Showing the 2016 CR-V EX-L. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
About every 2016 CR-V
The 2016 Honda CR-V has 394 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most in engine (101). It is rated 27 to 29 mpg combined, with a 5-year fuel cost of $11,200 to $12,030 at U.S. average prices, based on 15,000 miles per year. NHTSA gives it 5 overall stars. There are 3 recall campaigns that may apply, covering fuel system, engine, and air bags.
Written by AI from public EPA and NHTSA data. Not a review.
Fuel economy
27–29 mpgcombined; city 25–26, highway 31–32; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$11,200–$12,030U.S. average; Ohio $10,010–$10,750 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2016 CR-V. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 394 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 CR-V. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Engine
101
6
3
4
Unknown or other
86
3
0
6
Fuel/propulsion system
65
0
0
2
Electrical system
64
5
2
1
Power train
45
1
0
3
Air bags
32
16
0
18
Vehicle speed control
28
13
0
6
Service brakes
18
8
0
7
Steering
17
2
0
3
Structure
17
3
0
2
Wheels
13
1
0
1
Visibility/wiper
12
0
0
0
14 more parts
Seats
9
0
0
1
Fuel system, gasoline
7
0
0
0
Seat belts
7
1
0
6
Suspension
7
0
0
0
Tires
5
0
0
0
Forward collision avoidance
3
1
0
1
Electronic stability control (ESC)
2
1
0
1
Engine and engine cooling
2
0
0
0
Exterior lighting
2
0
0
0
Visibility
2
0
0
0
Back over prevention
1
0
0
0
Interior lighting
1
0
0
0
Lane departure
1
0
0
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
1
1
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2016 CR-V over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
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.
Remedy: 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. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
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.
Remedy: 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 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KF6.
American Honda Motor Company, Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2016 CR-V vehicles manufactured October 12, 2015, to October 19, 2015. The metal housing surrounding the driver's air bag inflator in these vehicles may have been manufactured incorrectly.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began in November 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda'a number for this recall is JV9.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 85 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2016 CR-V, the latest on Jan 24, 2020. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: fuel system (20), equipment (17), gasoline (15), electrical system (13), power train (12).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Engineering analysis EA19001 Electrical overstress · covers 11 makes
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2016 CR-V.
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data