Honda CR-V: common problems, best years and what to check
One of the most durable family SUVs. Covers 2008–2024 cars: every popular engine, its known faults with typical UK repair costs, and how each year has held up on Britain's roads.
Updated November 2026 · By the Carnod team · How we build this guide
Is the Honda CR-V a good used buy?
Best buy
2018+ Mk5 2.0 Hybrid or Mk4 1.6 i-DTEC
Avoid
none notable
Who it suits: Families wanting a reliable, roomy SUV.
What's good
- Excellent reliability
- Huge boot
- Comfortable
- Hybrid is economical
What's not
- Hybrid CVT drones
- Dull to drive
- Petrol versions thirsty
- Pricier than rivals
By the numbers
- #49 most common model on UK roads, with about 158k licensed (DfT).
- The biggest surviving year is 2014: 14.8k cars still licensed.
- 2008 cars survive 50% better than comparable cars of that year.
- The most expensive common fault: Air-con compressor failure (up to £900).
Honda CR-V common problems by generation and engine
Honda CR-V Mk3 (2007–2012) · SUV
How to spot it: 07 plate to 12 plate. Rounded SUV with a large rear window.
2.0 i-VTEC / 2.2 i-DTEC (R20 / N22B, petrol / diesel, 2008–2012)
Very durable
- Air-con compressor failure£500–£900any
Honda CR-V Mk4 (2012–2018) · SUV
How to spot it: 12 plate to 18 plate. Sharper with a wing-shaped grille.
1.6 i-DTEC / 2.2 i-DTEC / 2.0 i-VTEC (N16 / N22 / R20, diesel / petrol, 2012–2018)
Reliable
Honda CR-V Mk5 (2018–2023) · SUV; Hybrid
How to spot it: 18 plate to 23 plate. Larger with a bold chrome grille.
2.0 i-MMD Hybrid / 1.5 VTEC Turbo (LFA / L15B, hybrid / petrol, 2018–2023)
1.5T oil dilution
- Oil dilution (1.5T)£0–£300any
Costs are typical UK independent-garage prices including parts and labour. Main dealers usually charge more.
Best and worst Honda CR-V years
How many Honda CR-Vs from each year are still licensed today (DfT), coloured by how well that year survives compared with similar cars of the same age.
Years that outlast similar cars: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. No year falls off the road noticeably faster than similar cars.
Honda CR-V MOT pass rate and common failures
First-time pass rate (2025)
Average UK car of the same age
MOT tests analysed (2008+ cars)
Honda CR-Vs pass their MOT first time 9 points more often than the average UK car of the same age (80% vs 71%). Older cars fail more, so we compare like with like.
| First registered | Pass rate | Average UK car that age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 60% | 57% | 134k miles |
| 2009 | 64% | 58% | 129k miles |
| 2010 | 70% | 59% | 114k miles |
| 2011 | 72% | 61% | 109k miles |
| 2012 | 74% | 63% | 98k miles |
| 2013 | 80% | 66% | 94k miles |
| 2014 | 82% | 69% | 87k miles |
| 2015 | 83% | 72% | 79k miles |
| 2016 | 85% | 75% | 70k miles |
| 2017 | 86% | 78% | 61k miles |
| 2018 | 88% | 81% | 51k miles |
| 2019 | 91% | 84% | 41k miles |
| 2020 | 92% | 86% | 35k miles |
| 2021 | 92% | 87% | 30k miles |
| 2022 | 93% | 89% | 23k miles |
Pass rate by fuel
Diesel
Petrol
Hybrid
Fuels differ in age and mileage mix, so treat this as a pattern rather than a like-for-like comparison.
Most common MOT failures
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.14 per 100
- Position lamp: not working2.88 per 100
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.7 per 100
- Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2.67 per 100
- Stop lamp: not working2.63 per 100
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.13 per 100
- Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength2.13 per 100
- Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn2.08 per 100
Most common advisories
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm26.26 per 100
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn12.8 per 100
- Tyres: has a tear9.97 per 100
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick9.31 per 100
- Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened8.87 per 100
- Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened5.78 per 100
- Suspension arm: corroded and seriously weakened5.68 per 100
- Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn5.57 per 100
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results for 2025 (normal car tests). First-time pass counts faults fixed during the test as fails. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Does the Honda CR-V have a timing belt or chain?
| Engine | Type | When | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | chain | durable | £600–£1,100 |
Honda CR-V running costs
Road tax (from April 2017)
Road tax (before April 2017)
Insurance groups
Real-world economy
Servicing (independent)
Tyres
Warranty when new
Is the Honda CR-V ULEZ compliant?
