UsedScore

2017 Honda CR-V: Avoid

Owners filed 1,057 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Honda CR-V in its first five years on the road, about 284 for every 100,000 sold: 3.3× the rate of a typical CR-V year. That's more than twice a typical year, across more than one problem area.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the engine (36% of complaints, median 14,000 miles).

Complaint index
3.3×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical CR-V year
Rank
14th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
1,057
first five years; 284 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
7
campaigns
5th generation, 2017–2022 (first year of the generation; redesign years often run worse) · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2017 Honda CR-V

Photo: 2017 Honda CR-V · Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Engine36% · 382 complaints · median 14,000 miles
  2. Electrical22% · 234 complaints · median 19,000 miles
  3. Fuel and propulsion20% · 207 complaints · median 15,000 miles
  4. Brakes13% · 142 complaints · median 20,000 miles
  5. Powertrain9% · 97 complaints · median 20,000 miles
  6. Air bags2% · 24 complaints · median 17,000 miles
  7. Seats and belts3% · 33 complaints · median 6,000 miles
  8. Body and structure2% · 24 complaints · median 13,000 miles
  9. Speed control3% · 35 complaints · median 19,000 miles
  10. Driver assistance3% · 36 complaints · median 45,000 miles

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

Electrical

Owners describe their 2017 CR-V's battery draining overnight or after short parking periods, sometimes tied to a service bulletin, along with dash displays and safety systems intermittently failing or blacking out while driving. Dealers often struggled to diagnose the cause and repairs did not always resolve the issue.

Warning signs:
Many report a dead or slowly draining battery after parking, dash warning lights for brakes, VSA, ACC, and lane systems flickering on, or displays freezing or going black while driving.
What shops did:
Dealers often could not duplicate or find the cause, sometimes replaced the battery, applied a software update or service bulletin 17-032, or found no error codes at all.
Mileage:
most between 10,000 and 35,000 miles, among 215 complaints that give it

“Five times the battery drained completely with nothing on, after sitting unused, garaged, over night or after one day unused”

“The only way to correct this issue is to pull over, turn the car off, wait, and then restart. The system checks itself and resets”

Engine

Many owners of this model report gasoline seeping into the engine oil, most noticeably in cold weather and on short drives, causing a fuel smell and overfilled oil on the dipstick. Dealers often just changed the oil repeatedly, with owners saying no lasting fix was available and some experiencing stalling or power loss.

Warning signs:
Owners report a strong gasoline smell in the cabin or on the oil dipstick, oil rising well above the full mark, poor cabin heat at idle, and some describe sudden power loss, hesitation, or stalling.
What shops did:
Dealers typically changed or drained the oil, and some ran diagnostics, replaced injectors, updated software, or swapped engine components, but many owners say no permanent fix was offered and the dilution recurred.
Mileage:
most between 10,000 and 30,000 miles, among 344 complaints that give it

“During the first oil change we removed over 5 quarts of liquid. The owners manual states that the car holds only 3.7 quarts of oil.”

“Oil volume increases over time. Ok smells like gasoline and turns black. Heater barely works in the winter.”

Fuel and propulsion

Many 2017 CR-V owners describe gasoline leaking into the engine oil, causing overfilled, fuel-smelling oil and sometimes a strong gas odor inside the car. Dealers frequently could only change the oil repeatedly, with some owners reporting stalling, power loss, or long waits for a permanent fix.

Warning signs:
Owners report a strong gasoline odor in the cabin, garage, or from the oil dipstick, along with warning lights, rough running, or hesitation before problems worsened.
What shops did:
Dealers most often changed the oil, sometimes updated software, and told owners no permanent fix existed, though a few later received a software update or oil-related repair.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 40,000 miles, among 180 complaints that give it

“The oil dipstick smells like gas and there is a gasoline smell in the cabin when the heat is on.”

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

Recalls (7)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 26V332000May 202698,892 vehicles

    Air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

    Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 23V858000December 20232,490,460 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 23V524000July 20235 vehicles

    Equipment: other: labels

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017, 2020, and 2022 CR-V vehicles. The certification label on the driver's side door states incorrect Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR), and tire size information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

    Risk: An incorrectly sized tire may cause premature tread wear, or a tire blow out, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will install a new corrected label, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 23V158000March 2023448,613 vehicles

    Seat belts: front: buckle assembly

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2020 CR-V, 2018-2019 Accord and Accord Hybrid, 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019 Insight, and 2019-2020 Acura RDX vehicles. A manufacturing issue with the front seat belts may cause the seat belt buckle channel to interfere with the release button, preventing the seat belt buckle from latching.

    Risk: An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belt buckle release buttons or the buckle assemblies as necessary, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 18V663000September 201854 vehicles

    Steering: electric power assist system

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Honda Civic and CR-V vehicles. The magnet that controls the torque sensor output signal for the electronic power steering system may not be properly secured, allowing the magnet to become dislodged. During a full lock turn, the dislodged magnet may cause steering assist to be applied in the opposite direction.

    Risk: The unintended steering input reduces vehicle maneuverability and increases the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gearbox assembly, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 17V442000July 201732,233 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017 Honda CR-V 2WD and AWD vehicles. The affected vehicles have a fuel supply pipe that may have been improperly manufactured, possibly resulting in the pipe disconnecting and leaking while driving.

    Risk: If the pipe disconnects, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, the disconnected pipe may leak fuel, which, in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel supply pipe, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 17V256000April 20171,425 vehicles

    Equipment: other: labels

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017 CR-V and Acura RDX vehicles. The Certification Labels on the affected vehicles were printed with ink that may be inadvertently wiped away with an alcohol solvent. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."

    Risk: If the label information can be wiped away, the operator may not be able to refer to the information, possibly resulting in the vehicle being overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Honda and Acura will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Certification Label, 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 289 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2017 CR-V. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • A26-098 · August 2026Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, misfire, and/or DTCs P0300 thru P0304 stored.
  • A26-016 · August 2026Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, misfire and/or DTCs P0300 thru P0304 stored.
  • AEBM08262026901 · August 2026Dealer Message - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, misfire, and/or DTCs P0300 through…
  • A25-077 · July 2025Oil leak at timing chain tensioner inspection cover due to possible insufficient sealant adhesion on inspection cover.
  • ATI&10112024901 · October 2024Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
  • ATI&09202024901 · September 2024Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
  • ATI&09112024907 · September 2024Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
  • ATI&08262024902 · August 2024Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

All 2017 CR-V bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2017 Honda CR-V reliable?
Owners filed 1,057 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Honda CR-V in its first five years on the road, about 284 for every 100,000 sold: 3.3× the rate of a typical CR-V year. That's more than twice a typical year, across more than one problem area. 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 2017 CR-V problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the engine (36%), the electrical system (22%) and the fuel or propulsion system (20%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2017 Honda CR-V been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2017 Honda CR-V, the most recent in May 2026 (air bags). 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 2017 Honda CR-V on NHTSA.gov · How we rate