The Lemon Index2016 Honda CR-V.
The 2016 Honda CR-V is better than average by owner complaints: 199 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 56, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, it has 3 recalls, and it gets 27 to 29 mpg combined. The best Honda CR-V year is 2001.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 394 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Honda CR-V year. 2016 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 5K to 38K miles on the car (234 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 10K–43K miles
- fuel or ev drive system complaints mostly came at 1K–36K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 11K–37K miles
Recalls 3
- fuel system, gasoline 2023
The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
- engine 2017
The replacement engine may have been built with the wrong pistons, potentially affecting the engine's performance.
- airbags 2015
The metal housing surrounding the driver's air bag inflator in these vehicles may have been manufactured incorrectly.
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 85 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Techline summary article - does the engine rattle at startup for about 1 to 3 seconds?
- "techline summary article - does the engine rattle at startup for about 1 to 3 seconds?
- Engineering request for investigation - please call honda to discuss any fuel leaks from the…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedElectrical overstress2019–2024
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CR-V SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Honda CR-V SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2200–2400 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
There is a fuel smell which is very noticeable when idling. The dealer said it is the winter fuel blend but winter is over and the smell is still there. This sounds like it could be dangerous at many levels.
2016 Honda CR-V owner · NHTSA complaint 10990959
More owner reports
Gas fumes in passenger cabin. We get gas fumes in the passenger cabin on a regular basis. No gas leaking on ground that we can see. Happens more often after car has been idling for a bit. Gas fumes stay in cabin while driving.
NHTSA complaint 11084545
Strong gasoline smell in cabin of vehicle,causing head ache burning eyes and nausea while operating.
NHTSA complaint 10959084
Quick answers
Is the 2016 Honda CR-V reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.8× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 56; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Honda CR-V year by this measure since 2010 is 2011.
What are the most common 2016 Honda CR-V problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (20%), fuel or ev drive system (16%) and electrical (14%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2016 Honda CR-V have?
3 safety recalls (latest: fuel system, gasoline). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Honda CR-V get?
27 to 29 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2016 Honda CR-V safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2016 Honda CR-V problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 5,000 and 38,000 miles. The middle report was at 19,000 miles, from 234 complaints.
Does the 2016 Honda CR-V have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 11% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2016 Honda CR-V cost in fuel a year?
About $2200 to $2400 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2016 Honda CR-V have?
2.4L 4-cyl.
What Honda CR-V year is better than the 2016?
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