2010 Honda CR-V Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2010 CR-V report two dominant themes: airbag inflator recalls and a rear-frame corrosion campaign, the latter often found at high mileage and sometimes leaving the vehicle unfit to drive per dealers. Separate from recalls, complaints describe excessive oil use and cold-start rattle from the engine, plus intermittent door-lock and air-conditioning temperature complaints.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Rear frame and trailing arm corrosion

   • 51 complaints (11%)
   • median 115,000 mi at 13.6 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2026

   Complaints describe rust eating through the rear frame near the trailing arm mounts, in some cases leaving a hole or letting the trailing arm detach. Owners report scraping or banging noises from the rear, rear-end sway, or a tire leaning at an angle, and dealers telling them the vehicle should not be driven. Some note that a recall support brace was installed but corrosion was still found nearby afterward. Mostly reported between roughly 98,000 and 240,000 miles, often on vehicles in states covered by the corrosion campaign.

   Recall 23V2280009 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the rear frame and trailing-arm mounting points inspected for rust before buying, and confirm whether the 23V228000 brace has been installed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving at highway speeds, the rear driver side wheel assembly detached at the frame causing an unexpected fishtail to a stop. Fortunately the roads were icy that the tire was able to skid and we avoided rolling over. After researching this issue online I found that these crv's are being recalled in canada for excessive corrosion to rear frame stiffeners years 2007-2011 resulting in what happened to us. Why is this not being done in the united states?”

   NHTSA complaint #11395197, filed 2021-02, 116,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2010 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds and making a turn, there was an abnormal popping sound coming from the vehicle. While reversing, there was a knocking sound coming from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V228000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11535076, filed 2023-07, 65,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag inflator recall notices and deployment concerns

   Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe receiving Takata inflator recall notices and, in some cases, waiting long periods for replacement parts or being turned away because a related part such as the SRS unit or seat belt buckle also needed work. A few complaints describe crashes in which an airbag did not deploy as expected or in which metal fragments were reported after deployment. Others report the airbag warning light staying on after a prior recall repair. Reports span low to high mileage, from about 50,000 to over 190,000 miles, and often follow a recall notice.

   Recall 19V500000Recall 19V502000Recall 19V378000Recall 19V182000Recall 18V661000Recall 18V268000Recall 18V042000Recall 17V545000Recall 17V417000Recall 17V030000Recall 16V346000Recall 16V0610005 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask the seller for proof that the driver and passenger inflator recalls were completed, and check whether the airbag warning light stays on after startup.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall- our 2010 CR-V was involved in a 3-car accident on a city road with speed limit of 35 MPH. A car entering the city street from another road cut off the driver traveling on the road in vehicle #1 and v#1 came to an abrupt stop. The car that entered the road, sped off and was not hit by v#1. Vehicle #2 rear-ended v#1. Our vehicle (v#3) rear-ended vehicle #2. There is significant damage to the front end of our CR-V. We are concerned that the driver's airbag was not deployed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11053883, filed 2017-12, 49,000 miles

   “1. Car got into an accident, another car hit my car front on... my Airbags never deployed but I side my front screen, it shows airbags deployed, and even button of airbags now flashes... 2. Seatbelt, malfunctions and got so tied on me that it was literally shocking me and then when I undid my seatblet, seatbelt shrunk and would not budge to work again to seatbelt myself and became short... 3. When car hit me from the front, all my brakes stopped working and my brake pedal went all the way to the floor... 4. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11573612, filed 2024-02, 173,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Excessive oil consumption

   • 30 complaints (6%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 6.8 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,361 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2023

   Owners report the engine using large amounts of oil, in some cases a quart every 1,000 miles, with low-oil warnings and the need to top off between changes. Some say dealers confirmed the consumption but declined repair, citing warranty limits, while others mention a piston-ring warranty extension. Complaints also link the oil use to poor performance and low fuel economy. Typically reported between about 45,000 and 135,000 miles, often on higher-speed driving and with synthetic oil changes followed.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for a consumption history in service records, and ask whether the piston-ring warranty extension work was ever performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The warranty extension that was extended for sticking piston rings resulting in high oil consumption was not a problem yet during the 125,000 mile mark. A few months later our 2010 Honda crv started needing much more oil. Ever since we've needed to add oil at every fuel tank fill up. Please push Honda to extend the warranty to take care of its customers. Our crv now has just over 180,000 miles. Thanks for your time with this.”

