2018 Honda CR-V Complaint Log

Summary of Problem: Steering issue with 2018 Honda CR-V – unsafe wandering and direction changes at highway speeds. Detailed Description: Approximately four months ago, the steering on my 2018 Honda CR-V began to feel unstable. Over time, the condition has progressively worsened. At highway speeds, the steering will unpredictably shift direction and “wander” within the lane without driver input. This requires constant correction to maintain lane position and creates a serious safety hazard. The condition feels especially unsafe at speeds over 55 mph because it compromises the driver’s ability to keep the vehicle centered in the lane. Due to the severity of the issue, we have stopped driving the vehicle for the past month. A Honda dealership confirmed a problem with the steering gearbox and quoted $4,800 for repair. Honda has acknowledged the defect but will only offer 10% coverage. This is unacceptable given that other 2018 CR-V vehicles have been recalled for steering box defects, and the symptoms in my vehicle match those recall descriptions. My VIN, however, is not currently included in the recall. This defect matches NHTSA Campaign 18V663000, which describes a torque sensor magnet in the steering gearbox that may become dislodged, causing unexpected steering behavior and increasing crash risk. Only four 2018 CR-V vehicles were officially recalled, but numerous other owners have reported identical symptoms. Public complaints from owners on forums such as r/crv and sites like [XXX] and [XXX] describe wandering steering and sticky steering at highway speeds, often resolved only after steering gearbox replacement. These issues mirror my experience exactly. The problem is systemic and not limited to the small number of VINs in the official recall. The defect significantly affects vehicle control and poses a risk of loss of steering at highway speeds. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate and consider INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Phantom braking problem. On a sunny day, I was driving 25:mph on a street that was being repaired. A steel plate was covering a hole. The system activated emergency braking, slamming on the brakes and flashing "brake" and beeping.

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and turning to the left or the right, the steering wheel was sticking and failed to return to center as designed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the steering gear box and rack and pinion were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 52,264.

I was traveling with my family and had just entered [XXX] I suddenly felt like I hit something like bags of sand...but nothing was there. My brother in back seat said it felt like a bowling ball hit sunroof. I slid open the protective guard and noticed all the glass in sun roof was pebbled and shattered. There were no overpasses nearby...there was little traffic as it was [XXX]. Not sure what happened. My insurance doesnt want to cover as they feel manufacturers defect. There is mention of several class action suits in progress online for imploding sunroofs, but I received no notices. Honda denies any defect and says not their problem. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

My power steering rack needs replacing. When I turn my steering wheel to the left it sticks and I have to pull it back right to go straight again. I took it to my local Honda dealer and they stated the steering rack needs replacing but it is not listed under recall from September 18, 2018, where other CRVs had steering issues. It is dangerous to drive and Honda isn't willing to help or stand by their product defects.

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while attempting to use the remote start, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle had to be started manually, and once started, the parking brake, air bags, check engine, TPMS, and the Service Vehicle warning lights were illuminated. The failure was intermittent; however, the warning lights occasionally illuminated while driving at various speeds or while idling. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while idling at a stop light, there was a loud pop coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated that the rear glass had fractured into several pieces without impact. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who confirmed that the glass needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was 102,000.

Power Steering rack. Same issue per Honda of Rutland VT that is stated in Safety Recall 18-103 Bulletin. I have a case with Honda #15771485 and they have just informed me that there is no coverage for the $6k expense because my VIN isn't included in the recall. This tells me the recall should be expanded! It's too much of a coincidence that my vehicle has the exact same issue as others of the same year/make/model. I have just 54k miles on this car and I'm being advised by my personal mechanic and two others (one being Honda of Rutland VT) that this part should last the life of the vehicle. I'm super frustrated and super disappointed in the quality of this vehicle/part and the fact that Honda isn't making good on it.

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the ongoing steering problems I have been experiencing with my 2018 Honda CR-V. This has made it difficult and even dangerous to operate the vehicle at highway speeds. Specifically, the steering wheel often becomes extremely hard to turn, creating a feeling that the power steering is not working as it should. Additionally, the steering wheel frequently fails to return to its center position after making a turn, further compromising my ability to control the vehicle safely. Upon researching this issue, I discovered that other CR-V owners have experienced similar steering problems. Furthermore, a recall (18V-663) was issued for some 2018 CR-Vs due to a potential problem with the torque sensor magnet in the electronic power steering system, which may result in unexpected steering behavior during full-lock turns.

