2017 Honda CR-V · symptom sheet
Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing
- 54owner reports
- 24,600median miles
- $6,000median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Aug 5, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
539 of the 1,771 complaints on this car are about the engine. 54 of those describe engine failure.
Tick what matches of 54 reports
Engine failure 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, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
These are the reports nobody wants to file. The engine started knocking or ticking, the oil light came on, and then it seized or had to be replaced. Some owners had the replacement covered under warranty or an extension, and plenty were told they'd pay. Several narrower sheets split this group into knocking, seized engines and rod bearing failure.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the engine (52 reports) and the turbo (21 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2017 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the CR-V
Underhood fires. Closed jan 19, 2005.
Oil filter fires. Closed jul 1, 2004.
None of these investigations covers the 2017 model year.
What owners paid
9 of the 54 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $4,000 to $7,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 8,900 and 62,839 miles, from the 32 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2017 Honda CR-V that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
There is a knocking or clicking from the engine during cold startup. The check valve in the cam chain tensioner is worn, allowing oil pressure to leak internally and the cam chain to lose tension after engine is turned off.
Tech line summary article - Have a vehicle in your shop with low mileage (less than 1,500 miles) and a hard-to-pinpoint engine knock? We're currently investigating vehicles for hairline fractures in the crankshaft sprocket, and we suspect it may be the cause ...
What owners wrote
“The car runs hot and needs antifreeze. I add antifreeze. The next week it runs hot again. There is no antifreeze leaking on the ground. The Honda dealer stated the antifreeze is leaking into the engine and blown a head gasket. I am advised this is very common problem for a Honda CRV. It should be a recall. This is why I am filing a complaint. The Honda dealer wants $7000 to fix it. The car has 102,000 miles.”
Filed Apr 7, 2026 · 102,000 miles
“Engine light came on loss of power. I had to have it towed back home. A independent shop investigated the situation found coolant in the cylinder head. They found out it was a bad head gasket, which led to engine failure when going to replace the head gasket part of the cylinder wall peace was missing. I had to replace the whole engine.”
Filed Mar 19, 2026
“Engine failure due to bad head gasket.i lost power to the vehicle. The problem was confirmed by independent shop. The vehicle was inspected by independent shop. The engine light came on when the engine failed.”
Filed Mar 16, 2026
“We kept Honda CRV EXL 2017 on time repair by the Honda dealership ,never missed one deadline of repair as recommended by the Honda repair shop. Now they are saying that head gasket is blown and engine has jammed. How can head gasket go bad randomly when maintenance was done regularly by the Honda dealer, who is fault it is ? Who should be paying for its repair?”
Filed Aug 15, 2025
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 54 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. 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
- Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 187 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 180 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 174 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 145 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 144 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 142 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 139 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 135 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 131 reports
- Turbo failure or loss of boost 80 reports
- Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves 68 reports
- Fuel smells, leaks, or the gauge reads wrong 56 reports
- A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 55 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 54 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 52 reports
- Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out 51 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 42 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 36 reports