2004 Honda CR-V recalls and problems

The 2004 Honda CR-V has 12 safety recalls and 501 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Honda dealer.

Recalls
12
Complaints
501
Crashes / fires
34 / 39
Injuries / deaths
31 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2004 Honda CR-V vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2004 Honda CR-V recalls

Recall 20V-768: Electrical System, Visibility

Reported Dec 10, 2020 · 268,655 vehicles affected · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2002-2006 CR-V vehicles. Moisture may enter the driver side power window master switch, causing the switch to fail or melt.

Risk: If the switch fails, it could overheat and smoke, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power window master switch and inspect the wiring harness for damage, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is P9D.

Recall 19V-499: Air Bags

Reported Jun 27, 2019 · 3,947 vehicles affected · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 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.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.

Recall 19V-501: Air Bags

Reported Jun 27, 2019 · 1,657,752 vehicles affected · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline 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.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5D and X5C.

Recall 19V-182: Air Bags

Reported Mar 6, 2019 · 1,101,534 vehicles affected · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.

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 occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.

Recall 18V-268: Air Bags

Reported Apr 26, 2018 · 1,335 vehicles affected · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Problem: 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.

Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are K1P, and M1O.

Recall 15V-370: Air Bags

Reported Jun 15, 2015 · 3,498,481 vehicles affected · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic vehicles manufactured March 21, 2000, to January 20, 2005, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX vehicles manufactured June 14, 2000, to August 19, 2004, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid vehicles manufactured February 24, 2002, to January 18, 2005, 2003-2007 Honda Accord vehicles manufactured February 21, 2002, to August 28, 2007, 2002-2004 Honda CR-V vehicles, 2002-2003 Honda Odyssey vehicles manufactured June 19, 2001, to July 12, 2003, 2003 Acura MDX vehicles manufactured September 19, 2002, to June 19, 2003, 2003 Honda Element vehicles manufactured June 25, 2002, to July 31, 2003, and 2003 Honda Pilot vehicles manufactured November 26, 2001, to August 21, 2003. The affected vehicles have a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.

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 seat occupant or other occupants possibly causing serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JU4, JU5, JU6, and JU7. Note: Vehicles that have already received a replacement passenger air bag inflator as part of the recall remedy for an earlier campaign such as 14V353 or 14V700 (Honda recall numbers S95, JH6, JH7, JH8, JH9, JJ0, JJ1, JJ2, JJ6, JM5 and JM6) are not included in this recall. However, this recall does supersede 13V132 and 14V349. Note: On December 18, 2015 Honda informed NHTSA of an expansion of this recall to include certain model year 2004 Honda CR-V vehicles in addition to additional model year 2003 CR-V vehicles.

Recall 15V-320: Air Bags

Reported May 28, 2015 · 6,281,043 vehicles affected · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

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 occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-382-2238, select option 4. Note: Vehicles that have had their driver frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy prior to September 12, 2014 need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Vehicles that, on or after September 12, 2014, received a remedy for a prior driver frontal air bag inflator recall already received an inflator of a different design, and therefore are not included in this recall and do not require additional servicing. Note: This recall fully supersedes recalls 08V-593, 09V-259, 10V-041, 11V-260, 14V-351 and 15V-153. Honda's numbers for this recall are JQ9, JR0, JR1, JR2, JR3, JR4, JR5, JR6, JR7, and JR8.

Recall 14V-700: Air Bags

Reported Nov 4, 2014 · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Problem: American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic, 2003-2004 Civic CNG and Element, 2002-2005 CR-V, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2005 Accord, Pilot, Civic Hybrid, and Acura MDX, 2005 Acura RL and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Saipan, Guam, and American Samoa are addressed by this recall. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

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 vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

Recall 14V-353: Air Bags

Reported Jun 20, 2014 · 133,207 vehicles affected · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Problem: American Honda Motor Company, Inc.'s (Honda) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2003-2005 Accord, Civic, CR-V, Pilot and Acura MDX, model year 2003-2004 Odyssey and Element, and model year 2005 Acura RL, and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in California, and equipped with Takata-brand air bag inflators. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

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 vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during August 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

Recall 12V-486: Visibility, Electrical System

Reported Oct 5, 2012 · 268,655 vehicles affected · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Problem: Honda is recalling certain model year 2002-2006 CR-V passenger vehicles, manufactured from February 19, 2002, through July 28, 2006. The driver-side power window switch may fail or melt.

Risk: If the switch fails, it could overheat, smoke, and cause a fire. A switch failure, and a fire, could occur even if the vehicle is not in use. As a precaution, owners are advised to park outside until the recall repair has been performed.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the switches, as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on November 2, 2012. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.

