2016 Honda CR-V · symptom sheet
Battery dies or the car will not start
- 29owner reports
- 34,000median miles
- $956median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Aug 28, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
64 of the 393 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 29 of those describe dead battery.
Tick what matches of 29 reports
Dead battery on other CR-V years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
These owners walk out to a car that's dead. Some find it drained after sitting only a day or two, some need a jump start every week, and some have had the battery replaced more than once without the problem going away. A good number describe the dealer testing the battery, calling it fine, and sending them home.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (25 reports), the alternator (4 reports) and the starter (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the electrical system covers the 2016 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the electrical system on the CR-V
Low beam headlights stop illuminating. Closed sep 17, 2012, led to recall 12V-136.
Low beam headlights stop working. Closed sep 23, 2011.
Driver's power window master switch. Closed oct 24, 2012, led to recall 11V-456.
Driver's master power window switch. Closed apr 15, 2011, led to recall 11V-456.
Ignition-park interlock system. Closed nov 13, 2003, led to recall 03V-422.
Ignition-park interlock system. Closed sep 9, 2003.
None of these investigations covers the 2016 model year.
What owners paid
6 of the 29 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $700 to $1,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 22,000 and 45,000 miles, from the 14 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“The drivers and passenger smart door handles have failed this year. It caused parasitic battery drain over 3 days and the doors would unlock automatically just by walking within 5 feet of the car. I have disconnected them for now because 800 in parts only is rediculous. Very dissapointed the reliability of the 2016 CRV.”
Filed Apr 15, 2025
“I have to keep a solar panel attached to my front visor or my new batteries will go dead. This is a problem for other vehicles the same as mine. 2016 Honda CRV. I understand that the electrical, battery parts are very faulty. I was going through batteries, and the Honda dealership never figured this out. A friend of mine attached the solar panel so I won't have a dead battery every day. Thanks for reading.”
Filed May 11, 2022
“Battery will drain overnight and will not retain enough charge to even unlock the doors. Battery tested by two auto part stores and determined the battery is ok. Took vehicle to Honda and said they found no problem. Problem occurred again the same night.”
Filed Dec 10, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 29 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 45 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 32 reports