Used car safety, rank #57 of 181
Honda CR-V 4WD Safety Rating (2020)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2020 Honda CR-V 4WD, a small SUV, compared with its class and with the current model.
The 2020 Honda CR-V 4WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 14 per million registered vehicle years against a small SUVs average of 42.6, which is 67% below the class average. That places it #57 of 181 used vehicles with a safety score of 66.1/100.
What the Honda CR-V death rate means
At 14 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Honda CR-V 4WD beats the small SUVs average of 42.6 by 67%. The 95% confidence interval is 0 to 36, so even the pessimistic end of the range is no worse than the class average.
The other-driver death rate of 27 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Honda CR-V. It is higher than the Honda CR-V's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for this class. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used SUVs
The safest small SUVs in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Honda CR-V 4WD highlighted. It ranks 2 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Toyota C-HR at a death rate of 2.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota C-HR | 2018-20 | 2 (0 to 7) | 79.4 | n/a | n/a |
| Honda CR-V 4WD (this page) | 2020 | 14 (0 to 36) | 66.1 | n/a | n/a |
| Hyundai Santa Fe 2WD | 2019-20 | 17 (0 to 39) | 63.8 | n/a | n/a |
| Hyundai Santa Fe 4WD | 2019-20 | 19 (0 to 37) | 62.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota RAV4 hybrid 4WD | 2019-20 | 20 (0 to 40) | 61.9 | n/a | n/a |
| Jeep Compass 2WD | 2017-20 | 27 (6 to 48) | 52.1 | n/a | n/a |
| Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 4WD | 2017-20 | 28 (3 to 53) | 50.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Chevrolet Equinox 4WD | 2020 | 30 (0 to 62) | 48.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Subaru Forester | 2019-20 | 30 (13 to 48) | 48.6 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for small SUVs: 42.6 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Honda CR-V
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Honda CR-V we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Honda CR V | No award | 66.6 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 66.1 used-car score above.
International crash test results
Euro NCAP (2023)
ANCAP (2023)
International test results are for the same-generation model sold in those markets. Body structures are typically identical across regions. Euro NCAP vs IIHS explained.
Safety recalls for the Honda CR-V 4WD
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
9 recall campaigns on the 2020 model year, covering air bags, fuel system, gasoline, electrical system, equipment, seat belts, structure.
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Air bags: sensor, occupant classification, front passenger
Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge.
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Air bags: sensor, occupant classification, front passenger
Risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge.
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Fuel system, gasoline: delivery, fuel pump
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024.
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Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery, cables
Risk: An overheated battery cable or short circuit can increase the risk of a fire or injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the battery cable, free of charge.
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Equipment: other, labels
Risk: An incorrectly sized tire may cause premature tread wear, or a tire blow out, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new corrected label, free of charge.
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Seat belts: front, buckle assembly
Risk: An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belt buckle release buttons or the buckle assemblies as necessary, free of charge.
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Fuel system, gasoline: storage, tank assembly
Risk: An inaccurate fuel gauge may result in the vehicle unexpectedly running out of fuel and stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge.
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Electrical system: propulsion system, dc/dc converter
Risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the power converter unit (PCU) software, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2021. Owners can contact Honda custo
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Structure: frame and members
Risk: A separated rear subframe reduces vehicle handling and can suddenly disable the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear subframe bolts and retorque them or replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2020.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-04. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2020. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Honda CR-V 4WD: Common Questions
Is the Honda CR-V 4WD a safe car?
Yes, by the measure that matters most. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 14 per million registered vehicle years for the 2020 Honda CR-V 4WD, 67% below the class average (42.6 for small SUVs). That earns a used-car safety score of 66.1 out of 100 and rank #57 of 181 used vehicles.
What is the Honda CR-V 4WD driver death rate?
14 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 0 to 36. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Honda CR-V died at a rate of 27 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2020 models.
How does the Honda CR-V 4WD compare with other small SUVs?
The small SUVs class averages 42.6 driver deaths per million; the Honda CR-V 4WD sits at 14. Among the 9 small SUVs compared above it ranks 2 by safety score; the top of that group is the Toyota C-HR with a death rate of 2.