2005 Honda CR-V Problems, Recalls & Reliability

602 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2005 Honda CR-V, alongside 14 recall campaigns and 6 defect investigations. It scores 27/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 86,350 miles.

602Complaints
27/100Trouble index
14Recalls
78,641Typical trouble mileage

Typical

Where 2005 sits among all CR-V years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Electrical 205 complaints (34%) · typically ~86,350 miles
“Headlights for the last 8 years my low beam headlights continue to go out. I have to replace the bulbs once or twice pr year.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 CR-V
Airbags 130 complaints (22%) · typically ~90,000 miles
“Takata recall "side airbag off" light is on and is no longer turning off when vehicle is started.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 CR-V
Engine 36 complaints (6%) · typically ~80,000 miles
“The contact owns a 2005 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. The contact stated there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 CR-V
Visibility & wipers 32 complaints (5%) · typically ~97,000 miles
“A/c stopped working i live in hawaii and need it to help condensation on inside windshield and side windows when it rains. Read there are a lot of problems with crv a/c units failing. Was just driving along when i noticed warm air was coming from a/c in on position now loud noises from the unit.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 CR-V
Other 32 complaints (5%) · typically ~77,500 miles
“The rear door light warning go off and on all the time and the rear door hinges are wearing out a lot.. I feel the rear door everytime i hit a pothole is move”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 CR-V
Suspension 28 complaints (5%)
“As I was driving home from work last week 04/22/25, I noticed a drop in the rear passenger side and an odd noise I had never heard before. I only live 3 blocks from work and I immediately pulled it in the garage and put it up on the jack. Once I removed my drivers side rear tire and got a closer…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 CR-V

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 374 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 78,641 miles. Half of those reports fall between 38,500 and 116,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (14)

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,…

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 19E068000 2019

Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain Accelerator Pedal Assemblies part numbers 699-114 and 825-5029-1, sold as replacement parts for 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2004-2008 Acura TL and TSX, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2007-2011 Honda…

Fix: Dorman will notify owners, and qualified service facilities will replace the affected accelerator pedal assemblies, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2019. Owners may contact Dorman…

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 17V029000 2017

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Acura MDX and Honda CR-V vehicles, 2005-2011 Honda Element vehicles, 2005-2012 Acura RL vehicles, 2006-2012 Honda Ridgeline vehicles, 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles and 2005-2008 Honda Pilot…

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall bagan March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.…

AIR BAGS 16V344000 2016

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2011 Acura RL, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2006-2011 Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or that…

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at…

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.

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 04V526000 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE OCCUPANT POSITION DETECTION SYSTEM'S SIDE SENSOR IS NOT INSTALLED IN THE CORRECT POSITION AND MAY FAIL TO SHUT OFF THE PASSENGER'S SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG IF THE OCCUPANT IS OUT-OF-POSITION.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER'S SEAT-BACK PAD WHICH INCUDES THE OCCUPANT POSITION DETECTION SYSTEM SENSOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON ON NOVEMBER 19, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT…

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.

Driver's Power Window Master Switch EA11004 opened 2011, closed 2012

Led to recall campaign 11V456000.

Driver's Master Power Window Switch PE10047 opened 2010, closed 2011

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.

2005peak 68 in 20142026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2005 Honda CR-V reliable?

The 2005 Honda CR-V drew 602 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 27/100, scored against the model's worst year (2018).

What are the most common 2005 Honda CR-V problems?

The top reported problems for the 2005 Honda CR-V are electrical (205 complaints), airbags (130), and engine (36).

At what mileage do 2005 Honda CR-V problems show up?

Owners most often report 2005 Honda CR-V problems around 78,641 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 38,500 and 116,000 miles.

Does the 2005 Honda CR-V have recalls?

14 recall campaigns apply to the 2005 Honda CR-V. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 2004 CR-V All CR-V years 2006 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.