Is the 2010 Honda CR-V a bad year?
483 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other CR-V years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2010 Honda CR-V are in line with other CR-V years. Air bags and body structure stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2010 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 57,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 217 (45%) | 40k–80k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 47 (10%) | 30k–156k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 61 (13%) | 34k–88k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 43 (9%) | 52k–105k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 30 (6%) | 6k–75k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Brakes | 25 (5%) | 19k–64k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Speed control | 21 (4%) | 7k–63k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 16 (3%) | 50k–120k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 14 (3%) | 21k–79k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Visibility and wipers | 10 (2%) | 5k–73k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Tires | 6 (1%) | 17k–31k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 15 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 7 (1%) | too few with a 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 57,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 483 complaints: 31 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 15 report an injury · 21 say the car was towed.
9 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I first noticed excessive oil consumption in dec 2014 when driving across west texas (Speed limits are 80 MPH).
Vehicle starter makes a noise like the starter is staying engaged after engine has started. It does not appear to be related to the outside temperature as it happens in winter and summer.
There has been several stalled engine incidents while driving on a city street and also stationary at a red traffic light.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 57,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2010 Honda CR-V: 15
An accumulation of road salt may cause the frame to corrode and possibly detach the rear trailing arm. A detached rear trailing arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, 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.
The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement. An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
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.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags)… An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver 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 frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags)… An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
One dealership may have incorrectly installed the replacement air bag inflators. In the event of a crash, an incorrectly installed passenger frontal air bag inflator may deploy the air bag improperly, increasing the risk of injury.
The air bag inflator repair kit may have been assembled by the supplier with an incorrect wire harness. If an inflator with an incorrect wire harness is installed, the air bag may not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
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 which, 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 outer race of the secondary shaft bearing may be broken during certain driving styles. A broken outer race may cause abnormal noise, the malfunction indicator light to turn on, and allow contact between the transmission idle gear and an electronic sensor housing within the transmission. This could result in a short circuit causing the engine to stall.
There is a potential failure with the engine wiring harness connector which may cause intermittent spark firing or the engine to stall. An engine stall will increase the risk of a crash.
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: 75
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2010 Honda CR-V. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Replace the vtc actuator if the engine rattles loudly for 2 seconds during cold start-up
Engine rattles at cold start-up
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL)on with the DTC P0420 (Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold)stored
Owners notification letter
Neighbouring years
2009 CR-V: 385 complaints, keep it · 2011 CR-V: 555 complaints, keep it.
Every Honda CR-V year
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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 2010 Honda CR-V a bad year?
483 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other CR-V years. At 57,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Honda CR-V?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (217), body structure (47), engine (61), electrical system (43), transmission and drivetrain (30).
How many recalls does the 2010 Honda CR-V have?
15 recall campaigns list this model year: Body structure (NHTSA 23V-228), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-502), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-500), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-378) 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.