2001 Honda CR-V Problems

What owners report

Complaints from owners of the 2001 CR-V are dominated by the Takata-related driver airbag inflator recall, where the most common theme is not the failure itself but long waits for parts and repeated follow-ups with dealers. The second big cluster is engine trouble in the form of burnt or recessed exhaust valves and a rough or stalling idle, usually showing up between roughly 60,000 and 110,000 miles. Other recurring reports cover the A/C compressor racket or rupture, tires losing tread, and glass or sunroof panels coming loose.

1. 1
   Engine

   Burnt exhaust valves and rough idle (valve clearance)

   Mentioned in 15 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe a rough or stumbling idle, poor fuel economy and a check engine light, often with low compression on one cylinder traced to a burnt or recessed exhaust valve. Owners say a tune-up or valve adjustment helped briefly before the symptoms returned, and that the eventual fix was a valve job or cylinder head replacement. Several mention a service bulletin on valve adjustment that they say they were never told about. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 110,000 miles, though a few appear near 130,000 to 160,000.

   What to check: Ask for service records showing a valve clearance adjustment, and have compression checked on all four cylinders before buying. Watch for a rough idle when cold and a check engine light.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2001 Honda crv engine valves misfired and burned in 2003 and again in 2006. Repair appears costly and I believe this problem has been documented as a recurring issue amongst the 1999-2001 crv vehicles. I am dismayed to hear that this repair may cost $4400 and the Honda dealer thus has quoted american Honda as saying they will not pay. I understand that service bulletin #03-038 addresses this issue and I don't feel it is acceptable for the consumer to pay for this repair.”

   NHTSA complaint #10154528, filed 2006-04, 159,600 miles

   “Our car had a burnt valve last year at about 90000 miles. We brought it to a napa machine shop and had it re-machined. About a month ago we had it repaired at our local Honda dealer. They readjusted the valves which they said were way too tight. The car is stalling again and is difficult to restart. They referenced Honda technical bulletin 03-038. In researching this via google, it appears Honda failed to advise american-but not european-customers of a valve adjustment need that results in valves receding into the cylinder heads.”

   NHTSA complaint #11122333, filed 2018-08, 100,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag recall parts delays and SRS light on

   • 44 complaints (31%)
   • median 132,000 mi at 19.4 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2024

   Owners describe being told their vehicle is covered by the driver frontal airbag inflator recall but that the replacement part is unavailable, sometimes for months, with no estimate given. Several report the SRS warning light staying lit while driving and wonder whether the airbag system would work in a crash. Some also describe a repair visit where the dealer inspected the inflator but did not replace it, and others describe airbags not deploying in a collision. Reports cluster in 2020 at mileages from roughly 88,000 to 200,000, after recall notices went out.

   Recall 20V0270003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the VIN against the outstanding recall and ask for written confirmation that the driver inflator replacement was actually completed, not just inspected. Note whether the SRS light is lit at startup or stays on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was involved in a rollover accident in nov. Of 2005 and I was driving a Honda crv 2001. The airbags did not deploy during the accident or after. The vehicle rolled several times and there was over 100 feet of debris. Why didn't the air bags deploy? The crv was a total loss.”

   NHTSA complaint #10169374, filed 2006-09, 44,484 miles

   “Notified american Honda about an airbag safety recall on my 2001 Honda crv. Parts are not available and they can't give me an eta on when these parts will be available. They refuse to provide a loaner vehicle. Why are car makers aloud to legally do this to consumers?”

   NHTSA complaint #11319816, filed 2020-03, 200,000 miles
3. 3
   Tires

   Tire tread separation and blowouts

   • 8 complaints (6%)
   • median 130,000 mi at 7.7 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2003–2014

   Complaints describe shaking or shuddering at highway speed followed by tread peeling away, and in other cases a tire bursting while driving or even while parked. Owners report damage to the bumper, lights and underbody from the separated tread, and at least one dealer replaced a tire while referring the owner to NHTSA. Several complaints name the specific tire brand and size fitted. Spread from about 17,000 to 163,000 miles, with most reports on highway driving.

