8.4

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$4,000
Average Mileage:
87,200 miles
Total Complaints:
15 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (12 reports)
  2. rebuild/repair piston rings (2 reports)
  3. up the oil viscosity (1 reports)
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problem #15

Jan 012015

CR-V EX-L 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,000 miles

Bought a used 90,000 CRV from a bunch of unscrupulous imported used car salesmen from a "reputable" Honda dealership in Sterling VA. I would avoid their brand altogether if this is what they get up to, as the whole crew was corrupt at purchase time and reading from the same sheet - lies. I moved over to Chantilly where they are a proper Honda dealership, more professional and honest as of 2019.

The PROBLEM: On a 6,000 mile return road trip and right after purchase, it ran out of engine oil around the 5,000 mile mark and in between oil changes. The Honda dealership I limped into started an oil consumption test, so the jokers I bought from back home could have some evidence. They refused to honor it, probably because they were highway miles and therefore burned more oil than city miles.

This to Honda is just a notice bulletin and normal oil consumption in their save money at all costs minds (at the expense of the owner). But RUNNING OUT OF ENGINE OIL BETWEEN CHANGES IS NOT NORMAL BUT CRIMINAL. The Chantilly dealership did admit it was excessive, however Honda would not do anything unless there was a consumption test first to see if it qualified for valve and O ring replacement. But they would not honor the one started when the engine was empty. It didn't work for me because I was leaving the area again. It's just a runaround as I'm sure HQ know just where to make the cutoff, so 95% of the cars don't qualify.

This test is somewhat a stupid exercise in that anyone could drain some of their engine oil during testing to the level Honda considers excessive, over a liter every 1,000 miles and the job's done, get the rebuild. But then you would have to crawl and stoop to their level of dishonesty and mire oneself in filth. I left that to the pros.

Anyway, rant over. SOLUTION (partial) that works for me is to up the oil, synthetic, viscosity to somewhere around 5W 50 and avoid their 0W 30 brand of water they flog. Was told by a Honda rep. that this would do nothing, yet they had no solution other than to just take it sitting down. It's cut the consumption in half and now I can drive 1,000 miles and top up with a little over half a liter of oil to fill to full on the stick. Before with the 0W 30, was a little under one liter every 1,000 miles.

- pacific, Leesburg, US

problem #14

Mar 082021

CR-V EL

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,234 miles

Beyond frustrated. Dealership never mentioned there was an extended warranty (it had technically expired) so it makes me wonder if they even bothered to run the VIN. Car was purchased used for new driver and had spent past year away at college. Even if my daughter had mentioned issues earlier, still wouldn't have met extended warranty deadline. From research, this appears to be a known issue and one of a faulty design. I'd love to know if there is some recourse for Honda at all... this was such a costly repair we considered junking the car, but then thought better of it, since this is the perfect car to be parked all over campus and not worry about.

Overall, the car was running rough, idling very low, with the low oil light coming on. We had had oil changed over Christmas break so when she mentioned oil needed changing again, I took it for a drive myself. A quick google search and I took a drive to the dealer (dealers - I know, but this one has been good and with people able to quickly compare costs of everything, they have been inline or even less expensive than some places). I was hoping for fuel pump or something and then I saw the quote, I literally cussed. We are just entering the arena of managing used cars for teen drivers and we now own 2 CRVs (2011 and 2014) so I hope this is an anomaly. We also own a 2015 Pilot and have purchased them for reliability and value. Keeping my fingers crossed.

- wasekh, Greensboro, US

problem #13

May 222020

CR-V LX 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 132,000 miles

My 2011 CR-V has been running a little rough for awhile, but I had recently (within 6 months) had a 100,000 mile service at the Larry H. Miller Honda dealership in Murray, UT so assumed things were okay. Also have kept up on oil changes and other repairs. The "rough" running got worse, to the point I quit driving my car for about a week before I was able to get it into the dealer. Well, turns out there is complete engine failure/excess oil consumption due to failure of the piston rings. I was offered the choice of replacing the engine or repairing the piston rings to the tune of $3600!!! I have a junky 16 year-old Hyundai that hasn't had this issue, In fact, I have NEVER had this issue with any vehicle before. The dealership contacted Honda, who declined to offer any assistance with this repair. This was my first, and will be my LAST Honda. If I'd wanted this kind of maintenance nightmare, I would have purchased a Chrysler. I'll try a Toyota next time.

