Honda Cars PH recalling 1997-99 CR-V due to faulty Takata airbags

Updated Nov 16, 2021 | Same topic: Latest Consumer Reports

Replacement parts and labor is free of charge.

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) announced a safety recall campaign that involves 8,365 units of 1997 to 1999 CR-V, Accord, and Legend. HCPI is recalling the said models due to the faulty Takata airbag inflators.  

Honda CR-V front profile shot

More than 6,000 units of the '97-'99 Honda CR-V are affected by the recall

The airbag inflators equipped on the driver’s side of the said Honda vehicles have a tendency to rupture upon deployment. This is caused by excessive internal pressure that may result in serious injury. Here’s a breakdown of the affected Honda vehicles: 

1997-1999 CR-V: 6,889 units affected

1998-1999 Accord: 1,474 units affected

1998 Legend: 2 units affected    

HCPI said that affected individuals may avail of the airbag inflator replacement in any of the 38 Honda Cars dealerships nationwide. The replacement parts and labor for the said recall is free of charge, and the replacement process may take up to a maximum of one hour. HCPI added that this campaign is part of the company’s proactive effort to ensure the safety of the owners and to avoid any unfortunate circumstance in the future.

>>> Related: Here is one good reason why you should take recalls seriously

Honda Accord side profile shot

Check your Honda Accord if it's included in the recall

The defective Takata airbags have been one of the largest safety recall to date. It first blew up in 2014, which shocked the global automotive industry. More than 30 car manufacturers were affected by the said recall, including brands such as Honda, Ford, Toyota, Mazda, Nissan, BMW, Volkswagen, among others. 

According to the investigation, Takata’s airbag inflators have been found to rupture, sending metal debris into the vehicle’s cabin. Further tests showed that ammonium nitrate was the cause of the defective airbag inflators. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) fined Takata amounting to $70 million (around Php 3.4 billion) in 2015 due to its failure to disclose the defects or safety issues in its airbag inflators. 

Airbag recall

Safety recalls are intended to prevent a potential risk from happening

Honda was among the first car companies to drop Takata as its airbag supplier in 2015. After which, other Japanese car companies followed suit including Toyota, Nissan, and Mazda.

The company will send a recall notification letter to the owners of the affected vehicles. Individuals may also check if their vehicle is included in the recall by encoding its 17-digit Chassis Number or Vehicle Identification Number in the Chassis/VIN search tool of the recall information webpage at www.hondaphil.com/recall.

HCPI urges owners of the affected Honda models to have their vehicles checked as soon as possible.

Visit Philkotse.com to get more of the latest automotive news. You can also check out our list of Honda CRV price Philippines.

Know more about Honda CR-V 2024

Honda CR-V

The 2025 Honda CR-V is a midsize crossover SUV. For the Philippine market, it has three variants: the V Turbo CVT, VX Turbo CVT, and the RS e:HEV (hybrid) e-CVT. 

The latest version of this Honda model has two different engine options. For the top-spec hybrid trim, it uses a 2.0-liter gasoline four-banger paired with a dual motor and lithium-ion battery. The combustion component alone produces up to 145 horsepower and 183 Nm of torque. The electric-powered component meanwhile, can churn out 181 horsepower and 335 Nm of torque. 

Aboard the V and VX trims meanwhile is a 1.5-liter inline-4 engine that can churn out 187 horsepower and 240 Nm of torque. 

Only the VX gets all-wheel-drive, while the rest are front-wheel-drive. All trims then use a continuously variable transmission (CVT), but the one on the hybrid trim is an electronic CVT (e-CVT). 

In terms of dimensions, the all-new CR-V is 4,691mm long, 1,866mm wide, and 1,681mm (1,691mm for VX) in height. Both the hybrid and the V’s wheelbase then spans 2,701mm (2,700mm for VX). 

Locally, the Honda CR-V competes against the likes of the Mazda CX-9, Cherry Tiggo 8 Pro, Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe, Peugeot 5008, etc. 

>>> New and used Honda CR-V 2025 for sale in the Philippines

Honda CR-V Launch

The Honda CR-V was introduced to the Philippine market in September 2023. It launched with three different variants: the top-spec RS e:HEV CVT, the mid-spec VX CVT AWD, and the entry-level V CVT FWD. At launch, their prices ranged from Php 2.100 million to Php 2.590 million.

Honda CR-V Exterior

The 2025 CR-V carries the sleekness and the sportiness of the modern Honda design. Present on its front end are a pair of sharp LED headlamps which are outlined by LED daytime running lamps, a black-colored hexagonal mesh grille, and an angular front lower bumper. 

honda cr-v philippines exterior

The sides then feature power-folding side mirrors, a straight window line, and black plastic claddings for the VX and V. Its rear likewise gets a power tailgate, and a distinctively shaped pair of LED taillights. 

honda cr-v philippines door handles

honda cr-v philippines headlights

honda cr-v philippines wheels

The RS hybrid trim stands out among the three as it gets plenty of additions mainly focused on style. This includes a black color for its side mirrors and antenna, body-color mudguards, and a set of 18-inch piano black alloy wheels.

