The Honda CR-V is one of the most popular compact SUVs. With 402,791 units sold for 2024, Honda's SUV is second only to the Toyota RAV4, with 475,193. However, just because a model is very popular, it doesn't mean it isn't devoid of issues.
Despite a stout reliability record over the years, the CR-V can develop unexpected glitches, especially as new vehicles feature more complex electronics. While scanning through the CR-V Owners’ Club, I stumbled upon something peculiar. A forum member posted about a very unusual issue, and what he describes is mind-boggling. Here's what he says:
“My wife's 2020 CR-V had just under 10k miles when we left for 6 months. I keep a trickle charger on it while gone. Last week, the odometer rolled over to 20k miles, skipping 10k altogether! Anyone out there ever experience this before?”
Being a 2020 model year, we are talking about the fifth-generation Honda CR-V. Despite some early oil-dilution issues with the 1.5-liter turbo-four engines, the Japanese SUV has a strong track record for reliability and longevity. Examples with over 200,000 miles on the original engines are common. In fact, the model's qualities are so proven that some owners who have switched to the sixth-generation Honda CR-V are hesitant if they had made the right decision.
Back to the topic at hand, and could have caused the odometer to roll up
Since the topic is one hour old in the time of writing this article, no fellow members have chimed in with educated guesses or explanations. I had to do some digging, and there are quite a few possible culprits for this strange issue. That said, some are more likely than others, as far as this case is concerned.
The owner mentioned that the car has been sitting for six months without being driven. This can be just as detrimental to a car as being driven too much (if not more).
The trickle charger can also be a potential culprit, and a very likely one judging by the owner's description of the situation. Leaving it connected to the battery for too long may result in electrical issues.
A faulty fuse. There is no dedicated fuse for the odometer. Instead, it is typically one or two fuses for the entire instrument cluster. Whether the fuse has gone bad on its own or due to having a trickle charger connected to the battery for too long, this is a potential culprit. Luckily, a fuse costs around $5.
Weak battery is another potential cause, although in my personal experience, I have never seen this (and I've changed more than a few batteries that were on their way out). However, my experience is with slightly older vehicles, which have simpler electronics.
There are plenty of threads talking about inaccurate odometer readings, and quite a few mention the Honda CR-V. An older thread about 2018 Honda CR-V odometer readings mentions that after a new battery, the issue had gone away.
An older Reddit discussion also mentions inaccurate odometer readings. Fellow Reddit users suggest it could be due to different tire sizes. Most vehicles come with a variety of factory tire sizes, and the speedometer (and, coincidentally, the odometer) are often calibrated to a single size. However, this speaks to an entirely different issue that has little to do with the current topic.
I, for once, want to see the issue resolved in the simplest way possible. Most Honda owners rarely have to visit the repair shop for something serious, and one Honda CR-V owner almost got scammed when going for an oil change - a topic I reported on not too long ago.
Have you had similar experience with weird or inaccurate odometer readings? Maybe you have fresh insight on the matter? If so, I would like to hear about it. Feel free to hit the comment section below.
Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.
Image source: 2020 Honda CR-V press
