UsedScore

2009 Honda CR-V: Best bet

Owners filed 63 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Honda CR-V in its first five years on the road, about 33 for every 100,000 sold: 0.5× the rate of a typical CR-V year. That's among the fewest of any CR-V year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the air bags (11% of complaints, median 23,000 miles).

Complaint index
0.5×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical CR-V year
Rank
1st of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
63
first five years; 33 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
12
campaigns
3rd generation, 2007–2011 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2007 Honda CR-V LX

Photo: 2007 Honda CR-V LX · IFCAR, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Air bags11% · 7 complaints · median 23,000 miles
  2. Brakes6% · 4 complaints
  3. Speed control10% · 6 complaints · median 5,000 miles
  4. Wheels and tires22% · 14 complaints · median 22,000 miles
  5. Electrical17% · 11 complaints · median 48,000 miles
  6. Engine8% · 5 complaints
  7. Body and structure5% · 3 complaints
  8. Steering8% · 5 complaints · median 28,000 miles
  9. Doors and latches10% · 6 complaints · median 55,000 miles
  10. Powertrain6% · 4 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Air bags

Owners describe crashes in which the air bags did not deploy, sometimes resulting in injuries, alongside long waits for Takata recall repairs due to parts shortages. Many say dealers could only replace one side's air bag at a time, leaving them driving with an unrepaired inflator for months.

Warning signs:
Some owners noticed an illuminated air bag warning light or smoke and chemical odor from the dashboard after a crash where bags did not deploy.
What shops did:
Dealers replaced drivers' air bags under the Takata recall but many owners report parts for passenger inflators remained unavailable for months, with some vehicles driven or towed unrepaired.
Mileage:
most between 55,000 and 100,000 miles, among 29 complaints that give it

“The air bags failed to deploy however, chemicals were seen coming from the dashboard and the footwell”

“The only air bag to inflate on drivers side that was on the ground was the one in the steering column”

Brakes

Some 2009 CR-V owners describe brake pedals that feel spongy or sink toward the floor, along with VSA warning lights and occasional sudden lock-up. Dealers have repeatedly replaced parts and bled the brake lines, but a few owners say the issue kept recurring.

Warning signs:
Owners report a squishy or low brake pedal, VSA warning lights illuminating, throbbing noise at low speed, and sudden loss of braking or acceleration.
What shops did:
Dealers replaced brake switches, VSA modulators, master cylinders and brake boosters, bled brake lines multiple times, but some owners report the problem returned or was never resolved.
Mileage:
most between 15,000 and 50,000 miles, among 8 complaints that give it

“Brake pedal continues to be squishy, having to be pushed all the way down to the floor to stop”

“the brake booster went bad. Replaced that at a ridiculous cost being that he had to take apart the steering column to get to the part”

Speed control

Owners describe their CR-V unexpectedly speeding up on its own, often at low speeds while parking or stopped at lights, sometimes leading to crashes. Dealers frequently could not reproduce or diagnose the issue, leaving owners uncertain about the cause.

Warning signs:
Several note engine revving or RPM climbing while stopped or braking, and a few mention the accelerator pedal feeling stuck; some report prior air conditioning or belt issues.
What shops did:
Some owners say dealers test drove or inspected the vehicle but could not duplicate or find the cause, and left it unrepaired; one mentions a recall part being unavailable.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 75,000 miles, among 11 complaints that give it

“While attempting to park at speeds of 2 MPH, the vehicle had abnormally accelerated without warrant”

“My gas pedal went down on its own as if I wanted to speed up”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (12)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 23V228000March 2023616,128 vehicles

    Structure: frame and members

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2007-2011 CR-V vehicles that were sold, or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin. An accumulation of road salt may cause the frame to corrode and possibly detach the rear trailing arm.

    Risk: A detached rear trailing arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will inspect and install a support brace or repair the rear frame, as necessary, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 19V500000June 20191,558 vehicles

    Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 19V502000June 20199,555 vehicles

    Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 19V378000May 201919,138 vehicles

    Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.

    Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 18V268000April 20181,335 vehicles

    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 bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.

    Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 18V042000January 2018691,726 vehicles

    Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX, ZDX, Honda Accord Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot vehicles, 2011-13 Acura TSX Sportswagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord,, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles and 2013 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2012 Acura TSX, Honda Accord, Accord Crosstour, Fit and Pilot, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid and CR-V, and 2010 Acura ZDX and Honda Insight vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Unless included in Zones A or B above, Honda is recalling certain 2009 Acura TSX, Honda Accord, Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid, CR-V, Fit, and Pilot vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 17V545000August 20173,257 vehicles

    Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2008-2012 Accord, 2010-2012 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2012 Fit and Pilot, 2010-2012 Insight, and 2009-2012 Acura TSX vehicles that received replacement passenger frontal air bag inflators. One dealership may have incorrectly installed the replacement air bag inflators.

    Risk: In the event of a crash, an incorrectly installed passenger frontal air bag inflator may deploy the air bag improperly, increasing the risk of injury.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 17V417000June 2017629 vehicles

    Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Honda CR-V vehicles which have had the passenger frontal air bag replaced. The air bag inflator repair kit may have been assembled by the supplier with an incorrect wire harness.

    Risk: If an inflator with an incorrect wire harness is installed, the air bag may not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 17V030000January 2017977,708 vehicles

    Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Acura TSX, 2011-2012 Acura TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Acura ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2012 Honda Accord Crosstour and Honda Insight, 2009-2012 Honda Fit, 2009-2012 Pilot, 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2012 Honda FCX Clarity and 2006-2011 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid, Civic NGV vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain 2009 Acura TSX, Honda Fit and Pilot, 2008-2009 Honda Accord, 2006-2009 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, and 2007-2009 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, if not included in "Zone B" above, Honda is recalling certain 2008 Honda Accord, 2006-2008 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV and 2007-2008 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 16V346000May 20162,719,386 vehicles

    Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Acura TSX, 2011 TSX Wagon, 2010-2011 Acura ZDX, 2008-2011 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid, and Civic GX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2010-2011 FCX Clarity and Insight, and 2009-2011 Fit, and Pilot vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless already included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain model year 2008 Honda Accord, 2006-2008 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic GX, and 2007-2008 CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Vehicles not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 16V061000February 20162,232,187 vehicles

    Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-2013 Acura ZDX vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

    Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 11V395000August 20111,512,107 vehicles

    Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)

    Honda is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 accord, 2007-2010 cr-v, and 2005-2008 element passenger cars manufactured from july 1, 2004, through september 3, 2010. The outer race of the secondary shaft bearing may be broken during certain driving styles. A broken outer race may cause abnormal noise, the malfunction indicator light to turn on, and allow contact between the transmission idle gear and an electronic sensor housing within the transmission.

    Risk: This could result in a short circuit causing the engine to stall. Additionally, broken pieces of the outer race or ball bearing from the secondary shaft may become lodged in the parking pawl resulting in the vehicle rolling after the driver has placed the gear selector in the park position. Engine stall and unexpected vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash or personal injury to persons within the path of a rolling vehicle.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners and dealers will update the automatic transmission control module software free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Honda sent NHTSA 89 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2009 CR-V. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • A18-066 · June 2026Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Front Passenger's Airbag Inflator.
  • A18-048 · February 2026Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Driver's Airbag Inflator for 2007-11 CR-V and Other Listed Years and Models.
  • A20-011 · March 2020This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators.
  • A20-016 · March 2020This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators.
  • A18-117 · May 2019American Honda is conducting an inspection of certain vehicles that have previously had the passenger's airbag inflator replaced as part of the Takata Passsenger's Airbag Inflator recall.
  • A18-115 · October 2018American Honda is conducting an inspection of certain vehicles that have previously had the passenger's airbag inflator replaced as part of the Takata Passsenger's Airbag Inflator recall.
  • A18-055 · June 2018This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators.
  • A18-052 · June 2018This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators.

All 2009 CR-V bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2009 Honda CR-V reliable?
Owners filed 63 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Honda CR-V in its first five years on the road, about 33 for every 100,000 sold: 0.5× the rate of a typical CR-V year. That's among the fewest of any CR-V year. Ratings compare CR-V years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2009 CR-V problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the air bags (11%), the brakes (6%) and speed control (10%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2009 Honda CR-V been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns for the 2009 Honda CR-V, the most recent in March 2023 (structure). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Honda. The 2009 Honda CR-V on NHTSA.gov · How we rate