2020 Honda CR-V Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2020 Honda CR-V has a complaint index of 60 and ranks 9th worst of 21 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Owners most often flagged Collision Avoidance & Cameras issues (73 complaints, 21% share) along with 7 recalls covering airbags, fuel system, and seat belts.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 60/100
- #9 of 21 CR-V years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 353
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 7
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 21
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 17
- Top issue
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 29.5
- 27.5 city / 33 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 17 / 0
Top 2020 Honda CR-V problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras73 (21%)
- Electrical System50 (14%)
- Engine49 (14%)
- Fuel System48 (14%)
- Airbags47 (13%)
- Steering41 (12%)
- Other36 (10%)
- Brakes30 (8%)
- Transmission & Powertrain20 (6%)
- Structure & Body11 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Automatic emergency braking activates unexpectedly at low speed with no obstacle present, sometimes causing a rear-end collision.
- Driver's airbag has deployed suddenly during normal driving with no crash impact, startling the driver.
- Front seat belt buckles cross over each other on the left and middle seating positions.
- Brake pedal has failed to stop the vehicle during low-speed maneuvers such as reversing out of a driveway or parking.
- Vehicle has accelerated unexpectedly at very low speed while parking, in one case jumping a curb.
- Parking brake has failed to hold a parked vehicle, allowing it to roll backward unattended.
2020 Honda CR-V recalls
7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V332000May 21, 2026Airbags98,892 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
- NHTSA 24V064000Feb 1, 2024Airbags750,114 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
Risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
- NHTSA 23V858000Dec 18, 2023Fuel System2,490,460 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
2020 Honda CR-V fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 27.5 MPG
- Highway
- 33 MPG
- Combined
- 29.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,200
- 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.
2020 compared with other CR-V years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Honda CR-V reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2020 CR-V a complaint index of 60 and a Caution verdict, ranking 9th worst among 21 model years of the CR-V. It is not among the worst years, but it also does not reach Good or Best status.
- What are the most common problems with the 2020 Honda CR-V?
- The top problem area is Collision Avoidance & Cameras with 73 complaints (21% share), followed by Electrical System and Engine issues at 50 and 49 complaints respectively.
- Does the 2020 Honda CR-V have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2020 CR-V, covering airbags, fuel system, seat belts, and a rear subframe bolt issue. None of these are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2020 CR-V compare to other CR-V years?
- The 2020 CR-V's complaint index of 60 is better than 2017, 2018, and 2019, which all carry Avoid verdicts with indexes of 95, 100, and 85, but worse than 2021 and 2022, which are rated Good and Best.
- What mileage do 2020 CR-V problems typically show up at?
- Across all reported problem areas, the median mileage at failure for the 2020 CR-V is 16,000 miles, though this varies by system, with fuel system and engine complaints trending closer to 50,000 miles.