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Buying and ownership

Used-car inspection checklist

Questions for the seller and inspection topics backed by owner reports.

Snapshot: 2026-11-10 (November 10, 2026) · Published: 2026-11-11 (November 11, 2026)

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Example guide

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2021 HONDA CR-V

342 unique owner complaints. Evidence available for descriptive analysis; this is not a reliability rating. Full vehicle research ↗

Use these as questions for a qualified inspector and the seller. These are general component-specific discussion prompts, not conclusions about a particular fault or a complete inspection procedure. A complaint does not establish that this particular car has a defect.

STEERING

116 reports (33.9% of this selection).

Owner report examples
ODI 11415033

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND EXCEEDING 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AND SHOOK ABNORMALLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD SWERVE TO THE RIGHT AND TO THE LEFT WITH AN ABNORMAL FRICTION SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HONDA SANTA MONICA (1301 SANTA MONICA BLVD, SANTA MONICA, CA 90404, [phone removed]) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE

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ODI 11514810

My steering wheel jerks me back when I try to turn right and other times it will stick when I turn right and I have to jerk the wheel back straight. It is also jerky when traveling straight down the highway - just worse when turning right. After taking it to a mechanic, he found nothing. I took it to the dealership and was told I have to replace the entire steering system. I see there have been LOTS of reports of this and there is now a lawsuit against Honda. I have an open case with Honda and am trying to get them to pay for the repair. They c

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FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

71 reports (20.8% of this selection).

Owner report examples
ODI 11427130

I bought a 2021 Honda CRV on May 01, 2021. On July 22 and again on July 25 this car just suddenly put on the breaks for no reason. On the second occasion my sister was in the car with me and was slung forward. She has had three heart attacks and has a pace maker and was so upset I feared her heart might fail her. I have had one heart attack and my heart was pounding too. Fortunately there was no car close behind me on either occasion or I would have been rear ended. Now I feel I must drive slowly because of this but that increases the likelihoo

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ODI 11440884

I have a 2021 Honda Crv Awd. On 11/14/2021 the Forward Collision Avoidance System engaged . I was stopped at a red light and when the light turned proceeded in 30 feet the system engaged. There was no car or pedestrian in front of me. The car beeped and brakes engaged. Luckily the car behind me was able to stop. Like another car with the same problem brought it to the dealer and was told they couldn’t find anything was wrong. They did lower the sensitivity of the sensors. The also said that a leaf could set it off. My wife is not comfortable ri

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UNKNOWN OR OTHER

38 reports (11.1% of this selection).

Owner report examples
ODI 11397078

BLUETOOTH AUDIO BACKGROUND NOISE. I JUST PURCHASED A 2021 CR-V ON 16 FEB 2021. I TRADED MY 2018 HONDA CR-V IN FOR THIS NEW VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE TIME I OWNED THE 2018 CR-V, ANYONE I CALLED COMPLAINED OF THE BACKGROUND NOISE WHEN USING THE BLUETOOTH/HANDSFREE SYSTEM. THE BACKGROUND NOISE WOULD INSTANTLY GO AWAY WHEN DISCONNECTING FROM THE HONDA SYSTEM AND USING THE PHONES INTERNAL SPEAKERS. THE DEALERSHIPS REPLACED THE MICROPHONE, THE ISSUE REMAINED! NOW WITH THE 2021 CR-V AGAIN THE ISSUE WITH THE BLUETOOTH/HANDSFREE IS PRESENT. WHY HAS THIS NOT B

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ODI 11399794

THE BRAND NEW CR-V HAD A BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED UPON COMING TO A RED LIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. IT DID NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I APPLIED MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD. I HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK IN ORDER TO STOP THE FORWARD MOVEMENT. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK AND CONTINUED TO APPLY THE BRAKES. HOWEVER, THE BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AGAIN. DURING THIS TIME,

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ENGINE

33 reports (9.6% of this selection).

Owner report examples
ODI 11402938

OIL LEVEL RAISED UP TO ABOVE THE UPPER MARK ON DIP STICK AND SMELL GASOLINE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN OFF AND SITTING MORE THAN A FEW HOURS ON LEVEL GROUND.

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ODI 11497396

The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the cruise control activated, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure, and no error codes were retrieved. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 6,851.

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ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

32 reports (9.4% of this selection).

Owner report examples
ODI 11399794

THE BRAND NEW CR-V HAD A BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED UPON COMING TO A RED LIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. IT DID NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I APPLIED MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD. I HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK IN ORDER TO STOP THE FORWARD MOVEMENT. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK AND CONTINUED TO APPLY THE BRAKES. HOWEVER, THE BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AGAIN. DURING THIS TIME,

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ODI 11461799

The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V modified for disabled personnel. The contact stated while attempting to drive the vehicle out of the driveaway, the gear shifter remained stuck in the park position. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact turned the vehicle off. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the interior roof harness cable located behind the rearview mirror had detached as the contact constantly placed his handicap placard behind the rearview mirror. The dealer informed the contact that the vehi

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FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

28 reports (8.2% of this selection).

Owner report examples
ODI 11435201

Purchased car on July 7, 2021, that same day the car did not start when stepped on brake and pushed start button. Happened again on July 8, 2021. Called Dealer, Took it in on July 9, 2021. They could not duplicate problem. Assured me it was not a problem. Drove to CT on July 10, 2021, Did not start several times during the trip. On July 11, on return trip from CT a warning light came on dashboard. IN black letters in a red rectangular box - BRAKE. I called dealer on Monday July 12, 2021 and reported the warning. He said it meant there were

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ODI 11456635

My 2021 Honda CRV is activating the brakes at inappropriate times. I've had 5 total instances that could have resulted in a rear-end collision both on the street driving 5-35 mph and freeway at 30-50 mph. The system on the dash board flashed "brake." However, there is more than a car space between the car in front of the car. The braking system activates and I am unable to counteract the brakes locking up on the car. I am very concerned that if I were to continue to drive my car , it may result in an accident with a car crashing into the back

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Recall verification

4 campaigns in this selection. Confirm applicability and repair status by VIN with NHTSA or the manufacturer.

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