YearToAvoid

2016 Honda CR-V Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 123 Engine complaints for the 2016 Honda CR-V, 31% of all complaints filed for the year, with median failure mileage of 18,900. A related recall (17V305000) covers replacement engines built with incorrect pistons.

Engine complaints
123
31% of 393
Crashes reported
17
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
8
Median mileage
18,900 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration at low speeds while parking or pulling into a spot, with the brake pedal depressed and no response from the brakes.
  • Some owners report the vehicle jumping curbs, hitting walls, signs, or landscaping after the engine surged unexpectedly.
  • One owner reported the water pump seizing, causing the fan belt to overheat and fracture, followed by smoke and flames from the engine.
  • A stalling complaint describes the engine failing to catch up when accelerating or braking, followed by a forward buck.
  • Several complaints note that dealers could not reproduce the sudden acceleration issue after inspection.

When 2016 Honda CR-V engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 9, 2016, latest Sep 8, 2026.

2016 Honda CR-V engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter82016 Q12017 Q32018 Q42020 Q12021 Q22022 Q32024 Q12025 Q2
123 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q4 (8).

Engine recalls for the 2016 Honda CR-V

  1. NHTSA 17V305000May 4, 2017Engine16 vehicles

    Engine

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Honda CR-V vehicles that recently received a replacement engine. The replacement engine may have been built with the wrong pistons, potentially affecting the engine's performance.

    Risk: The reduced performance may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engines and replace the incorrect components, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KF6.

Engine complaints by CR-V model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201079 (16%)
  2. 201159 (11%)
  3. 2012107 (27%)
  4. 2013119 (31%)
  5. 2014222 (38%)
  6. 2015271 (40%)
  7. 2016123 (31%)
  8. 2017577 (33%)
  9. 2018591 (28%)
  10. 2019129 (12%)
  11. 202049 (14%)
  12. 202138 (12%)
  13. 202221 (8%)
  14. 202334 (7%)
  15. 202440 (10%)
  16. 202535 (14%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does NHTSA have for the 2016 Honda CR-V?
NHTSA lists 123 Engine complaints for the 2016 CR-V, making up 31% of all 393 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Honda CR-V engine?
Yes. Recall 17V305000, reported May 4, 2017, covers 2015-2016 CR-V vehicles that received a replacement engine possibly built with incorrect pistons. Honda dealers inspect and replace the incorrect components as needed.
At what mileage do engine problems typically show up on the 2016 CR-V?
NHTSA data shows a median failure mileage of 18,900 miles for engine-related complaints on the 2016 CR-V.
Did the 2016 CR-V engine issues cause crashes or fires?
Yes. NHTSA records 17 crashes, 3 fires, and 8 injuries associated with complaints in the Engine problem area for the 2016 CR-V.

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.