2001 Honda CR-V

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

79/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 153 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Honda CR-V, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Air bags	55	36%
Engine and engine cooling	23	15%
Tires	7	5%
Visibility	7	5%
Engine	6	4%
Power train	6	4%
Seat belts	5	3%
Electrical system	4	3%
Unknown or other	4	3%
Vehicle speed control	3	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

I bought this car from a private seller and he claimed the vehicle was in good condition. A day later the car has been dying on me while driving. Nothing shows on the check engine that something is wrong with it. The car
NHTSA complaint: Engine

Engine shuts off while driving. Speeds can be low or high. 20-65 mph. While driving, engine will cut off. Sometimes the electrics remain on and I can use power steering to pull to the side of the road, other times everyt
NHTSA complaint: Power train

Was involved in a motor vehicle crash and airbags did not deploy properly
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

Wanting it fixed , just got the car and looked it up and seen that it had a recall
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

The SRS light has come on in our 2001 Honda CR-V. Diagnostics at the dealership revealed that the control module is defective, and Honda does not cover its replacement. This is a safety issue, as the airbags will not de
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

The contact owned a 2001 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at 25 mph, another vehicle had run a stop sign and the contact's vehicle crashed into the rear driver side door of the other vehicle. None of the
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

NHTSA RECALL 20V-027. HONDA HAS NOT REMEDIED THE DEFECT WITHIN 60 DAYS FROM THE DATE I FIRST CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR A REPAIR APPOINTMENT. I FIRST CONTACTED HONDA ON 8-19-2020, AND THEY HAD ME TAKE THE CAR IN ON 10-2
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

I LOOKED UP MY VIN I'D TO SEE IT HAD A AIR BAG RECALL. I THEN CALL MY LOCAL HONDA DEALER TO SEE WHEN I COULD TAKE VEHICLE IN FOR THE RECALL. THEY STATED BRING IT ANT TIME. I ALSO RECEIVED A 'SAFETY RECALL NOTICE' FROM HO
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2001 Honda CR-V. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module 20V027000

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2001-2002 Acura 3.2CL, 2000-2003 Acura 3.5RL, 2000-2001 Acura 3.2TL, Honda CR-V and Honda Odyssey, 2001-2002 Acura MDX and 2000 Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Coupe, and Civic Sedan vehicles. These vehicles may have received a replacement

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly p

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bags in the vehicles, replacing the driver frontal air bag inflator with an inflator of a different design, as necessary, free of charge. Th

The seven scores

Reliability	87	excellent
Longevity est.	85	excellent
Maintenance	89	excellent
Depreciation	83	excellent
Performance	55	average
Efficiency	40	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 78% of SUVs
Longevity: better than 97% of SUVs
Running costs: better than 99% of SUVs
Value retention: better than 94% of SUVs

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 87: from NHTSA recalls and complaints, divided by approximate units sold so it is comparable between models.
Longevity 85: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2001 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 89: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2001 Honda CR-V?

Owners have filed 153 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 55 of them (36%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2001 Honda CR-V reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 87/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density, adjusted for how many were sold so a popular model is not penalised for having more owners.

How long will a 2001 Honda CR-V last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 85/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2001 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2001 Honda CR-V?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 79/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.