How many miles can a Honda CR-V last? When you’re in the market for a new or second-hand CR-V, that’s a very reasonable question to ask. After all, you’re probably looking to get the most bang for your buck. In this blog, we’ll look at this question in great detail but first, let’s start with a quick answer:
On average, a Honda CR-V lasts between 230.000 – 270.000 miles. A CR-V needs to go to the garage for unscheduled repairs about 0.3 times per year, with a 9% chance of severe problems. Furthermore, CR-V owners spend an average of $407 per year on repair costs.
Having said that, we’re certainly not done. Below, we’ll explain in more detail how many miles a CR-V can last. After that, we’ll also show you how much a CR-V costs annually and which production years are the most and least expensive. Furthermore, we also discuss the common problems that the car can have. Read on!
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How Many Miles Can A Honda CR-V Last?
Today, we will analyze how many miles a Honda CR-V can last. We conducted in-depth research on several different platforms to answer these questions. First, we have to look at the Honda CR-V as a group. For this, we went to Autotrader.com to gather our sample size.
We took a pool of 20.029 Honda CR-Vs and divided them into groups based on the miles they had already driven. The results of this research are displayed in the table below.
| Amount Of Miles | Percentage Of Cars |
| Cars With 150.000+ | 4.81% |
| Cars With 100.000 – 149.000 | 10.00% |
| Cars With 45.000 – 99.999 | 28.62% |
| Cars With 0 – 44.999 | 56.57% |
What we can see in the table above is the fact that 4.81% of CR-Vs that are for sale in the United States have crossed the 150.000 miles mark. By itself, this number doesn´t say a lot. However, from writing hundreds of articles like this, we know that we expect a car to achieve a number between 3-5%.
Therefore it seems that the CR-V performs very well at first glance. This won´t come as a surprise to many because the CR-V does have a good reputation. However, we also see many units that haven´t even crossed the 45.000 miles mark yet. It´s good to know this is a common occurrence with vehicles that are still being sold, and it´s nothing to worry about.
Nevertheless, this is a good beginning for the CR-V overall, but more research is needed. Let´s move on.
Also read: Types Of Gas A Honda CR-V Takes (All Generations)
How Reliable Is A Honda CR-V Compared To Its Competitors?
Even when you see a vehicle with hundreds of thousands of miles on the gauge cluster, more proof is necessary to know for sure what you are buying is, in fact, the most reliable and long-lasting vehicle.
In the table below, we´ve displayed the expected and highest recorded mileage of different CR-V competitors. Please keep in mind we´ve written separate articles for these vehicles as well, and therefore we´re confident in the displayed results.
| Model | Sample Size | Expected Mileage | Highest Mileage |
| Honda CR-V | 20.029 | 250.000 | 416.161 |
| Toyota RAV4 | 22.262 | 240.000 | 326.455 |
| KIA Sportage | 6.684 | 230.000 | 267.402 |
| GMC Terrain | 11.658 | 210.000 | 488.036 |
| Chevrolet Equinox | 38.014 | 210.000 | 369.537 |
| Nissan Rogue | 23.653 | 185.000 | 305.325 |
What becomes clear from the table above is the fact that the Honda CR-V is certainly a worthy competitor in this category. It´s the pack’s leader, which doesn´t come as a surprise given its reputation.
Other vehicles in this category, like the RAV4 and Sportage, perform well as well. On the other hand, vehicles such as the Terrain, Equinox, and Rogue end up around 200.000 miles. That´s not a bad score, but it is lower than what we would expect from an SUV this size. Overall, the CR-V is the clear winner.
How Reliable Is A Honda CR-V Compared To Other Hondas?
We took several Honda models and examined their reliability based on the same data. We took the mileage numbers of these models and compared them with the mileage numbers of the Honda CR-V.
What becomes clear from this table immediately is the fact that Honda builds vehicles with an incredible lifespan. Car brands typically have vehicles that last between 200.000 – 250.000 miles; anything above that is rare. However, Honda has many cars with an expected mileage of 250.000 or slightly higher.
