2018 Honda CR-V: doors won't lock, open or latch

Filed Apr 19, 2025 · Electrical · VA

In January 2023 our vehicle began having numerous issues with sensors, alarms, door locks, the car would turn itself on and drain the battery overnight and at times would not shut off without pulling the main fuse. Through research online it was clear that the problem was the Body Control Module (BCM). There are many, many reports online of the 2018 CRV having this problem, so I took it to the dealer and they had never heard of the issue. They tried to do diagnostics but had no way to determine if it was the BCM. Finally, I asked them to just replace the BCM even without a diagnosis, and after 2 months (there were significant back orders of this part) we were able to get it installed in the car and all was fine. Fast forward to last week (April 2025) and it’s starting up again - electronics turning on randomly, battery drain, windows going down in the garage, warning lights all illuminated, dead battery every day - so the BCM that was installed in 2023 has failed AGAIN. Honda absolutely knows about this issue as they have a recall for Accords. However, I paid $1000 to fix it in 2023 and will no doubt pay at least that much now to do it again. Meanwhile, the car is effectively inoperable and can’t be safely operated on the road. Honda needs to RECALL this issue and fix it for good.

Filed Aug 21, 2024 · Electrical · UT

While away from home on vacation, the car alarm randomly went off for several minutes. Upon returning the battery was dead and would not start. Over the next several days this happened multiple times with the battery dying, car not starting, and the dash would light up and doors would not lock or unlock properly. Replaced the battery and again the same issue with alarm going off in the middle of the night after battery drain. I saw on the forums that the BCM is a common issue with the Honda vehicles. the car recognizes that "the start switch has been pushed, when it has not." This poses a safety risk for the car and the individual. Remedy from the dealer is the body/keyless module replacement at nearly 800.00. This seems to be something that Honda is aware of, but has not yet addressed.

Filed May 16, 2024 · WI

The passenger rear door will not open. It won’t lock or unlock. You can’t open the door from the inside or outside.

Filed Mar 21, 2024 · Electrical · CO

The wiring harness that runs the electric lock on the back doors is faulty. I suspect it is because the wiring harness is too tight, and when the back doors are opened repeatedly it wears on the wires and eventually causes the wires to break. This means that the back door locks become manual locks. I think this is a mild safety issue because we have small children and it makes it difficult to get them in and out of the car. The problem was reported to the Honda dealership, and to an independent mechanic, both of whom reviewed the problem and confirmed it. The vehicle has not been inspected by Honda, the police, or insurance. There are no warning messages. The symptom is merely that the door lock ceases to function. This issue first appeared for us about five years after purchase of the vehicle (we purchased the vehicle new). We had the issue repairs once, and but it has happened again. When I google this issue, there are many forum posts with people experiencing the same issue (I would say it's a "known issue" for this vehicle).

Filed Nov 25, 2023 · Electrical · TX

I parked my car after my lunch break, set the parking brake, turned off the car, and then locked the car from the door passengers side door exterior handle after grabbing my bag (to be clear I did walk around the car, so I’m positive the car was off.) and as always checked via the back door handle. The car was fully turned off and locked. I went to back to my office. When I left for the day several hours later I found the car still locked but now running, the parking brake disabled, but no message that the keys couldn’t be detected or that the car was in accessory mode despite the fact my keys were sitting outside of the car near the back drivers side wheel along with my bag a range too far to unlock the doors much less be a sensor for the car . The hood was hot to the touch so it had been running for a while. The keys were in my hands as I walked up to the vehicle so the keys weren’t accidentally left in the car. My only other key was home where only I have access to it. The car was otherwise undisturbed. It’s a well patrolled area and there is almost always at least one employee in the immediate area. I use the remote start on routine basis so I know even if I managed an impossible feat of accidentally hitting the remote start sequence correctly when I was outside of the range of the fob it shouldn’t still be running. As I know for a fact that my car turns off the car if started via remote start after 20 minutes and between my gas gage and heat from the hood the car had been running for a while. I was very lucky I was not parked in an enclosed garage. I did turn the car off, let it cool down, before restarting the car without issues. The only other possible symptom is the car has been randomly disconnecting CarPlay for several months prior to this.

Filed Feb 21, 2023 · Electrical · OH

Component: Body Control Module (vehicle is sitting at the deanship). Safety of driver and 2 small children (6 year old and 18 month old) in back seat. First the remote start didn't work - that was okay, but driving down the highway 75South going home after pick up children the door locks kept going off and on, the windows kept going up and down (all windows). No warning whatsoever. However upon reading on internet the first sign of the body control module failure was when the battery kept dying and we replaced that at a cost of $200. Now we are told we can still drive the car while we wait for the part - which we are told could be 9 months to a year for the part, we would need to unhook the battery and hook it back up. Is this really what you tell a single mom, nursing student with two small children to do. What could happen if the wires a crossed and the car goes up in flames with children inside? Cannot afford to have a rental car for 9 months or more.

