2002 Honda CR-V Problems

Typical for Model

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2002 Honda CR-V. Part of Generation 2 — 2002–2006.

20012003
Complaints
660
Crashes
64
Fires
21
Injuries
61
Fatalities
Recalls
10

Worst 2002 Honda CR-V Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1122 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:122,333 mi
Crash-related:23
Fires:1
#262 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:163,578 mi
Fires:10
#346 complaints

Headlight/Taillight Failures

Avg mileage:135,904 mi
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Honda CR-V.

Airbags
122
complaints
Crashes
23
Fires
1
Avg Miles
122,333
Electrical Faults
62
complaints
Crashes
Fires
10
Avg Miles
163,578
Headlight/Taillight Failures
46
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
135,904
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
29
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
84,933
Seat-Related Issues
23
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
105,423
Unintended Acceleration
20
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
108,315
Engine & Cooling
19
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
86,477
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
19
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
82,922
Seat Belt Issues
18
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
89,721
Automatic Transmission
13
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
40,438
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
39,333
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
113,959
Suspension Failures
11
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
91,460
Air Bags:Frontal
10
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
Avg Miles
55,938
Other Equipment
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
100,670
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
150,530
Electrical System:Ignition
9
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
42,213
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
59,970
Latches / Locks
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
59,640
Hydraulic Brakes
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
10,403
Steering Defects
8
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
117,517
Tire Defects
8
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
35,540
Engine Problems
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
139,548
Visibility
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
168,073
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
63,422
Gasoline Fuel System
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
94,132
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
Brakes
5
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
140,446
Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Honda CR-V. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2002 Honda CR-V

10 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~14,456,619 vehicles.

20V768000Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls · Electrical System
~268,655 affected

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.

19V501000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~1,657,752 affected

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, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline 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.

19V499000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~3,947 affected

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, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 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.

19V182000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~1,101,534 affected

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 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.

18V268000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~1,335 affected

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 2012 Ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.

15V370000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~3,498,481 affected

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 Hybrid vehicles manufactured February 24, 2002, to January 18, 2005, 2003-2007 Honda Accord vehicles manufactured February 21, 2002, to August 28, 2007, 2002-2004 Honda CR-V vehicles, 2002-2003 Honda Odyssey vehicles manufactured June 19, 2001, to July 12, 2003, 2003 Acura MDX vehicles manufactured September 19, 2002, to June 19, 2003, 2003 Honda Element vehicles manufactured June 25, 2002, to July 31, 2003, and 2003 Honda Pilot vehicles manufactured November 26, 2001, to August 21, 2003. The affected vehicles have a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.

15V320000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~6,281,043 affected

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 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

14V700000Airbags
~0 affected

American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic, 2003-2004 Civic CNG and Element, 2002-2005 CR-V, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2005 Accord, Pilot, Civic Hybrid, and Acura MDX, 2005 Acura RL and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Saipan, Guam, and American Samoa are addressed by this recall. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

12V486000Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls · Electrical System
~268,655 affected

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.

12V136000Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
~1,375,217 affected

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 CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2004 CR-V AND CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003 PILOT VEHICLES. IN AUGUST 2012, HONDA INFORMED THE AGENCY THAT IT WAS INCLUDING AN ADDITIONAL 820,789 VEHICLES INCLUDING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 PILOTS AND MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 CIVICS. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VEHICLES BEING RECALLED IS NOW 1,375,217. DUE TO TENSION FROM THE COMBINATION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS, WEAR ON THE SURFACE OF THE ELECTRICAL TERMINAL CAN OCCUR, YIELDING COPPER OXIDE, WHICH INCREASES ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE. INCREASED ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE MAY CAUSE THE TERMINAL ENDS TO MELT WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR.

Other Honda CR-V Years

2002 Honda CR-V — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2002 Honda CR-V reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 2002 Honda CR-V has 660 NHTSA complaints, 64 crash-related, and 10 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 122 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 Honda CR-V?
Top reported problems: Airbags (122 complaints, avg 122,333 mi); Electrical Faults (62 complaints, avg 163,578 mi); Headlight/Taillight Failures (46 complaints, avg 135,904 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Honda CR-V?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 108,699 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2002 Honda CR-V?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Honda CR-V include 64 crash-related reports, 21 fire reports, 61 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2002 Honda CR-V have any recalls?
Yes — 10 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 14,456,619 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2002 Honda CR-V?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Honda CR-V reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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