1999 Honda CR-V Problems, Recalls & Reliability

158 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1999 Honda CR-V, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 11/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 150,000 miles.

One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 1999 Honda CR-V has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.

158Complaints
11/100Trouble index
3Recalls
105,750Typical trouble mileage

Better year

Where 1999 sits among all CR-V years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Electrical 32 complaints (20%) · typically ~150,000 miles
“Consumer states that they have the same defect with their ignition switch as stated in recall #02 v 120 000. Recall does not apply to their vehcicle by vin number. Mr”— owner report to NHTSA, 1999 CR-V
Airbags 28 complaints (18%)
“The 2 front airbag inflators did not inflate in a front end collision, on campbell rd on 12/4/15,they only popped out about a coupe of inches and front seat belt will not adjust now. I saw there is a recall/fix problem for honda's cr-v from 2002 to 2011 but nothing listed earlier than 2002.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1999 CR-V
Engine 21 complaints (13%) · typically ~101,671 miles
Wheels & tires 14 complaints (9%)
Transmission & drivetrain 12 complaints (8%)
Speed control 12 complaints (8%)

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 68 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 105,750 miles. Half of those reports fall between 84,000 and 160,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (3)

AIR BAGS 20V026000 2020

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…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 02V120000 2002

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…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 99V282000 1999

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.

1999peak 22 in 20202023

Questions buyers ask

Is the 1999 Honda CR-V reliable?

The 1999 Honda CR-V drew 158 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 11/100, scored against the model's worst year (2018).

What are the most common 1999 Honda CR-V problems?

The top reported problems for the 1999 Honda CR-V are electrical (32 complaints), airbags (28), and engine (21).

At what mileage do 1999 Honda CR-V problems show up?

Owners most often report 1999 Honda CR-V problems around 105,750 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 84,000 and 160,000 miles.

Does the 1999 Honda CR-V have recalls?

3 recall campaigns apply to the 1999 Honda CR-V. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

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Data updated 2026-08-12 from NHTSA's public records

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.