Home · 2016 · Honda

2016 Honda CR-V Hybrid

Solid pick — the complaint record is strong for its age. It does carry safety recalls, so confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the VIN before money changes hands.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist — a shareable PDF

388 owner complaints · 3 recalls · data verified July 10, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Buywillitcar.com

Why buy?

Engine problems dominate (26% of complaints, typically reported near 30k miles).

The math, shown

Full methodology →
Complaint volume (40%)80
Severity (30%)61
Recall load (20%)77
Trend (10%)67

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20162026

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2016 Honda CR-V Hybrid, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k miEngine~30k mi · 99 reportsFuel system~35k mi · 72 reportsTransmission & drivetrain~31k mi · 45 reports

Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (63) · Airbags (32) · Speed control (27)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint — a rough guide, not a schedule.

Engine

26%

99 complaints · typically near 30k mi · 12 in the last 2 years

Level for oil change was at 30%, took it in and it only had 2.5 quarts of oil. No indication I was low, no oil leak, and it affected the valves. Honda of Lisle said th…

Fuel system

19%

72 complaints · typically near 35k mi · 18 in the last 2 years

My car has had trouble starting when sitting for long periods of time or in moderate heat. I've also noticed the gas per mile has decreased. The 2017 year of my car ha…

Electrical system

16%

63 complaints · 12 in the last 2 years

Unknown electrical problem. Both headlights will go out simultaneously without warning while driving. Frequent malfunction of running lamps, headlamps, break lamps.

Transmission & drivetrain

12%

45 complaints · typically near 31k mi · 2 in the last 2 years

The contact's husband owns a 2016 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while attempting to drive from a complete stop, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle fa…

Recalls (3)

Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.

Fuel System, Gasoline · 23V858000

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. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

Engine · 17V305000

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.

Fix: 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.

Air Bags · 15V714000

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.

Fix: 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.

Before you hand over money

Verify the recall work was done

NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.

Free NHTSA VIN check

Get a pre-purchase inspection

A $150–$250 independent inspection of this exact 2016 Honda CR-V HYBRID beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2016? See how every CR-V Hybrid model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2016 Honda CR-V Hybrid against another car →

What owners say

Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score — if they disagree, that’s worth knowing.

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2016 Honda CR-V Hybrid as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only — always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.