Similar to the open investigation on these CRVs, we have had at least 3 occurrences of the vehicle activating automatic emergency breaking with nothing obstructing the vehicles path. There were, however, metal plates in the roadway to cover utility trenches. These are designed for vehicles to drive over them all day, every day, so the vehicle should not emergency stop. Although there were luckily no rear end collisions as a result of this, it was certainly possible given how abrupt the stop was.

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that there was white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a stop sign, the vehicle failed to exceed 30 MPH, and the emissions warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted and diagnosed that the turbo was consuming oil. The dealer confirmed there was no available appointment until June 2025 to repair the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The dealer also informed the contact that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V215000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

A fuel pump installed in my car on April 25 2025 due to the recall. The new fuel pump has rattled loose.

multipurpose (windshield) camera has failed on 5 occasions making adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance, forward collision warning and lane departure warning inoperable. Camera has been completely replaced twice at considerable expense. Dealer is scheduled to investigate again

Experience a "sticky" feeling in the steering wheel, increased effort to turn, and even difficulty controlling the vehicle, especially at higher speeds on highway.

Vehicle emergency braked with nothing in the path while driving 80mph on the highway. Car behind me had to swerve into the shoulder to avoid rear ending my vehicle.

When driving the electronic steering is sticky. To make slight adjustments it feels like you have to break it free and it results in an over correction of the steering. This has not been confirmed because the problem is not always present.

ALL dashboard warning lights and beeping alerts come on/cycle through for a few days. Then, things quiet down for a few days. Cruise control stops working when this happens. VERY ANNOYING and erodes confidence in the safety of the vehicle. PLEASE address this problem, which has been experienced by SO many others, with a RECALL fix as soon as possible.

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); 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. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Car was not able to shift into lower gears. Car would not accelerate when put in drive and drive did not illuminate on the dash. Gearshift was slipping between neutral and drive. mechanic got code of U3003–16. And U 04168. On a separate couple of occasions, the emergency brake system was activated when nothing was in the road

This issue occurs daily and has progressively worsened. Even with Lane Keep Assist (LKA) and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) turned off, there is noticeable resistance in the steering wheel. It happens at all speeds, but it's especially noticeable—and potentially dangerous—at higher speeds. The resistance is most apparent when turning the wheel to the right while the steering wheel is still positioned to the left of center. At the same time, it often makes a creaking or rubbing noise. Additionally, at lower speeds—such as during U-turns or in parking lots—I experience resistance and the same noise when re-centering the wheel after turning fully to the left. However, I don’t notice the issue when re-centering from a full right turn.

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that the steering wheel was abnormally loose, and easily turned. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the rack and pinion had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.

The steering gearbox mechanism is faulty. It causes the steering to be jerky and unstable, having to constantly adjust steering. We took it to the Honda Dealership in Ft. Walton Beach, FL for evaluation. They indicate "the steering gearbox is faulty and would need a new rack to fix issue". Cost to repair is approximately $4600. An independent mechanic locally also confirmed the same issue and provided a Honda Service Bulletin 18-103 showing this was a recall on 2017-2018 CRVs. Cost for them to repair (due to cost of parts) is nearly $7,000. Honda says our VIN is not covered under the recall. The car has only 55,000 miles on it and the steering gearbox is failing. At the direction of the local dealership service manager, we created a case with Honda corporate but they have denied the request to repair under prior recall. Honda directed us to the NCDS to file a request for review. NCDS denies the review since the CRV is out of warranty. Honda knows this was an issue on the 2017-2018 CRV and it is a safety issue and they refuse to repair it. I don't feel safe driving the car as I don't know when the steering gearbox will ultimately fail.

Steering wheel sticks when driving. There is a recall by honda but not my vin. I feel it is a safety hazard. Their motto is”safety #1 concern”. Don’t think so.

The infotainment display on my vehicle's dashboard flashes and emits a "beeping" sound frequently. The only way to remedy the problem is to pull off the road, shut down the engine and restart it. The flashing and beeping is not only annoying, but poses a safety hazard - particularly at night. I belong to a Honda CR-V owners group and my complaint is frequently echoed by other CR-V owners, so the problem is not limited to my vehicle. My Honda dealer will fix the problem for $1,600. I've been in touch with Honda corporate and they refuse to remedy the problem at their expense since my vehicle is out of warranty.

