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2015 Honda CR-V problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
56%
362 of 642 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

56% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2015 Honda CR-V are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 75% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 29 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 54%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2015 Honda CR-V have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 362 of 642 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2015 Honda CR-V concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (56%), and the largest group is filed under engine (243). For comparison, the 2014 scores 46% and the 2016 scores 48%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
362
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
671
this model year
Fires reported
4
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
3
38 crashes · 23 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE243 · 36%
POWER TRAIN149 · 22%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER144 · 21%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM84 · 13%
STEERING45 · 7%
SEATS39 · 6%

The years either side

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2015 compares with other Honda CR-V years

Of the 14 Honda CR-V years with enough complaints to score, the 2015 is the worst on engine and transmission share (56%). The best is the 2023 (9%). By volume, the 2015 drew 671 complaints (362 drivetrain), against 587 for the 2014 and 393 for the 2016.

Honda CR-V years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2015 Honda CR-V

  • The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2015 Honda CR-V said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
  • What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
  • Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE06/04/20182 INJURED
I HAD JUST RETURNED FROM THE GROCERY STORE WITH ONE OF MY DAUGHTERS. WE PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND MY 2015 HONDA CR-V EX-L WAS STOPPED AND MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. MY CAR WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. BEFORE I COULD PUT THE CAR IN PARK, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED UP TO A VERY HIGH RPM AND LUNGED FORWARD…

One of 362 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2015 Honda CR-V engine recalls

Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2015 Honda CR-V involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump23V858000 · Dec 2023

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD.…

engine17V305000 · May 2017

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Honda CR-V vehicles that recently received a replacement engine. The replacement engine may have been built with the wrong pistons, potentially affecting the engine's performance.

Risk: The reduced performance may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engines and replace the incorrect components, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at…

engine and engine cooling: engine15V121000 · Mar 2015

American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2014 Accord L4 vehicles manufactured July 29, 2014, to July 31, 2014, 2015 Accord L4 vehicles manufactured August 14, 2014, to January 30, 2015, and 2015 CR-V vehicles manufactured September 9, 2014, to February 6, 2015. The affected vehicles may have been assembled with improperly torqued connecting rod bolts, which can cause the engine to lose power…

Risk: Loss of engine power may result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash. If the engine leaks oil in the proximity of hot engine or exhaust components, there is an increased risk of a fire.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine short block, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2015 Honda CR-V? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2015 Honda CR-V

Does the 2015 Honda CR-V have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 362 of 642 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2015 Honda CR-V concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (56%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

What is the most common problem with the 2015 Honda CR-V?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2015 Honda CR-V is engine: 243 of 671 complaints (36%) name it, followed by power train (149) and electrical system (84). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.

Is the 2015 Honda CR-V reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 56% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 75% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Honda CR-V years we score, it ranks worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2015 Honda CR-V?

Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2015 Honda CR-V involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total: 23V858000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump), 17V305000 (engine), 15V121000 (engine and engine cooling: engine). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Honda CR-V years are better?

Among the Honda CR-V years we track, the 2023 (9%), the 2022 (12%) and the 2021 (19%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2015 (56%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/honda-cr-v

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.