repaired · 2022 Q4
Electrical system
Risk. If the switch fails, it could overheat and smoke, increasing the risk of a fire.
2002 Honda CR-VProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 515 owner complaints about the 2002 Honda CR-V, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 15 safety recalls, and for recall 19V-499 the manufacturer reports only 22% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 19, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2002 Honda CR-V has problems
515 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
143Air bags33 crash/fire/injury
95Electrical system14 crash/fire/injury
60Exterior lighting2 crash/fire/injury
58Engine and engine cooling2 crash/fire/injury
38Equipment
25Seat belts
25Vehicle speed control
24Power train
24Seats
12917 other systems24 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 143 | 33 |
| Electrical system | 95 | 14 |
| Exterior lighting | 60 | 2 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 58 | 2 |
| Equipment | 38 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 25 | 4 |
| Vehicle speed control | 25 | 4 |
| Power train | 24 | 5 |
| Seats | 24 | 0 |
| 17 other systems | 129 | 24 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
15 recalls
2002 Honda CR-V recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2020 Q4
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2020 Q4
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2020 Q3
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other…
Show 11 more recalls
repaired · 2019 Q3
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
repaired · 2017 Q4
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the passenger…
repaired · 2017 Q4
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other…
repaired · 2016 Q1
Air bags
Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle…
no report yet
Electrical system
Risk. If the switch fails, it could overheat, smoke, and cause a fire.
no report yet
Headlights: switch
Risk. IF THE TERMINAL ENDS MELT WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE, REDUCING DRIVER VISIBILITY AND INCREASING THE…
no report yet
Air bags: frontal
Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE AIR BAG INFLATION RATE WOULD BE INCORRECT, WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE DRIVER.
no report yet
Ignition: switch
Risk. IF THE VEHICLE OPERATOR DOES NOT SHIFT TO "PARK" BEFORE REMOVING THE KEY AND FAILS TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
no report yet
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. IF THE VEHICLE OPERATOR FAILS TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
no report yet
Seats
Risk. IF A COLLISION OCCURRED, THE SEAT ANCHORAGE WOULD NOT WITHSTAND THE FORCE, AND THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS WOULD NOT BE RESTRAINED PROPERLY.
no report yet
Front: webbing
Risk. IF THESE PRETENSIONERS ACTIVATE IN A CRASH, THE SEAT BELT COULD UNLATCH, LEAVING THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS UNRESTRAINED.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Honda.
Mileage at failure
When do air bags problems start?
107kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 59 air bags complaints. 47% were reported before 100,000 miles.
8under 30k miles28under 100k miles31100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine and engine cooling
19 owners mentioned a cost$2,300median
Middle half: $1,243 – $3,200
Air bags
11 owners mentioned a cost$700median
Middle half: $383 – $763
Equipment
9 owners mentioned a cost$2,500median
Middle half: $2,000 – $2,900
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2002 vs. every other CR-V year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the CR-V median. How we score
'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2002 Honda CR-V safety ratings
2002 Honda CR-V in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Rollover: 3 stars (0.0% risk)
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
8 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2002 Honda CR-V, and the recalls they led to.
- IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK SYSTEMLed to recall 03V-422
- Driver's Power Window Master SwitchLed to recall 11V-456
- Low Beam Headlights Stop IlluminatingLed to recall 12V-136
- Air Bag Inflator RuptureLed to recall 18V-024
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
- IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK SYSTEMNo recall
- Low Beam Headlights Stop WorkingNo recall
- Air Bag Inflator RuptureLed to recall 14V-772
In owners' words
What CR-V owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
My 2002 Honda CRV's ENTIRE Passenger Side Airbag Assembly was REPLACED on 11-20-2019, per Honda. This was done as (per Honda) the Inflator bolt was broken and the applicable part to remedy the recall would not be available for approximately 3 months. An open recall (NHTSA Recall # 19V-501) from…
The contact owns a 2002 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that SRS air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the front passenger's side air bag needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. Additionally,…
The contact's husband owned a 2002, 2009 and 2012 Honda CR-V. The contact received unknown recall notifications and post cards, and she would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.
Own a 2002 CR-V?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.