Most common 2005 Honda CR-V problems
Share of the 479 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Honda CR-V complaints by model year
Best CR-V years: 2001, 2000, 1999. Years to avoid: 2018, 2017, 2025, 2024, 2023. Compare all years →
2005 Honda CR-V recalls (12)
Visibility › Power window devices and controls
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2002-2006 CR-V vehicles. Moisture may enter the driver side power window master switch, causing the switch to fail or melt.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power window master switch and inspect the wiring harness for damage, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012 Ridgeline vehicles.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Acura MDX and Honda CR-V vehicles, 2005-2011 Honda Element vehicles, 2005-2012 Acura RL vehicles, 2006-2012 Honda Ridgeline vehicles, 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles and 2005-2008 Honda Pilot vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California,…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall bagan March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Show 6 more recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2011 Acura RL, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2006-2011 Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or that have ever been registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia,…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL vehicles.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Air bags
American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic, 2003-2004 Civic CNG and Element, 2002-2005 CR-V, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2005 Accord, Pilot, Civic Hybrid, and Acura MDX, 2005 Acura RL and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
Air bags
American Honda Motor Company, Inc.'s (Honda) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2003-2005 Accord, Civic, CR-V, Pilot and Acura MDX, model year 2003-2004 Odyssey and Element, and model year 2005 Acura RL, and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in California, and equipped…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during August 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
Electrical system
Honda is recalling certain model year 2002-2006 CR-V passenger vehicles, manufactured from February 19, 2002, through July 28, 2006. The driver-side power window switch may fail or melt.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the switches, as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on November 2, 2012. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
Air bags › Side/window
On certain passenger vehicles, the occupant position detection system's side sensor is not installed in the correct position and May fail to shut off the passenger's side impact airbag if the occupant is out-of-position.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the passenger's seat-back pad which incudes the occupant position detection system sensor. The recall began on on November 19, 2004. Owners should contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 6 possible defects involving the 2005 Honda CR-V:
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Driver's Master Power Window Switch
This investigation was opened based on three Vehicle Owner's Questionnaire reports alleging smoke and fire occurred inside of the driver's door.The complainants reported that the master power window switch and, in some cases its wiring harness, had sustained heat related damage and required replacement.Since opening the investigation the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received two additional reports.The…
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Driver's Power Window Master Switch
This investigation was prompted by Preliminary Evaluation (PE) 10-047 and was based on reports from consumers alleging that smoke and/or fire, as defined in 49 CFR ? 579.4, had occurred inside of the driver's door.The subject vehicles, model year (MY) 2006 CR-V, were manufactured at two different assembly plants.The vehicles manufactured in Japan (Sayama plant) were produced with a power window master switch (PWMS)…
Underhood fires
In documents provided during ea04-027, Honda identified a mechanism which causes the rubber seal (gasket) of the original equipment (oe) oil filter to adhere to the engine block of the subject vehicles.if an adhered seal remains when the oe filter is removed and a new filter is installed, a double gasket condition results.a subsequent rupture of the extraneous seal can result in oil contacting nearby exhaust system…
What 2005 Honda CR-V owners say
Air bags all 129 →
The contact owns a 2005 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH, she rear-ended a vehicle in front. The other vehicle's windshield shattered during the impact. Both vehicles were severely damaged. The air bags did not deploy. No one was injured. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not towed, but the contact was able to push the vehicle into a parking lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 170,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Honda CR-v. While the contact's son was driving various speeds, another vehicle crossed three lanes and crashed into the passenger side quarter panel of the contact's vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries. There were no warning indicators illuminated. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
Lights all 124 →
Purchased new in March, 2005, we quickly learned that the low beam headlights on our 2005 Honda crv burn out frequently, usually on both sides and within a few days of each other. When replaced, they will last only a year or so before burning out again. We notice they're burned out when we're driving. We use the headlights both during the day (for safety) and of course at night. We've tried several different types of replacement lamps, but none seem to change the pattern of lamp life. Most recently, I've replaced the low beam headlamps four times (2 each side) within the past 6 months. Last night when tested after replacement, the passenger side lamp only glowed (due to a bad ground connection?) and mysteriously, the bright beam lamp on the same side had also quit working. …
I have replaced the low beam headlight bulbs in my 2005 Honda crv 4 times in the last year. I was cautious with the lights during instillation making sure to do everything right. Finally, decided to bring up the issue as my wife was driving the car in the road last night when the passenger side went out. It decreased her visibility on a country highway causing her to have to slow down a little to make sure she could see. It made the conditions unsafe and it also brings up the possibility of receiving a traffic ticket due to the light being out. Luckily, she made it home with no issues. However, the next day, she turned on the car and the driver and passenger side headlights were out. The lights have been continually going out no matter the driving situation. …
Electrical system all 77 →
The contact owns a 2005 Honda CR-V. The contact stated the vehicle had previously been repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V768000 (Visibility, Electrical System), and the power window switch on the driver's side was replaced with a water-resistant switch. The contact stated while opening the front driver's side door, the power window switch was wet from previous rainfall. In addition, the contact noticed after attempting to roll down the four windows, the power window switches failed to respond. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
The contact owns a 2005 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving 2 MPH, the rear passenger's side window became inoperable. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V768000 (Visibility, Electrical System). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 121,900.
2005 Honda CR-V engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 26 / 23 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 20 / 25 / 22 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 19 / 24 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Honda CR-V a good car?
Based on 479 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 CR-V rates average: 26% fewer complaints than a typical year of the CR-V at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Honda CR-V?
The air bags — 129 complaints, 27% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the lights (124) and electrical system (77).
How many recalls does the 2005 Honda CR-V have?
There are 12 recalls for the 2005 Honda CR-V, the most recent from December 10, 2020 (power window devices and controls). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Honda CR-V?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2001, 2000 and 1999. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2018, 2017, 2025, 2024 and 2023. See the full Honda CR-V years comparison.
At what mileage do 2005 Honda CR-V problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 miles; 35% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.