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.
2016 Honda CR-V: battery drain or dead battery
6 of the 396 complaints about the 2016 Honda CR-V describe battery drain or dead battery.
- owner complaints
- 6
- of this car's complaints
- 2%
- recalls
- 0
Battery drain or dead battery by model year
What owners say
The drivers side door unlocks on its own after I have locked the door and start walking away from the vehicle. It is not suppose to open until after I have grasped the handle to open it when it has been locked. I can hear it unlock when I am outside the vehicle and somewhere in the vicinity of 10 feet away from the vehicle. I can have it available for inspection at any time. This problem causes the battery to drain and the vehicle won't start. The dead battery has happened to me twice (once in an airport parking lot and once at home). I have researched this on the internet and it is a common problem for the vehicle (both the unlocking and subsequent draining of the battery). The safety issue is, if this were to happen in a situation where conditions were such that I couldn't get my car started and I needed to escape an assailant that's trying to do harm to me or other passengers (children) in my vehicle. Another scenario could be needing to be able to drive away from any dangerous situation (stuck in a desert in extreme heat, a forest fire, etc...). The list could be endless. You need to be able to start your car when necessary. It hasn't been inspected by a dealer but I have contacted them twice about this issue. I haven't had it inspected by anyone. Many people have had this same problem and the repair at dealer is roughly $700 dollars. I think they have to replace the door lock actuator. There were no warnings, messages or other symptoms before it first happened. The problem first happened in April/May of 2024.
Beginning on the first of December 2023, the battery has drained every 24 to 48 hours. I have used up the annual roadside assistance I am allowed in the policy year October 2023 through October 2024. The roadside assistance technicians kept telling me I was not driving it enough or I was leaving something on. The tow truck driver I called for a jump this Thursday, in order to drive to the repair facility, suggested the mechanic needed to check every circuit in order to determine what function was draining the battery. The first and potentially not the last drain is the front passenger side door handle. No door handles are currently available from Honda. I have seen complaints, at [XXX] , regarding "parasitic" battery drain on this model year. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I just purchased this vehicle in June 2023. For the first couple of months, I had no problems. Then on August 25, the battery was dead and I needed a jump. I took it to my local auto parts store who tested my less then 2 year old battery and said it was fine. They also tested the alternator and starter, both were fine. Then, on September 5, another dead battery. I waited 3 hours for roadside assistance to come and give me a jump. Next incident, September 19. Again, needed a jump and again on September 25. This is my only car so I need it to be reliable. I have only purchased Hondas for the last 20 years, but I will never again buy a Honda. My car is now at the shop to see if they can determine what is causing the parasitic drain to my battery in the hopes of fixing it but after looking this issue up online, I can see there are 100's if not 1,000's of people experiencing this same issue. Additionally, there was a class-action lawsuit for 2017-2020 model years for the same issue: battery won't hold a charge. With as much money as we hard-working people spend to buy a Honda, we should at least be able to expect that it will start!
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.
For the 4th time a dead battery. System show all good, battery, alternator. Jump the car and wife mad as can be. I don't need this from a honda car.
Service bulletins that may apply
- Servicenews article
- Techline summary article - although similar, the hondalink and hondalink EV apps available for download on...
- Email reminder sent to owners to have the tranmission software updated before an unexpected tranmission...
- Customer email - we understand your busy lifestyle and how inconvenient it would be if your vehicle has an...
- Customer letter - transmission software still needs an update
- A surge, vibration, or judder may be felt while driving under light acceleration.
- Rattling or Ticking From Center Panel While Driving There is a rattling or ticking coming from the center...
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2016 Honda CR-V battery drain
Is battery drain or dead battery a common problem on the 2016 Honda CR-V?
6 of 396 owner complaints about the 2016 Honda CR-V (2%) mention battery drain or dead battery. The model year with the most reports is 2017.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2016 Honda CR-V?
There are 0 recalls and 8 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2016 Honda CR-V
Fuel smell 41Stalling 31Fuel pump 16Check engine light 14Hesitation 14Won't start 12No deployment 11Engine failure 11Sudden acceleration 11Sunroof shattered 11Door locks 10CVT failure 9Key fob 8Brake failure 7Jerking 7Loss of power 7Oil consumption 6Airbag light 5Headlights 5Warning lights 5
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