- Petrol and hybrid: compliant if Euro 4 — nearly all petrol cars from 2006, many from 2001.
- Same standards apply in Birmingham and Bristol Clean Air Zones (which charge private cars) and Scotland's LEZs in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee (which fine them). Check the exact car on TfL's vehicle checker.
Safety and practicality
Euro NCAP
Boot
Seats
Honda CR-V vs rivals
| Model | On UK roads | Insurance | Boot | Best buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CR-V | 158k | 17–30 | 497 l | 2018+ Mk5 2.0 Hybrid or Mk4 1.6 i-DTEC |
| Toyota RAV4 | 112k | 27–40 | 580 l | 2019+ XA50 2.5 Hybrid |
| Mazda CX-5 | 86k | 18–29 | 506 l | 2017+ KF 2.0 or 2.5 Skyactiv-G |
| Kia Sportage | 373k | 13–25 | 491 l | 2016–2021 QL 1.6 GDi or 1.7 CRDi; 2022+ HEV |
| Nissan X-Trail | 91k | 17–30 | 565 l | 2017+ T32 1.6 dCi manual |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | 316k | 16–30 | 520 l | 2016+ Mk2 2.0 TDI 150 |
What to check when buying a used Honda CR-V
- Excellent survival in DfT data
- Hybrid Mk5 is the smooth choice
Honda CR-V FAQ
›Is the Honda CR-V reliable?
Generally, if you pick the right version. Best buy: 2018+ Mk5 2.0 Hybrid or Mk4 1.6 i-DTEC. Avoid: none notable.
›What is the Honda CR-V MOT pass rate?
80% of Honda CR-Vs passed their MOT first time in 2025 (136,142 tests), better than the 71% average for cars of the same age. The most common failure: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm.
›What are the most common Honda CR-V problems?
The costliest known faults are Air-con compressor failure; Oil dilution. Each one is listed by engine with typical UK repair costs above.
›Does the Honda CR-V have a timing belt or chain?
All: chain.
›What is the best year Honda CR-V to buy?
By DfT survival data, 2008, 2009, 2010 cars have outlasted comparable cars best. Condition and history still matter more than the year.
›How much does a Honda CR-V cost to run?
Real-world economy: 2.0 Hybrid 42–48 mpg; 1.6 i-DTEC 48–55 mpg. Insurance groups 17–30. A minor service is about £190–£270 at an independent garage.
›How much is road tax on a Honda CR-V?
Cars registered from April 2017 pay £200 a year (more if the list price was over £40k). Older cars pay by CO2 band, from £20 to £790.
›Is the Honda CR-V ULEZ compliant?
Petrol and hybrid: compliant if Euro 4 — nearly all petrol cars from 2006, many from 2001. Diesel: compliant only if Euro 6 — generally cars first registered from September 2015; earlier diesels pay £12.50 a day in London's ULEZ.
How we build this guide
We combine official UK data with what independent garages see most often on this model.
- How many are still on the road: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, by year first used. The survival comparison is against cars of the same age.
- MOT pass rates, failures and mileage: DVSA anonymised MOT results — every normal car MOT in Great Britain for the year, compared with all cars of the same age.
- Road tax: GOV.UK rates from April 2026. ULEZ: TfL and Clean Air Zone emission standards.
- Faults and repair costs: known problems by engine code, priced at typical UK independent-garage rates including parts and labour.
- Insurance groups, mpg, servicing and tyres: typical ranges, not quotes. Your car's exact figures depend on the version and where you live.
This is a buying guide, not a mechanical inspection. A specific car's MOT history tells you far more than any model average — run a free check on it before you go and see it.
Sources: licensed counts and survival from DfT vehicle licensing statistics; road tax from GOV.UK (April 2026 rates). Faults, costs, mpg and insurance groups are typical ranges, not quotes. A guide, not a mechanical inspection.