Honda CR-V Interior

Inside, the top-spec RS e:HEV can seat up to five, whereas the V and VX can accommodate up to seven. 

Present on all trims is a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster, leather seats (w/ red stitching for the RS), a push-to-start button, USB A and C charging ports, an eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat (w/ power lumbar support for RS), auto-dimming rearview mirror, etc.

honda cr-v philippines dashboard

honda cr-v philippines touchscreen

Only the RS and VX get rain-sensing wipers but exclusive only to the highest-spec trim are a sunroof, paddle shifters, and a drive mode selector with normal, eco, and sport. The rest do get an eco-drive mode. 

For air-conditioning, the RS e:HEV gets a dual-zone automatic climate control system while the V and VX get a triple-zone automatic climate control system. All have physical buttons, as well. 

Technology & Safety Features

Present on all CR-V trims is a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also gets Bluetooth, USB connectivity, and audio streaming. Likewise available to all CR-V variants is a wireless charging pad. 

Sound is fed to the CR-V’s cabin by a 12-piece Bose sound speaker (RS) or an eight-piece sound system (VX and V). 

Present on all trims of the 2025 CR-V is the Honda Sensing driver-assistive suite. This includes features like adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, collision mitigation braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, road departure mitigation, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, adaptive driving beams, lead car departure notification, and a driver attention monitor.

Those advanced safety features are then supported by seven airbags, anti-lock braking, stability control, hill-start assist, hill-descent control, a 360-degree view camera, tire pressure monitoring, ISOFIX child seat anchors, parking sensors (eight for RS, four for VX and V), a security alarm, an engine immobilizer, etc.

Platform & Chassis

The CR-V uses a MacPherson strut for the front and a multi-link suspension system for the rear. Braking is done via disc brakes for all four wheels and an electronic parking brake. 

Engine & Drivetrain

There are two engine options for the 2025 CR-V. For the RS e:HEV, it gets a 2.0-liter gasoline engine paired with a dual-motor, lithium-ion battery setup. The gasoline mill alone produces up to 145 horsepower and 183 Nm of torque. The electric component then adds 181 horsepower and 335 Nm of torque to its output. Power is then sent to its front wheels via an e-CVT. 

The VX and V, both utilize a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that’s good for 187 horsepower and 240 Nm of torque. Both use CVT, but the V is front-wheel-drive, while the VX is all-wheel-drive. 

There are five available color options for the 2025 CR-V. This includes Ignite Red Metallic, Meteoroid Gray Metallic, Lunar Silver Metallic, Platinium White Pearl, and Canyon River Blue Metallic. 

The Honda CR-V is more than a competent challenger to other similarly sized crossovers when it comes to making power, and on-board features. It is also on top of the totem pole when it comes to providing a comprehensive safety kit. All the more to its credit is the fact that the latter comes as standard to all three of its trims. 

Honda CR-V 2025 Price List

Variants  Price
Honda CR-V V Turbo CVT ₱2,100,000
Honda CR-V V Turbo CVT (Platinum White Pearl) ₱2,120,000
Honda CR-V VX Turbo CVT ₱2,280,000
Honda CR-V VX Turbo CVT (Platinum White Pearl) ₱2,300,000
Honda CR-V RS e:HEV E-CVT ₱2,590,000
Honda CR-V RS e:HEV E-CVT (Platinum White Pearl) ₱2,610,000

Honda CR-V Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Stylish looks
  • Comprehensive safety kit
  • Generous output figures
  • Plenty of onboard features

Cons

  • Reduced cargo space on certain trims

Honda CR-V FAQs

1. What kind of car is the Honda CR-V 2025?

Sized and designed like a Volkswagen Tiguan, the 2025 Honda CR-V is a five-seat small crossover.

2. How many color options are there for the Honda CR-V to choose from?

The Honda CR-V is available in 4 colors including Ignite Red Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic, Platinum Pearl White, Cosmic Blue Metallic.

3. Is there a diesel Honda CR-V in the Philippines?

Honda Philippines offers the Honda CR-V in two variants – the five-seater gasoline and the seven-seater diesel.

4. Is the Honda CR-V 2025 Philippines a good car?

Yes, the CR-V is one of the country's most popular cars in the compact crossover segment. The Philippines saw the beginning of the Honda CR-V in the late 1990s and after two decades, it still remained one of the most prominent nameplates in its class.

5. How much is the Honda CR-V 2025 Philippines?

Honda CR-V 2025 price Philippines ranges from Php 2,100,000 to Php 2,610,000.

₱ 2,100,000 - ₱ 2,590,000

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