- Julie P., Salt Lake City, US

problem #12

May 192018

CR-V LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,820 miles

Had the oil changed in my CRV 2/17/18. The oil life is supposed to last 10000 miles until another change is required. 3 months, 2 days, and a little over 4000 miles later, the oil indicator light flashes. The oil life indicator on the vehicle states I have 60% oil life left but after checking the oil, I need to add two quarts just so any fluid registers on the dipstick.

- Suzanne R., Hampstead, US

problem #11

Mar 212017

CR-V EX-L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 96,662 miles

I went to Exclusive Honda, the place I always take my car for care for an oil change March 21, 2016. The oil life was at 15%. Which is in the Honda 2011 CRV for oil maintenance. There was no oil in my car, so sent to the Honda Dealer to check for the oil consumption issue. Exclusive said they can do nothing to the car or fix as this will negate the extended warrant & sent me directly to the Honda Dealer to take care of.

This was the first I heard of this issue with Honda's, even though I researched before buying this used car. My previous Honda CRV 2000 I gave to my daughter - its still running. They (Honda Dealer) found an oil seal leak! I did not have this problem with my last Honda. Said it's probably due to the high miles - 96000 is not high miles for a Honda in my book. I stopped back at the 1000 miles to check my oil consumption May 11, 2016. Told me its at the correct level for 1000 miles for oil use with oil life 80%.

After talking to Exclusive Honda I decided to change my oil every 5,000 to avoid any further problems. Thinking the leaking seal caused the oil issue.

I will be putting each compliant where needed to have this known & hope Honda will fix. I now have had the oil consumption 3 times.

- yandell, Omaha, US

problem #10

Jun 112016

CR-V LX 2.4L 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,296 miles

I purchased a Honda based on dependability. Vehicle is currently at the dealer for a scheduled oil change and when I informed them that I had to add 2 quarts of oil on Sunday after my check engine light came on, I was told that an excessive oil consumption test will need to be conducted. Honda claims that up to 1 quart per 1,000 miles is normal. I also own a 2000 Ford Ranger (160,000+ miles) and a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee (190,000+ miles) and neither require topping off between oil changes! I do not want to add oil at $8-$9 a quart every 1000 miles!

- Alexander D., North Dartmouth, US

problem #9

Jun 172016

CR-V 4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 122,000 miles

HONDA DEALER SAYS UNLESS CAR USES MORE THAN 1 QUART PER THOUSAND MILES, THIS IS NORMAL. CAN'T GET ANY SATISFACTION FROM HONDA. CAR IS USING VERY CLOSE TO ONE QUART PER THOUSAND MILES, AND DEALER SAYS CHECK OIL EVERY TIME I PUT GAS IN CAR.

- Kelly B., Milford, US

problem #8

Apr 012016

CR-V EX 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

Our 2011 Honda CR-V is part of the extended warranty issue with Honda vehicles for excessive oil consumption. We have our car serviced regularly at a local Honda dealership and go by the oil life monitor when it reaches approximately 15-20%. We had the car serviced in December, 2015. On a relatively short trip in early April, 2016 we noticed something odd about the car. Took the car into the regular place when we returned to find out it was completely out of oil. We had oil changed again in August, 2016 -- again completely out of oil. We took the car numerous times to Honda for protocol testing of oil usage at measured mile markers. Was told repeatedly that the car was not within protocol limits for fixing, even though it completely went through the oil twice in a span of eight months. The car was serviced again on October 17, 2016 and we have put in 2.3 quarts of oil since then. In the protocol testing starting August 10 to October 17, the car used 2.07 quarts of oil. We are getting very close to the 125,000 extended warranty level and it is so frustrating to know there is a problem, but Honda will not stand behind its product. We also have a 2004 Honda CR-V that we have never had to put a drop of oil in -- just regular service to it. We don't know who else to talk to about this, and have been completely dissatisfied with the answers from the local Honda. We were loyal Honda customers -- now we aren't.

