2018 Honda CRF250L: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
820 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 100.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1 |
Electrical System: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 |
2021: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11408621 · 2021-04-18 (April 18, 2021)
I WENT FOR A RIDE ONE DAY AND AS I STARTED MY BIKE I HAD NO INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FUNTION AT ALL NO RUNNING LIGHTS BESIDES HEAD LIGHT AND BRAKE WHEN APPLIED. THOUGHT IT WEIRD FOR A NEW BIKE TO DO THIS. SO I CHECKED FUSES FOUND A BLOWN FUSE OK COOL PROBLEM FOUND. REPLACED FUSE AND NOT 20MIN INTO A RIDE SAME THING CLUSTER GONE. I KNEW WHAT IT WAS SO I REPLACEED SAME FUSE AGAIN AND BAM SAME THING HAPPENS. SO I START DIGGING ONLINE FIND THERES A X NUMBER OF BIKE W THE SAME ISSUES AND A RECALL SO I ENTER MY VIN BUT ITS NOT LISTED FOR THAT ISSUE I WOULD…
Owner-reported narrative. 820 miles reported. Look up ODI 11408621 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
18V630000 · Electrical System:Wiring
Reported: 2018-09-13 (September 13, 2018)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018 Honda CRF250L motorcycles. The wiring harness may have been inappropriately installed, potentially resulting in damage to the wiring harness and affecting the operation of safety components such as the exterior lighting, horn, and instrument panel. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment," and 123, "Motorcycle Control Displays."
Consequence: Lack of exterior lights can reduce the visibility of the motorcycle to traffic. A non-functioning horn can cause the inability to alert traffic of an impending crash, and a non-functioning instrument panel will not display the speed or fuel level. A damaged wiring harness can also result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 31, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KJ7.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V412000 · Power Train:Manual Transmission
Reported: 2019-06-04 (June 4, 2019)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019 CB300R, 2018 CBR300R, 2018 CRF250L, 2018 CRF250L Rally, and 2018-2019 CMX300 motorcycles. The circlip, on the transmission's main shaft, may detach allowing for gear misalignment.
Consequence: A misaligned gear can shift the transmission from neutral into gear during engine start, potentially resulting in unexpected motorcycle movement or seize the transmission and rear wheel while the motorcycle is in motion. Both conditions increase the risk of crash or injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission main shaft, free of charge. The recall began July 8, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KK3.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
1 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2018 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 375.0%ODI 10670472 · 50 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HONDA CRF250L. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FAULTY CAM CHAIN TENSIONER. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 02/24/15*LJ UPDATED 9/13/2017*CN | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System | 125.0%ODI 11122339 · 300 miTHE ENGINE DO NOT START AND STALL WHILE RIDING. (STARTER MAGNETIC SWITCH FAILURE) | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 11408621 · 820 miI WENT FOR A RIDE ONE DAY AND AS I STARTED MY BIKE I HAD NO INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FUNTION AT ALL NO RUNNING LIGHTS BESIDES HEAD LIGHT AND BRAKE WHEN APPLIED. THOUGHT IT WEIRD FOR A NEW BIKE TO DO THIS. SO I CHECKED FUSES FOUND A BLOWN FUSE OK COOL PROBLEM FOUND. REPLACED FUSE AND NOT 20MIN INTO A RIDE SAME THING CLUSTER GONE. I KNEW WHAT IT WAS SO I REPLACEED SAME FUSE AGAIN AND BAM SAME THING HAPPENS. SO I START DIGGING ONLINE FIND THERES A X NUMBER OF BIKE W THE SAME ISSUES AND A RECALL SO I ENTER MY VIN BUT ITS NOT LISTED FOR THAT ISSUE I WOULD… | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 11023985 · 190 miI BOUGHT TWO OF THESE FOR MY WIFE AND I WHILE OUT OPERATING THESE VEHICLES AT ABOVE 90 DEGREES SEVERE FAILURE OF THE FUEL SYSTEM CAUSED THE VEHICLES TO STALL AND DIE CAUSING MORE THAN TEN TIMES OF BOTH VEHICLES WITHIN MINUTES OF EACH OTHER TO FAIL. PLACING VEHICLES ON KICKSTANDS WITH COOLING FANS RUNNING UNTIL FANS SHUT OFF TO BE ABLE TO RESTART AND RIDE. I HAVE TAKEN TO THE FAY MYERS DEALERSHIP FOR BOTH TO BE SERVICED AND THEY RETURNED TO ME A VERDICT OF CANNOT REPEAT FAILURE LOOKING AND RESEARCHING ONLINE SHOWED SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THIS MAC… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | Too few reports for a range | 820 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 11408621 · 820 miI WENT FOR A RIDE ONE DAY AND AS I STARTED MY BIKE I HAD NO INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FUNTION AT ALL NO RUNNING LIGHTS BESIDES HEAD LIGHT AND BRAKE WHEN APPLIED. THOUGHT IT WEIRD FOR A NEW BIKE TO DO THIS. SO I CHECKED FUSES FOUND A BLOWN FUSE OK COOL PROBLEM FOUND. REPLACED FUSE AND NOT 20MIN INTO A RIDE SAME THING CLUSTER GONE. I KNEW WHAT IT WAS SO I REPLACEED SAME FUSE AGAIN AND BAM SAME THING HAPPENS. SO I START DIGGING ONLINE FIND THERES A X NUMBER OF BIKE W THE SAME ISSUES AND A RECALL SO I ENTER MY VIN BUT ITS NOT LISTED FOR THAT ISSUE I WOULD… |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2018: 0 complaints · 2020: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Electrical System |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.