What becomes apparent in the table below is the fact that the CR-V holds up quite well compared to other Hondas. There´s, of course, always going to be the Civic, with its incredible lifespan. However, the CR-V has the same numbers as the HR-V and Accord. Both are vehicles known for their reliability which is a strong sign for the CR-V.
| Model | Sample Size | Expected Mileage | Highest Mileage |
| Honda Civic | 23.731 | 275.000 | 430.000 |
| Honda Accord | 25.976 | 250.000 | 359.000 |
| Honda CR-V | 27.747 | 250.000 | 320.000 |
| Honda HR-V | 8.622 | 250.000 | 215.000 |
| Honda Odyssey | 10.034 | 225.000 | 350.000 |
| Honda Pilot | 15.385 | 240.000 | 346.000 |
How Much Does Maintenance Cost Per Year?
The maintenance cost must be as low as possible for a vehicle to be truly reliable. Any unreliable vehicle can achieve high mileage if money is put into repairs. But a reliable car does not require those expensive repairs. In the table below, we´ve gathered the CR-Vs maintenance costs for many model years. This data was acquired from Repairpal and Caredge.com.
On average, we expect to pay $407 in annual maintenance costs for a Honda CR-V. Let it be clear that this is an incredibly low number. Typically, it costs a car owner $521 annually to keep a compact SUV like the CR-V on the road. Therefore, the CR-V is over $110 cheaper yearly than its competition.
Furthermore, it becomes clear that almost all model years have fairly consistent maintenance costs. This indicates that the car has no model years and is plagued with issues that led to hefty repair bills for the owners. More on that in a moment.
Please note that the data in the table starts from the 2018 model year. Newer data is not yet available, but it´s safe to assume newer models have even lower maintenance costs.
| Model Year | Annual Maintenance Cost |
| 2018 | $251 |
| 2017 | $309 |
| 2016 | $326 |
| 2015 | $365 |
| 2014 | $425 |
| 2013 | $460 |
| 2012 | $452 |
| 2011 | $433 |
| 2010 | $442 |
| 2009 | $404 |
| 2008 | $401 |
| 2007 | $349 |
Also read: The Complete Cost Of Maintaining A Honda
Owners’ Reviews Of The Honda CR-Vs Reliability
Besides knowing all the data, it’s, of course, also essential to see how owners experience the CR-V. For this, we went to Kelley Blue Book, Truecar, and Cars.com. All three platforms have gathered hundreds of reviews from actual car owners. We summarized our findings in the image below.
Looking at the overall rating of the Honda CR-V, we see that the fifth generation scores very well. The positive reviews emphasize the consensus that the CR-V is reliable, functional, and does a great job as a family vehicle.
There were also some more critical reviews. However, we were unable to find a shared theme among them. Mainly, we saw that some people didn´t like the set-up of the infotainment system, whereas others thought the road noise was too loud. Random complaints are scattered across the board. Overall, the quote below sums up the sentiment quite well:
The Honda CRV is a great all around car. It is great on gas mileage and gets up and goes when you need it to. Very reliable and comfortable for a smaller CRV and I’m not a small person. Great value for the money – Can’t go wrong for a great commuter car.
Source
Honda CR-V Common Problems
Like all cars, Honda CR-V has its share of problems that are too frequent to be ignored. These problems or issues have a negative impact on the car maker’s reputation. Sometimes the problems are so profound and extensive that car manufacturers must recall entire models to install a fix. In this section, we list some of the common significant problems of CR-V.
NOTE: Before buying a used car, I always like to make sure the vehicle isn´t having any problems that you should be aware of. The easiest way to do this is by buying an OBD2 scanner. These scanners can easily be plugged into any car you’re interested in, and they’ll give you a rundown of potential problems.
Engine Problems
- 2012 – 2016 models have problems with the variable timing control actuator. This means the engine emits extremely loud rattling noises that usually disappear after a few seconds.
- All models years after 2012 have problems with a sudden loss of power caused because of various reasons, but the 2015 model year got a recall for problems with the throttle body.
- Excessive oil consumption in pre-2017 models. Honda was soon to discover that this issue was primarily down to problems with the pistons and rings which even prompted Honda to extend warranties to take care of this issue more methodically and even issued a recall for 2014-2015 CR-V models back in May of 2015 (15V121000) to take care of oil leaks which could result in the car going up in flames.
