Is the 2020 Honda CR-V a bad year?
361 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other CR-V years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2020 Honda CR-V are in line with other CR-V years. Collision avoidance, fuel system, air bags and 1 more 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 2020 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collision avoidanceSTANDS OUT | 74 (20%) | 14k–39k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 49 (14%) | 14k–65k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 47 (13%) | 2k–36k miles · around this mileage | — |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 43 (12%) | 5k–47k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Engine | 40 (11%) | 3k–50k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 44 (12%) | 1k–22k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 33 (9%) | 2k–20k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 21 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 12 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 10 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Lane assist | 9 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 9 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 7 (2%) | 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 25,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 361 complaints: 22 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 15 report an injury · 23 say the car was towed.
89 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.
Recalls for the 2020 Honda CR-V: 7
The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash. Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended. An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
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 certification label on the driver's side door states incorrect Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR), and tire size information. An incorrectly sized tire may cause premature tread wear, or a tire blow out, increasing the risk of a crash.
A manufacturing issue with the front seat belts may cause the seat belt buckle channel to interfere with the release button, preventing the seat belt buckle from latching. An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
The clip for the absorber inside the fuel tank was not secured properly and may detach, which can cause an inaccurate fuel gauge reading. An inaccurate fuel gauge may result in the vehicle unexpectedly running out of fuel and stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
The rear subframe bolts were improperly manufactured and may loosen, allowing the rear subframe to separate. A separated rear subframe reduces vehicle handling and can suddenly disable the vehicle, increasing 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: 199
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2020 Honda CR-V. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, and/or misfire
Oil leak at timing chain tensioner inspection cover due to possible insufficient sealant adhesion on inspection cover
Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the DTC P030X (Cylinder Misfire Detected) stored
Some customers have complained of fluid leaking from the rear differential after it has been serviced due to over-torqueing of the drain plugs during servicing
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
Rear Differential Seizure
Neighbouring years
2019 CR-V: 1,107 complaints, keep it · 2021 CR-V: 342 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 2020 Honda CR-V a bad year?
361 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other CR-V years. At 25,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Honda CR-V?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: collision avoidance (74), fuel system (49), air bags (47), steering (43), engine (40).
How many recalls does the 2020 Honda CR-V have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 26V-332), Air bags (NHTSA 24V-064), Fuel system (NHTSA 23V-858), Equipment (NHTSA 23V-524) 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.