Honda Just Recalled Nearly Every CR-V e:FCEV It’s Sold So Far

Audio By Carbonatix

Honda has just announced a safety recall affecting a small but notable slice of its latest high-tech vehicles: the 2025 CR-V e:FCEV, a hydrogen-powered SUV that represents one of the company’s boldest steps into fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). The recall affects 388 vehicles in the United States and was filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in mid-December 2025.

This isn’t the usual “check your lights or tighten a bolt” fix. Honda says there’s a potential defect in the vehicle’s fuel cell coolant system — specifically, coolant that keeps the fuel cell running at the right temperature may leak into the fuel cell stack case, where it shouldn’t be. If that happens, the liquid coolant can create an internal electrical short circuit within the fuel cell system. That in turn could reduce engine power or even stop fuel cell power generation entirely, increasing the risk of a crash in certain driving situations.

If you’re not familiar with Honda’s e:FCEV, here’s a quick refresher. Unlike a conventional car that burns gasoline or a battery electric vehicle that stores electricity in a large battery, a fuel cell vehicle produces electricity on the go by combining hydrogen with oxygen in a fuel cell stack. The only real byproduct is water vapor, making it a clean technology with a long refueling range and quick fill-ups.

But because the system relies on liquid coolant and high-voltage components under the hood, keeping liquids where they belong is critical. That’s where the current problem stems from.

Honda’s investigation — and the subsequent NHTSA filing — explains that the issue can arise for two key reasons:

1. Assembly Process Changes: In trying to refine the way the fuel cell stack’s parts are sealed, Honda reduced the amount of adhesive sealant used during assembly. But this change wasn’t verified well enough, leaving gaps that could let coolant escape.
2. Supplier Manufacturing Issues: The supplier that makes part of a “wobble joint” in the coolant system didn’t properly remove burrs (tiny rough edges) from an O-ring groove. Those burrs can compromise the joint’s seal over time.

Honda’s recall report says the vehicle may alert drivers before a full failure occurs. Some of the warning messages you might see on the dashboard include:

• “Power System” — indicating a detected high-voltage ground fault.
• “FC insulating fluid low, see your dealer” — meaning the coolant level has dropped.
• “Power may be reduced, see your dealer” — indicating the system is limiting power output to about 20 kilowatts.
• “Do not drive” or “Stop driving when safe” — the worst-case scenario, signaling that fuel cell power generation has stopped.

For the 2025 model year, early data shows sales in the low hundreds, reflecting its niche status compared to the mainstream gasoline and hybrid CR-V models. From the recall notice issued by Honda, the recall population essentially matches the entire number of vehicles sold or leased.

In other words, it is safe to assume that virtually all CR-V e:FCEVs delivered to customers are part of this recall. The recall population (388) essentially equals the total number sold/leased, so yes — Honda is recalling nearly every single one on the road.

• Overall CR-V Sales (All Variants):
  • Honda sold 278,952 CR-Vs in the U.S. from January–November 2025.
  • These figures include gasoline and hybrid versions, which dominate the lineup.
  • In 2024, Honda sold 363,388 CR-Vs, and in 2023, 361,457 CR-Vs.
• CR-V e:FCEV Specifics:
  • The CR-V e:FCEV debuted in 2025 as the first hydrogen fuel-cell plug-in hybrid SUV from Honda.
  • It is only available in California, due to hydrogen fueling infrastructure limitations.
  • Monthly sales data shows very small volumes compared to the mainstream CR-V, with sales in the low hundreds total for 2025 so far.
  • Honda itself has acknowledged that this model is a limited-production vehicle, not intended for mass-market adoption.

Honda will replace the entire fuel cell stack assembly in affected vehicles at no cost to owners. This isn’t a quick patch; it’s a full swap to a redesigned component that uses a rubber end seal instead of the problematic adhesive sealant, and wobble joints that have been properly deburred.

Dealers began receiving notification of the recall in December 2025, and owners are expected to be contacted by mail by early February 2026 with instructions on how to schedule service. VINs for all affected vehicles will be searchable on the NHTSA website for owners who want to check their car’s status.

So far, neither Honda nor the NHTSA has linked the defect to any crashes or injuries. Still, the company and federal regulators are treating it as a safety issue worth addressing before it causes trouble on the road. That’s exactly what the federal recall process is for; catching potential hazards early.