Is the Honda CR-V more reliable than the Buick Envision?

No. The Buick Envision holds a slight edge. Owners file about 4.9 complaints per 10,000 Envisions sold, against 8 for the CR-V, and the CR-V has many more crash-linked reports in steering and automatic braking. The margin is small, and each model holds a good reliability standing.

Which has more recalls, the CR-V or the Envision?

The Honda CR-V has far more. Federal recall records list 46 recalls across its 2018 to 2026 model years, compared with 6 for the Buick Envision over the same years. Before buying either, run the VIN to confirm that every recall repair has been done.

Which costs less to repair, the CR-V or the Envision?

The Honda CR-V costs less. Its estimated repair bill is $407 a year versus $573 for the Buick Envision, and it averages fewer unscheduled shop visits. A failed steering rack can erase that advantage, because owners report dealer quotes of $3,500 to $4,478 for the repair.

What is the Honda CR-V steering problem?

Owners say the wheel catches near center or at the start of a turn, then releases suddenly, so drivers overcorrect. Many also report clicking or popping and extra effort returning to straight at 40 to 50 mph. Reports cluster around 47,000 to 53,000 miles, and dealers usually diagnose the rack or gearbox.

What does the Service Brake Assist warning mean on a Buick Envision?

In 2019 Envision complaints, the warning comes with weak braking. Some owners say the pedal drops to the floor, and others say it turns extremely firm and the car is hard to stop. These problems often begin around 30,000 miles, and some owners suspect the brake vacuum pump. No crashes are reported.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Buick Envision vs Honda CR-V: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Buick Envision

Good

Honda CR-V

Good

The Buick Envision holds a slight reliability edge over the Honda CR-V. It draws fewer owner complaints per 10,000 sold. The CR-V costs less to repair each year. It also has more crash-linked complaints, mostly about steering that sticks and automatic braking that triggers with nothing ahead.

How Do the Buick Envision and Honda CR-V Generations Compare?

Of the CR-V years covered here, 2018 through 2022 belong to the fifth generation, which ran from 2017 through 2022 and got a facelift for 2020. That makes those years one basic design, and it includes the weakest years, 2018 and 2019. The sixth generation arrived for 2023. On the Envision side, the first generation covered US model years 2016 through 2020, with a facelift for 2019. A second generation replaced it for 2021 and was refreshed for 2024. The Envision's weakest years, 2021 and 2022, were the first two of that new design. Its 2018 is a stronger pick from the earlier generation.

Verdict

The Buick Envision is more reliable than the Honda CR-V, scoring 77/100 vs 75/100.

A slight edge goes to the Buick Envision. Complaint rate decides it. Owners file 4.9 complaints per 10,000 Envisions sold, against 8 for the Honda CR-V. The CR-V's complaints also gather in safety-critical systems, with dozens of crash-linked reports about steering, automatic braking, and electrical faults. The gap is not wide. Each model holds a good reliability standing, and the CR-V is cheaper to keep running. The Envision wins because it has fewer complaints and less dangerous ones. Its record is not spotless.

Key Differences

1Honda CR-V costs $166 less per year to repair
2Buick Envision has 40 fewer total recalls
3Buick Envision has 3.1 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

3Buick Envision

—

2Honda CR-V

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencySafety Rating

Buick Envision vs Honda CR-V: Which Is More Reliable?

Buick Envision vs Honda CR-V at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Buick Envision	Honda CR-V
Reliability Score	77/100	75/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	6	46
Complaints per 10k Sold	4.9	8
Annual Repair Cost	$573/yr	$407/yr
Repair Frequency	0.4/yr	0.3/yr
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	5	4

What Are the Common Problems With the Buick Envision and Honda CR-V?

Steering separates these two most. CR-V owners describe a wheel that sticks near center and then lets go, which leads to overcorrection. Those reports cluster around 47,000 to 53,000 miles, and dealers usually blame the steering rack or gearbox. That area carries 24 crash-linked complaints. Envision steering complaints describe the wheel locking after an auto-stop restart, and none are crash-linked. The CR-V also has crash-linked reports of phantom hard braking and sudden power loss on the highway. On the Envision, the main concerns are a Service Brake Assist warning with a pedal that sinks or turns rock hard, plus head gasket and coolant hose failures. Its only crash-linked complaint involves the power train.

