2018 Honda CR-V · symptom sheet
Head gasket fails or coolant leaks into the engine
- 44owner reports
- 100,000median miles
- $6,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 11, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
44 of the 51 reports of overheating on the 2018 CR-V describe head gasket failure.
Part of Engine overheats or leaks coolant (51 reports)
Tick what matches of 44 reports
Head gasket 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
This is the narrower sheet inside overheating and coolant leaks for reports that name the head gasket. The difference from the wider sheet is where the coolant goes: instead of dripping onto the driveway, it disappears inside the engine, into the cylinders or the oil.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the head gasket (42 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2018 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 2018 model year.
What owners paid
19 of the 44 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $4,000 to $7,600.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 79,000 and 124,358 miles, from the 14 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2018 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.
Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, misfire and/or DTCs P0300 thru P0304 stored.
What owners wrote
“I took my car to honda north for a diagnostics test bc its not running correctly and they told me I need a head gasket my car is to new to need a head gasket and I still have a loan out on it it has 115,000 miles the head gasket should not be blown”
Filed Mar 10, 2026 · 115,000 miles
“Issues with 1.5L turbo engine and fuel injector causing safety features to be disabled and flash on dashboard repeatedly, also heard of many issues with head gasket failure in this specific engine which could lead to driving in limp mode on a highway(20miles or less). These safety concerns could potentially be LIFE THREATENING if these issues occur on a highway”
Filed Jan 26, 2026
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 44 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
- Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 244 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 219 reports
- Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks 212 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 196 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 130 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 128 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 126 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 109 reports
- Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out 96 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 94 reports
- Fuel pump failure 89 reports
- Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves 84 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 80 reports
- Fuel smells, leaks, or the gauge reads wrong 77 reports
- Turbo failure or loss of boost 73 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 70 reports
- A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 58 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 46 reports
- Steering wheel clicks, clunks or grinds when I turn 44 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 32 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 30 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 29 reports