2004 Honda CR-V Problems, Recalls & Reliability

603 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2004 Honda CR-V, alongside 13 recall campaigns and 7 defect investigations. It scores 28/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 59,550 miles.

603Complaints
28/100Trouble index
13Recalls
75,000Typical trouble mileage

Typical

Where 2004 sits among all CR-V years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Engine 155 complaints (26%) · typically ~59,550 miles
“My honda crv-ex 2004 went on fire on the highway. Total loss. Insurrance covered some of the personal lost items and some of the car rental cost. Honda refuses to cover the difference (just doesn't answer). I called, faxed and mailed my itemized request. Thank you for your help and understanding,…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 CR-V
Electrical 119 complaints (20%) · typically ~93,103 miles
“Nhtsa recall number: 12v-136 / service bulletin 12-023 - - the low beam headlights may become inoperative, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash. The problem happens when parked or driving, city or highway travel.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 CR-V
Airbags 103 complaints (17%) · typically ~105,709 miles
“Takata airbags my 2004 honda crv is listed on the takata airbag recall list. Please advise.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 CR-V
Other 60 complaints (10%) · typically ~65,500 miles
“I am no longer owner of this vehicle and continue to receive recall letters and voicemails.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 CR-V
Visibility & wipers 20 complaints (3%) · typically ~78,000 miles
Speed control 18 complaints (3%) · typically ~75,000 miles

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 417 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 75,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 44,521 and 113,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (13)

VISIBILITY 20V768000 2020

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.

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,…

AIR BAGS 19V501000 2019

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…

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…

AIR BAGS 19V499000 2019

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…

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…

AIR BAGS 19V182000 2019

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,…

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…

AIR BAGS 18V268000 2018

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…

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…

AIR BAGS 15V370000 2015

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…

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.…

AIR BAGS 15V320000 2015

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…

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…

AIR BAGS 14V700000 2014

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…

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…

AIR BAGS 14V353000 2014

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…

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…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12V486000 2012

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.

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.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 12V136000 2012

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…

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…

VISIBILITY 07E104000 2007

CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BREAK INTO SMALL PIECES AS EXPECTED OF…

Fix: SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND…

AIR BAGS 04V255000 2004

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WIRE HARNESS OF THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG WAS INCORRECTLY WIRED.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE WIRING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.

Federal defect investigations

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture EA21002 opened 2021 · still open
Air Bag Inflator Rupture EA15001 opened 2015 · still open

Led to recall campaign 14V668.

Air Bag Inflator Rupture PE14016 opened 2014, closed 2015

Led to recall campaign 13V172000.

Low Beam Headlights Stop Illuminating EA11012 opened 2011, closed 2012

Led to recall campaign 12V136000.

Low Beam Headlights Stop Working PE11017 opened 2011, closed 2011
Driver's Power Window Master Switch EA11004 opened 2011, closed 2012

Led to recall campaign 11V456000.

UNDERHOOD FIRES EA04027 opened 2004, closed 2005

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2003peak 95 in 20042026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2004 Honda CR-V reliable?

The 2004 Honda CR-V drew 603 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 28/100, scored against the model's worst year (2018).

What are the most common 2004 Honda CR-V problems?

The top reported problems for the 2004 Honda CR-V are engine (155 complaints), electrical (119), and airbags (103).

At what mileage do 2004 Honda CR-V problems show up?

Owners most often report 2004 Honda CR-V problems around 75,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 44,521 and 113,000 miles.

Does the 2004 Honda CR-V have recalls?

13 recall campaigns apply to the 2004 Honda CR-V. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 2003 CR-V All CR-V years 2005 CR-V →
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.