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2020 Honda CR-V problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2020 Honda CR-V. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 28% of relevant complaints.
Better than 74% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 62 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 23%).
Does the 2020 Honda CR-V have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 82 of 291 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Honda CR-V concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (28%). For comparison, the 2019 scores 22% and the 2021 scores 19%. 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.
Complaints by component
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 2020 compares with other Honda CR-V years
Of the 14 Honda CR-V years with enough complaints to score, the 2020 is the 6th-best on engine and transmission share (28%). The worst is the 2015 (56%), the best the 2023 (9%). By volume, the 2020 drew 353 complaints (82 drivetrain), against 1,101 for the 2019 and 331 for the 2021.
Honda CR-V years to avoid and best years →
2010 CR-V problems · 2011 CR-V problems · 2012 CR-V problems · 2013 CR-V problems · 2014 CR-V problems · 2015 CR-V problems · 2016 CR-V problems · 2017 CR-V problems · 2018 CR-V problems · 2019 CR-V problems · 2020 · 2021 CR-V problems · 2022 CR-V problems · 2023 CR-V problems
The rest of the picture on the 2020 Honda CR-V
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2020 Honda CR-V said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- 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
One of 82 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2020 Honda CR-V fuel system recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2020 Honda CR-V involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 7 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.
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.…
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020 CR-V vehicles. The clip for the absorber inside the fuel tank was not secured properly and may detach, which can cause an inaccurate fuel gauge reading.
Risk: An inaccurate fuel gauge may result in the vehicle unexpectedly running out of fuel and stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 5, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is RCB.
5 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2020 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.
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Does the 2020 Honda CR-V have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 82 of 291 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Honda CR-V concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (28%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Honda CR-V?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2020 Honda CR-V is forward collision avoidance: 73 of 353 complaints (21%) name it, followed by air bags (47) and electrical system (43). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 28% of the relevant total.
Is the 2020 Honda CR-V reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 28% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 74% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Honda CR-V years we score, it ranks 6th-best. 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 2020 Honda CR-V?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2020 Honda CR-V involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 7 in total: 23V858000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump), 22V380000 (fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly). 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 2020 (28%). 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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Check a VINExperimental 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.