2016 Honda CR-V: key fob or push-button start problems

Filed Aug 28, 2026 · Electrical · OH

While I was driving on I-75 in Cincinnati OH my vehicle suddenly lost all power with no advanced warning. My car was working fine on the way to work and even when I began my commute home but then suddenly every light on my dash illuminated, my steering wheel became almost impossible to steer and the car stalled. I was on a bridge overpass with little shoulder and I had to call 911 to get a ODOT truck to help protect me from the traffic. I then waited over an hour to get a tow. When I got it to the dealer, I was informed I needed a new alternator but the alternator failed due to a faulty key fob actuator. Apparently, the constant active sensor overworked the battery and alternator causing this potential deadly situation for me. It is ridiculous that Honda knows this is an ongoing issue for this year vehicle but doesn't recall it because the key fob not working isn't deadly, but my car stalling on a highway where people are distracted with phones while drive 70+ miles per hour could be deadly. I will never buy another Honda.

Filed Apr 19, 2025 · Electrical · OH

I first noticed this issue in October of 2023. When approaching the passenger side of my 2016 fwd Honda Cr-v it would unlock without touching the door or the key fob. This caused my car to be left unlocked multiple times without noticing it which is a major safety concern. Additionally I would go to get in the driver's seat and before the car was on the seat adjusted itself to the full upright position. Those two issues paired with the battery dying 7 times in the 8 years I have had it makes me think the electric is failing and causing the battery to constantly run which drains it. One time when the battery was not working they said it was the starter and charged $700 to fix it yesterday this is still happening. Another time this left me in dangerous situation when returning from work travel to the airport over an hour from my home and my car not starting. I had to call a tow truck to get it jumped. I called a Honda service center and the person I spoke with had never heard of these issues before. There are no warning messages when this is happening. I do not have $1000 for them to look into it.

Filed Oct 9, 2024 · Electrical · CA

I have a 2016 Honda CRV. Approx 2 years ago several electrical problems started. 1. )Radio started turning on and off on its own. 2. ) Car locks would lock and unlock on their own. I will be sitting in car and the car would lock and unlock on its own approx 4-5 times and then stop. It would also happen when I would get out of the car and lock the door and as soon as I walked away I could hear it unlock again and it did not matter if I locked it on the door panel or use the key FOB. I thought at first maybe I am doing something wrong, but it has also happened to my husband multiple times. This could be a safety issue, not knowing if its locked or unlocked my child could open the door while I am driving. Also someone could get into my car. 3.) My car battery started losing juice frequently. I would have to jump it, and now this is happening approx every 6 weeks. 4.) The Key FOB also juices out frequently and I have had to replace it multiple times and batteries are not cheap. I have been stranded 4 times at night and I beleive it was a risk to my personal safety. I have taken it to a independent service for the locks but they could not duplicate and told me it would be expensive to check the electrical system to first see if there were any electrical recalls first. I have read all the complaints on your site and there are over 60 electrical complaints. Many in regards to the Car's Battery discharging. One person talked about the seat position would move on its own, another said their headlights would turn off and on. Although there are many different electrical complaints they are all electrical related and warrant an investigation. As a consumer it is very fustrating as the price for buying and fixing a car is expensive. I don't know what it takes to have a recall but I hope the federal safety agency does the right thing especially when people are losing faith in big companies/agencies. Thank you

Filed May 27, 2023 · Electrical · IL

I have a 2016 Honda CRV EXL. I have been trying to find out information on why my locks are not working. Most of the time the back door locks and the hatch/rear tailgate do not unlock. The tailgate will unlock only when I touch the door but not with the key fob. Every time I have taken the car to be looked at it doesn't have the issue that they can find so I feel CRAZY! Then I drive home and again the locks will not lock or unlock so I have to reach in and unlock or lock them manually. I saw that there was an issue with 2007-2011 CRV's and a class action law suite. I just want my stupid car fixed.

Filed Dec 1, 2022 · Transmission · MI · crash · 1 injury

This safety issue was not revealed to me at purchase. Vehicle is a push button start and stop and does not have an electronic parking break. Vehicle can be turned off while in Drive, however the gear train does not remain engaged. INCIDENT: The car was moved by my husband who does not drive the car and is accustom to driving a keyed vehicle with ignition interlock. He is also hard of hearing and did not hear quite beeping. When he moved the vehicle driving the car to the inclined driveway, he turned car off using the push button without putting the car in PARK. The car remained motionless until he opened the door and got out. The car began to roll backwards where the door knocked him down and ran over his foot. My husband sustained minor injury. However the car continued to roll about 50 feet before colliding into a stand of trees before it was stopped. The car sustained significant rear end damage. This is a SAFETY issue. I called American Honda to report this issue. They claimed they knew nothing of the above stated design problem and suggested I take the vehicle into the dealership for a diagnostic. I did and Serra Honda of Brighton ran a diagnostic and reported :That the car can be turned off while in drive and that the car does not have any system that will prevent the car from moving if the car is not in Park. The car is operating as designed and will roll if not in park. My complaint #at American Honda is case #[XXX]. There are many reports on the internet concerning Honda CRV, Civic and Accord, for certain models and years that have this problem. There should be a recall to correct this obvious safety in design issue. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Filed Apr 1, 2019 · Electrical, Lights · 10,193 miles · IN

The headlights turn on randomly and off while driving in full sunlight. The lights have come on without input while the car is parked and the ignition is off. American honda has authorized and replaced both the wiring harness and the fuse box in an attempt to fix this issue. They have refused to do further work on this vehicle and the problem still exists. Once the battery was completely dead in the morning when I tried to use it. It was driven the night before. The lights have turned themselves on with no input from the key fob or the driver when the car is parked. Multiple people have witnessed the car doing this. I have many mp4 files documenting the headlights coming on and going off at random while driving. Under the description of "when did this happen" I put the reported date to the dealership. It happens most every time that I drive the car for any extended period over a few miles.

Filed Dec 12, 2017 · Electrical · 11,600 miles · VA

Lock-out with key fob inside the car, car was not running, parked at work. The car basically 'locked' me out when I put my purse and keys into the car, opened the hood so I could fill the wiper fluid reservoir , closed the door to get wiper fluid out of the back and the car locked the doors. According to the locksmith that opened my car, this is a well known problem - and not just with honda cars. Thank goodness I was still at work and in a safe location.

Filed Apr 7, 2016 · Electrical · 600 miles · OH

The car operates on a keyless ignition, and uses push button start. The issue is, once the car is running, it will stay running without the computer fab key in the car. This is a safety hazard, I can leave the door open and walk out of the car with the key in hand and it stays running, a child or someone can get in the car and shift the gear lever causing serious injury. Also there was no warning when I left the car with the computer key in my pocket and no flashing of lights or blinking or horn noise. This is a violation of the federal safety agency laws that no vehicle should be running once the key has left the car. Well this vehicle continues to run without the key in the car, this is very dangerous. The vehicle should shut off after the key has left the car. This push button start is cheap and can cause serious injury. The car should shutoff without the key in the car. I left the car with the door open and key in my pocket, the car failed to shut off because the push button has to be pressed to shut off. The car is suppose to shut off without the key in the car per the federal safety agency rules and regulations