Is the 2004 Honda CR-V a bad year?
501 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 146, 5.2× a quiet CR-V year.
Consider selling
Half of all engine complaints about the 2004 Honda CR-V were filed between 10k and 82k miles. You're at 60,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2004 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 60,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 103 (21%) | 53k–143k miles · around this mileage | — |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 96 (19%) | 5k–71k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Engine and coolingSTANDS OUT | 51 (10%) | 53k–92k miles · around this mileage | Water pump replacement $400–$1,106 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 73 (15%) | 51k–149k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Equipment | 35 (7%) | 50k–93k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 20 (4%) | 35k–127k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 18 (4%) | 6k–80k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Speed control | 18 (4%) | 52k–112k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 17 (3%) | 43k–110k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 14 (3%) | 45k–95k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 13 (3%) | 20k–80k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 13 (3%) | 19k–75k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Steering | 11 (2%) | 0k–69k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Suspension | 11 (2%) | 0k–64k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
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 60,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 501 complaints: 34 mention a crash · 39 mention a fire · 22 report an injury · 9 say the car was towed.
2 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Apr 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Air conditioner began to rattle, then ruptured and fell off while driving down highway, sending debris out on the road in the path of oncoming traffic.
Just pulled off freeway when I heard a whistling noise and then a loud kathunk. The air conditioner immediately stopped pumping cold air.
2004 Honda crv developed an oil leak after the 1st oil change.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 60,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2004 Honda CR-V: 13
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.
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: 27
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2004 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)
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
The inspection procedure for takata driver s airbags was removed because all takata driver s airbag inflators installed in the recall vehicle population…
NHTSA defect investigations: 7
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
2003 CR-V: 468 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2005 CR-V: 479 complaints, keep it.
Every Honda CR-V year
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Questions
Is the 2004 Honda CR-V a bad year?
501 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 146, 5.2× a quiet CR-V year. At 60,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all engine complaints about the 2004 Honda CR-V were filed between 10k and 82k miles. You're at 60,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Honda CR-V?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (103), engine (96), engine and cooling (51), electrical system (73), equipment (35). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 10k–82k miles.
How many recalls does the 2004 Honda CR-V have?
13 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.