Filed Dec 28, 2022 · Body · ID

https://youtube.com/shorts/9i5_n8vrjBo?feature=share Inside door handle / lever will not open door if outside handle / lever is slightly pulled or stuck. Outside debree or Ice will prevent the opening of doors preventing escape. In case of accident or debree the door may fail to operate if the outside lever is slightly engaged. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? INSIDE DOOR LEVER How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? YES Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? YES Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? NO Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? NO

Filed Jul 27, 2022 · Electrical · 36,000 miles · MA

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while using the remote start feature to start the vehicle, he became aware of smoke coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The contact attempted to unlock the vehicle with the key fob however, the vehicle failed to unlock. The contact also attempted to unlock the door using the sensor on the door handle however, the vehicle failed to unlock. The contact was able to manually unlock the door using the spare key to be able to turn the vehicle off. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The contact was informed that the started and battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the warranty had expired and that he had to pay out-of-pocket for the repair. The failure mileage was 36,000.

Filed Jul 6, 2022 · Driver assistance, Electrical · LA

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving at highway speeds, the vehicle stopped independently with several unknown warning lights flashing on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the failure violently shifted he and his wife forward. No injuries were sustained. The contact also experienced various electrical failures with the liftgate, power windows, and power door locks. The dealer had been notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact attempted to reach the manufacturer but was unable to speak with a representative. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was unknown. The consumer stated he and his wife was on the interstate while changing lanes, the vehicle stopped abruptly and emergency braking came into play.

Filed Mar 2, 2020 · Body, Electrical · 19 miles · TX

On saturday 2/29/2020 I was traveling southbound on highway 183 here in austin texas at 68 MPH when my driver door opened. It didn't fly all the way open but it was ajar about 4 to 5 inches. I held the door as close to closed as I could while driving with the other hand to reach a save stop in order to close my door. I've had the vehicle for a year and 8 months and this is the first time this has happened but it is scary nonetheless. I was about 19 miles into my trip to work that day. There were no lights on the dash and that was no alert that my door was opened prior to it opening. There wasn't even a alert once it became open and I noticed because I could hear the air and the door was moving. The door lock mechanism still showed the door locked before I unlocked it and closed the door. While it hasn't happened again. I would still appreciate this to be looked into.

Filed Feb 11, 2020 · Engine, Fuel system · 16,000 miles · AR · 1 injury

While in motion the cr-v continues to bright light oncoming traffic, as well as the steering wheel pull towards oncoming traffic abruptly while the volume of the stereo goes constantly from loud to mute, and the door lock/ unlocks being continual. Vehicle has stalled out on different occasions. There is odor of gasoline while inside the vehicle, usage of fuel drastically increased, noticed our throats hurting/ voice hoarseness/ coughing/ passenger pass out until windows are cracked open (carbon monoxide?). Constant sputtering, no horsepower, can't stay with the flow of traffic on interstate, brakes do not want to work on different occasions, vehicle abruptly slams on the brakes at times saying road departure (clearly we are not departing the roadway). Doors to the back have not allowed the passengers in the back to open them, causing the children to panic in fear of being trapped in the vehicle. The remote start has only worked (2) times in a years time. There has been a buzzing/ humming motor sound coming from the rear axle area after the vehicle has been stationary for over (5) hours. Gasoline has now been noticed in the oil. The dash periodically goes completely black unable to see anything. The automatic lights (dimming/ bright lights) does not work, and has only worked (1) time. A couple of occasions it has smoked, like large clouds of smoke from the exhaust anytime the accelerator was pushed. Fearful of traveling in the cr-v, we do not use after dark, the amount spent on fuel has more than doubled and we do drastically less driving in the cr-v since the increasing fuel usage. At times it feels as if the vehicle is controlled by someone else, it's difficult correcting the steering when it is pulling towards oncoming traffic.

Filed Nov 4, 2019 · Brakes, Electrical · 4,300 miles · PA

Problems first presented: auto door lock malfunction, auto- rain sensing wiper malfunction would come on when dry, not come on when wet; navigation system went crazy on the highway flashing on and off when using it; twice the auto breaking system came on when on the highway with nothing in front of me....going 50 MPH! I very well could have been rear ended. I saw no obstruction on the road. I have had the vehicle in twice to the dealer only to be told it does not happen and they have no bulletins regarding these issues.