2018 Honda CR-V · symptom sheet
Burns oil or oil level rises
- 130owner reports
- 5,853median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Aug 11, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
940 of the 2,145 complaints on this car are about the engine. 130 of those describe oil consumption.
Tick what matches of 130 reports
Oil consumption 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
Two different complaints land here. The more common one is an engine that uses oil: owners add a quart between changes, get a low-oil warning, or are told by the dealer that the rate is normal. The other is the opposite, where the oil level climbs and the oil smells of gasoline. Both deserve a proper test, and both are easier to argue with records in hand.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the piston rings (28 reports) and the turbo (16 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the engine cover the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
All 5 recalls on the 2018 Honda CR-V, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
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.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 3,000 and 10,500 miles, from the 99 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices 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.
In October American Honda announced a product update campaign for certain 2017-18 CR-V vehicles with the 1.5L turbo engine that were sold in certain cold-weather states: This product update addresses concerns related to engine oil dilution due to various ...
On October 22nd, American Honda announced a product update campaign for certain 2017-18 CR-V vehicles with the 1.5L turbo engine that were sold in the following cold-weather states: Maine, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Today American Honda is announcing a product update campaign for certain 2017-18 CR-V vehicles with the 1.5L turbo engine that were sold in the following cold-weather states: Maine, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
We've released a special Tech2Tech video Understanding Oil Dilution? that you need to watch. It concerns the engine oil level reading above the full mark on the dipstick in 2017-18 CR-Vs with the 1.5-liter turbo engine.
What owners wrote
“The 1.5L turbo engine in my 2018 Honda CR-V is experiencing oil dilution. Raw fuel mixes with the engine oil, lowering flashpoint and thinning viscosity. This creates a fire risk, loss of lubrication, accelerated engine wear, and potential stalling. Honda issued TSBs, but the problem persists. This is a serious safety defect.”
Filed Sep 5, 2025
“Engine failure while driving on the highway. This is related to the oil dilution issue with the 1.5 turbo engines on our 2018 CRV. Valve got destroyed. Honda dealer replaced the cylinder head under warranty at no cost to us.”
Filed Dec 22, 2023
“Engine oil diluted. 2/8/2022 Engine oil was Diluted by 55mm. This happened within 400 miles of the last oil change. That's a lot of gasoline in the oil and oil viscosity is significantly decreased. All updates/recalls have been completed on the vehicle. The updates that are specific to this issue have been completed. Talking to Honda dealership, this is extremely unnormal and results in premature engine wear.”
Filed Feb 8, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 130 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 Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
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
- 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 overheats or leaks coolant 51 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