2023 · 2024
Failure modes owners describe
Phantom braking / autonomous emergency braking malfunction
Automatic braking system engages without obstruction, ranging from light braking to severe hard stops on freeways that jerk occupants forward. Occurs randomly with no predictable pattern. Dealership unable to reproduce and instructed owners to disable the system manually after each startup.
When: Various driving conditions, day and night; random occurrence
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden brake engagement on clear, open road; Intense, jarring hard braking on freeway at highway speeds; No visible obstruction or vehicle ahead; Seatbelt pre-tensioning during event; System resets to active status each vehicle startup
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership deferred troubleshooting; owners instructed to manually disable system before each drive. No permanent repair offered.
Body Control Module (BCM) total failure
Complete BCM failure resulting in simultaneous loss of multiple electrical and safety systems. Security alarm triggers randomly and cannot be silenced; key fobs become unresponsive; all warning lights illuminate on dashboard; communication lost between BCM and other safety modules (ABS, Traction Control).
When: At 45,200 miles; sudden onset
Symptoms owners cite: Security alarm triggered randomly, cannot be deactivated; Key fob completely unresponsive; All dashboard warning lights illuminated simultaneously (ABS, Brake, TPMS, etc.); Persistent audible beep; Loss of vehicle locking/unlocking capability; Loss of communication with ABS and Traction Control modules
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner notes symptoms match NHTSA Recall 20V771 (2018–2020 models); defect appears to persist in 2022 CR-V Hybrid but no recall issued for this model year.
Power window failure during emergency
Window control system failed to lower window when child's head was trapped. Window eventually lowered after delay, but child lost consciousness and required CPR and emergency room treatment.
When: At approximately 6,000 miles; while parked
Symptoms owners cite: Window stuck in up position when activated to lower; Delayed response before window finally lowered; No warning light illuminated prior to failure
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired; owner did not report to manufacturer.
Dashboard and radio display power loss
Sudden loss of electrical power to dashboard and radio screen while driving in rain. Vehicle remained running on battery power in hybrid mode; displays eventually returned.
When: During rain; first occurrence reported
Symptoms owners cite: Radio screen faded to black; Dashboard display went black; Loss of power to electrical displays; Vehicle continued running on hybrid battery
Repairs/costs cited: Owner considering dealership inspection if recurrence happens.
Battery drain and repeated dead battery
Battery failures occurring shortly after purchase and again months later. First battery replacement followed by smoking and leaking fluid. Dealership diagnostics could not identify root cause. Owner reports being advised that new technology drains battery while vehicle is shut down and recommends starting car every three days.
When: Day after purchase (first incident); November 2023 and February 2024 (recurrence); at various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Dead battery unable to start vehicle; All dash lights illuminated when attempting start; Battery smoking and leaking fluid after jump start; Battery drains while vehicle parked and shut down; Dealership suggests manual workarounds instead of repair
Codes mentioned: Cylinder misfire (reported after second incident, possibly unrelated)
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replaced after first failure. Second failure diagnosed but not replaced. Dealership recommended battery charger and starting vehicle every three days as workaround.
Engine limp mode and acceleration loss
Check engine light flashing and vehicle entering limp mode on cold start, preventing acceleration beyond 35 mph during highway driving in heavy traffic. Creates unsafe driving conditions.
When: Two days after battery replacement; cold start condition
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light flashing; Vehicle enters limp mode; Unable to accelerate past 35 mph; Occurs during heavy traffic on highway
Codes mentioned: P0300 or similar misfire code (dealership cited cylinder misfire, specific code not provided)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnosed as cylinder misfire; repair outcome not stated.
Dashboard warning lights flickering / electrical instability
Dashboard and instrument panel lights flicker on and off intermittently, particularly noticeable at night. May be separate from or related to the broader electrical failures.
When: Intermittent; more noticeable at night
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard and screen flicker on and off; Especially problematic at night
Simultaneous illumination of all warning lights with total power loss
Recurring failure (reported three separate occasions) where all warning lights illuminate simultaneously and vehicle loses complete electrical power. No diagnostic codes identified despite visits to two different dealerships.
When: Third occurrence reported; recurrent and unpredictable
Symptoms owners cite: All warning lights on dashboard light up simultaneously; All audible alarms and bells sound; Complete loss of vehicle power; Vehicle becomes inoperable and stranded
Repairs/costs cited: Two dealerships unable to diagnose or repair; vehicle returned to owner still non-functional, then failure recurs.
Camera/radar sensor malfunction
Front camera radar system failure triggering unknown warning lights on instrument panel at low speed. Requires component replacement but parts unavailable during recall campaign.
When: At 2,000 miles; during normal driving at 40 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Unknown warning lights illuminated on instrument panel; Triggered at 40 mph, clear driving conditions
Repairs/costs cited: Front camera radar identified as needing replacement; part unavailable, estimated two-week lead time.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 23V844000 (Electrical System) issued; parts not available for repair within reasonable timeframe.
Oil dilution
Strong gasoline smell detected on dipstick despite regular synthetic oil changes. Owner reports Honda has documented oil dilution issues.
When: Intermittent; detected during routine oil level checks
Symptoms owners cite: Strong gasoline odor on dipstick; Vehicle hesitation, nearly causing accidents; Occurs despite full synthetic oil and proper change intervals
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Day after bought car, battery dead and all lights lit up on the dash when tried to start. Dealership gave a 256 point inspection and said car passed all elements. Jumped battery with a jump pack then battery started smoking and leaking fluid. Had dealership tow and diagnose problem, replaced the battery. Two days later started car on a cold day and check engine light started flashing and car went…
The most urgent issue with my vehicle is the automatic braking system. During several instances driving during the day and at night, my car has done what’s referred to as “phantom braking” where it detects something in the road, though the road is completely clear and open and the brakes engage and suddenly stop my car. It’s happened on occasions where it triggers the brakes lightly and it’s…
Had electrical trouble with your 2022 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 electrical problem on the 2022 Honda CR-V?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 12 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 4,000 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2022/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.