Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2003 Honda CR-V
NHTSA data on file today
The 2003 Honda CR-V has 14 NHTSA recall campaigns and 468 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #20V768000 Driver Side Power Window Switch May Fail NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V501000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V499000 Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V182000 Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V268000 Improperly Installed Passenger Air Bag NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V370000 Passenger Side Front Air Bag Inflator may Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V320000 Driver's Frontal Air Bag May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V700000 Passenger Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V353000 Passenger Side Air Bag Inflator may Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V486000 Driver Side Power Window Switch May Fail or Melt NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V136000 LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E104000 CURVED TEMPERED AUTOMOTIVE REPLACEMENT GLASS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V255000 HONDA/AIR BAG WIRING NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V274000 HONDA/SHIFT CABLE LINKAGE CORROSION NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 125 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 86 complaints
- Electrical System 62 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 39 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 32 complaints
- Equipment 31 complaints
Of the 468 complaints on file, 44 report a crash and 25 a fire; across all 468 complaints, owners report 39 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,400–$9,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2003 Honda CR-V has several significant recalls including faulty airbag inflators and power window switches, compounded by a high rate of complaints regarding air bags and engine cooling. Given these facts, potential owners may face frequent and costly repairs.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| airbag inflator | 80,000–120,000 miles | $500–$1,200 | very common |
| power window switch | 60,000–100,000 miles | $150–$300 | common |
| engine cooling system | 70,000–110,000 miles | $400–$1,200 | common |
| automatic transmission | 90,000–130,000 miles | $1,500–$3,000 | occasional |
| shift cable linkage | 85,000–125,000 miles | $200–$700 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- oil and filter changes every 5,000 miles
- check and replace brakes every 25,000 miles
- coolant system check every 30,000 miles
- timing belt replacement at 90,000 miles
- inspect suspension every 20,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- check engine light on frequently
- unusual noises from engine bay
- airbag warning light on
- difficulties in shifting gears
- malfunctioned window controls
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2003 Honda CR-V at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.