2018 Honda CR-V: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
2,127 NHTSA owner complaints · 5 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
For six years the fourth-generation CR-V (2012–2016) was one of the most dependable cars in the dataset, scoring in the 80s. Then the fifth generation arrived in 2017 with a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine, and the record turned: petrol diluting the engine oil in cold climates, rising oil levels, misfires and stalling, and a heater that would not warm the cabin in winter. Read the full note on the model page. 2018 specifically: this is one of the years the note above says to approach with care — 2,127 complaints on record, verdict AVOID.
Read the guide
Used Honda CR-V: the years to buy and the years to avoid, including 2018 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 2,127 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 265.88
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
[XXX] It's security risk, Honda customer service not taking any ownership. Anything happens to my family who is going to take responsibility. Please open case against and help all customers who owns HONDA car. I done what ever honda delears recommanded and paid alomost $2000. Please take some action ASAP anything happens to me or my family then HONDA and NHTSA are responsible. Waiting your reply via email and mai…
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while reversing out of the garage, the ABS, traction control, braking system, and check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic and was diagnosed with fuel injector failure. The vehicle was scheduled to be repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the issue by the mechanic. The failure mileage was approximately 55,00…
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power and jolted to a complete stop. The vehicle independently restarted. There was no warning light illuminated; however, the message “BRAKE” was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed; however, the contact was informed that no cause for the failure was fou…
Recalls: 5 campaigns (5 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 23V158000 | 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. |
| 23V858000 | 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… |
| 26V332000 | 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… |
| 21V215000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 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… |
| 18V663000 | 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. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 27 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,300
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Engine525 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Forward Collision Avoidance391 complaints · typical job: Radar or camera module replacement and calibration (3.0 h labour + parts)$780–$2,160
- Fuel/Propulsion System367 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
- Steering320 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
- Electrical System278 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Fuel System230 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
Other Honda CR-V years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Honda CR-V?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (525 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2018 Honda CR-V a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is AVOID with a reliability score of 31/100, computed from 2,127 NHTSA complaints and 5 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2018 Honda CR-V's most common problem?
525 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2018 Honda CR-V sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2018 Honda CR-V cost to run per year?
About $9,141 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $45,705 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2018 Honda CR-V have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for the 2018 Honda CR-V, 5 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 09/03/2023. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compact suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2018 Honda CR-V really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 2,127 complaints, 5 recalls on record
- 2127 NHTSA complaints on record (265.9/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (63.0/yr)
- 5 recall campaigns, 5 touching safety-critical systems