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#BS-2004-HONCRV-31782004 Honda CR-VProblems, Recalls & Reliability
Based on reports from 603 owners and 13 recalls for this exact model.
Data updated ·checked October 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026
Preliminary Verdict
Red Flag
Based on 603 complaints, 45 crashes, 42 fires, and 13 recalls. Complaint rate is 1.6x the class average.
Top reported problems
ac compressor implodes causes damage to other ac component
23 complaints • Severity 8.6/10
ac stopped working
4 complaints • Severity 8/10
door locks not working
3 complaints • Severity 7.3/10
engine wont turn overwont start
3 complaints • Severity 8.7/10
excessive oil consumption
3 complaints • Severity 6.7/10
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Mechanic Inspection Checklist
92 owners reported airbags issues — failures commonly reported around 74K miles.
Failure Timeline by Mileage
Peak failure range: 60–90K miles (109 reports) • Median: 74K miles
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Airbags (92 reports).
Also in your report
Owner Intelligence
AI-synthesized themes from real complaints
Buyer Lot Checklist
Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers
Negotiation Talking Points
Data-backed dollar deductions
Buy / Skip Verdict
Final recommendation with conditions
Where the complaints fall
2004 Honda CR-V: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Airbags Issues
Airbags complaints account for 15% of all reports filed for the 2004 Honda CR-V, with 92 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 73,800 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 74K-mile mark.
Engine Issues
Engine complaints account for 11% of all reports filed for the 2004 Honda CR-V, with 68 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Electrical Issues
Electrical complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2004 Honda CR-V, with 56 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System Issues
Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2004 Honda CR-V, with 51 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine and engine cooling:cooling system-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.
Complaint trend by year
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2004 Honda CR-V. Recent trend: increasing.
Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own
Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (13 recalls)
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WIRE HARNESS OF THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG WAS INCORRECTLY WIRED.
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BREAK INTO SMALL PIECES AS EXPECTED OF TEMPERED GLASS AND FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 205, "GLAZING MATERIALS."
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2004 CR-V; MODEL YEAR 2003 THROUGH 2005 PILOT; AND MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 CIVIC VEHICLES. IN MARCH 2012, HONDA FILED A DEFECT REPORT TO RECALL CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2004 CR-V AND CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003 PILOT VEHICLES. IN AUGUST 2012, HONDA INFORMED THE AGENCY THAT IT WAS INCLUDING AN ADDITIONAL 820,789 VEHICLES INCLUDING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 PILOTS AND MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 CIVICS. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VEHICLES BEING RECALLED IS NOW 1,375,217. DUE TO TENSION FROM THE COMBINATION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS, WEAR ON THE SURFACE OF THE ELECTRICAL TERMINAL CAN OCCUR, YIELDING COPPER OXIDE, WHICH INCREASES ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE. INCREASED ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE MAY CAUSE THE TERMINAL ENDS TO MELT WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
Honda is recalling certain model year 2002-2006 CR-V passenger vehicles, manufactured from February 19, 2002, through July 28, 2006. The driver-side power window switch may fail or melt.
AIR BAGS
American Honda Motor Company, Inc.'s (Honda) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2003-2005 Accord, Civic, CR-V, Pilot and Acura MDX, model year 2003-2004 Odyssey and Element, and model year 2005 Acura RL, and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in California, and equipped with Takata-brand air bag inflators. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
+ 8 more recalls in the full report
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
NHTSA Defect Investigations (7)
2 investigations still open: NHTSA is examining whether a defect warrants a recall.
UNDERHOOD FIRES
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Driver's Power Window Master Switch
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Low Beam Headlights Stop Illuminating
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
+ 2 more in the full report
The worst model year for the Honda CR-V is the 2011 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.
2004 Honda CR-V vs. Class Average (Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD)
This vehicle
603
Class avg
368
1.6x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical sport utility vehicle - 2wd vehicles.
Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 603 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 13 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
Last updated (checked October 21, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026.
Other Honda CR-V Model Years
2004 Honda CR-V: Frequently Asked Questions
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Get the Full 2004 Honda CR-V Report
10 sections of AI analysis based on 603 owner reports. Know before you buy.