2017 Honda CR-V Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2017 CR-V report a cluster of problems led by electrical and dashboard warning-light behavior, fuel and fuel-injection issues, and the forward-collision/lane-assist suite acting on its own or dropping out. Many of these complaints are filed at relatively low mileage, with a separate group of steering and engine complaints appearing later in life.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Multiple dashboard warning lights at once

   • 594 complaints (33%)
   • median 25,977 mi at 2.8 yrs old (290 state mileage)
   • 21 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,639 (median of 66 quotes)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners describe the dash lighting up with a batch of messages at once — electric parking brake, brake system, power steering, vehicle stability assist, hill start assist, tire pressure, road departure mitigation and emissions among them. Some say the vehicle then will not start or goes dead and has to be jump-started or towed. According to the complaints, dealers have reflashed or reinstalled software, replaced the battery and alternator, and in some cases replaced an A/C control unit, with the lights sometimes returning afterward. Reported from a few thousand miles up through the 40,000s, both while driving and shortly after start-up.

   What to check: Ask whether the battery and any software updates have been done and whether the seller has seen warning-light clusters, especially around start-up. Check that all dash lights go out after the bulb check.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This vehicle still have electric parking brake problem, the brake light, tpsm light and other light will suddenly on dish, than the light suddenly off. Sometimes car can't start, a lot of time, when I start the car put on r, the car doesn't move back, it moves forwards. Almost hit other car .when I drive car speed is 25mile,saw the stop sign, want to stop,but there was no turning back on the brakes and the cat cant stop.the brake light suddenly on dash, electric parking brake problem light on dash,too. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11353834, filed 2020-09, 5,000 miles

   “All the warning lights came on after engine start eg, check engine light, power steering failure, driver assist, etc. It was every light. I took it to Honda in was diag. With po172 engine runs rich. Honda bullentin 19-032 was perform which included replacing the A/C control unit and software update. After one month and less than another 1000 milers driven I have the same problem. The dealership says my fuel injectors need to be replaced for $1400. The car has 38000 miles on it and just came off warranty. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11397498, filed 2021-02, 38,000 miles
2. 2
   Forward collision avoidance

   Forward-collision braking engages on its own

   • 463 complaints (26%)
   • median 22,000 mi at 2.6 yrs old (199 state mileage)
   • 32 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 24 quotes)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Complaints describe the Collision Mitigation Braking System applying the brakes with nothing in front of the vehicle, sometimes with a brake warning light and a sudden drop in speed; others report the Honda Sensing features switching off in rain, snow or under bridges. Owners say dealers sometimes could not duplicate the event, and in other cases updated the ADAS software with the problem returning. Spread across low and high mileage, from under 15,000 miles to well over 100,000, and often in rain, snow or shade.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the Honda Sensing/ADAS software update was applied, and test-drive at highway speed and in low light to see whether the brake warning appears.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Emergency crash avoidance system deployed causing the car to stop. This from 35 + MPH. This was unexpected. And we were lucky no other cars were affected. Automatic headlight dimmer is not operating correctly. This is annoyance to the driver of my car as well as blinding to oncoming trafic.”

   NHTSA complaint #11352579, filed 2020-09, 30,250 miles

   “The safety feature reacts to shadows on the road. This has happened 3-4 times where if I'm driving under a bridge the car will beep and show a message asking me to hit the brakes. I think the car sees the shadow of the bridge on the road in front of me as an object and is asking me to stop/ hit the brakes. If the car ever applies automatic braking, then the car behind me can slam into me causing an accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #11389549, filed 2021-01, 53,000 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Fuel injector and fuel pump faults, hesitation

   • 154 complaints (9%)
   • median 50,050 mi at 3.4 yrs old (47 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,689 (median of 38 quotes)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe hesitation and shuddering on acceleration, loss of power at speed, and a check-engine light that may store P0300-series misfire codes. Complaints say dealers diagnosed failed fuel injectors or a low-pressure fuel pump; some owners link the symptoms to the fuel pump recall but report their vehicle was not covered. Mostly between roughly 20,000 and 100,000 miles, during acceleration or merging into traffic.

   Recall 23V8580003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel pump recall was completed for this VIN, and whether injectors have been replaced. Watch for hesitation on a hard acceleration during the test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2017 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated and the messages Parking Brake Failure , Transmission Failure”, and ABS Failure were displayed with an audible alarm. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the failure might be associated with the battery. The contact replaced the battery; however, the failure persisted. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11756289, filed 2026-08, 110,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2017 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic on multiple occasions and the contact was informed that the failure was electrical. The computer was reset however, the failure persisted. The contact then took the vehicle to a dealer where she was informed that the fuel injector needed to be replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11485310, filed 2022-09, 70,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Fuel in the engine oil (oil dilution)

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the oil level rising above the dipstick mark, a strong gasoline smell from the oil and inside the cabin, and fuel trim readings well off normal; some mention heavy smoke on take-off and poor cabin heat in cold weather. Complaints describe the dealer checking the oil and, in some cases, performing software updates. Reported from around 20,000 to 65,000 miles, often noted in cold weather or on short trips.

   What to check: Check the oil level and smell the dipstick for fuel; asking whether the powertrain software update for oil dilution was applied is reasonable.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This vehicle does not get warm in the winter. I live in michigan and heat is important. I understand it is an ongoing problem and I want to know what Honda is doing about it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11405627, filed 2021-03, 25,000 miles

   “The engine oil constantly fills with gasoline, raising the fluid level much, much higher than the recommended levels on the dipstick. The oil viscosity is also changed, which will cause undue engine wear and tear. There is also a strong odor of gasoline inside of the cabin, especially when the defroster is on.”

   NHTSA complaint #11328248, filed 2020-06, 20,000 miles
5. 5
   Steering

   Steering sticks or pulls on its own

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the steering wheel becoming momentarily hard to turn or briefly turning by itself, requiring correction. Complaints say dealers diagnosed the electronic power steering unit or the rack and pinion and quoted replacement; several owners note their VIN was not included in the power steering recall. Mostly reported between about 25,000 and 110,000 miles, at low and highway speeds.

   Recall 18V663000

   What to check: Ask whether the steering recall 18V663000 applies to the VIN and whether the EPS unit or rack has been replaced; check for a steering wheel that feels notchy or sticky while turning.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2017 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. The contact stated that the steering wheel was sticking. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with steering gear box and rack and pinion failures. The contact was informed that the steering gear box and rack and pinon needed to be replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11765809, filed 2026-09, 58,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2017 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel momentarily became difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and was diagnosed and determined that the electronic power steering unit was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V663000 (STEERING). …”

   NHTSA complaint #11670458, filed 2025-07, 30,000 miles

Buying note. Check for a replaced battery or repeated software updates, confirm recall 23V858000 and 18V663000 status for the VIN, and smell the oil on the dipstick. A pre-purchase inspection covering the charging system and steering assist is worthwhile on this model year.

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.