HONDA CR-V · model year

2004 HONDA CR-V

600 NHTSA complaints, 45 crash reports, and 13 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2004HONDACR-V carries 600 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 45 crashes, 42 fires, 37 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 2004 CR-V is air bags with 92 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling (56) and electrical system (55). 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. This model year has 13 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 77 investigation files overlapping the 2004 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.

600
Complaints
45
Crashes
42
Fires
37
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

600 filings

Crashes Reported

45 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS92
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING56
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM55
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM51
EXTERIOR LIGHTING35
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE27
UNKNOWN OR OTHER22
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER22
SEAT BELTS15
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL13
EQUIPMENT12
ENGINE12
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES9
STEERING9
POWER TRAIN9

Recalls (13)

12V13600030/03/2012

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,

15V32000028/05/2015

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acur

19V50100027/06/2019

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles.

19V49900027/06/2019

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. The

18V26800026/04/2018

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012 Ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air b

14V35300020/06/2014

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 registere

15V37000015/06/2015

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic vehicles manufactured March 21, 2000, to January 20, 2005, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX vehicles manufactured June 14, 2000, to August 19, 2004, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid vehicles manufactured February 24, 2002, to

07E10400011/12/2007

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 FEDER

20V76800010/12/2020

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2002-2006 CR-V vehicles. Moisture may enter the driver side power window master switch, causing the switch to fail or melt.

04V25500007/06/2004

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WIRE HARNESS OF THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG WAS INCORRECTLY WIRED.

19V18200006/03/2019

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV

12V48600005/10/2012

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

14V70000004/11/2014

AIR BAGS

American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic, 2003-2004 Civic CNG and Element, 2002-2005 CR-V, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2005 Accord, Pilot, Civic Hybrid, and Acura MDX, 2005 Acura RL and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in ge

Recent Complaints

20250826ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

The contact purchased a 2004 Honda CR-V. The vehicle was a private sale on July 17, 2025. The contact stated that after obtaining the Carfax Report, the contact noticed that the previous odometer reading indicated that the mileage was 300,000. The contact stated that the seller's advertisement indicated that the vehicle had low mileage. In addition, the contact stated that when the vehicle was purchased, the odometer indicated the mileage was 124,000. The seller was not made aware of the issue.

Mileage: 300,000

20250721ENGINE

I own a 2004 Honda CR-V, a vehicle that has served me well over the years, but I recently faced a harrowing experience that left me quite shaken. While cruising along the highway, I was startled when the engine abruptly shut down. The ominous P1349 code indicated an issue with the Variable Timing Control (VTC) actuator, a crucial component for maintaining optimal engine performance. Just two years ago, I replaced the VVT solenoid, investing time and resources to ensure my vehicle’s reliability. Yet, here I was again, grappling with the same frustrating problem that, in a split second, nearly caused a catastrophic accident with a speeding truck tailing closely behind me. With my heart pounding and adrenaline surging, I managed to steer my CR-V into the emergency lane, narrowly avoiding disaster. In my quest for answers, I discovered that I’m not alone in this struggle; many other Honda CR-V owners have reported similar incidents of sudden engine shutdowns while driving on the hi

20240906ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The headlights on both sides, specifically the low beams, will almost randomly turn off for up to 30 seconds. I used to drive about 90 miles at night, and on the highway this is dangerous since the speed limit is 65mph. It’s a danger to other people on the road since it’s incredibly difficult to see with the headlights turn off like that. It’s happened multiple times on my ~90 mile trips but have not taken it to a dealer for it to be checked. After the headlights come back on, it’s rare that it happens again but has happened multiple times within a quick span of each other. I’m quick to turn the high beams on, since they are still functional during this time. I don’t want to blind the vehicle in front of me by potentially shining the high beams through their rear view mirror. There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the problem occurring nor after. The vehicle is available to be inspected.

20240906EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The headlights on both sides, specifically the low beams, will almost randomly turn off for up to 30 seconds. I used to drive about 90 miles at night, and on the highway this is dangerous since the speed limit is 65mph. It’s a danger to other people on the road since it’s incredibly difficult to see with the headlights turn off like that. It’s happened multiple times on my ~90 mile trips but have not taken it to a dealer for it to be checked. After the headlights come back on, it’s rare that it happens again but has happened multiple times within a quick span of each other. I’m quick to turn the high beams on, since they are still functional during this time. I don’t want to blind the vehicle in front of me by potentially shining the high beams through their rear view mirror. There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the problem occurring nor after. The vehicle is available to be inspected.

20240627VISIBILITY

The contact owns a 2004 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while rolling down the driver's side window, smoke briefly emanated from the window switch, prompting the contact to roll up the window, after which the window switch lost functionality. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V768000 (Visibility, Electrical System) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 195,000.

Mileage: 195,000

20240627ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2004 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while rolling down the driver's side window, smoke briefly emanated from the window switch, prompting the contact to roll up the window, after which the window switch lost functionality. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V768000 (Visibility, Electrical System) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 195,000.

Mileage: 195,000

20240604AIR BAGS

While cruising down a standard roadway around 40 mph, the passenger side/seat airbag randomly deployed for no apparent reason. The sound and shock of the airbag deployment nearly caused me to lose control the vehicle because it was so loud and unexpected.

