2023 Honda CR-V Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2023 CR-V report one problem far more than any other: the steering feels sticky, notchy or hard to keep centered, usually noticed within the first 15,000 miles. Many complaints were filed after a steering gearbox recall was announced but parts were unavailable. Smaller groups of reports cover unexpected acceleration at parking-lot speeds and false or cancelled driver-assist alerts.

1. 1
   Steering

   Sticky or notchy steering, hard to keep centered

   • 327 complaints (63%)
   • median 10,000 mi at 1.2 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe the steering as sticking, catching or having a notch as they make small corrections, so it takes extra effort to move the wheel slightly and then it lets go. Many say it gets worse over time and is most noticeable at highway speed or when the wheel should return to center. Dealers sometimes replaced the power steering rack or gearbox, and in other cases could not duplicate the problem; several owners were told the replacement part was on backorder. Mostly reported between a few thousand and about 20,000 miles, frequently on highway drives.

   Recall 24V7440001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Drive the car at highway speed and feel for a notch or hesitation in small steering inputs, and check whether it returns to center on its own. Ask the dealer whether recall 24V744000 was completed and whether the steering gearbox has already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The steering on my 2023 Honda CR-V sticks and impedes my ability to smoothly turn the steering wheel as I drive. I currently have 7500 miles on the odometer. The steering issue has become progressively worse since owning the car and the sticking has reached a point where I no longer feel that the vehicle is safe to drive. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11586030, filed 2024-04

   “The steering feels sticky. I started feeling symptoms from a month now and it is worsening over time. The steering feels sticky mainly when driven in freeways. Also, while changing lanes at speed <40 mph, the steering doesnot autocorrect, manual effort is needed to bring steer back to normal. Took it to dealer and they said its normal and I am not convinced with their answer”

   NHTSA complaint #11570741, filed 2024-02
2. 2
   Other or unknown

   Unexpected acceleration or lurching at low speed

   • 40 complaints (8%)
   • median 11,500 mi at 1.8 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe the vehicle accelerating on its own while parking or creeping forward, often right after the gas pedal is released and the brake is applied, sometimes causing the car to jump a curb. A few report the engine revving and the car hesitating or lurching during a lane change. Most say dealers could not reproduce the problem or find a cause. Reported from a few thousand to about 22,000 miles, usually in parking lots or at low speed.

   What to check: During a test drive, practice slow parking maneuvers and stop-and-go driving and note any surge or delayed throttle response. Ask whether the dealer has checked for stored powertrain codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In the past few weeks, the vehicle accelerated (engine revved) when releasing the gas pedal. This has happened 4 times. The first 3 times was when driving the vehicle on the road. I have taken the vehicle in twice to the dealership and they were not able to reproduce or diagnose the problem. The 4th incident occurred as the vehicle was pulling into a parking space. when the gas pedal was released, the vehicle engine revved and lurched forward. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11593773, filed 2024-06

   “While slowing down to enter a parking place and appling brakes car suddenly surged forward causing the car to jump a curb which could have caused an accident if there had been another car in the way”

   NHTSA complaint #11746387, filed 2026-06
3. 3
   Lane departure

   Lane keeping warning light with no apparent cause

   • 115 complaints (22%)
   • median 5,000 mi at 1.3 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners say the lane keeping assist warning appears, including while reversing, and in some cases the system intervenes or feels like it is fighting the wheel. Honda service bulletins link this to false detection logic in the multipurpose camera software. Reported from very low mileage up to roughly 8,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the multipurpose camera software update described in the service bulletins has been installed, and watch for the lane keeping light during a test drive, including in reverse.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On or about October 18, 2023, while backing out of driveway, I heard a warning beep and a meesage popped up on the instument panel- Lane Keeping assist System malfunction, see your dealer. about that same time, my steering began to get a sticky feeling to it, as if the steering was hesitant to respond to slight movement of the steering wheel. This occurs after the vehicle has been on the road for 10 to 15 minutes. It will also stick whenever the vehicle is stopped for more than a few seconds (i.e, at a traffic light or stop sign). …”

   NHTSA complaint #11555059, filed 2023-11

   “On highway this Honda CR-V was hit by another vehicle 2013 doge at right rear side. Other car was sliding on the road , crossing the lanes and hitting the CR-V. Side airbags were deployed immediately during primary collision. CR-V didn’t stop after that. It turned left from right most lane and hit the median heavily. Lane keeping assistance, frontal collision system, automatic emergency braking did not work properly. It hit the median and all front airbags were deployed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11513135, filed 2023-03
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and fuel pump recall parts unavailable

   • 100 complaints (19%)
   • median 14,500 mi at 2.0 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners report a strong gasoline smell around the vehicle while it is parked, and others describe waiting on the fuel pump recall with parts not available. Complaints focus on the smell and the recall repair delay rather than a driving symptom. Most reports around 7,500 to 21,000 miles.

   Recall 23V858000

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel pump recall (23V858000) was performed, and check for a fuel odor around the car after it has been parked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Manufacturer refuses to fix open recalls via its dealer network. I have been calling my local Honda dealer, Wolfchase Honda in Bartlett, TN (ZIP: 38133) for almost two months asking them to fix my vehicle. They tell me they do not have the parts for either the steering gearbox recall (NHTSA recall number: 24V-744) or the fuel pump recall (NHTSA recall number: 24V-763) and to call back. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11628782, filed 2024-12

   “The contact owns a 2023 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked in the garage, there was an abnormally strong fuel odor on the exterior of the vehicle. The contact stated that the fumes were extremely strong. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 21,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11630316, filed 2024-12, 21,000 miles

Buying note. Spend time on a highway test drive to judge the steering, since that is the issue owners raise most and it is not always reproducible in a short drive. Confirm that the open steering and fuel pump recalls were completed, and ask for any driver-assist software updates.

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.