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In my 14 years as a Torque News Senior reporter, I’ve heard every excuse in the book, but the one a 2024 Honda CR-V owner just received from their dealer takes the cake.
Imagine that you just picked up your 2024 Honda CR-V from a routine oil change at the dealer, only to have a low oil warning light scream at you just two miles down the road. You pull over to find a bone-dry dipstick and a sinking feeling in your gut that your brand-new engine has just suffered permanent damage from a technician’s "rookie" mistake.
This is the nightmare Cole Garner shared on the Honda CR-V 6th Generation Facebook page after a visit to a Florida dealership went catastrophically wrong. Cole says,
“I just got an oil change in my 2024 Honda CR-V last week, and now roadside assistance is picking me up. The car had no oil in it when I checked the dipstick. I got a low oil warning light on my dash about 2 miles down the road. I drove it about 10 miles after leaving the dealer. I had Honda roadside tow it to the dealership. Port Richey Honda in Florida did the oil change service. I think either they didn’t tighten the oil filter or something is broken idk. The Honda dealer said the oil filter gasket was faulty and the engine is okay, but I don’t believe them. I’ve driven the car 200 miles since they fixed it, and it hasn’t made any odd noises. I checked where I park on the street, and there is no oil anywhere. I think the tech either forgot to add the oil or didn’t tighten the oil filter. I hope there is no damage to my engine.”
After 30 years in the automotive industry, I know what it sounds like when a dealer tries to sweep a manufacturing defect or a service error under the rug. In my experience, when an engine loses its entire oil supply within minutes of a service, the cause is rarely a "random" faulty part and almost always a human error that the service department wants to minimize.
According to RepairPal experts, while a faulty oil filter is possible, improper installation is often the true culprit behind significant oil loss following a recent service.
This matches what I have seen throughout my career, where I previously covered a similar 2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid owner reporting a massive oil leak at just 4,200 miles.
When you hear a dealer blame a "faulty gasket" on a brand-new 2024 model, your skepticism is well-founded. As noted by YourMechanic, even a minor leak from an oil filter housing gasket can pose a serious threat to your engine's longevity.
I have followed these trends for years, and I recently reported on a 2023 CR-V Hybrid owner who faced a catastrophic head gasket failure at 65,000 miles, showing that even "reliable" modern Hondas are not immune to major internal issues.
Service Bay Red Flag: Decoding "Gasket" Speak
In my experience working with the dealership service departments, I’ve learned to listen for specific "buzzwords" that service advisors use to deflect blame. If you ever leave a 20-minute express service and experience a massive oil leak, and the advisor immediately points to a "faulty gasket," it’s often code for a technician error they don't want to admit.
The most common culprit is the "double-gasket" error. This happens when the old rubber gasket sticks to the engine block during removal. If the tech doesn't check and spin the new filter on top of it, the two rubber rings will fail to seal under pressure, causing a catastrophic "blowout" once you hit the road. Alternatively, a "loose filter" caused by rushing through an express lane can lead to the same result. When they blame the part, they are protecting the shop's insurance and reputation, not your engine.
What I've Seen: The Reality of the "Double Gasket"
In my career reviewing and consulting for brands like Toyota and Honda, I’ve seen this exact mistake kill engines. The "Double Gasket" is the silent killer of modern aluminum engines. Under the high pressure of a cold start, that seal will eventually burst, dumping your entire 0W-20 oil supply onto the pavement in seconds.
The fact that this owner drove ten miles with no oil on the dipstick is a major concern. Modern engines rely on constant lubrication; running "dry" for that distance can cause micro-scratches on cylinder walls that won't show up as a "knock" until your warranty has expired.
My Personal Take: Why the Dealer's Story Smells Fishy
The dealer's claim that the "gasket was faulty" is a convenient way to shift blame away from the technician. If the gaskets were truly faulty from the factory, they would likely have leaked during the previous 5,000 miles of driving. For it to fail exactly two miles after a technician touched it is beyond coincidental.
I’ve seen dealerships use this language to avoid a "bad faith" claim. By saying the "engine is okay," they are hoping you’ll drive away and forget the incident.
The Reliability Myth
We want to believe a new Honda is bulletproof, but 2026 models are showing growing pains. Whether it’s "sticky steering" or "oil dilution," the 6th-generation CR-V is proving that the brand's reliability edge is under pressure. To make matters worse, the service departments are making mistakes.
What CR-V Owners Are Saying
The community is becoming increasingly vocal about these lapses. One Reddit user noted the severity of the situation, stating, "It has no oil with that indication. Don't drive it, get it towed to your dealer," which you can read in the full discussion here.
Another owner highlighted the new design's vulnerability, noting, "The radiator on these models has an isolated portion for cooling automatic transmission fluid... if it's not cooling it, bad things happen," as found in this Reddit thread.
Key Takeaways for My Readers
- Trust Your Gut: If a dealer gives you a "faulty part" excuse immediately after a service, ask to see the part and the technician's notes.
- The 10-Minute Rule: Never leave a dealership after an oil change without checking the dipstick yourself and looking under the car for drips.
- Document Everything: If you get a low oil light warning on the dash and the dipstick. You will need this evidence if the engine fails in three years.
- Demand an Oil Analysis: If your engine ran dry, demand the dealer pay for a Blackstone Labs oil analysis at your next change to check for metal shavings.
Watch Them Like a Hawk
The 2024 Honda CR-V is a fantastic vehicle, but it is only as reliable as the person turning the wrench. When human error is masked as a "faulty gasket," the owner is the one who bears the long-term risk of engine damage.
What Would You Do? If your brand-new CR-V ran dry after a dealer service, would you trust their word that the engine is "fine," or would you demand an extended warranty or a replacement? Let me know in the comments.
Next Up: Think a new CR-V is your only option? I recently looked into why some owners are regretting their 2023-2026 hybrid purchases and wishing they had stayed with their older models. Check out that report here.
Denis Flierl is a Senior Reporter at Torque News with over 30 years of hands-on experience in the automotive industry. Having served as a professional test driver and industry consultant for major automakers such as Chevrolet, Ford, Toyota, Honda, and Tesla, Denis provides a "boots-on-the-ground" perspective that goes beyond standard reporting. Since joining Torque News in 2012, he has specialized in cutting through market noise to deliver data-backed analysis and real-world owner stories. His work focuses on navigating the transition to EVs and the shifting automotive market.
Have a tip or question for Denis? > Engage with him directly on LinkedIn for industry analysis, or follow his latest updates on X @DenisFlierl and @WorldsCoolestRides. You can also find his latest car features on Facebook and Instagram.
Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Honda
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