2004 Honda CR-V

● Typical for this model
2004 Honda CR-V
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

Complaints
501
Recalls
13

Campaigns on file for 2004

Investigations
7

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Engine and engine cooling

29% of complaints

Complaints per year

1997: 108 complaints 1997 1998: 128 complaints 1999: 127 complaints 2000: 129 complaints 2001: 142 complaints 2002: 515 complaints 2003: 468 complaints 2004: 501 complaints 2004 501 2005: 479 complaints 2006: 398 complaints 2007: 887 complaints 2008: 962 complaints 2009: 386 complaints 2009 2010: 480 complaints 2011: 554 complaints 2012: 402 complaints 2013: 382 complaints 2013 2014: 587 complaints 2015: 672 complaints 2016: 393 complaints 2017: 1,770 complaints 2017 2018: 2,151 complaints 2019: 1,103 complaints 2020: 362 complaints 2021: 334 complaints 2021 2022: 264 complaints 2023: 522 complaints 2024: 391 complaints 2025: 256 complaints 2025 2026: 148 complaints
1997: 108 complaints 1997 1998: 128 complaints 1999: 127 complaints 1999 2000: 129 complaints 2001: 142 complaints 2001 2002: 515 complaints 2003: 468 complaints 2004: 501 complaints 2004 501 2005: 479 complaints 2006: 398 complaints 2007: 887 complaints 2007 2008: 962 complaints 2009: 386 complaints 2009 2010: 480 complaints 2011: 554 complaints 2011 2012: 402 complaints 2013: 382 complaints 2013 2014: 587 complaints 2015: 672 complaints 2015 2016: 393 complaints 2017: 1,770 complaints 2017 2018: 2,151 complaints 2019: 1,103 complaints 2019 2020: 362 complaints 2021: 334 complaints 2021 2022: 264 complaints 2023: 522 complaints 2023 2024: 391 complaints 2025: 256 complaints 2025 2026: 148 complaints
1997: 108 complaints 1997 1998: 128 complaints 1999: 127 complaints 1999 2000: 129 complaints 2001: 142 complaints 2001 2002: 515 complaints 2003: 468 complaints 2004: 501 complaints 2004 501 2005: 479 complaints 2006: 398 complaints 2007: 887 complaints 2007 2008: 962 complaints 2009: 386 complaints 2009 2010: 480 complaints 2011: 554 complaints 2011 2012: 402 complaints 2013: 382 complaints 2013 2014: 587 complaints 2015: 672 complaints 2015 2016: 393 complaints 2017: 1,770 complaints 2017 2018: 2,151 complaints 2019: 1,103 complaints 2019 2020: 362 complaints 2021: 334 complaints 2021 2022: 264 complaints 2023: 522 complaints 2023 2024: 391 complaints 2025: 256 complaints 2025 2026: 148 complaints

2004: 501 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
1997108
1998128
1999127
2000129
2001142
2002515
2003468
2004501
2005479
2006398
2007887
2008962
2009386
2010480
2011554
2012402
2013382
2014587
2015672
2016393
20171,770
20182,151
20191,103
2020362
2021334
2022264
2023522
2024391
2025256
2026148

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Engine and engine cooling

29% · 143 reports

Most commonly citing cooling system and engine.

FIRE

Air bags

21% · 103 reports

Most commonly citing frontal and side/window.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Honda CR-V.the contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, a deer walked in front of her vehicle without warning.

NHTSA ODI report, 2019-08-26

Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that the vehicle was involved in a rear end collision with a semi-truck. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-03-22

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Honda crv. The contact was driving 45 MPH and crashed into a deer. The frontal air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-12-03

Electrical system

15% · 73 reports

Most commonly citing front underhood and wiring.

FIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

We were leaving a parking lot when we had to pull over and get out of the car. A very strong electric smell and smoke was coming from drivers side window area. We were all outside the car on a very busy city street because of this incident.

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-11-06

My wife was driving down the road and the engine caught on fire. She was in town doing about 30 MPH. The first indication of fire was smoke coming out of the hood. She stopped the car and got out.

