2009 Honda CR-V Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2009 CR-V most often report two clusters of problems: rust-related recalls and notices on the rear subframe in later-life vehicles, and a long-running history of Takata airbag inflator recalls with slow parts availability. Remaining complaints are spread across door locks and actuators, the dashboard/clock electronics, power steering rack leaks, premature tire wear, and sunroof glass. Many reports come from vehicles with well over 100,000 miles, so condition and recall history matter more than age alone.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Rear subframe and trailing-arm rust (recall 23V228000)

   • 32 complaints (8%)
   • median 156,517 mi at 13.5 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe heavy corrosion around the rear subframe and the mounting points for the trailing arms, sometimes found during a state safety inspection or after a wheel or trailing arm separated while driving. Several owners say they received notice of NHTSA campaign 23V228000, but the dealer then told them the rust was too far advanced for the recall repair to be carried out. Some report the vehicle was declared not repairable or undrivable, and a few mention buyback discussions with the manufacturer. A related Honda dealer message covers inspection of 2007-2011 CR-Vs for this condition. Mostly reported between roughly 100,000 and 230,000 miles, often on vehicles in salt-belt states.

   Recall 23V2280009 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the underside inspected on a lift, paying attention to the rear subframe and trailing-arm mounts, especially on a car from a snowy state. Ask the dealer whether recall 23V228000 was performed and whether the repair was completed or refused for corrosion.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I recently brought my 10 year old car in for its yearly state safety inspection and I was informed that corrosion on the left rear underside of the car was irreparable. This included corrosion between the uni body and undercarriage, compromising the integrity of the control arms. After doing research online, I noted that Honda has an active recall in canada for a similar defect, but not in the us. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11258663, filed 2019-09, 145,000 miles

   “Unibody mount area for trailing arm is rusted out, both driver and passenger side rear. Nobody around will touch this problem, so car is basically totaled. Car is in terrific shape outside of this. Canada has done a recall for this exact problem on these cars and I am reading a forum currently where several people in the us are experiencing the same thing.”

   NHTSA complaint #11331255, filed 2020-06, 156,000 miles
2. 2
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Door locks and actuators locking or unlocking on their own

   • 45 complaints (12%)
   • median 74,500 mi at 6.4 yrs old (32 state mileage)
   • filed 2009–2024

   Owners describe doors that lock and unlock by themselves, a tailgate or rear door that will not open, and a driver door that reports open on the dash while driving. Several say the dealer diagnosed a failed latch assembly or door actuator, and one was told a low key-fob battery was sending a faulty signal. Repair quotes and repeat failures are common in the reports. Typically reported between about 30,000 and 120,000 miles, on vehicles of varying age.

   What to check: Cycle all doors and the tailgate several times with the fob and the interior switch, and listen for repeated clicking or a lock that cycles on its own.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The driver door is not latching properly. When driving, the light on the dashboard indicates that the driver's door is open. In addition. When accelerating, the electric door locks will unlock. There is a class action lawsuit regarding this issue, but my car is not included, although I am having the problem with my car. This problem occurs when the car is stationary and moving.”

   NHTSA complaint #10928217, filed 2016-11, 40,000 miles

   “The locking system on my 2009 Honda crv has not been working properly for several months. The front and back passenger side door will lock and unlock by itself, the driver side front and back will make squeaking noises like it is trying to lock and unlock and the back door will not open at all whether it is turned off or running. I thought for sure that this would be a safety recall because the doors will lock and unlock by themselves and it would be very easy for a small child to open the door and fall out. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10507176, filed 2013-04, 50,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Takata airbag inflator recalls and parts delays

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints focus on the Takata inflator recalls rather than a part failing on its own: owners describe waiting months for parts, being told to keep the front passenger seat empty, and in one case picking up the car to find only the driver inflator had been replaced. Another owner reports that the airbag did not deploy in a frontal collision. Complaints also mention extra costs arising while the car sat awaiting repair. Honda service bulletins describe warranty extensions and inspection programs for replacement driver and passenger inflators. Reports cluster from roughly 35,000 to 150,000 miles, mostly filed between 2014 and 2019.

   Recall 19V500000Recall 19V502000Recall 19V378000Recall 18V268000Recall 18V042000Recall 17V545000Recall 17V417000Recall 17V030000Recall 16V346000Recall 16V061000

   What to check: Check the VIN against Honda's recall lookup and confirm which inflators were replaced and when, keeping documentation. Ask whether any replacement inflator was later covered by an inspection or warranty-extension bulletin.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall my car was taken in for the airbag recall for replacement. When I was called to come and get my car I asked if the driver and passenger side airbag had been replaced and was told yes. Upon arrival at the Honda dealership service department I was told they had made a mistake, only the driver's side airbag had been replaced. Needless to say I was very upset, asked to speak to someone and was given the number for the main american Honda office. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10863219, filed 2016-05, 66,436 miles

   “Delay in replacing parts for takata recall - damaged rotors and pads. I got a Honda recall notice and was asked to not drive the car due to safety concerns. Honda took 3 months to replace the parts and my car was not driven for 3 months. This caused my brakes rotors and pads to rust. I had put new rotors and pads two months before the recall. Now three months after the recalled airbag was fixed, Honda is asking me to replace rotors and pads again for the cose of $1100. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10916254, filed 2016-10, 89,000 miles

Buying note. On a 2009 CR-V, the recall history and underbody condition are the things to verify first: confirm the rear subframe recall status and have the underside inspected, and pull the VIN's airbag recall record. Also test every door lock and the dash display, and have the steering rack checked for leaks before agreeing on a price.

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.