The updated 3rd gen Honda CRV was launched for sales in 2007 and had quite a bit different features from the much more rugged 2nd Gen CRV and 1st Gen CRV. The 3rd gen CRV is wider, lower, and shorter like the 4th Gen. Honda got rid of the tailgate that opened to the side and instead had a standard rear liftgate and they also removed the rugged tire mount on the tailgate. Honda basically took this CRV from a pretty cool adventure rig to a daily driver, equipped with the tried and true k24 I4 motor in the USA. But, every car and manufacturer has issues and Honda is no exception. 

Here are some issues you should watch out for

Transmission oil leak:

If you notice red fluid on the ground, then that’s most likely your transmission fluid. It is fairly common to have the trans axle seal leaking fluid. Place the car on jack stands, remove the axles, and replace the seal. It is much easier said than done, but definitely possible to replace in your driveway. 

Now, if you end up leaking too much fluid, you’ll start to have harsh and rough shifting. So, if you are experiencing that, definitely check your transmission fluid. 

Rough Shifting: 

There could be another cause for rough and hesitating shifts, and that is basically dirty transmission fluid. Try to flush the transmission fluid with the appropriate Honda recommended  Trans fluid, drive the car a bit, then flush the fluid again. Do that process three total times. If that doesn’t fix your issue, you may have to replace the transmission solenoid. There is a clutch pressure solenoid that tends to be the main solenoid owner’s replace to fix this issue. But, usually a good flush will get the job done. BE sure to replace your fluids at the correct intervals to prevent annoying issues like this. 

process:

https://youtu.be/a1iIvyIJ_K0 

Dual Linear Solenoid:  

Transmission Recall: 

In 2010, Honda recalled over 1.5million vehicles due to the secondary shaft in the transmission breaking when drivers quickly and aggressively shift from reverse to drive. This affected the CRV from 2007-2010, so be sure that recall has been fixed or be prepared to take it in for the software update it requires. This would basically tear up the transmission and prevent it from working properly. 

A/C Compressor failure: 

If you try to turn on the AC and cold air doesn’t come out, then you may have a bad AC compressor. You can track down fuses and relays to see if they are your culprit, but it’s almost always the actual compressor with these 3rd gen Honda CRVs. It won’t be an easy replacement because you do need to have the refrigerant professionally removed, and the compressor is located in a very precarious location that is somewhat difficult to get to. But, it is definitely possible by a diy person with patience.

Ill have links down below to most of these parts for your convenience! 

Denso A/C Compressor:

Groaning Noise from the rear diff:

The CR V can develop an issue where the rear differential shudders and has a groaning noise during turns. This is due to the diff fluid deteriorating over time. The fluid should be changed pretty routinely with Honda dual pump diff fluid about every 24 months or 24k miles. Doing it routinely shouldn’t be an issue because it is easy to do. 

Grab a drain pan, get under the car, remove the drain bolt, drain the oil and add new oil.  You can also attach a soap pump to the bottle and pump in the oil into the diff, which makes the process much easier. 

Dual Pump Fluid:

Pump for the oil: 

Starter Motor Failing: 

If the car’s electronics turn on when you try to turn over the key but receive a no start, perhaps it’s your starter failing. You should hear the starter try to crank the engine, if you don’t, then this is most likely your culprit. You can try to temporarily fix the starter, which is located in front of the engine and you can get to it by removing the plastic guards under the car and hit it with a blunt object. That should get you going to where you need to go. But, you should definitely replace it because that will only work so many times before it fails completely. 

ACDelco Starter:

Noisy suspension in the rear: 

Many owners report noise coming from the suspension as they drive over bumps or take turns. One main culprit is the sway bar stabilizer end links. You can test them by trying to move the sway bar itself with a  screwdriver and see if it makes noise or has play like this one. If it does, you need to replace the sway bar endlink. The endlinks and the struts are both known to fail prematurely and cause a lot of noises. 

Like this one:

https://youtu.be/LAM3jI85Fac?t=106 

Sway Bar Endlinks:

Wiper Motor Failing: 

The windshield wiper motor does tend to fail, but it’s definitely not an overly common issue. Although watching the process might seem a bit daunting, it’s actually quite easy. So, if those motors have failed, don’t be too alarmed. There are many great tutorials on replacing them on youtube. 

Process: https://youtu.be/yHW64T9QhiM 

2010-2011 CRVS high oil consumption: 

There have been many owners who reported that their 2010 and 2011 Honda CRVs burn oil due to sticking piston rings. I guess Honda started popping out a bad batch in 2010 and 2011. You can do an oil consumption test if it’s within warranty, but it seems that honda is trying to dismiss most of these complaints. 

So, be sure to top off your oil like you do gas if you are experiencing this problem. Also expect the catalytic converter to clog up fairly quickly. Hopefully you don’t live in california with this problem. 

Door lock issue: 

The door locking in these cars like to malfunction. They don’t lock when you want them to, and they randomly unlock while driving. Then, ultimately the locks stop working all together. These usually fail around 80k miles and cost around $400 to replace at a mechanic, which is why you should take the time and replace them yourself. Watch a good video, AIAuto has a fantastic tutorial, and be patient. It will be worth buying the appropriate tools and putting in the few hours to save a few hundred dollars you’ll be spending at a mechanic. And, if another one fails, you already have the tools and knowhow to replace it.  

Door lock actuator:

Final thoughts:

The CRV comes with a K24 motor, a proven reliable motor. With good maintenance it can easily last well over 200K miles. It does have a timing chain instead of a timing belt and the chain seems very reliable. But, I will say the first gen and second gen CRV are still my favorite. I have videos talking about them as well, and ill have them linked down below. 

My main goal is to help people with their cars and motivate you all to save money and work on your own car if the job allows it. If this video helped you out, share it with a friend and ill see you in the next video!

2nd Gen Honda CRV 2002-2006 Common Issues and Reliability

4th Gen Honda CRV 2012-2016 Common Issues and Reliability

See how this compared to the 2001-2004 Toyota Rav4

If you are tired of reading, watch this instead:

Really, not all Hondas are as reliable as you might think. Take the 8th Gen Honda Civic for an example.

Hopefully this helped you out. I have committed this website to help as many people out with their particular car issues and future purchases. No matter your gender, hair color, style, or background, everyone is equal. Let’s strive for a full inclusive world.

Thanks for reading!