Is the 2016 Honda CR-V a bad year?
395 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 104, 3.7× a quiet CR-V year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 13k–49k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 6 of 104 filed since 2016.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2016 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 25,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 103 (26%) | 13k–47k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 72 (18%) | 2k–44k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Electrical system | 64 (16%) | 12k–35k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 45 (11%) | 11k–31k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Air bags | 32 (8%) | 11k–36k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 19 (5%) | 8k–34k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Body structure | 17 (4%) | 3k–35k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 17 (4%) | 2k–38k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Visibility and wipers | 14 (4%) | 3k–31k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Wheels | 13 (3%) | 7k–25k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Seat belts | 7 (2%) | 6k–30k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 28 (7%) | 2k–15k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seats | 9 (2%) | 0k–7k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 7 (2%) | 0k–13k 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 25,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 395 complaints: 40 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 28 report an injury · 33 say the car was towed.
16 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Vehicle was sitting idle at a stop light, after being driven for approximately 15 minutes at speeds ranging from 25-50MPH.
Gasoline smell comes into a cabin: -while driving, -when the engine starts after 5-10 min of resting gasoline smell comes outside out of the engine.
The cabin is filling with engine/fuel fumes. I purchased 11/2016 and began having debilitating headaches, nausea and chest pains off and on in 06/2017.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 25,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2016 Honda CR-V: 3
The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The replacement engine may have been built with the wrong pistons, potentially affecting the engine's performance. The reduced performance may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The metal housing surrounding the driver's air bag inflator in these vehicles may have been manufactured incorrectly. 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.
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: 59
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2016 Honda CR-V. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
When cold-starting the engine and shifting to Reverse, the engine stalls in the first 10 to 14 seconds
There is a knocking or clicking from the engine during cold startup
Servicenews article - Does the engine rattle at startup for about 1 to 3 seconds
Tech line summary article - Does the engine rattle at startup for about 1 to 3 seconds
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Electrical overstress
Neighbouring years
2015 CR-V: 674 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2017 CR-V: 1,778 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
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 2016 Honda CR-V a bad year?
395 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 104, 3.7× a quiet CR-V year. At 25,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 13k–49k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 6 of 104 filed since 2016.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Honda CR-V?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (103), fuel system (72), electrical system (64), transmission and drivetrain (45), air bags (32). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 13k–49k miles.
How many recalls does the 2016 Honda CR-V have?
3 recall campaigns list this model year: Fuel system (NHTSA 23V-858), Engine (NHTSA 17V-305), Air bags (NHTSA 15V-714). 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.