10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 6 / 3
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 2 / 1
- Average Mileage:
- 25,447 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
VTC Actuator making grinding noise on cold start up and after sitting for long periods of time even after running. Timing chain is stretched making warning lights come on and go off.
- Olympia, WA, USA
The engine had been having an oil consumption issue. I was back and forth with Honda who kept pushing me around. Filed complaints there as well. The first I was ever notified there was a problem is when I brought my car in for service and was told the oil was barely present. Was notified by the mechanic this is a known issue that should be reported. I reported and nothing was really done. They would bring me in for an oil change, I would come back and they would somehow "forget" to document I returned. Was told not to add oil and my car stalled and I crashed into a parking lot with my child in the back seat on a busy street. Nothing was done to help me with the issue. I brought in every single oil change I had ever had on the vehicle and I was told I was not doing the routine maintenance even though I had proof. This is a huge concern for safety as me or my child could have been injured and Honda did nothing to help or even attempt to help with the concern.
- Manhattan, IL, USA
Between every oil change I have to add oil, there are no visible leaks but it always uses oil and the low oil light will come on.
- Fishers, IN, USA
When starting the engine, it makes a grinding noise each time. No check engine or safety lights have come on and when the engine is cold it will shake very badly upon take off.
- Fishers, IN, USA
VTC Actuator making rattling noise during start up in the morning and every five hours of sitting
- Bullheaded City, AZ, USA
My 2014 Honda CR-V EX does not initially start-up following the 3-step starting the engine process as outlined on page 239 of the CR-V owner's manual.It sometimes takes up to 6 to 12 times for the engine to engage.The starter appears to be defective as it was made.
- Myrtle Beach,Sc, SC, USA
Bad grinding noise on cold start. Defective actuator. This can damage engine. CRV only has 58,000 miles. Honda has known about this for years and needs to issue a recall. Class action law suits have been filed in California & Illinois. Technical Service Bulletin 16-012.
- Manassas, VA, USA
When starting the car (cold), the motor would start and then continue trying and made a grinding noise for about 2 seconds. Once the car was hot and off for less than 5 min, it would start normally. After 5 min off, it would make the noise again. This would happen by either using manually the key, or the remote starter. Went to the dealer and they said they needed to replace the VTC Actuator and ended up spending little over $1K to repair it. Looking online and in this site, I've found multiple complaints for this issue starting in 2015 for this model. There are also VTC Actuator known issues for Honda models between 2008 and 2012, so it is not something new for them. This should require a recall as it is a manufacturer's issue involving the engine, which could potentially escalate to something more serious and dangerous. Thanks,
- Overland Park, KS, USA
At cold start-up, the engine rattles loudly for about two seconds.?
- Franklin, WI, USA
Current Mileage = 51K I started to hear rattle sound when start up the engine when the mileage is around 20K. Brought to dealer where I bought new from them and was told they couldn't hear anything. No fixed or repair since then. Now, the rattle noise sound is much louder. On the web site forum there are too many people experienced the same thing I got. This problem should have been a recall for Honda. I jut got a quote said to replace the VTC actuator and chain timing belt ~$2000 plus. But again several people in the forum did the repair and the problem came back after 1 year. Should this problem be a recall for Honda to take responsible the defect they created. https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/Discussion-c24169_ds781393
- Frisco, TX, USA
Upon cold start-up, loud noise comes @ initial start for a second or two when turning the key. The car then starts up and the noise goes away. It won't happen after the car is initially started. It will occur again when the car sits for a couple of hours. My mechanic said that it's somewhere in one of the cylinders.
- Wheaton, IL, USA
Pulling into a parking space, when hitting my brakes, the engine suddenly accelerated and no, I was not pushing both the gas pedal and brake at the same time. In doing a web search, I found many instances of other CRV owners having the same issue...sudden acceleration when braking
- Chester, VA, USA
VTC actuator is faulty and HONDA will not replace and now I'm being told that I need a new TIMING CHAIN also from the VTC actuator not functioning properly. A TIMING CHAIN that should last the life of the engine has FAILED at 90K miles. Why don't you make HONDA issue a recall instead of sticking the owners with large expensive repair bills when HONDA has issued a service bulletin that the actuator is flawed. This is out of their service bulletin 16-012..... "The variable valve timing control (VTC) actuator is defective. CORRECTIVE ACTION Replace the VTC actuator. "
- Rockton, IL, USA
2014 Honda CRV rattling noise upon cold start at 20,000 miles into owning vehicle. Dealership could not locate the problem nor witness the problem each time we reported this whenever we brought the car in for oil changes...Problem became progressively worse over the years. Now that the rattling is essentially heard every time the car is started, we have taken it in. We are told we need a "new engine" because we need a new VTC actuator. We are also told that the car is burning oil. The new engine costs $4800 (NJ). Will this solve the problem that obviously is a Honda defect" Will the new engine have VTC actuators that will not fall apart in 1 year"... Honda has known about this problem for YEARS!
- New York, NY, USA
Cold Start: CVT actuator problems
- Chicago , IL, USA
VTC Actuator Timing valve rattles at cold start on highway when going over 50-65mph engine rattles very hard and vehicle shakes to point have to pull over. Looked all over online and thousands of customers have same issue even lawsuits. Took to Middletown NY Honda and they say out of warranty and nothing they can do but pay $1500to replace a known faulty part that once replaced could happen again or cause catstrostapic engine damage. please make a recall
- Warwick, NY, USA
We are having repeat problems with the VTC Actuator. This was replaced in 2018 under warranty but has since recurred. Our car is now at the dealer with a diagnostic of timing chain, vtc actuator, and cam gear for a cost of 2100 dollars. It is no longer under warranty and the cost is being passed on to us. This complaint is all over the internet and it is a Honda defect. Please work to support consumers and issue a recall promptly. Honda needs to fix this issue. We also, like many other, burn through oil. It-??s amazing how everyone is reporting the same issues in cold starts. (Rattles).
- Athens, OH, USA
Vtc actuator rattles upon start up frequently
- Grand Rapids, MI, USA
We were driving and we heard a loud bang, we pulled to the side of the road, when we looked all oil was coming out of engine and transmition. Both engine and transmition are broken. No road hazard according to Honda dealer/ mechanic. Also air conditioning failed last year, without warning. The car was in motion. We were driving in the highway, no previous notice of any problem. The cruise control was on.
- El Paso, TX, USA
- Perth Amboy , NJ, USA