repaired · 2022 Q4
Electrical system
Risk. If the switch fails, it could overheat and smoke, increasing the risk of a fire.
2003 Honda CR-VProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 468 owner complaints about the 2003 Honda CR-V, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 13 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 August 24, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2003 Honda CR-V has problems
468 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
125Air bags30 crash/fire/injury
86Engine and engine cooling12 crash/fire/injury
62Electrical system11 crash/fire/injury
39Exterior lighting2 crash/fire/injury
32Vehicle speed control
30Equipment
23Power train
18Visibility
17Latches/locks/linkages
11117 other systems16 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 125 | 30 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 86 | 12 |
| Electrical system | 62 | 11 |
| Exterior lighting | 39 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 32 | 6 |
| Equipment | 30 | 0 |
| Power train | 23 | 1 |
| Visibility | 18 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 17 | 1 |
| 17 other systems | 111 | 16 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
13 recalls
2003 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 9 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…
repaired · 2015 Q4
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
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. IF THE VEHICLE OPERATOR FAILS TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
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?
104kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 51 air bags complaints. 47% were reported before 100,000 miles.
13under 30k miles24under 100k miles27100k 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
21 owners mentioned a cost$3,000median
Middle half: $1,400 – $3,500
Equipment
9 owners mentioned a cost$2,500median
Middle half: $2,000 – $3,000
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
2003 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
2003 Honda CR-V safety ratings
2003 Honda CR-V w/SAB 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 2003 Honda CR-V, and the recalls they led to.
- UNDERHOOD FIRESNo recall
- Driver's Power Window Master SwitchLed to recall 12V-486
- Low Beam Headlights Stop IlluminatingLed to recall 12V-136
- Air Bag Inflator RuptureLed to recall 15V-313
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
- OIL FILTER FIRESNo recall
- Low Beam Headlights Stop WorkingNo recall
- Air Bag Inflator RuptureLed to recall 14V-428
In owners' words
What CR-V owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I got over to the edge of the road to avoid hitting a animal, and hit a small rock (with front passenger tire) and then subsequently had a spontaneous deployment and rupture of my passenger airbag, then my driver airbag deployed. A fire then came from the passenger airbag, with lots of dust in the…
SRS LIGHT CAME ON 2 MONTHS AGO. FEAR FOR MY SAFETY. RECALL PLEASE. ELECTRICAL. BACK RT WINDOW AND RT FRONT DOOR LOCK CANNOT BE OPERATED FROM FRONT DRIVER DOOR. LIGHTING. BACK INTERIOR LIGHT DOES NOT TURN OFF AUTOMATICALLY. Paint is peeling from all over the car, especially on the front of it. Looks…
June 17, 2022 my daughter was hit on the driver side rear corner panel by a vehicle that ran a red light. The impact had enough force to spin her 2003 Honda CRV 180 degrees yet none of the airbags deployed. The rear driver side wheel was bent inward and had to be towed.
Own a 2003 CR-V?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.