- bwilky, Russell Springs, KY, US

problem #7

Jun 042015

CR-V SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 57,670 miles

first noticed problems between oil changes at 53000 and 58000 miles. Taking a short trip of about 75 miles. oil warning light came on. and car was making some noise. Stopped immediately to buy oil to complete the trip.

When I took the car in for the next oil changed and told the dealership about the problem, was told that these engines use about a quart of oil every thousand miles ! than again i drove the car again and between the oil change due date I was low on oil again. No oil found on my driveway, on on valve covers, but signs of oil on exhaust tail pipe a clear indication of oil leaking into the combustion chamber. again took the car in and was reminded again that this was normal.

2013 a class action suit was settled because Honda knew about this problem and hid this from the consumer, and instructed the dealship mechanics to lie to the consumers and tell them that this was a normal use of oil and it wasn't a problems. still using this lie in 2016.

- sanhoncrvric, Richmond, IN, US

problem #6

Feb 242016

CR-V 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,000 miles

The dealer says it is normal to use oil. But not to the extent that I am running out of oil TWICE between services.

- francismn, Edina, MN, US

problem #5

Nov 012014

CR-V SE 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. BURNING 1 QUART OIL EVERY 1800 MILES. HONDA CONSIDERS THIS WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS ???

- Brett S., Newcastle, ON, Canada

problem #4

Nov 272013

CR-V EX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,513 miles

Bought a 2011 CRV in 2013 (paid 16K cash for it) I have the oil changed every six thousand miles and have to add three quarts of oil between changes. Honda has a Factory Recall for this problem even adding 25K to the drive train warranty for those over the limit in miles. Was told by Honda that this was the normal amount of expected oil consumption and our vehicle didn't qualify for the Factory Recall repair.

Being a mechanic myself this is totally ridiculous, I intend to get in touch with an attorney in Charlotte that handles these types of things.

- bigsbync, Candler, NC, US

problem #3

Jul 152015

CR-V SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,500 miles

I was adding about 2-3 quarts of oil between oil changes. I was shocked. I thought there was a leak somewhere; there wasn't. Then I got the letter from Honda stating that they are extending the warranty due to the high oil consumption. I just brought it into the dealer to start the consumption test. It has to burn more than 1 qt of oil per 1,000 miles to be fixed by Honda. Who came up with that threshold?? I had a 2000 Civic with just under 200,000 that didn't use a drop of oil. That's why I was loyal to the brand, they made cars that last.

I'm no longer a Honda loyalist no matter how this whole consumption test shakes out.

- Aaron S., Minneapolis, MN, US

problem #2

Nov 072014

CR-V LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

2011 CRV burning 1 lt of oil per 400km based on oil consumption test. Having trouble Honda not fixing this issue even though it was still under warranty. I know of someone else with the same issue same year and theirs was fixed. Anyone else with this issue?

- C M., St. John's, Canada

problem #1

Jun 252015

CR-V LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,244 miles

excessive oil consumption. 1.5 l oil added following 3500km

I am very upset with the problem of excessive oil consumption on my 2011 CRV. In just over 3500 km I needed to add 1,5 liters of oil to my vehicle. I have complained to the sevice dept of my dealership about the problem. Honda service claims that because I have exceeded the 100000km warranty limit, they may not be liable. I was also told that oil consumption is not unusual. I am disputing all these claims. The vehicle is not old & I have regularly changed the oil with synthetic oil ON SCHEDULE. This problem needs to be recognized by Honda Canada. I am asking Honda Canada to extend the warranty & execute the necessary repairs in order to solve this problem of excessive oil consumption. I know that this has been a problem for Honda with the Accord models. As for my CRV, I am very much concerned of the possible engine damage existing as a result of this oil consumption. I will continue to press my case with Honda, beginning with the service dept at my dealership.

- george/a&g, Beaconsfield, QC, Canada