2002 Honda CR-V: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Jul 7, 2022 · Airbags · 230,000 miles · GA · fire

The contact owned a 2002 Honda CR-V. The contact had received a recall notice for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V501000 (Air Bags) and had the passenger air bag serviced under the recall at the dealer. On July 4, 2022, the contact heard a loud boom which she assumed was a firework; however, her neighbor informed her that her vehicle had caught fire. The fire department was called and the fire was extinguished. A fire report was filed; no injuries were reported and no property was damaged. A fire technician was sent to her home to investigate the fire; his investigation led him to believe that the passenger air bag had caught fire which caused the failure. The technician suggested the contact call an engineer to officially determine the cause of the fire. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The dealer was also notified of the failure and they informed her that an investigation would be performed. The vehicle was destroyed by the fire. The failure mileage was approximately 230,000.

Filed Jul 15, 2019 · Electrical · 254,000 miles · PA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 honda cr-v. The contact stated that there was smoke and a strong electrical burn odor emitted from the driver's door main switches area. The contact was able to move onto the road shoulder. The contact found that the master electrical system caught fire. The contact was unable to close the rear passenger side window. Driver door switch arcing and melting. The switch was replaced and only one window isnt working. The manufacturer was contacted. The manufacturer advised the contact that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v486000 (electrical system, visibility). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 254,000. *bf

Filed Jul 9, 2019 · Body, Electrical · 140,000 miles · TX · fire

Car in driveway. Not driven for 3 days, just not needed but working. During day, car caught on fire. Fire inspectors was unable to determine the cause due to the extent of damage. They believed it could have been electrical. Fire concentrated in dash and engine area. Windshield blew during fire. Have owned this car since new, for 17 years. 140,000 miles.

Filed Jul 11, 2017 · Acceleration · 127,000 miles · PA

While passing another vehicle driving under the speed limit (25 MPH in a 45 MPH zone). I accelerated to pass, my car began to speed faster and faster without me being able to control or stop the vehicle. Both feet were slammed on the brake pedal but we reached 70mph, but I couldn't stop the car. I pulled the emergency brake and yet the car continued. We rode on both the brake pedal and emergency brake for at least a mile. It only slowed down a little, but I was able to drive on the shoulder and luckily didn't come to any stop signs or traffic lights. I was finally able to stop my vehicle n front of a restaurant by turning the ignition off, while still moving. With the car finally stopped, I put the car in park and immediately checked to make sure there was nothing obstructing the pedal causing it to accelerate. There was nothing. Nothing appeared obviously wrong under the hood, except a strong burning smell from the brakes. I turned the ignition on while in park and the speedometer went to 140 MPH, the rpms red lined (without pushing the break or gas pedal). I turned the car off immediately. We then put the car in neutral and rolled it into the restaurants parking lot. I called aaa to have a tow truck bring the vehicle to a local mechanic. Luckily, I was able to stop the vehicle before any person was injured, killed or damaged property. The mechanic contacted me and recommended that he not touch it and to have honda pick it up and take it back to the dealership for their mechanics look at it in case it was a manufacturer's defect. I went to the honda dealer in person and spoke to the service manager, he was visibly alarmed by the events that happened on sunday. He said that he would check the vehicle for any issues. Dealer picked up the vehicle from mechanic. The honda dealer said they looked at the cr-v and couldn't find anything.

Filed Jul 4, 2016 · Electrical · 175,000 miles · IL · fire

I had parked my car outside grocery store and went shopping. When came back I can smell something burning. By looking around, I found smoke coming out from power window switch panel on driver side. I haven't even inserted my keys. After that I lost the ability to turn up down passenger side window. Searching online shows 2002cr-v had the recall for same problem but my car wasn't included. Contacting honda and dealer says my car doesn't carry the faulty part but yet same thing happened to my car. I am scared if it's parked in garage and fire may start. Vehicle was not moving and no keys were in ignition. It was a scary situation.

Filed Nov 13, 2015 · Electrical · CA

I was wondering my 2002 honda crv isn't up for a recall for the power master window switch like the other 2002 honda crvs? While I was driving I smelled something burning and it was coming from the window switch and after looking up the recalls I found out my car could set on fire without it even being on! But when I type in my VIN that specific recall doesn't come up but yet it is the same malfunction and it is obviously dangerous and I have been driving without being able to roll down any windows for going on nearly four years now it is ridiculous. I had to unplug the window switch harness for fear of fire and my life

