Honda CR-V 2002–2006
2nd generation · RD4-RD7 (US)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20262,968 complaints, 2,060 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 40,000 and 120,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 70 complaints (3.4%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 10,000
- 25%
- 40,000
- Median
- 76,000
- 75%
- 120,000
- 90%
- 164,537
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 137 | 6.7% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 69 | 3.3% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 68 | 3.3% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 49 | 2.4% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 44 | 2.1% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 43 | 2.1% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 58 | 2.8% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 34 | 1.7% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 67 | 3.3% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 67 | 3.3% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 76 | 3.7% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 45 | 2.2% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 86 | 4.2% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 75 | 3.6% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 70 | 3.4% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 79 | 3.8% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 68 | 3.3% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 57 | 2.8% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 65 | 3.2% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 64 | 3.1% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 77 | 3.7% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 39 | 1.9% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 54 | 2.6% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 50 | 2.4% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 46 | 2.2% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 36 | 1.7% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 39 | 1.9% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 32 | 1.6% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 47 | 2.3% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 15 | 0.7% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 29 | 1.4% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 28 | 1.4% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 44 | 2.1% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 16 | 0.8% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 26 | 1.3% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 22 | 1.1% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 30 | 1.5% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 8 | 0.4% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 23 | 1.1% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 8 | 0.4% |
| 200,000+ | 70 | 3.4% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 2,968 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002–2006 Honda CR-V, and 2,060 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 40,000 and 120,000 miles. The median is 76,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the airbag system (19.5% of complaints, typically around 98,000 miles), the exterior lighting (13.8% of complaints, typically around 96,000 miles), the electrical system (12.9% of complaints, typically around 92,000 miles).
15 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Airbag system98,000median 98,000 miles, middle half 48,000 to 145,000
- Exterior lighting96,000median 96,000 miles, middle half 62,000 to 138,000
- Electrical system92,000median 91,850 miles, middle half 52,000 to 138,000
- Engine and its cooling system60,000median 60,000 miles, middle half 15,000 to 80,000
- Transmission and driveline43,000median 43,000 miles, middle half 25,000 to 71,000
- Problems owners could not categorise90,000median 90,000 miles, middle half 51,000 to 140,000
- Equipment70,000median 70,000 miles, middle half 50,000 to 99,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag system | 578 | 19.5% | 98,000 | 48,000–145,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 410 | 13.8% | 96,000 | 62,000–138,000 |
| Electrical system | 383 | 12.9% | 92,000 | 52,000–138,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 320 | 10.8% | 60,000 | 15,000–80,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 114 | 3.8% | 43,000 | 25,000–71,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 111 | 3.7% | 90,000 | 51,000–140,000 |
| Equipment | 110 | 3.7% | 70,000 | 50,000–99,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 104 | 3.5% | 77,000 | 50,000–120,000 |
| Visibility equipment | 92 | 3.1% | 84,000 | 44,000–140,000 |
| Suspension | 90 | 3.0% | 18,000 | 100–92,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 76,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The airbag system accounts for 19.5% of complaints (578 reports, 245 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 98,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 48,162 and 145,000 miles.
The exterior lighting accounts for 13.8% of complaints (410 reports, 337 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 96,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 62,000 and 138,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 12.9% of complaints (383 reports, 288 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 91,850 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 52,000 and 138,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 10.8% of complaints (320 reports, 262 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,000 and 80,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 3.8% of complaints (114 reports, 89 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 43,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 25,000 and 71,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 3.7% of complaints (111 reports, 61 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 90,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 51,137 and 140,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2002 model year drew the most — 661 complaints — while 2006 drew the fewest at 522. The median year sits at 602.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 15 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (10), visibility equipment (2), the exterior lighting (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 2,968 complaints filed against this generation, 255 reported a crash; 139 reported a fire; 206 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 8.6% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 40,000 and 120,000 miles, with a median of 76,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the airbag system and the exterior lighting are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The exterior lighting in particular shows a median failure mileage of 96,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Electrical 2002–2004
Driver's door master power window switch can short internally when liquid enters, overheat and start a fire; subject of a large Honda recall.
Hvac
A/C compressor clutch and condenser failure with system contamination.
Drivetrain
Rear differential judder from degraded Dual Pump Fluid, carried over from the first generation.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 661 | 430 |
| 2003 | 580 | 416 |
| 2004 | 603 | 426 |
| 2005 | 602 | 401 |
| 2006 | 522 | 387 |
Recalls (15)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 20V768000 | 2021-01-29 | Visibility:power Window Devices and Controls |
| 19V501000 | 2019-08-12 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 19V499000 | 2019-08-12 | Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
| 19V182000 | 2019-04-10 | Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
| 18V268000 | 2018-06-22 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 17V029000 | 2017-02-27 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 16V344000 | 2016-06-29 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 15V370000 | 2015-07-01 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 15V320000 | 2015-07-01 | Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
| 14V700000 | 2015-01-26 | Air Bags |
| 14V353000 | 2014-09-12 | Air Bags |
| 12V486000 | 2012-11-02 | Visibility:power Window Devices and Controls |
| 12V136000 | 2012-04-27 | Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch |
| 12V124000 | 2012-04-17 | Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm |
| 11V456000 | 2011-09-30 | Electrical System |
What owners reported
There should be a rubber flap of some kind to close of the large opening in the wheel well area where the steering rods come through to the wheel. This large opening lets water, mud, snow & slush spray up into the engine compartment covering the engine, battery, brake and power steering fluid containers so that they…
2002 · 200 miles · Wheels
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that the front driver and passenger side doors failed to manually lock or unlock. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer. The technician diagnosed that the driver's side door lock actuator and the driver and passenger side door cylinder needed to be…
2002 · 200 miles · Latches and locks
Repeated mechanical failures of the 2002 Honda crv that i bought brand new have been occurring since august of 2002. The car was bought in july of 2002. The odor from the inside cabin filter first occurred in august. The fuse to the warning devise that would alert the driver to lights being left on, etc. Went out…
2002 · 300 miles · Airbag system
When applying pressure to the brake pedal a "clanking" noise is heard. Dealer has to replace the clips that hold the brake pads in place. *Ak approximately two months after purchasing the vehicle consumer heard and felt a loud clunk noise in the brakes. Dealership advised this was a "normal…
2002 · 400 miles · Hydraulic brake circuit
Built from 2,060 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page