Is the 2006 Honda CR-V a bad year?
398 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other CR-V years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2006 Honda CR-V are in line with other CR-V years. Exterior lighting and air bags stand out for this year: see below.
6th quietest of 20 CR-V years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2006 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 78,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 118 (30%) | 46k–115k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 74 (19%) | 43k–126k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 75 (19%) | 51k–110k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 25 (6%) | 39k–102k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Visibility and wipers | 25 (6%) | 53k–101k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 23 (6%) | 29k–84k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Suspension | 20 (5%) | 0k–110k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Stability control | 18 (5%) | 51k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 17 (4%) | 41k–120k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Steering | 17 (4%) | 10k–100k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Body structure | 16 (4%) | 67k–160k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 15 (4%) | 42k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 10 (3%) | 28k–109k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Tires | 5 (1%) | 16k–57k miles · mostly behind | — |
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 78,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 398 complaints: 27 mention a crash · 16 mention a fire · 18 report an injury · 1 says the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Jun 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I incorrectly put the car into drive 1. I noticed my mistake and changed the transmission to drive. The car's computer put the vehicle in full throttle.
On a 200 mile trip the air conditioner/ compressor locked up. I had just completed the 100,000 mile scheduled service which included the drive belt replacement.
2006 Honda, cr-v. Rear differential making noise, at slowed speeds while turning. Checked owners manual, it states to change at 90,000 miles.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 78,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2006 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 rotating portion of the accelerator pedal assembly may bind. If the accelerator pedal binds, the engine may not quickly return to idle after the pedal is no longer pressed, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in 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.
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.
The weld strength attaching the sub-frame bushing collar to the passenger-side front lower arm is insufficient. The collar can separate from the arm due to vibration while driving. As a result, a loss of steering can occur, increasing the risk of crash.
The driver-side power window switch may fail or melt. If the switch fails, the power windows may become inoperative preventing them from being rolled up or down. If the switch melts, it will produce smoke and a fire could occur.
On certain passenger vehicles and motorcycles, the owner's manuals contain incorrect contact information for the national highway traffic safety administration's (NHTSA) vehicle safety hotline. The language in the owner's manuals is not in accordance with the current mandatory requirements.
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 2006 Honda CR-V. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Tech line summary article - Is the MIL on with DTC P2271 (secondary HO2S [sensor 2] circuit signal stuck rich)
The MIL comes on with one of these DTCs: P2646/P2651 (Rocker arm oil pressure switch circuit low voltage)
Never use conventional wheel & tire assemblies on pax vehicles; MIL on after throttle body cleaning or replacement…
The MIL is on with a stored trouble code
NHTSA defect investigations: 5
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Driver's Power Window Master Switch
Driver's Master Power Window Switch
Neighbouring years
2005 CR-V: 479 complaints, keep it · 2007 CR-V: 886 complaints, keep it.
Every Honda CR-V year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All CR-V years side by side
Other Honda models: Honda Accord · Honda Accord Hybrid · Honda CR-V Hybrid · Honda Civic · Honda Civic Hybrid · Honda Civic Si · Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid · Honda Crosstour · Honda Element · Honda Fit · Honda GL1800 · Honda HR-V · Honda Insight · Honda Odyssey · Honda Passport · Honda Pilot · Honda Prologue · Honda Ridgeline · Honda VTX1300. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2006 Honda CR-V a bad year?
398 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other CR-V years. At 78,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Honda CR-V?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: exterior lighting (118), air bags (74), electrical system (75), transmission and drivetrain (25), visibility and wipers (25).
How many recalls does the 2006 Honda CR-V have?
13 recall campaigns list this model year: Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 20V-768), Speed control (NHTSA 19E068000), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-501), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-499) 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.