Recall 12V-136: Exterior Lighting

Reported Mar 30, 2012 · 1,375,217 vehicles affected · HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.)

Problem: Honda is recalling certain model year 2002 through 2004 cr-V; model year 2003 through 2005 pilot; and model year 2002 and 2003 civic vehicles. In march 2012, honda filed a defect report to recall certain model year 2002 through 2004 cr-V and certain model year 2003 pilot vehicles. In august 2012, honda informed the agency that it was including an additional 820,789 vehicles including certain model year 2004 and 2005 pilots and model year 2002 and 2003 civics. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,375,217. Due to tension from the combination switch wiring harness, wear on the surface of the electrical terminal can occur, yielding copper oxide, which increases electrical resistance. Increased electrical resistance may cause the terminal ends to melt within the wiring harness connector.

Risk: If the terminal ends melt within the wiring harness connector, the low beam headlights may become inoperative, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will repair the low beam terminal harness or replace the lighting switch as necessary, free of charge. The original recall began in april 2012. Owners of vehicles involved in the september 2012 expansion will be notified in september 2012. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

Recall 04V-255: Air Bags

Reported Jun 7, 2004 · 130,617 vehicles affected · HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.)

Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles, the wire harness of the driver's front air bag was incorrectly wired.

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.

Fix: Dealers will repair the wiring. Owner notification began on june 16, 2004. Owners should contact honda at 1-800-999-1009.

2004 Honda CR-V problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Engine and Engine Cooling143
Air Bags103
Electrical System73
Exterior Lighting46
Equipment34
Unknown or Other22
Vehicle Speed Control18
Seat Belts17
Visibility16
Latches/Locks/Linkages14
Fuel System, Gasoline14
Power Train13

Most reported parts

  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System — 51
  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine — 27
  • Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner — 22
  • Electrical System › Wiring › Front Underhood — 7
  • Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls — 6
  • Air Bags › Frontal — 6
  • Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe and Cap — 5
  • Electrical System › Wiring — 5

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 70,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2004 Honda CR-V complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Visibility · at 125,077 miles · reported Apr 15, 2026
The contact owns a 2004 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while seated in the vehicle, there was smoke coming from the driver’s side door and the power window master switch was melted. The contact refenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V768000 (VISIBILITY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the VIN was not included in the recall repair. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 125,077.
Air Bags · at 156,000 miles · reported Mar 10, 2026
The contact owns a 2004 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the SRS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not inspected, diagnosed, or repaired. The contact stated that the SRS warning light remained illuminated. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 156,000.
Electrical System · at 300,000 miles · reported Aug 26, 2025
The contact purchased a 2004 Honda CR-V. The vehicle was a private sale on July 17, 2025. The contact stated that after obtaining the Carfax Report, the contact noticed that the previous odometer reading indicated that the mileage was 300,000. The contact stated that the seller's advertisement indicated that the vehicle had low mileage. In addition, the contact stated that when the vehicle was purchased, the odometer indicated the mileage was 124,000. The seller was not made aware of the issue.
Engine · reported Jul 21, 2025
I own a 2004 Honda CR-V, a vehicle that has served me well over the years, but I recently faced a harrowing experience that left me quite shaken. While cruising along the highway, I was startled when the engine abruptly shut down. The ominous P1349 code indicated an issue with the Variable Timing Control (VTC) actuator, a crucial component for maintaining optimal engine performance. Just two years ago, I replaced the VVT solenoid, investing time and resources to ensure my vehicle’s reliability. Yet, here I was again, grappling with the same frustrating problem that, in a split second, nearly…
Electrical System · reported Sep 6, 2024
The headlights on both sides, specifically the low beams, will almost randomly turn off for up to 30 seconds. I used to drive about 90 miles at night, and on the highway this is dangerous since the speed limit is 65mph. It’s a danger to other people on the road since it’s incredibly difficult to see with the headlights turn off like that. It’s happened multiple times on my ~90 mile trips but have not taken it to a dealer for it to be checked. After the headlights come back on, it’s rare that it happens again but has happened multiple times within a quick span of each other. I’m quick…

Other Honda CR-V years

Compare all Honda CR-V years · All Honda models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2004 Honda CR-V have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 12 recalls for the 2004 Honda CR-V: 20V-768 (electrical system, visibility), 19V-499 (air bags), 19V-501 (air bags), 19V-182 (air bags), 18V-268 (air bags) and more. Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2004 Honda CR-V?

Owners report engine and engine cooling problems most often (143 reports), followed by air bags (103). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 70,000 miles.

Are Honda recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Honda dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.