YearToAvoid

2023 Honda CR-V Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

73/100

#5 most-complained of 16 CR-V years

The 2023 Honda CR-V ranks 5th worst of 16 model years, with a complaint index of 73 and a Caution verdict. Steering complaints dominate at 63% of the 515 total complaints, with 3 recalls filed including a steering worm gear issue.

Complaints
515
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
21 / 1
Injuries / deaths
21 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
29.5
27.5 city / 33 hwy

Top 2023 Honda CR-V problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Steering325 (63%)
  2. Collision Avoidance & Cameras42 (8%)
  3. Engine34 (7%)
  4. Other33 (6%)
  5. Electrical System32 (6%)
  6. Brakes30 (6%)
  7. Lane Departure30 (6%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers28 (5%)
  9. Structure & Body25 (5%)
  10. Fuel System24 (5%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the steering wheel suddenly locking up or becoming too stiff to turn, sometimes while trying to avoid a collision.
  • Some describe sudden unintended acceleration while parking at low speed, causing the vehicle to jump curbs or hit fixed objects.
  • Several report the brake pedal traveling to the floor with little or no braking response, leading to rear-end crashes.
  • One owner described the automatic braking and lane-keep assistance failing to engage before the vehicle left the road.
  • A seat back frame reportedly broke and twisted after being rear-ended, allowing the occupant to strike the seat structure.
2023 Honda CR-V complaints: complaints filed per month74Dec 2022Aug 2023Feb 2024Aug 2024Feb 2025Sep 2025Mar 2026Sep 2026
629 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2022 to Sep 2026; peak Dec 2023 (74).

2023 Honda CR-V recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 24V744000Oct 3, 2024Steering1,693,199 vehicles

    Steering

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Acura Integra, Civic Type R, CR-V Hybrid, CR-V, HR-V, 2022-2025 Civic, Civic Hatchback, 2024-2025 Acura Integra Type S, 2025 CR-V Fuel Cell EV, Civic Hybrid, and Civic Hatchback Hybrid vehicles. The steering gearbox assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause excessive internal friction and lead to difficulty steering the vehicle.

    Risk: Difficulty steering can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the worm gear spring and redistribute or add grease as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2024. Owners may contact Honda Customer Service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are SJS, MJU, QJT and VJV.

  2. 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.

  3. NHTSA 23V092000Feb 16, 2023Structure & Body98 vehicles

    Seats:front assembly:recliner

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 CR-V vehicles. The front passenger seat back frame may not have been welded properly, which can cause the seat back position to fail in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 207, "Seating Systems" and 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact."

    Risk: A seat back position that fails may not adequately restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front passenger seat back frame assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 27, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is 6PK.

2023 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.

2023 compared with other CR-V years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2021Good47330429.5
2022Best7259329.5
2023Caution73515329.5
2024Avoid80392233.5
2025Avoid93248137

All Honda CR-V years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Honda CR-V reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2023 CR-V carries a complaint index of 73 and a Caution verdict, ranking 5th worst among 16 model years of the CR-V.
What is the main problem with the 2023 Honda CR-V?
Steering is the top problem area, accounting for 325 of 515 complaints (63%), with a median failure mileage of 10,000 miles.
Does the 2023 Honda CR-V have a steering recall?
Yes. Recall 24V744000 covers a worm gear spring and grease issue affecting the 2023-2025 CR-V and related Honda models; Honda dealers replace the spring and redistribute or add grease.
How many complaints and recalls does the 2023 CR-V have?
NHTSA lists 515 complaints, 21 crashes, 1 fire, 21 injuries, 1 death, and 3 recalls for the 2023 CR-V, with 0 do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2023 CR-V compare to other CR-V years?
With a complaint index of 73, the 2023 CR-V is worse than years like 2022 (index 7, Best) and 2013 (index 0, Best), but better than 2018 (index 100, Avoid).

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.