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds and turning the steering wheel, the steering wheel was sticking and returned to the center unintendedly. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V663000 (Steering). The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel jerked in the opposite direction and seized. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle had not yet been diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 78,500.

Steering sticks while cruising down the highway

In January 2023 our vehicle began having numerous issues with sensors, alarms, door locks, the car would turn itself on and drain the battery overnight and at times would not shut off without pulling the main fuse. Through research online it was clear that the problem was the Body Control Module (BCM). There are many, many reports online of the 2018 CRV having this problem, so I took it to the dealer and they had never heard of the issue. They tried to do diagnostics but had no way to determine if it was the BCM. Finally, I asked them to just replace the BCM even without a diagnosis, and after 2 months (there were significant back orders of this part) we were able to get it installed in the car and all was fine. Fast forward to last week (April 2025) and it’s starting up again - electronics turning on randomly, battery drain, windows going down in the garage, warning lights all illuminated, dead battery every day - so the BCM that was installed in 2023 has failed AGAIN. Honda absolutely knows about this issue as they have a recall for Accords. However, I paid $1000 to fix it in 2023 and will no doubt pay at least that much now to do it again. Meanwhile, the car is effectively inoperable and can’t be safely operated on the road. Honda needs to RECALL this issue and fix it for good.

In April 2025 my CRV had issues with acceleration. The speed reduced all of a sudden and car couldn't go more than 5 mph, so I took it to the repiar shop. The mechanic told me that cylinder #2 misfired. He replaced the spark plugs and the ignition coil. A few days later after driving for a few miles "Stop driving when safe, engine temperature too Hot" sign came up. I stopped driving immidiately and got the car towed to the repair shop. After testing the car the mechanic told me that the head gasket leaked and the coolant is mixing with the lubricant. He told me that there is damage to the engine so the engine need to be replaced. I was driving with kids in the car and I believe it compromised the safety of my family when the speed came down all of a sudden on the road and the car stopped accelerating.

Driving west on [xxx]. approaching [XXX] , at approximately [XXX] on [XXX], the collision mitigation braking system slammed on the car brakes without warning. There were zero objects in front of us and fortunately no one behind us. If we had been on the freeway, or if another vehicle had been following us, the incident could have resulted in accident and/or injury. Our safety continues to be at-risk. This occurred randomly and therefore could happen again at any time in any circumstance, and apparently has for other drivers of this make, model and year vehicle. The vehicle is scheduled for inspection 4/16/25 at 9:00 a.m. at Stockton Honda in Sandy, Utah. That said, after researching this issue, we found that NHTSA has had an on-going investigation into this issue since February of 2022. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I received a recall notice for this vehicle. When I called my nearest Honda, Leadcar Honda, in Yorkville, NY, they stated that they could not get my vehicle in for recall repairs until August of 2025. I called in March of 2025.

As I was driving about 20 mph on a two lane road through a neighborhood, I went through an area with cones on either side of the road where the road narrowed some because of construction. There were large metal or steel plates covering the road for about 4 feet or so over the asphalt, but nothing that impeded driving forward. As I approached that area, my car’s BRAKE message flashed a few times and beeped before my car abruptly slammed to a stop in the middle of the road, shortly before the metal plates. This happened so quickly that I was unable to react when I first saw the flashing “brake” message and heard the beeping. No one was behind me so I didn’t get hit, but I would have if someone had been following

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Forward Collision Avoidance”, “Brakes", and several other unknown safety features were displayed. The failure caused the cruise control to become inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

My vehicle became difficult to steer, similar to driving with all the tires low on air. I made an appointment with Proctor Honda. They determined the Electronic Power Steering Rack was sticking and replaced it with a 5320-TLB-A23 : G/BOX ASSY, EPS. Honda assured me this was not a recall issue. After paying the $4365.66 repair charge, I determined there was a Service Bulletin 23-037 issued for this same problem. It applied to 2018 Honda CRVs. However, it only covered 54 vehicles and my vehicle was not included. This seems unreasonable given it appears to be the identical issue as the vehicles subject to the recall. I'm a 76 year old female and have no means to challenge this other than to ask for your help in determining if I am being treated fairly. If it truly is not the same issue, then I understand. Mileage is 87,661.

