2017 Honda CR-V: Oil dilution (gas in oil, high oil level)

Common wear/failure (not a recall)

Symptoms

Owners of the 2017 CR-V report: high oil level with gas in oil. CarComplaints.com lists 89 owner complaints, average mileage 12,550 miles.

NHTSA has 539 owner complaints for the 2017 CR-V in this area. Examples:

• NHTSA complaint ODI #11767823 (filed 09/29/2026): “On aug 10, 2026 every dashboard warning light came on and stayed on took to the shop and they did some repair work. then on august 18 while driving, i have been getting stuttering and jerking motion like pauses. then, a whirling noise would start and ever…”
• NHTSA complaint ODI #11767620 (filed 09/28/2026): “While sitting with engine running all warning messages start to scroll through including warning dash lights. this occurs periodically may stop randomly a day or two later. no codes display when checked. noticed multiple incidents of this have been reported w…”

Likely causes

Honda's own dealer communications (filed with NHTSA) describe engine oil dilution on certain 2017-18 CR-Vs with the 1.5L turbo engine, tied to control-unit software/threshold settings: in extreme cold-weather states, CR-Vs driven on very short drive cycles may get fuel in the oil, raising the oil level, and in some cases causing misfire codes P0300-P0304 or P0172 (fuel system too rich). The 2019 owner letter also lists a whirling noise from the engine compartment and a lit check-engine light.

Fix, in plain English

Honda issued a product update (Service Bulletins 18-114 and 18-124, October 2018): replace the engine oil, update the PGM-FI (engine) and transmission software, reset learned values, and on some vehicles replace the A/C control unit. It started in five cold-weather states and was expanded in December 2018 to 16 more states. In 2019 Honda extended powertrain coverage for affected 2017-18 CR-Vs to 6 years/unlimited miles from the original sale date for damage from these concerns (camshafts, rocker arms, spark plugs), with software updates also covered under the 8-year/80,000-mile emissions warranty (campaign A4B, bulletin 19-032). Because that window runs from the original sale date, many 2017-18 CR-Vs are now past it; ask a Honda dealer to run a VIN check for open campaigns before paying out of pocket.

DIY difficulty: Pro

Internal engine work (lifters, oil consumption, fuel dilution diagnosis) requires engine teardown or dealer software/tests. (Our assessment.)

Cost

CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $300 (owner-reported average, not a quote).

Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)

AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto

Sources

• CarComplaints.com: High oil level with gas in oil (2017 CR-V)
• NHTSA complaints API, 2017 CR-V
• Manufacturer service bulletin / communication filed with NHTSA (2018): MC-10147181-9999
• Manufacturer service bulletin / communication filed with NHTSA (2018): MC-10151673-0001
• Manufacturer service bulletin / communication filed with NHTSA (2019): MC-10163170-0001