Heater Core Failure
- 2012-2017 Honda CR-V models are known to come equipped with heater cores which are prone to losing their heating abilities and thus leaving you to freeze. According to multiple sources, this issue is caused by a defective/clogged heater core.
Wiring Harness Defects
- 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2021 Honda CR-V owners complain about rodents chewing away their wiring harnesses and leaving them stranded.
Engine Oil Dilution
- All Honda CR-V models equipped with the standard 1.5L Honda engine are prone to oil dilution issues. This means that all CR-V models made between 2017 and 2019 are severely affected, while later models are a bit better due to certain software upgrades.
Differential Noises
- A few 2017 Honda CR-V owners complained about the car making grinding noises while turning, which was later found to be an issue with differential lubrication.
Transmission Shudders
- There are various transmission complaints about 2012- 2015 CR-V models shaking and shuddering at speeds under 40mph. Some have even said that this issue caused the entire transmission to fail and thus needs a complete replacement.
Electrical Problems
- These issues include the inability to start the car (2015 – 2019), the car honking by itself (2017), the infotainment system failing (2020), and problems with exterior lights (2012 – 2014).
Steering Issues
- Many 2015 and 2016 CR-V owners complained about rodents chewing the steering harness.
Fuel System Failures
- There are quite a few issues with the fuel system in the Honda CR-V (2017 – 2020). The most common ones include fuel leaks, fuel injector issues, and issues with the Denso fuel pump.
Is a Honda CR-V A Smart Buy?
Finally, we have to answer the question of whether or not the CR-V is a vehicle that´s worth getting. First, we´ve established that we expect a CR-V to last around 250.000 miles. This is a very strong number, especially for a relatively small SUV. Furthermore, the CR-V is better than its competition in this regard.
Furthermore, we saw that Honda does build long-lasting vehicles overall and that the maintenance costs of the CR-V are much lower than the average costs for its category.
Moving on to the owner’s ratings of the Honda CR-V, we see that owners give the vehicle a high score overall. However, there are random, minor annoyances with the vehicle that differs from person to person.
Finally, the CR-V has had some problems in the past ten years. Regarding this, we would typically advise staying away from the 2012 – 2016 models because some of these have variable timing control actuator problems.
Some of these vehicles also have transmission shudders, and both of these issues are expensive to fix. Models from 2017 onwards are most likely your best bet.
Honda CR-V Maintenance Schedule
To keep your car roadworthy over a long period, you must follow the maintenance schedule outlined for each vehicle by its manufacturer and take care of any issues as soon as they are identified.
Before/On Every 10,000 Miles
The owner’s manual of every car has a section outlining the scheduled maintenance based on the number of miles the vehicle has been driven or the number of months, whichever comes first. Honda recommends maintenance checks that should be covered at each scheduled service that should take place once every 7.500 miles.
Starting at 7,500 Miles and Repeated Every 15,000 Miles
The following is to be done starting at 7500 miles and repeated every 15000 miles.
- Fluids check and replace
- Oil and filter
- Tire tread inspection
- Tire pressure check
- Tire rotation
- Brake inspection
- Lubricate throttle linkage
Starting at 7,500 Miles and Repeated Every 30,000 Miles
- The following is to be done starting at 15,000 miles and repeated every 30,000 miles.
- Lubrication of chassis and all hinges
- Oil gasket replacement
- Wheel balancing and rotation
- Undercarriage, shocks, and struts inspection
- Clutch pedal inspection and adjustment
- Check A/C and heater operation and filter replacement
- Transmission service
- Parking brake inspection.
- Check differential oil
- Check brake linings and hoses
Before/On Every 40,000 Miles
The following is to be done starting at 30,000 miles and repeated every 30,000 miles.
- Service PCV valve
- Fuel tank cap gasket, fuel lines, and connections inspection.
- Transmission service.
- Service battery and clean cables
- Replace differential oil
- Inspect all exterior and interior lamps
- Lubrication as per need
- Propeller shaft flex coupling inspection
- Inspect the spark plugs and replace them if necessary
Hi! My name is Stefan; I’m the owner and lead writer at TheDriverAdviser.com.
I’m an active writer on this blog myself, as well as a novice car mechanic. For the really technical stuff, I find writers with experience as a mechanic or who have studied mechanical engineering.
Read more about our fantastic team on our about page!