2008 Honda CR-V MPG
The 2008 Honda CR-V gets 20 mpg in the city and 26–27 on the highway (22–23 combined), across the 2 versions the EPA rated.
The most efficient pairs the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, at 23 mpg combined. At the other end, the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and all-wheel drive manages 22 mpg combined, 1 mpg less.
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CR-V 2WD | 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 27 | 23 | Regular · 386 g CO₂/mi |
| CR-V 4WD | 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 20 | 26 | 22 | Regular · 404 g CO₂/mi |
2008 Honda CR-V fuel cost per year
Driving 15,000 miles a year on regular gasoline at the September 2026 U.S. average of $4.36 a gallon, the 2008 Honda CR-V costs about $2,840 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (23 mpg combined), or roughly 19 cents a mile.
The thirstiest priced version (22 mpg combined) comes to about $2,970 a year, $130 more.
This is an estimate from EPA combined mpg and the EIA national average price; your cost depends on how and where you drive and on local prices.
2008 Honda CR-V specs
The EPA lists one engine for the 2008 Honda CR-V: a 2.4 L 4-cyl. It came with an automatic transmission, in all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive versions. For fuel-economy purposes it sits in the EPA's "Sport Utility Vehicle" class.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L | 4 | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive; 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 2 |
2008 Honda CR-V problems
As of October 2026, NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) holds 962 owner complaints about the 2008 Honda CR-V.
Air bags are the most-reported area (27% of component mentions), followed by electrical system (18%) and latches/locks/linkages (16%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 50 complaints a year: more than the 2009 (21 a year).
That ranks 10th of 17 Honda CR-V model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 962, 44 mention a crash, 3 a fire and 37 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 325 | 27% |
| Electrical system | 219 | 18% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 201 | 16% |
| Structure | 95 | 8% |
| Unknown or other | 72 | 6% |
| Steering | 71 | 6% |
| Suspension | 38 | 3% |
| Power train | 37 | 3% |
| Engine | 23 | 2% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 19 | 2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 16 | 1% |
| Hydraulic service brakes | 15 | 1% |
| Tires | 15 | 1% |
| Seat belts | 14 | 1% |
| Wheels | 13 | 1% |
| Visibility | 8 | <1% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 7 | <1% |
| Service brakes | 7 | <1% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 6 | <1% |
| Seats | 6 | <1% |
| Visibility/wiper | 5 | <1% |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | <1% |
| Equipment | 3 | <1% |
| Equipment adaptive/mobility | 2 | <1% |
| Child seat | 1 | <1% |
| Gasoline fuel system | 1 | <1% |
| Traction control system | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
The passenger airbag light stays on after the car is started and in motion. Regardless if there is a passenger seated or not. The car was taken in to the dealership during the recalls on takata airbag replacement. …
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2008 Honda CR-V. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was 137,000. …
The contact owns a 2008 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the front passenger's door failed to latch as intended. In addition, the front passenger's door had independently unlatched. …
2008 Honda CR-V recalls
The 2008 Honda CR-V has been the subject of 11 recall campaigns.
The most recent, campaign 23V228000 from March 2023, concerns structure.
Air bags account for 9 of the 11 campaigns, more than any other area.
| Campaign | Reported | Component | CR-V years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23V228000 | March 30, 2023 | Structure | 2008–2011 |
| 19V500000 | June 27, 2019 | Air bags | 2008–2011 |
| 19V502000 | June 27, 2019 | Air bags | 2008–2011 |
| 19V378000 | May 16, 2019 | Air bags | 2008–2011 |
| 18V268000 | April 26, 2018 | Air bags | 2008–2011 |
| 17V545000 | August 31, 2017 | Air bags | 2008–2011 |
| 17V417000 | June 29, 2017 | Air bags | 2008–2011 |
| 17V030000 | January 10, 2017 | Air bags | 2008–2011 |
| 16V346000 | May 24, 2016 | Air bags | 2008–2011 |
| 16V061000 | February 3, 2016 | Air bags | 2008–2011 |
| 11V395000 | August 4, 2011 | Power train | 2008–2010 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 1 version of the 2008 Honda CR-V, without an overall score.
These ratings use NHTSA's pre-2011 test method, so they can't be compared with stars for 2011 and later models.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| with side air bags | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | ★★★★☆ |
Crash-test photos: NHTSA (public domain). NHTSA can reuse a test for later model years of the same design.
Compared with other years
Complaints per year on sale divide each model year's NHTSA complaints by the years since it went on sale, so older and newer Honda CR-Vs can be compared fairly. Among other 2008 models in the EPA's sport utility vehicle class, the 2008 Ford Escape (24 mpg), 2008 Nissan Rogue (24 mpg) and 2008 Subaru Forester (22 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 23 | 962 | 50 | 11 |
| 2009 | 23 | 386 | 21 | 12 |
| 2010 | 24 | 481 | 28 | 15 |
| 2011 | 24 | 554 | 34 | 13 |
Every Honda CR-V model year compared →
Similar 2008 models
FAQ
Is the 2008 CR-V a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2008 Honda CR-V has 50 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (10th most of 17 model years), 11 recall campaigns and up to 23 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2008 CR-V problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are air bags (325), electrical system (219) and latches/locks/linkages (201). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2008 CR-V have?
NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns. To see whether a recall is still open on a specific car, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2008 CR-V get?
The EPA rates the versions at 22–23 mpg combined (20 city, 26–27 highway).
How much does it cost to fuel a 2008 CR-V per year?
About $2,840 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, up to about $2,970 for the thirstiest version, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average regular gasoline price of $4.36 a gallon (EIA).