The steering in the steering column feels "sticky." I see that Honda issued a recall on some VINs for my vehicle, but not my specific one. Even Honda says it is a dangerous problem that can cause a serious accident. But they refuse to do anything about it for my VIN even though I am having the exact problem they described. I have been quoted a ridiculous amount to fix it. Honda is clearly prioritizing money over safety by not issuing a recall.

Steering has become sticky when making minor steering adjustments, has become more prevalent over past few months. Very concerning, fearful of failure if driving highway speeds.

Steering sticks. Most noticeable at highway speeds when making sweeping turns. When trying to correct steering or exiting the turn it sticks and requires more force to un-stick it. This makes driving difficult. This has been happening for several months and seems to be getting worse.

Vehicle is currently in the shop due to safety sensors and cameras. The car has less than 70k miles and is excellent condition. But when I started my car all the sensors did not work.

Steering initially sticks when attempting to change lanes and "grabs" when going straight. Has occurred numerous times, whenever we drive the car.

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); 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. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

The 1.5L turbo engine in my 2018 Honda CR-V is experiencing oil dilution. Raw fuel mixes with the engine oil, lowering flashpoint and thinning viscosity. This creates a fire risk, loss of lubrication, accelerated engine wear, and potential stalling. Honda issued TSBs, but the problem persists. This is a serious safety defect.

CLICKING NOISE AND STICKY FEELING WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT(NOT CONTINUOUS) AND A LIGHT JERKY AT TIMES STARTED ABOUT A WEEK AGO (STARTED MARCH 24,2025) MILEAGE 64405

Steering on freeway sticks when turning.

The driver side sun visor will not stay in a stowed position. Instead, it flops down and blocks my view of the road. It has become progressively worse. I have tried moving the visor to the side position so I can see out of the front windshield but that creates another safety issue because it is so loose that it literally swings when I turn or go over any bumps and hits me causing another major safety distraction. By not being able to see without obstruction, my daily drive is much more hazardous. I've shown this to the dealer who said that the issue is "VERY COMMON" and that the failure is due to the internal parts of the visor simply breaking and rendering the car visor to be useless for its' intended purpose and dangerous as it now obstructs view and swings uncontrollably when car is in motion. This is now a constant safety hazard.

Steering Safety Complaint – 2018 Honda CR-V (Sticky/Resistant Steering) This is to formally document a persistent safety defect in my 2018 Honda CR-V. The steering is continually sticky and fails to return to center smoothly, requiring ongoing corrections and posing a safety hazard. This issue exactly matches the symptoms in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V663000, though my vehicle is not included in the recall. Honda informed me that only vehicles from specific manufacturing locations are covered—even though many 2018 CR-Vs are reporting identical problems. According to [XXX], over 150 steering-related complaints exist for the 2018 CR-V, and your own organization is currently investigating more than 532,000 Honda and Acura vehicles for similar steering issues. I contacted both a local Honda dealer and Honda Headquarters. Both advised me to visit a Honda service center for a paid inspection. My mechanic already diagnosed the issue and quoted $3,000–$4,000 for a full steering column replacement. There is no assurance Honda will assist with these costs, but an expanded recall will increase the chances of reimbursement. This complaint should be included in the NHTSA investigation, as it clearly demonstrates that the steering defect impacts vehicles beyond those currently recalled. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Driving i would lose all power like inwas out of gas. Would let it sit for a few minutes and it would run normally for a while then stall on the side of the road. Happened 2 times on the interstate and one on a back road.

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

This morning, March 5, 2025, while driving to work, my 2018 CR-V abruptly stopped in the middle of an intersection with no need and little warning. Thank God nobody was behind me at the time. Everything not bolted or belted down came forward immediately. After the incident I pulled into a convenience store to regroup, calm down and turn off my automatic braking system which I no longer trust. I have a short, 15 second video (mp4) from my dash cam but was unable to attach it for this report.

STEERING "STICKY STEERING CHECK STEERING THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS IN CERTAIN SPOTS ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING WHEEL

During a full turn to the right that car applied to a opposite side very hard. same situation was recall on 2018 NHTSA ID: 18V663000