Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Honda CR-V owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I purchased a new 2015 Honda crv exl. Picked it up on evening of 2/18/15. I drove it back and forth to work, approx. 30 miles round trip the next two days. I noticed vibration and felt something wasn't right. The car sat in my driveway the weekend due to bad weather. I drove to work Monday and Tuesday and the vibration was terrible. I drive in very slow moving traffic. While accelerating, it feels like a bumpy ride on uneven roadway. This makes me feel very unsafe! Especially while going around curves. While stopped at red lights, the steering wheel and seats vibrate. Exactly one week from picking up my vehicle, I'm back at the dealership with the service manager driving my car and experiencing my concerns. I brought the car back in again for the service manager to capture the vibration on video to be sent to Honda. I contacted Honda of America and now have a case manager. …
Tl contact owns a 2005 Honda crv. The contact was traveling 65 MPH, heard a noise coming from the transmission and the vehicle started to rapidly slow down. When the failure occurred the vehicle started to veer drastically to the left causing the contact crash into the median wall and the vehicle to spin around three times. The passenger side air bag deployed, but not the drivers side. The vehicle was towed to the insurance companies inspection station where it was ruled destroyed and they were unable to determine the cause of failure. The failure and current mileage was 115,000.
I bought the car in August 2004. After a few months drove it to the mountain, put the snow chain and the car couldn't go more than 10mph, instead it make a loud roaring noise. Took to dealer but couldn't duplicate the problem. Call direct to Honda they said they couldn't do anything since the dealer didn't find any problems. Since than we drive another car whenever we went to the snow. Last weekend we went to palm springs aerial tram and the car make a loud noise that sound like it came from somewhere in the drivetrain parts. I thing this must have related to the same problem wen I went to the snow. I call a friend that has an independent car repair shop and told him what had happened. He advised me to call Honda because the car is defective since it was new. I called Honda and they said to bring to a different dealer than the one that I went on the first incident. …
This new 05' Honda CR-v ex has had numerous problems with no resolve from the dealer. It has a continued problem of pulling to the right as well as vibration at higher speeds. Also, the passenger side cv boot has been repaired twice as well as the transaxle. The vehicle came new with these problems. The dealer has tried diligently to fix the pttr problem with new tires, axle, rotation, alignment, wheels from other 05' CR-v's. But, they have said the vibration is within manufacture's specs!!!! I have spent more time with my car at the dealer since I bought this car in dececmber of 2004 and it is now April 2005! The vibration comes about throughout the cab, especially through the steering wheel at around 50-70 MPH. I'm very upset that I pay good money for a car that brings me grief each and every time I drive the car on the hi-way. Around town it's fine. …
For approximately 5 years, my Honda CR-v has experienced a shudder in the vehicle when the speed is in between gears. This shuddering recurs between 2nd and 3rd gear, 4th and 5th gear. I have reported it to the Honda dealer where my vehicle was purchased numerous times over the course of the past 5 years. The answer I was always given was "cannot duplicate problem". I was never asked to go for a test ride with a mechanic nor was I asked to describe the problem in detail. I was brushed off. When I moved, I took my vehicle, now over 100K miles, to a specialty service mechanic. He quickly took a test drive with me and was able to recreate the shudder within 5 minutes. He knew exactly what was wrong and advised me to contact Honda. I feel that this problem is a safety issue, as at higher speeds when the vehicle shudders, it is difficult to maintain control of the steering wheel.
The transmission blew with no warning whatsoever, driving at highway speed the forward motion suddenly cut out. Luckily we had enough momentum to get to the side of the highway or 4 people would be dead. The car had just had a trip inspection within 10 days, all systems go, and we took the car shopping in the morning with no indication whatsoever by performance, noise, etc there was anything wrong at all. The transmission failure was total and sudden. Honda denies any issues with this car, which, if I lived in a different state, would be a lemon. Its headlights constantly go out, and it and its twin, a 2006 crv, both had broken ac around 90000 miles. The estimate for repair is $4300. This piece of junk metal is now the most expensive car I have ever owned in terms of owner cost.
At 17,000 miles on my 2005 Honda CR-v I noticed noise when I made sharp turns to the right or left. The dealer could not diagnose. Any problem. He thought it was from turning on the painted stripes on asphalt parking lots!!!!!!!!! At 17,684 miles the noise sounded like broken dishes rattling in the rear of the car. I looked online and found similar descriptions on websites related to Honda CR-v issues. I took it back to the dealer. Dealer finally diagnosed rear differential problem. They performed rear diff. Service, burnished clutches in rear diff and drained and refilled fluid. Problem solved! The car was under warranty, so no charge. Why don't dealers know more about this problem?
Own a 2005 CR-v ex AWD. I to have experienced the CR-v rear differential contamination problem. Howling noise while turning became evident from the back end during the winter of 07-08 and approximately 25000 miles. Dealer determined the differential fluid was contaminated and flushed/replaced the fluid and performed a clutch burnishing procedure...fortunately under a goodwill warranty per a TSB. No problems since but based on other complaints I fear it's just a matter of time. Rear differential contamination appears to be a real problem with this CR-v version (02-08) which Honda really needs to address.
Three years from date of purchase, at 28486 miles, my Honda crv was taken to the dealer for service. I mentioned noise when making turns if the car was cold. The dealer said the car needed the differential fluid replaced and the differential clutches burnished, (as per bulletin). My maintenance manual recommends this at 5 years or 90,000 miles. I read that other drivers have had the same problem. I was not charged, because the car had 5 days left on the initial warranty. I assume this is some kind of manufacturing defect.
There was a groan coming from the rear differential when making a sharp turn or tight turn at low speed. The mileage was 18769 miles. The cause was attributed to contamination of the fluid in the rear differential. The fluid was drained and the rear differential clutches were burnished. However, the drained fluid was clean. The fluid was again replaced. This should not happen to a car with this low mileage. This sounds like the wrong fluid was installed at the time of manufacture. I will seek compensation from Honda.
Transmission complaints in other CR-V years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2005 Honda CR-V?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2005 Honda CR-V, 5% of the model year's 479 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Honda CR-V transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2005 Honda CR-V, though it has 12 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 2005 Honda CR-V transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 35,000 miles, and 35% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to transmission & drivetrain 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.