   What to check: Check tire brand, age codes and sidewall condition, and look for uneven wear or bulging. Ask when the tires were last replaced rather than relying on tread depth alone.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Following firestone tire just exploded when vehicle was in parked condition. It happened on thursday, 06/26/08 in greenville,nc, 27834. Tire details: dueler h/t p205/70/r15 DOT: emyt jmj1601 if you need the exploded tire please contact me . I contacted firestore but their is no response.”

   NHTSA complaint #10232677, filed 2008-06, 163,400 miles

   “Driving on the freeway the tire exploded (without running over anything). It blew off the bumper and the left-hand blinker. It also damaged the undercarriage of the car. Fortunately, no one was injured. The tire was on the rear of the driver side of the Honda crv (2001).”

   NHTSA complaint #10398861, filed 2011-05, 131,000 miles
4. 4
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Rear glass, window and sunroof panel coming loose

   • 7 complaints (5%)
   • median 153,500 mi at 10.1 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2003–2017

   Owners report the rear hatch glass or a door window shattering without any impact, sometimes while parked, and sunroof glass or the sunroof visor detaching at highway speed. In the sunroof cases the glass was described as delaminating, and owners say the dealer and sunroof maker declined coverage, noting the part was not included in a related recall. Reported from about 50,000 to 175,000 miles, often at highway speeds or while parked.

   What to check: Inspect the hatch glass, sunroof glass and visor for delamination, cracks or loose fit, and open and close the sunroof to check operation. Ask whether any glass panels have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Hatchback window imploded while in park and engine turned off. No impact was sustained while parked in garage. Glass was replaced, but the cause was undetermined at this time.”

   NHTSA complaint #10043930, filed 2003-10, 75,000 miles

   “The rear hatch back window malfunctioned while the vehicle was parked in the driveway. The consumer was very concerned because normally the kids sit back there.”

   NHTSA complaint #10042874, filed 2003-11, 75,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   A/C compressor rattle, seizure or rupture

   • 10 complaints (7%)
   • median 89,000 mi at 8.0 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2016

   Owners report a loud rattling or grinding from the air conditioning compressor, sometimes followed by a bang and fumes under the hood when the compressor comes apart. In some cases metal debris was said to spread through the A/C system, so the compressor, receiver-dryer and related parts were replaced together. Some describe the dealer covering part of the repair as goodwill and others paying the full cost themselves. Reported from about 68,000 to 113,000 miles, often right after the A/C is switched on.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Run the A/C through a full cycle at idle and listen for rattles or grinding, and check whether the compressor or system has been replaced. A service bulletin covers poor cooling under hard acceleration.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2001 Honda CR-V air conditioning compressor imploded and sent shards of metal into the air conditioning system. This was without warning, as I just had my air conditioning serviced by the Honda dealership a month ago. I have discovered that this is a widespread problem with Honda cr-vs and that Honda america has not addressed this major defect. I am especially concerned because I live in arizona, and the temperature is 108 degrees, with 113 predicted for the weekend. This makes the defect very dangerous. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10275977, filed 2009-07, 94,000 miles

   “2001 Honda crv, air-conditioner getting ready to explode. I live in southern california, but live in balmy san diego county, so I've used the air conditioner very little, perhaps 25 times all told over the past nine years. I am the original owner, baby my car, and get all maintenance done like clockwork or sooner. About three months ago, the rarely-used air conditioner started making a horrible racket immediately on starting it. I stopped using it immediately, and check periodically to see if it's still broken. It is. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10351061, filed 2010-08, 66,500 miles

Buying note. On a 2001 CR-V, confirm the driver airbag inflator recall work is actually completed and get proof in writing, and have engine compression and valve clearance checked since valve problems are the most frequently described mechanical complaint. Budget for A/C and glass work given the age, and treat the tire complaints as a reason to check what is currently fitted.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.