Which Honda CR-V years have the most fuel system problems?

The 2018 model year leads with 358 owner complaints, then 2019 with 191. Later years have far fewer, but they have also had less time to collect complaints. The 2026 model year has none yet because it is too new to judge.

Is it safe to drive a CR-V with a fuel system warning?

Treat it with caution. Owners describe stalling and sudden limp mode, including on highways, and driver-assist features shut off when the lights come on. Some cars drove normally for days with the lights on, but get it checked soon.

Is there a recall for CR-V fuel system problems?

Yes. Federal recall records list six in this area. They cover fuel pump modules and assemblies, fuel tank replacement for 2019 and 2020 cars, and fuel pump and hose issues on 2023 to 2025 Hybrids. Check your VIN, since coverage depends on it.

How much does a CR-V fuel injector repair cost?

Owners report bills from about $1,000 to over $2,900. Many land near $2,000, and some include spark plugs or a fuel joint pipe. A few repairs were free under warranty or recall. Parts have been backordered for weeks at some dealers.

Do CR-V fuel problems come back after repair?

Some owners say they do. Several 2018 and 2019 owners report stalling, hard starts, or injector failures after the recall fuel pump repair. Others had injectors replaced and saw symptoms return. Keep repair paperwork when you buy.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Honda CR-V Fuel System Problems

Failed fuel injectors are the main fuel system problem on the Honda CR-V, lighting the dash and forcing limp mode, mostly on 2018 and 2019 models.

Owner complaints: 638
Share of all complaints: 12%
Crash / fire / injury reports: 2 / 1 / 1
Related recalls: 6

CR-V fuel system complaints by model year

The 2018 model year has the most fuel system complaints by far, at 358, followed by 2019 with 191. From 2020 on, counts fall to between 6 and 25 per year. That drop does not prove newer cars are better. They have had less time on the road to collect complaints, and the 2026 model year has none because it is too new to judge. Newer years still show injector failures at low mileage and a 2024 fire report.

2018
358 · 9.4/10k sold
2019
191 · 5/10k sold
2020
25 · 0.8/10k sold
2021
9 · 0.2/10k sold
2022
6 · 0.3/10k sold
2023
16 · 0.4/10k sold
2024
19 · 0.5/10k sold
2025
14 · 0.3/10k sold
2026
0 · 0/10k sold

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA under fuel system, fuel/propulsion system, hybrid propulsion system. Newer model years have had less time to collect complaints.

What goes wrong

Fuel injector failure is the pattern owners report most. Every warning light comes on at once, including adaptive cruise, stability control, and power steering, and driver-assist features shut off. The engine runs rough, stutters on acceleration, and can drop into limp mode. Fuel pump failures come second, with stalling and hard starts. Some owners also find fuel in the engine oil, with a gas smell and a dipstick reading over full.

Owners treat this as a safety issue. Cars stall on highways and in intersections, and limp mode can cut speed sharply at highway pace. One 2018 and one 2019 complaint list a crash. A 2024 report describes a fire that destroyed the car, with the cause not determined. A 2019 owner describes a detached fuel feed hose spilling fuel under the hood. Some cars are towed to the dealer.

Symptoms owners report

Every warning light at once

The dash lights up with adaptive cruise, stability control, power steering, and parking brake warnings. Driver-assist systems switch off. Some owners say the lights clear for a few days and then return. Dealers often trace it to the fuel injectors.

Limp mode on the road

The car suddenly loses power and drops to a very low speed, sometimes on the highway. Owners describe jerking when accelerating past about 33 mph. Restarting may bring power back, but the warning lights often stay on.

Rough running and misfires

Owners report rough idle, stuttering when accelerating, hesitation, and a rich code (P0172). Some describe bucking and jumping before the car drifts to the roadside. Spark plugs on the affected cylinder can fail too.

Stalling from the fuel pump

Fuel pump failures stall the car in traffic, at intersections, and on highways, often with no warning. Owners also report hard starts, no-starts, a stiff steering wheel after the engine dies, and low fuel pressure code P0087.

Fuel in the engine oil

Oil turns dark and smells of gas, and the dipstick reads over full. Owners report this in early 2018 cars and in 2019 cars, sometimes with gas fumes in the cabin. One dealer diagnosis blamed a failed injector.

Fuel smell or leak

A few reports cover fuel odor in the cabin, smoke after stalling, and a detached fuel feed hose spilling fuel under the hood. A 2025 owner notes a fuel smell with the moonroof open.

When the problems start

Injector failures show up anywhere from 27,000 to 116,000 miles, and most cluster between 57,000 and 88,400. Individual owners report failures at 44,000, 54,000, and 62000 miles, with one at 138,000. Fuel in the oil appears very early in some 2018 cars, at 7,000 miles. Some 2024 and 2025 cars report injector faults at 2400 to 5,100 miles.

Repairs and recalls

Injector replacement is the usual fix. Owners quote about $1,000 to over $2,900, with many near $2,000, and one pump repair at $1300. Some pay out of pocket after warranty ends. Dealers often report backordered parts and waits of weeks. Several owners say the problem returned after the recall repair. Federal recall records list six fuel system recalls. They cover the fuel pump module (23V858000), fuel pump assembly (21V215000), fuel tank replacement (19V569000 and 22V380000), and Hybrid fuel pump and hose issues (24V763000, 25V378000). Check your VIN, because some owners say theirs was left out.

Model years	Campaign	Problem
2025	25V378000	Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The fuel feed hose may have been improperly installed, allowing fuel to leak. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the…
2023, 2024, 2025	24V763000	Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Honda Accord, Accord Hybrid, 2023-2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid, and 2025 Honda Civic and Civic Hybrid vehicles. The high-pressure fuel pump may crack and leak…
2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023	23V858000	Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022…
2020	22V380000	Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020 CR-V vehicles. The clip for the absorber inside the fuel tank was not secured properly and may detach, which can cause an inaccurate fuel gauge reading.
2018, 2019	21V215000	Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic…
2019	19V569000	Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019 CR-V vehicles. The joint weld between the fuel tank and the vapor return line may have been insufficiently welded, causing the weld to fail.

Checking a used CR-V for fuel system problems

Run the VIN through Honda's recall lookup and confirm every fuel system recall for that year shows as completed.
Ask for service records showing fuel pump or injector work, and whether the work was done at a dealer.
Scan for stored codes such as P0172 and P0087, and watch for a check engine light during a long test drive.
Check the oil on the dipstick for a gas smell or a level above full.
Test drive cold and watch for rough idle, stumbling at low speed, or hesitation under acceleration.
On a 2018 or 2019, get an injector inspection and a written repair estimate before you agree on a price.

6 fuel system recalls cover the Honda CR-V. A VIN check shows whether the car you're looking at had its recall work done, plus accident and title history.

Look Up a VIN →