2018 Honda CR-V maintenance schedule

The 2018 CR-V is part of the 5th Gen (2017-2022), sold as an SUV. Below: its service intervals with the source behind each one, the fluids it takes, the problems owners report for this year, and the NHTSA recalls issued for it.

Service schedule

What the 2018 CR-V needs, and when

Manufacturer rows link to Honda's own schedule, Independent rows to a service shop or parts retailer's published guide. Rows marked Unverified have no source Carlyle could confirm and are shown for completeness.

ServiceIntervalSource
Engine oil and filter

Maintenance Minder A/B; 5,000 miles for 1.5T

5,000 mi / 1 yearIndependent
Engine air filter

Maintenance Minder sub-code 2

30,000 mi / 2 yearsIndependent
Cabin air filter

Maintenance Minder sub-code 2

30,000 mi / 2 yearsIndependent
Tire rotation

Baseline routine interval

10,000 miIndependent
Brake fluid

Replace every 3 years regardless of mileage

45,000 mi / 3 yearsIndependent
Engine coolant

Initial replacement at 120k/10yrs, then every 60k/5yrs

120,000 mi / 10 yearsIndependent
Transmission fluid

Maintenance Minder 3 (severe usage mandates 30k)

60,000 miIndependent
Spark plugs

Replace spark plugs and service diff fluid concurrently

90,000 miIndependent
Serpentine belt

Inspect interval; replace as needed

30,000 miIndependent
Differential and transfer case fluid (AWD)

Maintenance Minder sub-code 6 (severe usage mandates 30k)

90,000 miIndependent
12V battery

Known to drain prematurely; test frequently

15,000 mi / 3 yearsUnverified
EV coolant loops (Hybrid)

PCU inverter coolant interval 3 yrs (Hybrid)

3 yearsUnverified

Intervals are for normal driving; towing, short trips, extreme heat or dust shorten them. Services we could not find an interval for are left off rather than guessed.

Fluids and engines

What goes in it

Engine oil
0W-20
Coolant
Type 2
Transmission fluid
HCF-2 / ATF Type 2

Powertrains in this generation

  • 1.5L 4-cyl (L15B), 190 hp, CVT, FWD, AWD
  • 2.0L 4-cyl hybrid (2.0L Hybrid), 212 hp, e-CVT, AWD
  • 2.4L 4-cyl (K24W), 184 hp, CVT, FWD, AWD

Confirm the exact spec against the owner's manual or the label under the hood; capacities vary by engine and drivetrain.

Known problems

What 2018 CR-V owners run into

Problems reported for this model year, with the mileage they tend to show up at. Buying past a window is not automatically a pass - it just needs to be priced in.

1.5T Oil Dilution

medium severity

$0-$500 to fix

Fuel smell, rising oil level

Source: avturo.com

A/C Condenser Failure

medium severity

$0-$1,100 to fix

A/C blows warm

Source: avturo.com

Parasitic Battery Drain

low severity

$0-$600 to fix

Dead battery

Source: avturo.com

Safety recalls

5 NHTSA recalls for the 2018 Honda CR-V

From NHTSA's recall database, matched by model and year. Recall repairs are free at Honda dealers, and a given car may already be fixed or fall outside a campaign, so check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.

May 2026

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.

Fuel system, gasoline

NHTSA 23V858000

December 2023

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

Seat belts

NHTSA 23V158000

March 2023

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2020 CR-V, 2018-2019 Accord and Accord Hybrid, 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019 Insight, and 2019-2020 Acura RDX vehicles. A manufacturing issue with the front seat belts may cause the seat belt buckle channel to interfere with the release button, preventing the seat belt buckle from latching.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belt buckle release buttons or the buckle assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 18, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are NDA, QDB, BDC, MDD, LD9. TDF, FDG, ODH, YDI, ZDE.

Fuel system, gasoline

NHTSA 21V215000

March 2021

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 CR-V vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-314.

September 2018

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Honda Civic and CR-V vehicles. The magnet that controls the torque sensor output signal for the electronic power steering system may not be properly secured, allowing the magnet to become dislodged. During a full lock turn, the dislodged magnet may cause steering assist to be applied in the opposite direction.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gearbox assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are C2N, P2O.

Running costs

What maintenance typically costs

A typical year of maintenance
$428

Typical US independent-shop estimates for this generation; they vary by region and condition.

Other CR-V model years

6th Gen (2023-2026)

5th Gen (2017-2022)

4th Gen (2012-2016)

Shopping new? The Honda CR-V guide covers the current model, with what it costs to keep for 1 to 15 years.

Sources

Researched 2026-09-16. Modeling, not mechanic advice - always confirm against your car's owner's manual and service records.

Running a CR-V for income?

Carlyle scores the exact listing on cost per remaining mile and projected Turo income, so you know what a 2018 CR-V earns before you buy it.

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