Buick Envision vs Honda CR-V common problem areas comparison
Component	Buick Envision	Honda CR-V
STEERING	0.3Very Low	1.8Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.9Very Low	0.9Very Low
ENGINE	0.4Very Low	0.7Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	1Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.5Very Low	0.4Very Low
POWER TRAIN	0.6Very Low	0.2Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.4Very Low	0.3Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	0.6Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.3Very Low	0.2Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	0.4Very Low
TIRES	0.2Very Low	—None
SUSPENSION	0.2Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	0.2Very Low
LANE DEPARTURE	0.1Very Low	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	0.1Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	—None	0.1Very Low
SEAT BELTS	—None	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	—None
SEATS	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Buick Envision or Honda CR-V?

Independent repair-cost data puts the CR-V at $407 a year and the Envision at $573. That $166 gap comes to about $830 over five years. The Honda also makes fewer unscheduled shop visits, 0.3 a year against 0.4. For the CR-V, 9% of repairs are major. The data has no matching figure for the Envision. A failing CR-V steering rack is the exception to its low costs, since owners report dealer quotes in the thousands for that repair.

How Does Buick Envision vs Honda CR-V Reliability Compare by Year?

Buick Envision vs Honda CR-V year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Buick Envision	Honda CR-V	Edge
2026	77/1001R / 0C	83/1000R / 35C	Honda CR-V
2025	82/1000R / 7C	80/1006R / 201C	Buick Envision
2024	76/1001R / 10C	77/1004R / 406C	Honda CR-V
2023	76/1001R / 22C	72/1007R / 578C	Buick Envision
2022	75/1001R / 23C	76/1005R / 242C	Honda CR-V
2021	74/1002R / 23C	77/1003R / 241C	Honda CR-V
2020	78/1000R / 10C	74/10010R / 358C	Buick Envision
2019	78/1000R / 23C	69/1007R / 996C	Buick Envision
2018	78/1000R / 13C	65/1004R / 1960C	Buick Envision

Best years to cross-shop: The 2020 Buick Envision scored 78/100 and the 2024 Honda CR-V scored 77/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Buick Envision vs the Honda CR-V?

Pick the Envision if your priority is fewer complaints and less exposure to crash-linked failures. Check 2019 models for the Service Brake Assist warning and a soft or rigid pedal. Look for coolant leaks or overheating on 2018s. Avoid 2021 and 2022, its weakest years. If you shop the older end, a 2018 is among its stronger years. Have the electrical system inspected on any car near 85,000 miles. Choose the CR-V if lower running costs matter more to you. It averages $407 a year in repairs and needs fewer unplanned shop visits. Skip the 2018 and 2019, its weakest years. On a test drive, steer through slow turns and hold 40 to 50 mph to check for sticking, clicking, or heavy return to center. Confirm that all recall work has been completed. The newest CR-V years show few complaints mostly because they have had little time on the road.

Buick Envision vs Honda CR-V: Common Questions

Is the Honda CR-V more reliable than the Buick Envision?: No. The Buick Envision holds a slight edge. Owners file about 4.9 complaints per 10,000 Envisions sold, against 8 for the CR-V, and the CR-V has many more crash-linked reports in steering and automatic braking. The margin is small, and each model holds a good reliability standing.
Which has more recalls, the CR-V or the Envision?: The Honda CR-V has far more. Federal recall records list 46 recalls across its 2018 to 2026 model years, compared with 6 for the Buick Envision over the same years. Before buying either, run the VIN to confirm that every recall repair has been done.
Which costs less to repair, the CR-V or the Envision?: The Honda CR-V costs less. Its estimated repair bill is $407 a year versus $573 for the Buick Envision, and it averages fewer unscheduled shop visits. A failed steering rack can erase that advantage, because owners report dealer quotes of $3,500 to $4,478 for the repair.
What is the Honda CR-V steering problem?: Owners say the wheel catches near center or at the start of a turn, then releases suddenly, so drivers overcorrect. Many also report clicking or popping and extra effort returning to straight at 40 to 50 mph. Reports cluster around 47,000 to 53,000 miles, and dealers usually diagnose the rack or gearbox.
What does the Service Brake Assist warning mean on a Buick Envision?: In 2019 Envision complaints, the warning comes with weak braking. Some owners say the pedal drops to the floor, and others say it turns extremely firm and the car is hard to stop. These problems often begin around 30,000 miles, and some owners suspect the brake vacuum pump. No crashes are reported.

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More Honda CR-V comparisons

Honda CR-V vs Kia Sportage reliability Honda CR-V vs Toyota RAV4 reliability Honda CR-V vs Mazda CX-50 reliability Honda CR-V vs Hyundai Tucson reliability Honda CR-V reliability by year Honda CR-V years to avoid

Decided between Buick Envision and Honda CR-V? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Buick Envision and Honda CR-V

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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