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Drivers Say Popular SUV is Making Them Sick

Nothing compares to the thrill of driving a brand-new car off the lot, unless that feeling is nausea and frustration.

Unfortunately, that’s how some 2015 Honda CR-V owners say they feel, because of a mysterious vibration they’re experiencing on the road.

New CR-V owner Nish Desai said he notices the shaking every time he waits at a stop light.

"I just don’t expect this in a brand-new car," Desai said.

Desai said he first noticed the sensation the day after he drove his CR-V home for the very first time.

"I was like 'ooh this is bad,'" he recalled. "I started doing some research on Google just to see if this is a known issue or what not."

Turns out, it is.

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The NBC4 I-Team found dozens of complaints on the National Highway Transportation Safety Board's website describing the shaking. Some drivers report the sensation is "nauseating," and in some cases, even powerful enough to trigger "migraines and back pain."

Honda has acknowledged the issue, releasing a YouTube video meant for 2015 CR-V drivers. In it, a narrator said the carmaker's review "is still in progress, and therefore there is no product improvement available at this time."

The video also states that while the cause of the vibrating is unknown, it poses no safety hazard.

Clarence Ditlow, Executive Director for the Center of Auto Safety in Washington, said more needs to be done.

"We expect Honda, which got its reputation based on its engines, to solve this problem, but they better do it soon," said Ditlow.

With no fix available, Desai tried to trade his CR-V for another Honda, but said the dealership and corporate headquarters turned him down.

He also said the Honda salesman never informed him of the vibration on the day he purchased the vehicle.

"I basically said that 'are you guys aware of any issues with this vehicle?'" recalled Desai. "His response was 'no, it’s a brand-new car, so what can be wrong?' They are being dishonest in my opinion."

Contacted by the I-Team for comment, American Honda Motor Company spokesman Chris Martin said that "Honda is not actively informing all potential customers about this issue, but our proactive approach with the video and our responses to media inquiries clearly shows that we're also not hiding it. I'd challenge you to find another automaker with a limited number of complaints about a new vehicle that is doing more."

"Most CR-V owners either do not experience these vibrations or do not perceive them as a problem," Martin said. "Nonetheless, we continue to work to minimize them in order to satisfy the owners who are concerned."

That comes as little comfort to Desai.

"Right now, I feel like I'm stuck with the car [but] I'm hoping this awareness will prevent people from at least holding off on buying it until [Honda] can provide a fix — if there’s a fix," said Desai.

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Entire Honda statement to NBC4 I-Team regarding 2015 CR-V Vibration:
In early August, Honda issued a service bulletin to its dealers that includes information about the ongoing research into these customers' concerns. Within that bulletin are instructions regarding a software update to the vehicle's computer to address some aspects of vibration that are of concern to certain CR-V owners. While this update may not resolve every customer's concerns, the bulletin acknowledges that Honda's review continues and that the bulletin will be update when further remedies are available.

Most CR-V owners either do not experience these vibrations or do not perceive them as a problem. Nonetheless, we continue to work to minimize them in order to satisfy the owners who are concerned. Honda is not actively informing all potential customers about this issue, but our proactive approach with the video and our responses to media inquiries clearly shows that we're also not hiding it. I'd challenge you to find another automaker with a limited number of complaints about a new vehicle that is doing more.

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