The Lemon Index2002 Honda CR-V.
The 2002 Honda CR-V is about average by owner complaints: 136 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 91, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 16 recalls, and it gets 21 to 23 mpg combined. The best Honda CR-V year is 2001.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 515 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Honda CR-V year. 2002 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 47K to 140K miles on the car (327 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- airbags complaints mostly came at 51K–170K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 60K–160K miles
- lights complaints mostly came at 100K–161K miles
Recalls 16
- visibility 2020
Moisture may enter the driver side power window master switch, causing the switch to fail or melt.
- airbags 2019
The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high …
- airbags 2019
These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high a…
Show all 16 recalls
- airbags 2019
The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containi.
- airbags 2018
The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
- airbags 2015
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the passenger seat occupant or other occupants possibly causing serious injury…
- airbags 2015
The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator t…
- airbags 2014
Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, U.S.
- electrical 2012
The driver-side power window switch may fail or melt.
- lights 2012
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2004 CR-V; MODEL YEAR 2003 THROUGH 2005 PILOT; AND MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 CIVIC VEHICLES.
- visibility 2007
CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BRE…
- airbags 2004
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WIRE HARNESS OF THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG WAS INCORRECTLY WIRED.
- electrical 2003
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, METAL PARTICLES IN THE KEY CYLINDER BODY COULD INTERFERE WITH THE INTERLOCK LEVER OPERATION, MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY WITHOUT SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO "PARK.".
- transmission & drivetrain 2003
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF THE SHIFT CABLE LINKAGE COULD PREVENT THE DRIVER FROM SHIFTING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO PARK.
- seats 2002
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FRONT SEAT ANCHORAGE NUT STRENGTH IS INSUFFICIENT BECAUSE THE NUTS WERE INSTALLED IMPROPERLY.
- seat belts 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT PRETENSIONS.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Honda told dealers about
Honda sent dealers 256 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Subject regarding a click noise from the dash behind the shift lever
- Information on servicing automatic transmission click noise from dash when stopping
- Information on tire noise can sound like differential howl
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
- OpenAir bag inflator rupture2015
- ClosedAir bag inflator rupture2014–2015
- ClosedDriver's power window master switch2011–2012
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★☆☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $2800–3050 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
While driving at 40-mph was involved in a front collision and neither of the air bags deployed, no air bag warning light appeared prior to the crash. Driver was wearing the seat belt.
2002 Honda CR-V owner · NHTSA complaint 10042187
More owner reports
After starting the vehicle consumer heard a squeaking noise coming from the alternator. The dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
NHTSA complaint 10063289
While driving 45 mph vehicle collided with a guard rail. Upon impact, both frontal air bags failed to deploy. Driver sustained major injuries ,and was transported by ambulance to a hospital. Vehicle was towed to a body shop.
NHTSA complaint 10080136
Quick answers
Is the 2002 Honda CR-V reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew about the average number of complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 91; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Honda CR-V year by this measure since 2010 is 2011.
What are the most common 2002 Honda CR-V problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (18%), airbags (17%) and transmission & drivetrain (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2002 Honda CR-V have?
16 safety recalls (latest: visibility). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2002 Honda CR-V get?
21 to 23 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2002 Honda CR-V problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 47,000 and 140,000 miles. The middle report was at 90,000 miles, from 327 complaints.
Does the 2002 Honda CR-V have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 13% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2002 Honda CR-V cost in fuel a year?
About $2800 to $3050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2002 Honda CR-V have?
2.4L 4-cyl.
What Honda CR-V year is better than the 2002?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2011, 2010 and 2013.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works