   NHTSA complaint #11343925, filed 2020-08, 135,000 miles

   “Bought from Honda dealer and it burns 1 quart of oil per 1000 miles. This is a known issues service bulletin 12-089. I have done an oil consumption test with them and they agree that is the problem but will not correct. I feel they mislead me during the purchase and the dealer should have informed me that there was issues with the crv oil consumption. Now they want me to pay $3000 to to correct the know issue. Honda USA refuses to correct also. This should have been a recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #11339772, filed 2020-07, 61,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Door locks and latches not working

   • 46 complaints (10%)
   • median 67,000 mi at 6.6 yrs old (27 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2025

   Owners report doors or the hatch failing to unlock or lock, sometimes working again after a few days, along with clicking or buzzing from a door lock actuator. Some describe the remote unlocking the wrong door or the locks cycling on their own, and dealers replaced a door latch assembly in at least one case. Reported from about 47,000 to 180,000 miles, appearing intermittently rather than at a specific age.

   What to check: Test every door and the hatch with both the remote and the interior switches, and listen for buzzing or grinding from the lock actuators.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Our Honda crv has 180,000 mile on it. A couple months ago, a couple of the doors did not open for a few days and then start working again. It has done this a couple of times. I've read that many others have had this problem. The doors affected was the back drivers door and the back hatch. The times it happened I was starting to drive and I would hear the locks click closed and open several times.”

   NHTSA complaint #11343928, filed 2020-08, 179,000 miles

   “The driver side door lock buzzes for about 1-2 second when I lock the car. . It does not matter whether you use the remote or lock the car from inside. I also have it where the door locks automatically when the car is started. I think this is the Honda broken door lock actuator. There's a small motor inside the actuator that gears to a small rack. When the rack reaches the end of travel, it hits a rubber bumper and shuts off the motor. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10855101, filed 2016-04, 65,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Cold-start engine rattle

   • 31 complaints (6%)
   • median 67,172 mi at 6.5 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,212 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2024

   Complaints describe a grinding or rattling noise at startup, most noticeable in cold weather or after the engine has sat. Some owners say the engine takes longer to catch, and dealers told them the noise did not affect operation and declined repair. Others describe the noise as coming from the variable valve timing area. Mostly reported from around 57,000 to 98,000 miles, generally on cold starts in cooler weather.

   What to check: Listen to a cold start on the day you inspect the car, ideally before it has been run, and ask whether the noise has been diagnosed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle makes a grinding or coughing sound at start-up. It did not do this when bought used in 2012. Now at about 98000 miles. Start-up noise happens every time car starts. Engine turns over, but takes a long time to actually start. It sounds like it won't start, but it does each time. I called Honda, they said noise did not affect engine operation, so they would not fix it. I am fearful of engine damage or failure to start, eventually.”

   NHTSA complaint #11138868, filed 2018-10, 80,000 miles

   “Cr-v 2010 excessive oil consumption. Bought the car new. My husband drives the car to work every day for an hour. We start hearing a cranking noise coming form the engine in the cold mornings. We follow recommendations on oil changes and use synthetic oil. I check the oil regularly and add some when it needs it. I was amaze at how much oil it burn. I have had problems with excessive oil use and check engine light on two (2) dealerships recommended to replace timing belt timing chain tension and cam shaft. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10837010, filed 2016-02, 45,000 miles

Buying note. The most consequential items on this model year are recall-related: verify that the airbag inflator recalls and the rear-frame corrosion campaign were completed, and have the rear frame inspected for rust. On the mechanical side, check oil level and consumption records and listen for a cold-start rattle before deciding.

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.