2003 Honda CR-V Electrical System
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
There was a recall for 2003 CRV will water getting into master door look switch. This switch would cause fire. The smell off burning plastic and smoke came from the door look switch. The the rear driver window didn't work. I don't use the window so it wasn't important. About 6 months later it happened again the smoke almost caused an accident. The passenger side front door wouldn't work. I changed both blown fuses. And smoke started right away and pooped both fuses. I removed the door look master switch. There are burns and melted plastic on switches and plastic body. I called Honda and they say it's the same symptoms but they're not covering it. There was a recall for this on Honda CRVs of this year for the same reason. Please tell me why some vehicles are covered and some are not when it's the same thing happening. So I am going to send this complaint to you and I'm also going to talk to my attorney.
VEHICLE WINDOW MASTER SWITCH STARTED ON FIRE WHEN VEHICLE WAS NOT IN USE IN DRIVEWAY
THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK DOES NOT WORK AND CAUSES THE LOCKS NOT TO WORK. I AM NOT ABLE TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR WITH A KEY OR AUTOMATIC KEY. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WHICH WAS REPAIRED BY WAY OF A TEMPORARY REPAIRS BY MY MECHANIC IN 2013. I WAS AT LEAST ABLE TO GET INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE WITH MY AUTOMATIC KEY BUT COULD NOT OPEN IT WITH THE KEY. NOW THE DRIVER;S SIDE DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. I CAN ONLY CLIMB IN THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE USING THE KEY ONLY. BACK IN 2013 BEFORE THE TEMP REPAIRS WERE MADE I CONTACTED HONDA TO SEE IF THEY HAD A RECALL AND BASED ON MY VIN # THERE WAS NO RECALL THE THE LOCKS.
AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTION. LOCKS DO NOT RESPOND TO SIGNAL FROM KEYF FOB NOR FROM ACTUAL DOOR CONTROL BUTTONS ON DOOR. THE VEHICLE IS SITTING IN A PARKED POSITION. I BELIEVE THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR IS FAULTY. I SUSPECT IT TO BE A KNOWN DEFECT BY HONDA. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM? I HAVE A 2004 HONDA CR-V WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.
ALL LOCKS EXCEPT DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT LOCK WHEN USING THE KEYLESS ENTRY. THEY ALL STOPPED WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. WHAT IS GOING ON. OFF COURSE IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY OR IS IT UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY JUST DON'T TELL YOU. PLEASE ADVISE. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY
MADE LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND A/C STOPPED WORKING AS I WAS ON THE FREEWAY IN GRID LOCK TRAFFIC THE CAR DOES NOT WORK AND I CAN NOT BYPASS THE AC ( THIS IS NOT AN OPINION ON THIS CAR ). SO THE AC IN STANDARD EQUIPMENT. HONDA OF AMERICA SETTLES A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT FOR THIS CAR MODEL. HOWEVER THEY WILL NOT HELP ME GET MY CAR UP AND RUNNING WITHOUT ME PAYING FOR A REPAIR THAT IS DUE TO A BAD DESIGN BY THEY MANUFACTURER. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED AND THIS IS MY ONLY WAY TO GET TO MY DOCTOR AND WORK. *TR
ALL POWER LOCKS ARE FAILING. ONLY DRIVERS SIDE POWER LOCK NOW WORKS, BUT THAT IS BEGINNING TO FAIL ALSO. REAR GATE CAN ONLY BE UNLOCKED WITH A KEY FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. *TR
THREE DOOR ACTUATORS HAVE STOPPED WORKING DS REAR, PS FRONT, AND READ DOOR. IN ADDITION, THE REMAINING DOORS THAT WILL LOCK WITH KEYLESS ENTRY WILL LOCK INTERMITTENTLY. *TR
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE MORNING OF 4/16/2013 I SMELLED A STRANGE ODOR LIKE AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT WAS GETTING HOT OR MELTING. I SAW NO SMOKE OR FIRE & OTHER THAN THE SMELL, COULD NOT DETECT ANYTHING DELETERIOUS TO THE OPERATION/HANDLING OF MY VEHICLE. WHEN I LEFT WORK THAT DAY, I LOWERED THE WINDOWS USING THE WINDOW MASTER SWITCH CLUSTER ON THE LEFT FRONT DOOR ARMREST TO GET FRESH AIR WHILE DRIVING. ALL THE WINDOWS LOWERED BUT THE RIGHT REAR WOULD NOT. A CO-WORKER RECALLED READING ABOUT A RECALL FROM AMERICAN HONDA REGARDING A POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER'S MASTER WINDOW SWITCH CLUSTER. WHEN I CALLED HONDA & GAVE THEM THE VIN NUMBER FOR MY VEHICLE THEY TOLD ME MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I HAD MY MECHANIC TROUBLESHOOT THE ISSUE & HE DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS THE MASTER WINDOW SWITCH CLUSTER. HE REPLACED THE SWITCH CLUSTER & DISASSEMBLED THE OLD ONE. THE OLD SWITCH CLUSTER PLAINLY SHOWS EVIDENCE OF & SMELLS LIKE THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT OVERHEATED AS DESCRIBED BY INFORMATION PROVIDED BY AMERICAN HONDA. I BELIEVE HONDA IS NOT ADEQUATELY TAKING CARE OF THIS ISSUE WHICH COULD LEAD TO FIRES OR OTHER SERIOUS SAFETY/PROPERTY ISSUES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE IT MADE AN ELECTRICAL SIZLING NOISE AND WHEN THE KEY WAS PULLED OUT OF THE IGNITION IT WAS VERY HOT.THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000. ..UPDATED 01/30/13 *BF UPDATED 2/4/2013 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH INTERLOCK FAILED, CAUSING THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE KEYLESS REMOTE FAILED TO UNLOCK THE DOORS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER SEVEN ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V364000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION) THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000.
VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT ALL, THEN LEFT IT FOR 2 HOURS AND CAME BACK AND IT STARTED. THEN 2 MONTHS LATER IT IS STARTING FINE, BUT STALLING QUITE OFTEN WHILE DRIVING. IT WILL SOMETIMES CUT OUT AND THEN RECOVER AND KEEP GOING (THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN IT CUTS OUT, BUT GOES OUT AGAIN WHEN IT KEEPS GOING) OTHER TIMES IT STALLS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN IT STALLS BUT EVERYTHING ELSE STILL WORKS (RADIO, LIGHTS). IT HAS STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65-70 MPH, IN THE CITY AT 40 MPH, ALSO SLOWING TO TAKE A TURN. THIS STARTED OUT ONLY STALLING ONCE IN A FEW DAYS. IT IS NOW STALLING SEVERAL TIMES IN A DAY. I DON'T DRIVE IT THAT FAR ANYMORE, BUT I STILL HAVE TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE THE GARAGE DOES NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THERE WERE NO CODES, AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING. I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH IT, BUT READING THE FORUMS IT SOUNDS LIKE IT MIGHT BE THE IGNITION SWITCH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CRV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEYLESS DOOR ENTRY WAS DEFECTIVE. IN ADDITION, THE KEYLESS REMOTE WOULD FAIL SPORADICALLY AND WOULD NOT ALLOW HER TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. ON ONE OCCASION, A SMALL CHILD WAS LOCKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS WITH THE KEYLESS REMOTE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE KEYLESS REMOTE WAS NOT THE PROBLEM BUT THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
IGNITION KEY FAILED TO START CAR, TOWED TOHONDA DEALE.FAULTY TUMBLERS (2003 CRV HONDA). NEW KEY /KIT IGNITION ORDERED,$561.L5 YOUR ARTICLE SUGGEST A PARTIAL REPAIR UNDER $L50. AVAILABLE. GOUGED? *TR
MY 2003 HONDA CRV EX SUSTAINED OVER $2700 IN DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF THE FOLLOWING: AFTER PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND TURNING OFF THE CAR,I REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION,AND EXITED ,THINKING THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN PARK. IT WAS NOT IN PARK,IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE. THE IGNITION SWITCH INTERLOCK FAILED! THE CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS ON THE DRIVEWAY, STRIKING AND DAMAGING A FENCE AND NARROWLY MISSING A GROUP OF TEENAGERS AS IT ROLLED INTO THE STREET. *NM
BOUGHT NEW HONDA CRV IN MAY OF 2004. ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2004 WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT BURST INTO FLAMES. IT ONLY HAD 6,500 MILES ON IT. VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. HONDA WILL NOT CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY AND SAID THAT IT WAS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE NEVER EVEN SEEN THE VEHICLE.*AK
AFTER A OIL FILTER CHANGE A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD AT 25 MPH. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP HAD NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. *AK
I JUST RECIEVED MY FIRST OIL CHANGE AT SHOCKLEY HONDA IN FREDERICK MARYLAND ON MY HONDA CRV. AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 2 MILES MY CAR STARTED TO SMOKE OUT THE BACK. WHEN I STOPPED THE VEHICLE, FLAMES SHOUT THE HOOD OF MY VEHICLE. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE DEALER DID REPLACE SOME OF THE BURNT PARTS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BUT DID NOT REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS. HAD TO BUY A NEW CRV BECAUSE OF THIS DAMAGE. I HAD SUBSTANTIAL EXPENSES NOT REMIMBURSED BY HONDA. *AK
I OWNED A 2003 HONDA CR-V THAT WAS PURCHASED FROM THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER(HONDA WINDWARD) OCTOBER 2003. ON THE 11TH OF THIS MONTH OF JANUARY 2004, WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE CAR SUFFERED A FIRE THAT TOTALED OUT THE CAR. I MANAGED TO GET OUT IN TIME, SUFFERING ONLY A TWISTED KNEE.
AUTO-REVERSE MECHANISM WORKS INTERMITTENTLY ON THE DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW. IT HAS POWER UP FEATURE (WHICH I THINK IS A BAD IDEA ALL-AROUND). IT IS SUPPOSED TO AUTO-REVERSE IF IT MEETS RESISTANCE ON THE WAY UP. IN MANY CASES, IT DOES NOT WORK AND WITH CONSIDERABLE FORCE APPLIED AGAINST THE WINDOW, IT WANTS TO KEEP PUSHING UP VERY STRONGLY. THIS WOULD KILL A KID OR PET IF THEY GOT CAUGHT IN THERE. WANTED DEALER TO TURN IT OFF, BUT THEY SAID IT COULD NOT BE DONE. I WILL GO BACK TO HAVE THEM REPLACE UNIT, AS IT IS DANGEROUS. I AM SURE THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF IT, BUT I WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT TO ENSURE THAT HONDA IS AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND CONSIDERS OFFERING A RECALL TO AVOID CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH.*JB
DASHBOARD LIGHT WENT OUT. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SWITCH, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. WIRE HARNESS WAS THEN REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. BUT THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT LOCATE THE EXACT COMPONENT THAT WAS THE SOURCE OF THE SHORT. *AK
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Quick Summary
The 2003 Honda CR-V has 22 Electrical System complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.