1998 Honda CR-V Problems, Recalls & Reliability
136 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1998 Honda CR-V, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 6/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 122,550 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 1998 Honda CR-V has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 1998 sits among all CR-V years
What owners report
“I saw this has a recall, but when i typed in my vin into your system it says '0 recalls.' i have all the issues happening for this recall and i was wondering how to proceed.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 CR-V
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 41 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 123,552 miles. Half of those reports fall between 57,000 and 170,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (3)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL,…
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October…
ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AN IMPROPERLY ROUTED UNDER DASH WIRE HARNESS COULD BE DAMAGED BY CONTACT WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A BLOWN FUSE. IF THIS OCCURS, OPERATION OF A CRITICAL COMPONENT CAN BE LOST, INCLUDING…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A 70MM PROTECTIVE, CORRUGATED PLASTIC TUBE OVER THE WIRE HARNESS, IN THE AREA OF THE BRAKE STOP SWITCH. IF ANY WIRE OR WIRES ARE DAMAGED, THEY WILL BE REPAIRED.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1998 Honda CR-V reliable?
The 1998 Honda CR-V drew 136 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 6/100, scored against the model's worst year (2018).
What are the most common 1998 Honda CR-V problems?
The top reported problems for the 1998 Honda CR-V are electrical (42 complaints), airbags (19), and engine (15).
At what mileage do 1998 Honda CR-V problems show up?
Owners most often report 1998 Honda CR-V problems around 123,552 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 57,000 and 170,000 miles.
Does the 1998 Honda CR-V have recalls?
3 recall campaigns apply to the 1998 Honda CR-V. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.