Is the 2003 Honda CR-V a bad year?
468 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 87, 3.1× a quiet CR-V year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 28k–84k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2003 CR-V owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 65,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 125 (27%) | 40k–142k miles · around this mileage | — |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 53 (11%) | 10k–99k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 62 (13%) | 58k–132k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine and cooling | 34 (7%) | 55k–80k miles · around this mileage | Water pump replacement $400–$1,106 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Speed control | 32 (7%) | 52k–109k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Equipment | 31 (7%) | 49k–80k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 24 (5%) | 53k–144k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 18 (4%) | 15k–100k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Latches and locks | 17 (4%) | 37k–96k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 14 (3%) | 50k–126k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 14 (3%) | 20k–121k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Suspension | 13 (3%) | 15k–126k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Fuel system | 12 (3%) | 12k–122k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Seat belts | 12 (3%) | 41k–110k miles · around this mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 65,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 468 complaints: 44 mention a crash · 25 mention a fire · 32 report an injury · 5 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Aug 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
The air conditioning on my 2003 Honda CR-V suddenly began to blow warm air and make noise under the hood.
My 2003 Honda CR-V A/C starts blowing warm air on july 7th, the same day afternoon I heard rattling sound in engine compartment.
A loud rattling noise suddenly started in the engine compartment while driving and the air conditioner stopped cooling.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 65,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2003 Honda CR-V: 14
Moisture may enter the driver side power window master switch, causing the switch to fail or melt. If the switch fails, it could overheat and smoke, increasing the risk of a fire.
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. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode. An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement. An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The affected vehicles have a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the passenger seat occupant or other occupants possibly causing serious injury or death.
The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture. 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.
Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The driver-side power window switch may fail or melt. If the switch fails, it could overheat, smoke, and cause a fire. A switch failure, and a fire, could occur even if the vehicle is not in use. As a precaution, owners are advised to park outside until the recall repair has been performed.
In august 2012, Honda informed the agency that it was including an additional 820,789 vehicles including certain model year 2004 and 2005 pilots and model year 2002 and 2003 civics. If the terminal ends melt within the wiring harness connector, the low beam headlights may become inoperative, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Certain curved tempered replacement glass manufactured by hangzhou safety glass ltd and supplied to safelite by auto temp inc., identified as DOT-430, and sold for use on certain domestic and foreign vehicles may not break into small pieces as expected of tempered glass and fails to conform to federal motor vehicle… In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant(S) may be seriously injured by shattered glass.
On certain sport utility vehicles, the wire harness of the driver's front air bag was incorrectly wired. In the event of a crash, the air bag inflation rate would be incorrect, which could increase the risk of injury to the driver.
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions, excessive corrosion of the shift cable linkage could prevent the driver from shifting the automatic transmission into park. If the vehicle operator fails to engage the parking brake, the vehicle could roll and a crash could occur. Dealers will inspect the shift cable linkage for corrosion. If corrosion causes binding, they will replace the shift cable.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Honda: 33
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2003 Honda CR-V. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The MIL comes on with one of these DTCs: P2646/P2651 (Rocker arm oil pressure switch circuit low voltage)
Honda CR-V: after stopping engine stalls or stumbles
Today, december 18, 2015, american Honda motor co., inc. Will notify NHTSA of an expansion to the range of CR-V vehicles affected by bulletin 15-067…
In certain vehicles, the driver s (Front) airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment
NHTSA defect investigations: 8
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Low Beam Headlights Stop Illuminating
Low Beam Headlights Stop Working
Neighbouring years
2002 CR-V: 515 complaints, keep it · 2004 CR-V: 501 complaints, consider selling.
Every Honda CR-V year
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Questions
Is the 2003 Honda CR-V a bad year?
468 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 87, 3.1× a quiet CR-V year. At 65,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 28k–84k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Honda CR-V?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (125), engine (53), electrical system (62), engine and cooling (34), speed control (32). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 28k–84k miles.
How many recalls does the 2003 Honda CR-V have?
14 recall campaigns list this model year: Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 20V-768), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-501), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-499), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-182) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.