NHTSA ODI report, 2004-04-26

Exterior lighting

9% · 46 reports

Most commonly citing switch and headlights.

Show complaint excerpts

While driving down the freeway at 6:00 AM in the morning, the headlights flashed on and then off intermittently. I thought nothing of it and then they went out completely and would not come back on right away.

NHTSA ODI report, 2023-09-19

Equipment

7% · 34 reports

Most commonly citing air conditioner.

Safety timeline

13 recalls · 7 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2004-06-16Air bags04V255000 On certain sport utility vehicles, the wire harness of the driver's front air bag was incorrectly wired.

    Remedy: Dealers will repair the wiring. Owner notification began on June 16, 2004. Owners should contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.

  2. I
    2004-09-09Engineering analysisClosed 2005-01-19 Underhood fires
  3. R
    2008-01-15Visibility07E104000 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…

    Remedy: Safelite will notify its retail customers and replace the glass free of charge. Retail customers can contact safelite toll free at 1-888-843-2906. Safelite will notify its wholesale customers and…

  4. I
    2011-04-11Engineering analysisClosed 2012-10-24 Driver's Power Window Master Switch
  5. I
    2011-04-29Preliminary evaluationClosed 2011-09-23 Low Beam Headlights Stop Working
  6. I
    2011-09-12Engineering analysisClosed 2012-09-17 Low Beam Headlights Stop Illuminating
  7. R
    2012-04-27Exterior lighting12V136000 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. In March 2012, Honda filed a defect report to recall…

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will repair the low beam terminal harness or replace the lighting switch as necessary, free of charge. The original recall began in April 2012. Owners of…

  8. R
    2012-11-02Electrical system, visibility12V486000 Honda is recalling certain model year 2002-2006 CR-V passenger vehicles, manufactured from February 19, 2002, through July 28, 2006. The driver-side power window switch may fail or melt.

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the switches, as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on November 2, 2012. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.

  9. I
    2014-06-11Preliminary evaluationClosed 2015-03-02 Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  10. R
    2014-09-12Air bags14V353000 American Honda Motor Company, Inc.'s (Honda) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2003-2005 Accord, Civic, CR-V, Pilot and Acura MDX, model year 2003-2004 Odyssey and Element, and model year 2005 Acura RL, and 2006 Honda...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during August 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

  11. R
    2015-01-26Air bags14V700000 American Honda Motor Co.

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

  12. I
    2015-02-24Engineering analysisOpen Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  13. R
    2015-07-01Air bags15V320000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

  14. R
    2015-07-01Air bags15V370000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic vehicles manufactured March 21, 2000, to January 20, 2005, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX vehicles manufactured June 14, 2000, to August 19, 2004, 2003-2005 Honda Civic...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

  15. R
    2018-06-22Air bags18V268000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

  16. R
    2019-04-10Air bags19V182000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

  17. R
    2019-08-12Air bags19V499000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey,...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.

  18. R
    2019-08-12Air bags19V501000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey,...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

  19. R
    2021-01-29Electrical system, visibility20V768000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2002-2006 CR-V vehicles. Moisture may enter the driver side power window master switch, causing the switch to fail or melt.

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power window master switch and inspect the wiring harness for damage, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021.

  20. I
    2021-09-17Engineering analysisOpen Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Buy-smart checklist

2004 Honda CR-V — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Engine and engine cooling: 143 reports on file for this year.
  • Air bags: 103 reports on file for this year.
  • Electrical system: 73 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 04V255000 · Air bags
  • Recall 07E104000 · Visibility
  • Recall 12V136000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 12V486000 · Electrical system, visibility
  • Recall 14V353000 · Air bags
  • Recall 14V700000 · Air bags
  • Recall 15V320000 · Air bags
  • Recall 15V370000 · Air bags
  • Recall 18V268000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V182000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V499000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V501000 · Air bags
  • Recall 20V768000 · Electrical system, visibility

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2004 Honda CR-V reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2004 Honda CR-V is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Honda CR-V?
The most-reported component is engine and engine cooling, accounting for 29% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2004 Honda CR-V have?
13 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.