YearToAvoid

2010 Honda CR-V Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2010 Honda CR-V has 481 NHTSA complaints and 15 recall campaigns, giving it a complaint index of 40 and a Caution verdict - capped from what the complaint volume alone would suggest because of the heavy recall count. Airbags are the top problem area, with 217 complaints tied to that system.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
40/100
#13 of 21 CR-V years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
481
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
15
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
31
reported in complaints
Fires
2
Injuries
16
Top issue
Airbags
Best nearby year
2012
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
23.5
21 city / 27.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
16 / 1

Top 2010 Honda CR-V problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags217 (45%)
  2. Engine80 (17%)
  3. Structure & Body63 (13%)
  4. Electrical System48 (10%)
  5. Other48 (10%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain30 (6%)
  7. Brakes29 (6%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires24 (5%)
  9. Steering14 (3%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers10 (2%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration where the vehicle continued moving or sped up even after the driver applied the brake.
  • Some drivers report the brakes seizing or going to the floor while simultaneously feeling the vehicle accelerate.
  • Engine-related reports include a case of smoke and fire emerging from the rear of the vehicle at highway speed.
  • Several complaints describe the vehicle lurching forward unexpectedly while parking, leading to collisions with structures.
  • One report describes a rear-end crash forcing the transmission into park, which automatically locked the doors and trapped occupants.
  • Airbag deployment is mentioned in multiple crash reports, sometimes alongside claims that the vehicle behaved erratically just before impact.
2010 Honda CR-V complaints: complaints filed per quarter1132009 Q42012 Q12014 Q22016 Q32018 Q42021 Q22023 Q32026 Q2
481 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2009 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2016 Q3 (113).

2010 Honda CR-V recalls

15 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V228000Mar 30, 2023Structure & Body616,128 vehicles

    Structure:frame and members

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2007-2011 CR-V vehicles that were sold, or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin. An accumulation of road salt may cause the frame to corrode and possibly detach the rear trailing arm.

    Risk: A detached rear trailing arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and install a support brace or repair the rear frame, as necessary, free of charge. Depending on the extent of any corrosion damage, Honda may offer to repurchase the vehicle. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is UE3.

  2. NHTSA 19V502000Jun 27, 2019Airbags9,555 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. 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 absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger 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 F5F and Q5E.

  3. NHTSA 19V500000Jun 27, 2019Airbags1,558 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. 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 absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    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 S5B and W59.

See all 15 recalls for the 2010 Honda CR-V →

2010 Honda CR-V fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21 MPG
Highway
27.5 MPG
Combined
23.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,750
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2010 compared with other CR-V years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2008Caution709611122.5
2009Caution353861222.5
2010Caution404811523.5
2011Caution255531323.5
2012Best20403325.5

All Honda CR-V years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Honda CR-V reliable?
NHTSA lists 481 complaints and 15 recall campaigns for the 2010 CR-V, giving it a complaint index of 40 and a Caution verdict among CR-V model years. The verdict is capped at Caution mainly because of the large number of recall campaigns requiring a dealer visit, not just complaint volume.
What is the biggest problem with the 2010 Honda CR-V?
Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 217 of the 481 complaints (45%) and linked to 15 crashes and 1 fire, with a median failure mileage of 57,000 miles.
Does the 2010 Honda CR-V have a lot of recalls?
Yes, NHTSA shows 15 recall campaigns for this year, most involving airbag inflator replacement, plus one covering a rear frame support brace.
How does the 2010 CR-V compare to other CR-V model years?
The 2010 CR-V ranks 13th worst out of 21 model years with data, with a complaint index of 40, worse than 2012 and 2013 (Best verdicts, indices of 20 and 5) but better than 2017 and 2018 (Avoid verdicts, indices of 95 and 100).
Are there engine problems reported in the 2010 Honda CR-V?
Engine complaints make up 80 of the 481 total (17%), including reports of stalling and one fire, with a median failure mileage of 61,000 miles.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.