HONDA CR-V · model year

1998 HONDA CR-V

136 NHTSA complaints, 15 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998HONDACR-V carries 136 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 15 crashes, 1 fire, 12 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 CR-V is electrical system with 18 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition:switch (13) and air bags (13). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 77 investigation files overlapping the 1998 CR-V, and 9 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

136
Complaints
15
Crashes
1
Fires
12
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

136 filings

Crashes Reported

15 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM18
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH13
AIR BAGS13
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION6
TIRES6
ENGINE6
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE5
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL5
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR4
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING3
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION3
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH3

Recent Complaints

20210126ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING NORMALLY, GOING 47MPH & ACCELERATING AS I WAS ABOUT TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC ON HIGH WAY, WHEN MY CARS ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED. I DIDENT EVEN NOTICE AT FIRST BECAUSE IT HAPPENED SUDDENLY AND QUIETLY. I ONLY NOTICED BECAUSE THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND I FOUND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. I WAS ABLE TO PUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND STOP THE CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. CAR WOULD NOT RUN SINCE THIS HAPPENED. CAR WILL START BUT DIE ON IDEL. HAVE REPLACED STARTER, MAIN RELAY, IGNITION, SPARK PLUGS AND HAVE HAD 4 AUTO SHOPS LOOK AT IT AND STILL NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE..

Mileage: 199,000

20210126FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I WAS DRIVING NORMALLY, GOING 47MPH & ACCELERATING AS I WAS ABOUT TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC ON HIGH WAY, WHEN MY CARS ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED. I DIDENT EVEN NOTICE AT FIRST BECAUSE IT HAPPENED SUDDENLY AND QUIETLY. I ONLY NOTICED BECAUSE THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND I FOUND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. I WAS ABLE TO PUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND STOP THE CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. CAR WOULD NOT RUN SINCE THIS HAPPENED. CAR WILL START BUT DIE ON IDEL. HAVE REPLACED STARTER, MAIN RELAY, IGNITION, SPARK PLUGS AND HAVE HAD 4 AUTO SHOPS LOOK AT IT AND STILL NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE..

Mileage: 199,000

20201015AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. HONDA OF FORT MYERS (14020 S. TAMIAMI TRL, FORT MYERS, FL 33912, 239-288-2397) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20201006AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED CARDINAL HONDA (531 CT-12, GROTON, CT 06340; (860) 449-0411) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.*DT*JB

20201005AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE LOCAL DEALER LEE'S SUMMIT HONDA LOCATED AT 401 NE COLBERN RD, LEE'S SUMMIT, MO 64806 WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20200921AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20200918AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE LOCAL DEALER KEN GARFF HONDA LOCATED AT 195 E. UNIVERSITY PKWY, OREM, UT 84058 WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20200904AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED KLEIN HONDA (10611 EVERGREEN WAY, EVERETT, WA 98204, (425) 355-7500) AND RAIRDON'S HONDA OF MARYSVILLE (15714 SMOKEY POINT BLVD, MARYSVILLE, WA 98271, (360) 363-8600) AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN INVALID.

20200814AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20200812AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED HONDA OF SANTA FE (7511A CERRILLOS RD, SANTA FE, NM 87507; (505) 471-7007) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20200806AIR BAGS

THIS AIRBAG HAS BEEN RECALLED 3/20 AND AS OF 8/20 ARE STILL NOT PROVIDING THE PARTS FOR REPAIR, THEY HAVE BEEN PROMISING FREE REPAIR FOR 5 MONTHS NOW, AND WE HAVE BEEN PAYING INSURANCE ON THE CAR BUT ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT.

20200727ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT A STAND STILL, SHE WAS UNABLE TO INSERT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.

Mileage: 200,000

20200612AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. STEPHEN WADE HONDA (1630 S HILTON DR, ST. GEORGE, UT 84770, (435) 628-6100) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20200318AIR BAGS

THE AIRBAGS IN THE 1998 HONDA CRV'S HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE WITH NO REMEDY, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE IN A VEHICLE OVER 20 YEARS OLD. THIS VEHICLE IS USED TO TRANSPORT MY FAMILY AND IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT HONDA CAN ALLOW SUCH A FATAL PROBLEM TO GO UNSOLVED FOR SO MANY YEARS. THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ANY INJURIES SUSTAINED DUE TO THESE DYSFUNCTIONAL AIRBAGS UNTIL THEY ARE ABLE TO REPLACE SAID AIRBAGS WITHOUT CHARGE.

20190403ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING WITH RADIO ON THE ENGINE CUTS OUT AFTER SITTING FOR A COUPLE MINUTES IT WILL START BACK UP HOWEVER IT STALLS AGAIN IF RADIO IS ON. THIS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS WHEN I HAVE RADIO ON IF I LEAVE THE RADIO OFF IT WORKS OK

Mileage: 175,000

20180513ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I SAW THIS HAS A RECALL, BUT WHEN I TYPED IN MY VIN INTO YOUR SYSTEM IT SAYS '0 RECALLS.' I HAVE ALL THE ISSUES HAPPENING FOR THIS RECALL AND I WAS WONDERING HOW TO PROCEED.

20180513VISIBILITY/WIPER

I SAW THIS HAS A RECALL, BUT WHEN I TYPED IN MY VIN INTO YOUR SYSTEM IT SAYS '0 RECALLS.' I HAVE ALL THE ISSUES HAPPENING FOR THIS RECALL AND I WAS WONDERING HOW TO PROCEED.

20180513EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I SAW THIS HAS A RECALL, BUT WHEN I TYPED IN MY VIN INTO YOUR SYSTEM IT SAYS '0 RECALLS.' I HAVE ALL THE ISSUES HAPPENING FOR THIS RECALL AND I WAS WONDERING HOW TO PROCEED.

20180221ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHOM WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT SOLUTION. A DEALER MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED TO REPLACE THE STARTER BEFORE THE CONTACT OWNED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER (AVALON HONDA, 100 AVALON BLVD, CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, NJ 08210, (877) 515-6611) STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE FURTHER INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

20170511POWER TRAIN

THE TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL BY ITSELF AND NO GEARS WORK AT ALL UNTIL YOU TURN IT OFF AND RESTART IT THEN IT WILL MOVE A SHORT DISTANCE AND DO IT AGAIN IT HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY AND I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT.

Mileage: 170,000

Compare 1998HONDACR-V to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 9 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 HONDA CR-V have?
The 1998 HONDA CR-V has 136 NHTSA complaints, 15 crashes, 1 fires, 12 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 HONDA CR-V?
The most-complained component for the 1998 HONDA CR-V is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 18 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH and AIR BAGS.
Is the 1998 HONDA CR-V safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.