Filed Apr 11, 2014 · Electrical · 124,800 miles · CA

As, I was backing our car out of our garage on the morning of 4/1/2014, I noticed a foul odor, looked down and saw smoke coming out of the master window switch (mws). My husband said he saw smoke also coming out of the speaker as well. I stopped the car and we all jumped out of the car thinking it might catch on fire! The smoke eventually subsided, although a terrible, toxic-like smell remained. We feel fortunate that at least that I was only backing our car out of the garage when the switch started smoking. If I had been driving on they freeway, I could have crashed. For a couple of weeks before this incident, the mws hadn't been working correctly: the front right passenger window could be unrolled from the mws but would not always roll back up from the driver's side switch. This had happened before and I had to pay to get a new mws installed on 3/4/2010. I am aware that there was a recall for this part and that our VIN number wasn't included, however it obviously should have been! I was told by a service advisor at honda of escondido that if the mws gets wet, the moisture can cause the part to short out, overheat, and the grease gets really hot and smokes, smelling terribly. Our switch did get wet from rain both times before the switch malfunctioned because the switch is in a car door, and when it rains, it's going to get wet! Both the original mws that came with the car was faulty and the mws that I paid to replace it in 2010 was faulty as well. I do not feel safe with the new mws I've just had to buy to get installed again, because I fear the same thing will happen again. This part should obviously not be used in cars as it is potentially dangerous. The part should be recalled and replaced with a mws that will withstand moisture from rain and/or snow without malfunctioning.

Filed Sep 5, 2013 · 66,479 miles · CO

In 2006 with 66000 miles and under normal driving conditions the air conditioning system started to give off burning smell which caused headaches and nausea before the system failed completely. A/c compressor was found to have failed and it was replaced. Then in august 2013 with 95000 miles the unit failed again with the same issue and same toxic fumes. Am concerned about the health impact of this especially due to the frequency of this failure. Research has shown that this component is of inadequate design and honda lost a class action lawsuit due to frequent failures. This failure rate, while not impacting the safety of the car, does have potential health hazards for the occupants beyond reasonable risk.

Filed Sep 7, 2012 · Visibility · 180,592 miles · NH · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 honda crv. The contact stated that as she opened the driver side window, there was smoke coming from the bottom of the door. The fire department was notified who disconnected the battery. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic who inspected the failure and advised the contact that the master window switch would need replacing. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified who advised that they would send a representative to further investigate the failure. The failure mileage was 180,592.

Filed Dec 12, 2011 · Lights · 178,668 miles · VA

Both low beam headlights would not turn on tonight when I got into the car to drive home from work after dark. Fog lights also will not turn on. High beam headlights work. No blown fuses. Slight burning smell in passenger compartment. Both low beam headlights and both fog lights worked yesterday. Have not had this problem checked by dealer or mechanic yet. Left headlight was replaced two months ago, right headlight was replaced one month ago, both by local honda dealer. I bought this honda cr-v ex new in 2002 and have never had this problem before. I had the honda dealer add fog lights to this cr-v in 2004. Really was surprised to find that both low beams and both fog lights failed at the same time. Updated 02/24/12

Filed Nov 14, 2011 · Electrical, Lights · 125,000 miles · CA

While driving my low beam head lights went out and I could smell something burning I immediately pulled off on the shoulder of the highway at 1:30 am. The burning smell was coming from around my steering column. I checked my high beam head lights and they worked so that is how I got home. My husband got on line and checked for any recalls and found non just complaints about other people having the same issue. My husband checked where the burnt smell was coming from and found the issue and called the dealer ship and they said that we had to pay for it and gave us a crazy amount to fix it. My husband as handy as he is did a temporary fix on it. I hope honda fixes this issue before someone gets killed or hurt.

Filed Oct 30, 2011 · Electrical, Lights · 164,000 miles · VA

Detected a burning smell, similar to an electrical smell like something melted. I did have the headlights on, but it was bright enough in the morning that I couldn't tell that they had failed. I stopped immediately and looked around the cabin, etc. For smoke. I didn't see anything, but I turned around and drove directly to the dealer. The dealer did diagnostic tests, etc and couldn't figure out the source of the burning smell other than it wasn't coming from the vents. I guess he didn't check the headlights. I am not pleased. After leaving the dealer during the daylight hours, I later detected on the evening of friday, oct 28, that the headlights were not working. I recently within two weeks ago had replaced one of the front headlight bulbs that had burnt out, so I figured that couldn't be the problem. I eventually checked the fuses and they looked fine. I swapped them out for replacement fuses, but it didn't make a difference. I went online and saw from online discussions that there is a headlight switch issue that the federal safety agency is investigating at this time. The issue with my 2002 honda crv and it's low beam headlights surely seems to be part of the problem that's being investigated. I plan to contact the dealer on monday morning (oct 31) to get my issue looked at, again. But, it won't be during the nighttime hours or when it's precipitating, since it's illegal to drive without my low beams on during those times. Updated 11/17/11 *bf according to the service invoice, the headlight switch had an electrical failure. Updated 11/30/11