The Lemon Index
Subscribe

All cars · Honda CR-V · Transmission

Honda CR-V transmission problems by year.

Worst years for transmission complaints per car sold: 2017 (87 complaints), 2015 (78 complaints), 2002 (22 complaints). Fewest since 2010: 2021, 2025, 2019.

Honda CR-V
Photo shows a 2017 Honda CR-V. Kevauto, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Transmission complaints owners filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) for each model year, per 100,000 cars sold. A complaint counts when it's filed under the transmission, or under the power train and the owner describes the transmission (shifting, slipping, gears, CVT). It's an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and older years have had longer to collect complaints.

2000108.5 per 100K sold200154.2 per 100K sold20022215 per 100K sold20031711.8 per 100K sold200474.7 per 100K sold20051812 per 100K sold2006158.8 per 100K sold2007219.6 per 100K sold20082110.6 per 100K sold200994.7 per 100K sold2010188.8 per 100K sold201152.3 per 100K sold2012145 per 100K sold20134213.8 per 100K sold2014329.6 per 100K sold20157822.6 per 100K sold2016236.4 per 100K sold20178723 per 100K sold2018205.3 per 100K sold201951.3 per 100K sold2020103 per 100K sold202130.8 per 100K sold2022114.6 per 100K sold202392.5 per 100K sold2024123 per 100K sold202541 per 100K sold

What owners describe

Shudder21%
Lost power while driving11%
Delay or hesitation6%
Rolled away or park trouble6%
Hard or jerky shifting6%
Transmission replaced5%

Share of this model's transmission complaints that mention each symptom. One complaint can mention several.

Transmission and power train recalls

  • 2023 2023

    The electronic transmission may have been improperly manufactured, which can result in a loss of drive power.

  • 2022 2021

    A component in the right or left front driveshaft may have been improperly heat-treated, which could result in driveshaft failure.

  • 2013 2013

    During sub-freezing temperatures, the brake-shift interlock blocking mechanism may become slow and allow the gear selector to be moved from the Park position without pressing the brake pedal.

  • 2010 2011

    HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 ACCORD, 2007-2010 CR-V, AND 2005-2008 ELEMENT PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 1, 2004, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 3, 2010.

  • 2003 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.

Recall repairs are free at any dealer. Check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

In owners' words

Shift knob button broke during operation resulting in loss of use of vehicle. Battery has been replaced 2 times on vehicle.

2017 Honda CR-V owner · NHTSA complaint

The shift button broke off the handle to control drive train and car was in drive. Could not turn engine off or shift to park.

2017 Honda CR-V owner · NHTSA complaint

Quick answers

Which Honda CR-V years have transmission problems?

By transmission complaints filed with NHTSA per car sold, the worst Honda CR-V years are 2017, 2015, 2002.

What are common Honda CR-V transmission problems?

Owners most often describe shudder, lost power while driving, delay or hesitation.

Which Honda CR-V years have the fewest transmission complaints?

Since 2010, the Honda CR-V years with the fewest transmission complaints per car sold are 2021, 2025, 2019.

See every problem, not just the transmission: Honda CR-V reliability by year. How we count

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data