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2018 Honda Crf250l
Limited data: few reports on file, read the verdict loosely
Too few owner complaints are on file to affirm this car. Treat it as unproven, not endorsed, and lean hard on a professional pre-purchase inspection.
1 owner complaints · 2 recalls · data verified July 22, 2026 · source: NHTSA
What the record shows so far
Only 1 owner complaint on file for this exact model year, too few to judge long-term reliability. Treat this as unproven, not endorsed, and lean on a professional inspection.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA hasn’t published a crash-test rating for this model year. That’s common for lower-volume or older models. It doesn’t mean the car is unsafe, just that this program hasn’t tested it.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2018 Honda Crf250l, plotted where owners report it happening.
Electrical system
100%1 complaints
“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 W…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
Too few owners named a mileage on this model to place issues against an odometer yet.
Recalls (2)
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.
Power Train · 19V412000
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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Electrical System · 18V630000
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."
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Honda before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2018 Honda Crf250l. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
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 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2018 Honda CRF250L beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2018? See how every Crf250l model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2018 Honda Crf250l 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.