2003 Honda CR-V Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 62about this part
- Share
- 13%of 468 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 96,750miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 62 complaints about the electrical system of the 2003 Honda CR-V, 13% of the 468 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 96,750 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 9 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Automatic door locks malfunction. Locks do not respond to signal from keyf fob nor from actual door control buttons on door. The vehicle is sitting in a parked position. I believe the door lock actuator is faulty. I suspect it to be a known defect by Honda. Is there a recall for this problem? I have a 2004 Honda CR-V with the same problem.”
NHTSA complaint #11024834, filed 2017-09, 123,350 miles“Lost low beam headlights on 2003 Honda CR-V. Service bulletin 04-015 describes the exact issue for the Honda civic. I can visibly see the burnt combination light switch 16p connecter when I remove the steering wheel cover. This should be a recall. Very dangerous. There are numerous complaints about this issue with this vehicle on-line.”
NHTSA complaint #10576566, filed 2014-04, 180,000 miles“Almost 100% of the time I use the remote to unlock and lock the 2003 Honda CR-V ex. When recently trying the key, it did not work in the driver's door lock. As a result of discovering this defect, I try the key occasionally for the purpose of seeing what happens in the driver's door lock. Other key/lock observations: 1. Usually the key doesn't even go into the lock. 2. Sometimes the key goes in the lock all the way, but won't turn either way. 3. …”
NHTSA complaint #10650615, filed 2014-10, 120,000 miles“While driving down the road at 6:30am this morning my low beams headlights went out. Not able to see I pulled over and put my crv in part. I noticed that my light switch was still on but I did not have any lights. I pushed the light control forwards and noticed I did have use of my high beams. Luckily I was driving to work and only had about 5 more mile to go being saturday on coming traffic was minimal. While at work I had time to research what the problem may possibly be that's when I stumbled upon a few recalls. …”
NHTSA complaint #11032200, filed 2017-10, 295,139 miles“On tuesday march 14, 2017 the car window motor started acting up, the window would go down on its own. As I started the car I started I began to smell smoke, it appeared to be coming from driver side door near the window. Upon turning the car off and removing the negative end to the battery the car began smoking more and in seconds the drivers door was up in flames. I had to run and grab a fire extinguisher from inside. The fire was put out however the door was completely destroyed, the car seat was burned as well as the steering wheel. …”
NHTSA complaint #10967066, filed 2017-03, 58,000 milesRelated recalls
- 12V486000Oct 5, 2012Honda is recalling certain model year 2002-2006 CR-V passenger vehicles, manufactured from February 19, 2002, through July 28, 2006. The driver-side power…Covers: Honda CR-V 2002–2006
Related service bulletins
- 10226214Nov 10, 2022Service Bulletin - REVISION SUMMARY - Under WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION, a note was added. BACKGROUND Under severe conditions, water or other liquid may enter the driverâs…
- 10129465Apr 8, 2014Service bulletin - Under severe conditions, water or other liquid may enter the driver's window and reach the power window master switch on the door panel. Liquid in the switch…
- 10024565Aug 20, 2012Honda service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. Warranty extension: opds unit or opds sensor triggers srs. Csc was received. *nj updated 9/12/12.
- 10032953May 9, 2008Honda: warranty extension-vehicle warranty mileage. Class action lawsuit alleging that the odometers on certain 2002-2006 honda models were overstating mileage. Federal court…
- 10018257Nov 16, 2005Accessory power socket inoperative.
- 10018021Jul 1, 2005Speedometer shops can transfer odometer mileage. Honda service news.
- 10016353Apr 16, 2005Transferring odometer mileage at odometer r&r.
- 10017631Feb 25, 2005Diagnostic trouble code p1298 is stored in the ecm/pcm.
- 10015291Feb 16, 2005Diagnostic trouble code (dtc) p2646, p2647, p2649 or p1009.
- 10014746Jan 16, 2005BANK 1 TOO LEAN.
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 32 | 19% |
| 2025 | 18 | 7% |
| 2024 | 35 | 9% |
| 2023 | 28 | 5% |
| 2022 | 14 | 5% |
| 2021 | 34 | 10% |
| 2020 | 43 | 12% |
| 2019 | 164 | 15% |
| 2018 | 285 | 13% |
| 2017 | 402 | 23% |
| 2016 | 64 | 16% |
| 2015 | 85 | 13% |
| 2014 | 77 | 13% |
| 2013 | 38 | 10% |
| 2012 | 68 | 17% |
| 2011 | 55 | 10% |
| 2010 | 43 | 9% |
| 2009 | 44 | 11% |
| 2008 | 218 | 23% |
| 2007 | 264 | 30% |
| 2006 | 75 | 19% |
| 2005 | 77 | 16% |
| 2004 | 73 | 15% |
| 2003 | 62 | 13% |
| 2002 | 95 | 18% |
| 2001 | 7 | 5% |
| 2000 | 15 | 12% |
| 1999 | 27 | 21% |
| 1998 | 38 | 30% |
| 1997 | 31 | 29% |
Other parts of the 2003 Honda CR-V
125 complaintsEngine cooling
86 complaintsExterior lighting
39 complaintsEquipment
32 complaintsVehicle speed control
32 complaintsOther or unknown
24 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
24 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
23 complaintsBrakes
18 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
17 complaintsSteering
14 complaintsBody and structure
14 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Honda CR-V
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology