Picture this. It's January, you pull the dipstick on your CR-V, and the oil is sitting above FULL. You didn't add any. Then you notice a faint gas smell in the garage. Nope, you're not imagining it. This was one of the best-known problems on the 2017-2018 CR-V.
What's actually happening
The 1.5-liter turbo is slow to reach full operating temperature. When the engine stays cool, a little unburned fuel sneaks past the piston rings into the crankcase and doesn't evaporate back out the way it would in a hot engine. So the gas collects in the oil, the level rises, and the oil gets thinner. Short drives and very cold weather make it worse.
This engine is in a lot of CR-Vs. It's standard on every 2017-2018 trim except the base model, and about 82% of the roughly 766,000 2017-2018 CR-Vs sold in the US had it. The same issue and the same warranty extension also covered 2016-2018 Civics with the 1.5T.
Signs your CR-V has it
| Sign | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| Oil above FULL on the dipstick | Fuel collecting in the oil |
| Gas smell in the cabin or garage after parking | Fuel vapor from diluted oil |
| Lack of power, check engine light | The problem has gone further |
| Misfires, engine noise | Possible camshaft or valvetrain wear |
| Whirring noise from the engine | Honda told techs to listen for this when checking for camshaft damage |
Some owners also told Consumer Reports about stalling or a sudden loss of power, which CR called a safety issue.
How to check it yourself
- Park on level ground, shut the engine off and wait a few minutes.
- Pull the dipstick, wipe it, push it all the way back in, and pull it again.
- Note where the oil sits and give it a sniff. Fresh oil shouldn't smell like a gas can.
- Do this right after an oil change and again a few hundred miles later. If the level is climbing on its own, that's your answer.
What Honda's fix included
- New software for the engine and the CVT so the engine warms up faster
- Changes to ignition timing, CVT behavior and air-conditioning operation to help the engine hold heat
- An oil change
- In some cases, a replacement air-conditioning control unit
Honda started rolling out the updates in November 2018. They were required for about 239,000 2017-2018 CR-Vs sold in 21 cold-weather states, while the warranty extension applied in all 50 states.
Is the warranty still good?
Probably not. The extension runs 6 years from the original purchase date. A 2018 CR-V bought new in 2018 hit that limit in 2024, so for nearly every original owner the window has closed by late 2026. It also only ever covered the camshafts, rocker-arm assemblies and spark plugs, not the whole engine.
What you can still do is have a Honda dealer run your VIN to confirm the software update was actually done. If it wasn't, ask whether they'll apply it. You can also check for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls. This issue was handled with bulletins and a warranty extension, not a safety recall, but any recall on your VIN is fixed free at a Honda dealer.
What to do now
| Step | Typical cost | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Confirm the software update | Ask the dealer | It's the core fix |
| Oil change | RepairPal estimates $119-$149 (2017-2019 CR-V) | Gets the gas out of the oil |
| Change oil sooner in winter | Same, just more often | Short trips in the cold are the worst case |
| Diagnose noise, misfire or power loss | Get a written quote | Could mean camshaft or valvetrain wear |
- Don't stretch oil changes if you mostly do short winter trips. Change it when the Maintenance Minder asks (15% means soon, 5% means now), or earlier.
- Take a longer drive now and then so the engine fully warms up.
- Don't ignore a climbing level. Thin, gassy oil protects worse.
What to ask the shop
- "Can you confirm the 1.5T software update is on this VIN?"
- "Does the oil smell like fuel, and how far over FULL is it?"
- "If you hear noise or see misfires, can you check the camshaft and rocker arms before quoting anything bigger?"
Is it worth fixing, or time to sell?
For most 2017-2018 CR-Vs that have the update and get regular oil changes, this is something to watch, not a reason to dump the car. If a shop finds real camshaft damage, get the quote in writing and compare it to what the CR-V is worth before deciding.
While you're at it, here's what a CR-V brake pad replacement costs. Prices checked October 14, 2026.
