2008 Honda CR-V Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Honda CR-V. Part of Generation 3 — 2007–2011.

20072009
Complaints
1,219
per 10K Sold
61.4
US Sales
198,505
Crashes
66
Fires
3
Injuries
59
Fatalities
Recalls
11

Worst 2008 Honda CR-V Problems

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

#1319 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:100,131 mi
Crash-related:23
#2217 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:94,544 mi
Crash-related:4
#3194 complaints

Latches / Locks

Avg mileage:88,202 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2008 Honda CR-V.

Airbags
319
complaints
Crashes
23
Fires
Avg Miles
100,131
Electrical Faults
217
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
94,544
Latches / Locks
194
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
88,202
Steering Defects
68
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
66,689
Body Structure
52
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
106,844
Transmission / Drivetrain
33
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
177,223
Suspension Failures
27
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
89,518
Engine Problems
23
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
81,829
Structural Problems
20
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
120,850
Structure:Body:Door
20
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
84,778
Unintended Acceleration
16
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
Avg Miles
61,783
Tire Defects
14
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
31,019
Engine & Cooling
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
65,169
Seat Belt Issues
13
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
Avg Miles
62,794
Hydraulic Brakes
13
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
24,167
Wheel Issues
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
122,106
Electronic Stability Control
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
77,864
Brakes
7
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
102,664
Suspension:Rear
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
20,950
Fuel System
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
92,587
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
163,656
Visibility
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
29,000
Seat-Related Issues
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
87,500
Wipers & Visibility
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
63,629
Air Bags:Frontal
4
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Headlight/Taillight Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Automatic Transmission
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering:Rack And Pinion
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2008 Honda CR-V. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2008 Honda CR-V

11 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~8,092,988 vehicles.

23V228000Structure:frame And Members
~616,128 affected

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.

19V500000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~1,558 affected

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.

19V502000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~9,555 affected

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.

19V378000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~19,138 affected

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.

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.

17V545000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~3,257 affected

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2008-2012 Accord, 2010-2012 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2012 Fit and Pilot, 2010-2012 Insight, and 2009-2012 Acura TSX vehicles that received replacement passenger frontal air bag inflators. One dealership may have incorrectly installed the replacement air bag inflators.

17V417000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~629 affected

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Honda CR-V vehicles which have had the passenger frontal air bag replaced. The air bag inflator repair kit may have been assembled by the supplier with an incorrect wire harness.

17V030000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~977,708 affected

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Acura TSX, 2011-2012 Acura TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Acura ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2012 Honda Accord Crosstour and Honda Insight, 2009-2012 Honda Fit, 2009-2012 Pilot, 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2012 Honda FCX Clarity and 2006-2011 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid, Civic NGV vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain 2009 Acura TSX, Honda Fit and Pilot, 2008-2009 Honda Accord, 2006-2009 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, and 2007-2009 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, if not included in "Zone B" above, Honda is recalling certain 2008 Honda Accord, 2006-2008 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV and 2007-2008 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

16V346000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~2,719,386 affected

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Acura TSX, 2011 TSX Wagon, 2010-2011 Acura ZDX, 2008-2011 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid, and Civic GX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2010-2011 FCX Clarity and Insight, and 2009-2011 Fit, and Pilot vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless already included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain model year 2008 Honda Accord, 2006-2008 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic GX, and 2007-2008 CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Vehicles not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

16V061000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~2,232,187 affected

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-2013 Acura ZDX vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

+ 1 more recalls

Other Honda CR-V Years

2008 Honda CR-V — FAQ

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

Is the 2008 Honda CR-V reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2008 Honda CR-V has 1,219 NHTSA complaints, 66 crash-related, and 11 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 319 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2008 Honda CR-V?
Top reported problems: Airbags (319 complaints, avg 100,131 mi); Electrical Faults (217 complaints, avg 94,544 mi); Latches / Locks (194 complaints, avg 88,202 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 2008 Honda CR-V?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 93,076 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2008 Honda CR-V?
NHTSA complaints for the 2008 Honda CR-V include 66 crash-related reports, 3 fire reports, 59 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 2008 Honda CR-V have any recalls?
Yes — 11 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 8,092,988 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 2008 Honda CR-V?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

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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