2018 Honda CR-V: problems, recalls and what it’s worth
NHTSA has 1 open defect investigation (not a recall). Known weak spot on this generation: 1.5L turbo — fuel-in-oil dilution. 5 recall campaigns to confirm with a dealer. A lot of owner complaints, 28% about fuel system.
Pull the dipstick and smell it for gasoline; check whether the oil level is ABOVE full. Confirm the software update / warranty-extension work was done.
Known problems on the 2018 Honda CR-V
1.5L turbo — fuel-in-oil dilution $200–$1,500 to fix
If equipped with the 1.5T, this generation dilutes its oil with fuel, badly in cold climates — rising oil level, a fuel smell, rough cold running. Honda issued a service bulletin, a software update, and a warranty extension; some markets got a recall.
Check for: Pull the dipstick and smell it for gasoline; check whether the oil level is ABOVE full. Confirm the software update / warranty-extension work was done.
Basis: Honda 1.5T oil-dilution TSB & warranty extension; NHTSA; overseas recalls
Known patterns for this year and model, not findings about one car. A well-kept example may already have had the fix. Costs are rough US shop prices.
2018 Honda CR-V recalls
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2018 Honda CR-V. Repairs are free at a dealer for the brand, and a dealer can confirm by VIN which were already done.
- Airbags
Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Details 26V332000
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.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
- Seat belts
An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Details 23V158000
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.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belt buckle release buttons or the buckle assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 18, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are NDA, QDB, BDC, MDD, LD9. TDF, FDG, ODH, YDI, ZDE.
- Fuel system
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Details 23V858000
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.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
- Fuel system
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Details 21V215000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 CR-V vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-314.
- Steering
The unintended steering input reduces vehicle maneuverability and increases the risk of a crash.
Details 18V663000
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.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gearbox assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are C2N, P2O.
2018 Honda CR-V safety investigations and free repairs
Under investigation (not a recall):
- Inadvertent automatic emergency braking since Apr 2024
Ask the seller if the car has had this problem.
Free repairs to ask about (warranty extensions):
- Engine: American Honda is extending the powertrain warranty on the camshafts and rocker arm assemblies from the original 5 years/60,000 miles to 6 years/unlimited miles from the original date of sale.
- Heat and A/C: This bulletin is replaced by S/B 19-032, Warranty Extension: 2017-18 CR-V: Software Update with A/C Replacement; DTC P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304, or P0172; Whirling Noise from Engine.
A dealer for the brand can check these by VIN.
Source: NHTSA, Sep 24, 2026.
2018 Honda CR-V safety and fuel
From NHTSA’s crash tests and the EPA’s fueleconomy.gov.
What owners complain about
2,139 complaints filed with NHTSA for this year and model, which is a lot.
Share of complaints that mention each area. One complaint can mention several.
What a 2018 Honda CR-V is worth
Rough trade-in values — roughly what a dealer would pay — by mileage, from published trade-in guides. Private sales and dealer prices run higher. For the exact car, add its VIN.
| Mileage | Trade-in (rough) |
|---|---|
| 40,000 mi | $17,950 |
| 80,000 mi | $14,790 |
From new to now
What each Honda CR-V model year trades in for today at typical mileage.
Typical mileage = 12,000 miles a year; values between two published mileages are estimated in a straight line. “New” is the base price (cheapest version) as published, give or take destination fees; higher trims cost more.
Other Honda CR-V years
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Printable inspection checklist · Out-the-door price calculator