There are 6 owner-reported engine complaints for the 1997 Honda CR-Vin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
VEHICLE STALLS OFTEN WHILE DRIVEN,THEN RESTART LATER AFTER,IT HAPPENS EVERYOTHER DAY SINCE THEN. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AS IF THE IGNITION HAD BEEN TURNED OFF. LIGHTS WERE ON, RADIO WAS ON BUT ENGINE STALLED AND STEERING WAS LOCKED. THE VEHICLE DECREASED IN SPEED FROM ROUGHLY 65MPH TO 45MPH AT WHICH POINT I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BY TURNING THE KEY. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY AND I WAS IMMEDIATELY TO ACCELERATE TO THE ORIGINAL SPEED. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY A PASSING MOTORIST ALERTED CONSUMER TO THE FLAMES AND SMOKE SHOOTING OUT IN A BIG BALL FROM UNDERNEATH OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY PULLED OF THE HIGHWAY, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE HAD A LARGE WHOLE IN IT. MECHANIC INSTALLED A REBUILT ENGINE.*AK
THE TIMING BELT BROKE 2500 MILES BEFORE FIRST SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE CAUSING THE CAR TO BREAK DOWN ON THE FREEWAY, THANKFULLY WE WERE STUCK IN TRAFFIC OTHERWISE THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE! THE DEALER IS NOW TELLING ME I NEED A NEW ENGINE FOR 7000.00 DOLLARS. IF I HAD BEEN TOLD TO CHANGE THE BELT SOONER I WOULD HAVE DONE SO. I FOLLOW THE MAINTENANCE SHCEDULE IN MY OWNERS MANUAL BECAUSE IT CLEARLY STATES THAT FAILURE TO DO SO CAN CAUSE INJURY OR EVEN DEATH CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT DUE TO EQUIPMENT FAILURE. IF THE MANUAL SAYS 105K MILES TO CHANGE THE TIMING BELT, IT SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO LAST UNTIL 105K MILES. WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT A HEADLIGHT HERE, THIS FAILURE CAUSED MY ENTIRE CAR TO SIEZE UP ON ME. THE ENTIRE CAR SHUT OFF INCLUDING STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. THANK GOD I WAS NOT GOING 65MPH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION. CONSUMER STATES ON THE RIDE HOME THE VEHICLE DIED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PRO
ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING, HARD TO RESTART. *AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026