20230919EXTERIOR LIGHTING

While driving down the freeway at 6:00 AM in the morning, the headlights flashed on and then off intermittently. I thought nothing of it and then they went out completely and would not come back on right away. I was driving in complete darkness and thankfully the bright headlights still worked. After this incident, my left headlight completely stopped working and the right-side low beam will come on intermittently. The bulb in the left side appears to be working and I replaced it and it still doesn't come on.

20230829SUSPENSION

The rear trailing arm broke loose from the frame causing the wheel to twist back into the wheel well. It is now at my garage and could be inspected. This happened at about 45 miles per hour causing me to take evasive action so as not to cause an accident. There was no warning lamps affiliated with the suspension system.

20230816ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2004 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V573000 (Electrical System) however, neither the VIN nor the year, make, or model was included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 318,370.

Mileage: 318,370

20230807ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The locking actuator gradually started going, where the locking knob would go down or up slowly as if it was stuck. Then one day the rear doors stopped working, then the front doors started to go. I have to unlock by key or manually inside the vehicle. Not only that though, I started having a weird not start situation. I tested the alternator and starter and were in good margin so I replaced the battery and it worked for a day then wouldn't start up the next day. All the interior lights are off just in case there was some sort of parasitic outlet that is constantly draining the battery. Ive gone through 3 batteries and was about to replace the starter in case there was a bad cell until I found out that the 2004 honda crv community has 600+ complaints for the door actuators draining the battery for this vehicle. There should be a recall and this should be covered at 100% or at least a percentage.

20230519LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

The contact owns a 2004 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that after entering the vehicle, the power lock would not engage on the passenger’s side front door. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent however, had gradually become constant and all the door locks failed to operate as needed. The contact stated that the battery would be drained by the door lock actuators and had to be replaced. Additionally, the contact stated that the liftgate warning light would be illuminated with the liftgate closed. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that all the door lock actuators needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 14-083 and 14-084 Door Actuators (Latches, Locks, and Linkages). The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

Mileage: 80,000

20230513ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Front and rear driver side windows stop working after heavy rain. There was a safety recall for this, however my VIN is not included but I believe it should be.

20230413SUSPENSION

The rear trailing arm became detached from the unibody due to rust/rot. This caused the rear tire to shoot sideways and backwards causing the vehicle to no longer be drivable. The vehicle has spent its life in Wisconsin, New York, and Vermont. As it happened on the road close to my house it was not assessed by any service center, but it is very obvious what happened. I pulled the vehicle back to my house myself. I can provide pictures as proof and I still have the vehicle in my possession (it has obviously been taken off the road). My problem is exactly what is described in the most recent Honda CRV recall NHTSA#23V228 or Honda #XDZ. Since my CRV is a 2004 it apparently does not qualify for the above recall... but it very obviously is the same thing and really should be covered by Honda. If they issue a recall on a certain year range but that same issue happens on a different year are we just supposed to sit back and say "oh well"? My family could have been very hurt if that component

20220819VISIBILITY

The contact owns 2004 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that after entering the vehicle, a spark emitted from the driver’s side master switch as he attempted to roll down the window. Since the failure, the front passenger’s window had failed to operate as needed. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V768000 (Visibility, Electrical System) however, the recall was for the same model vehicle that he previously owned. The contact called the dealer and the manufacturer who confirmed that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

Mileage: 160,000

20220819ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns 2004 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that after entering the vehicle, a spark emitted from the driver’s side master switch as he attempted to roll down the window. Since the failure, the front passenger’s window had failed to operate as needed. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V768000 (Visibility, Electrical System) however, the recall was for the same model vehicle that he previously owned. The contact called the dealer and the manufacturer who confirmed that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

Mileage: 160,000

20210720ENGINE

My vehicle is been consuming very large amounts of oil, every 450-500 miles I have to add a quart of motor oil.

20210628AIR BAGS

Honda is not honoring their commitment to make service available for the recalls on this vehicle, which includes the Takata airbag. I am attempting to make an appointment at my local Honda Dealer Paragon Honda in Woodside, NY on 6/28. There are no service appointments available through the end of December. I had the same problem about two years ago when I attempted to speak to a person at the dealership. They have made this impossible. Because I live in NYC it is not reasonable to commute to the next closest dealer because that would require bridges and tolls. This is unaccaptable.

20210606UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I just saw a recall on some 2004 honda crv models about the window switch. Mine went faulty a couple years ago and I cannot use 1 window. The dealer said it was the switch then, but it was somewhere around $1000 to fix so I decided to just not use the window. I just saw the recall and checked my VIN which says itsnot affected. How do I get this fixed? Thank you.

20210601UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The Air Conditioner began making a loud noise under the hood then it began making a rattling noise. When I turned it on it blew warm air. Now I don’t get the noise only warm air. I took 2004 Honda CR-V to the shop to get checked out. I rec’d an estimate of $1,800. This vehicle’s A/C compressor motor is directly under the motor making it difficult to remove/repair/replace. The clutch engaging the compressor is not working ** due to the heat of the motor. Honda: This is a very poor placement for an A/C compressor.

Compare 2004HONDACR-V to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 9 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 HONDA CR-V have?
The 2004 HONDA CR-V has 600 NHTSA complaints, 45 crashes, 42 fires, 37 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 HONDA CR-V?
Yes, the 2004 HONDA CR-V has 13 recall(s). The most common affected component is EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 HONDA CR-V?
The most-complained component for the 2004 HONDA CR-V is AIR BAGS with 92 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2004 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.