Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Honda CR-V owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
2003 Honda crv unexpectedly accelerated while pulling into a parking stall on 8/2/17 at 6:45 am. The engine suddenly revved up full throttle and the car surged forward. I slammed on the brakes but could feel the car surging forward for a split second. My car hit the unoccupied car parked in the stall in front of me. Will take car to dealership today to determine and fix cause. Filed an insurance claim with travelers insurance company.
I was at a public aquatic center and while pulling into a parking space, the car accelerated up to about 15 miles per hour or more. I ended up hitting the building head on causing damage to the front end end of my car and to myself as well.
Sudden acceleration due to gas pedal getting "stuck". Once a red light turned green vehicle was put into motion from completely stopped position. After a few yards driver had to brake not to hit the truck in front of it, which was going slower than vehicle in question. Instead of reducing speed, driver faced a sudden acceleration that made the vehicle crash into the truck. Even with the impact, the acceleration continued and vehicle crashed again into the same truck. Driver realized the vehicle was not reducing its speed by applying the brake pedal and therefore vehicle was put into parking and turned off. In an attempt to turn the vehicle on again the vehicle made a very loud accelerated noise but driver could not take vehicle from parking position and noticed brake and gas pedals were stiff. Vehicle had to be towed. …
While using 'cruise control' in freeway traffic, the cars ahead began to slow, suddenly while I had cruise control engaged, in fifth gear. A black prius was the car immediately ahead of mine. The slowing of the traffic was significant enough so that I used light braking to disengage the cruise control and slow the vehicle. Just a 'tap' on the brake is all that has ever been necessary to disengage the cruise control in this type of situation. "light' braking and then 'very heavy' braking did nothing whatsoever to disengage the cruise control or to slow the vehicle whatsoever. I almost collided with the rear end of the prius. The only way I could resume control and slow my vehicle was to reach over and slap-off the master, cruise control switch at the far left of the instrument panel. …
I had just taken the car into the dealership the week before, and they had replaced the starter as well as doing routine maintenance. One week later, I had just left the house and was driving toward a major intersection at 55 MPH when the vehicle started to accelerate on its own. I pushed down on the brake and was able to slow the vehicle down somewhat but the engine was still racing. I tried to pull the accelerator up but with the top of my foot, but this did nothing. Putting all of my weight on the brake I slowed it enough to turn into a parking lot at about 10 MPH, at which point I jammed it into park. The engine continued to race until I turned it off. When the tow truck arrived, the driver started the car which again caused the engine to rev extremely high, and he immediately turned it off. After towing to the dealership, the mechanics there were unable to reproduce the problem. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Honda CR-v. While driving 60 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated rapidly without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle accelerated to 85 MPH and would not stop. The contact applied the brake pedal and it became stuck to the floorboard. The contact shifted into neutral in an attempt to correct the failure and the vehicle decelerated to 45 MPH and would not stop. The contact stated that the failure recurred a second time two years later. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle accelerated to 90 MPH without warning. On both occasions, the emergency brake was inoperative and failed to stop the vehicle. The contact eventually regained control of the brake and accelerator pedal functionality. Tom kadlec Honda (3333 wilder rd nw, rochester, minnesota 55901, [phone]) was contacted, but the failures could not be duplicated. …
On December 18 my youngest daughter was returning from a babbysitting job..her 2003 crv accelerator stuck open ..for 5 to 7 miles she pressed on brakes as car was accelerating over 100 MPH..she managed to slow to 60 and engage neutral while car still revving..and shut off vehicle..no dash or warning lights..the car is now at a Honda dealership in chattanooga..the dealer has pics of what happened and brakes were fried as they were new..im 2 1/2 weekks waiting on a reply or investigation from Honda ..im out a car and my daughter needs to get to college..she was on a long stretch of highway at incident.which is what likely saved her by the grace of god..or could have been serious injury or death.
Driving with speed control on I tapped the brakes to release it. The car sped up as if the accelerator had been pressed to the floor and held there. I continued to tap the brakes, but the speed control would not release. I applied the brakes and it would not release. Now I am flying down the apron of the road just missing stopped cars still going 65 being jostled violently. The speed control disengages after I pass about 20 cars. The car finally is able to stop. My hand was at no point close to the steering wheel controls of the speed control. My foot never hit or held the accelerator. A right rear tire was impaled by debris.
When I placed the CR-v in reverse to back out of my drive way my foot slip from the brake and hit the accelerator the car catapulted hitting my Honda accord on the rear panel of the driver side, my accord was parked perpendicular to the driving path I informed Honda recommended design changes.. I remember that I used to own a Toyota camry where the brake and accelerator pedal had enough gap that I could place my foot between the two pedals. Will gladly furnished pictures of the damage and the brake pedal .
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Honda CR-v. The contact stated that while attempting to park, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The vehicle crashed into four parked vehicles and then into a bus shelter. A police report was filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The current and failure mileage was 52,000.
Acceleration complaints in other CR-V years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2003 Honda CR-V?
NHTSA has 32 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2003 Honda CR-V, 7% of the model year's 468 complaints. The component named most often is cruise control (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Honda CR-V acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2003 Honda CR-V, though it has 13 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2003 Honda CR-V acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 77,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.