Moderator Note: I moved your thread to the gen5 subforum since this is a 2017 we are talking about.

It really should be in the Battery subforum, but to ensure you get plenty of gen5 eyes on it I have placed it here for now, and will move it later it need be.

 

OK with administriva behind us, a couple of points to make right up front:


1) any abnormal parasitic drain issues were solved on select suffering VINs in gen5 CRVs multiple years ago. So to answer your burning question... will it persist with Gen6 CRVs... the answer is NO.. unless there is a future software glitch on Hondas part in which case they will patch it with a free software update.

1a) ALL modern vehicles have some level of normal parasitic drain now days, generally around 50ma continuous on a modern vehicle.

2) which leaves you with... does your CRV have an abnormal parasitic drain event? OR are you just suffering classic persistent slow discharge due to not driving long enough and often enough in conjunction with the very normal 50ma parasitic drain of modern vehicles and fully top up your battery?

But first and foremost... none of us here have any idea of the state of quality of your battery, and apparently neither do you. So step one is have your battery properly load tested, your charging system verified to be working correctly, and your starter has no abnormal ripple voltage (which would point to a leaking bad diode). Most auto parts stores will do these tests for you at no charge, though be mindful you get what you get with free (errors sometimes) so maybe get a second opinion at another parts store. If they match then you have valid data.

Here are the facts: Your CRV comes factory equipped with a 51R battery, and unless you deliberately upsized your battery when the original was replaced... you will still have a 51R battery. Honestly, for a gen5 CRV, the 51R a bit on the small side if you are an infrequent or short trip driver. For the 1.5Ts they went to a much bigger and more robust battery (an H5/Group 47) beginning model year 2020. A full spec new fully charged 51R will self deplete sitting with the vehicle parked after about 4 weeks. An older battery will deplete sooner. A battery in a cumulative low state of charge can deplete in just a few days.

I suspect that your current battery sees persistent inadequate charging when you drive, unless you drive at least a total of 2 hours per week (say in 4 30 minute total drive trips). Reason: normal parasitic drain on modern Hondas is about 50ma. That IS normal, and required to keep all the various electronic systems and sensors in a power on standby mode so you have no delay when you start your vehicle before driving. That alone depletes about 3-4% of the capacity of a good solid 51R (at full charge) per day. It is what it is and this level of parasitic drain is common all across the industry in newer vehicle designs... so you cannot shop your way around it.

You could have a larger battery installed to give you more days of reserve VS normal parasitic drain, AND/OR you could put a smart charger/maintainer on your battery once every week on a day when you will not be driving to give it a chance to fully saturate the charge on your battery and also help obtain maximum life from your battery. The bigger battery does not prevent eventual normal discharge, but it does give you about 30% more reserve power over a 51R.

 

OK with administriva behind us, a couple of points to make right up front:


1) any abnormal parasitic drain issues were solved on select suffering VINs in gen5 CRVs multiple years ago. So to answer your burning question... will it persist with Gen6 CRVs... the answer is NO.. unless there is a future software glitch on Hondas part in which case they will patch it with a free software update.

1a) ALL modern vehicles have some level of normal parasitic drain now days, generally around 50ma continuous on a modern vehicle.

2) which leaves you with... does your CRV have an abnormal parasitic drain event? OR are you just suffering classic persistent slow discharge due to not driving long enough and often enough in conjunction with the very normal 50ma parasitic drain of modern vehicles and fully top up your battery?

But first and foremost... none of us here have any idea of the state of quality of your battery, and apparently neither do you. So step one is have your battery properly load tested, your charging system verified to be working correctly, and your starter has no abnormal ripple voltage (which would point to a leaking bad diode). Most auto parts stores will do these tests for you at no charge, though be mindful you get what you get with free (errors sometimes) so maybe get a second opinion at another parts store. If they match then you have valid data.

Here are the facts: Your CRV comes factory equipped with a 51R battery, and unless you deliberately upsized your battery when the original was replaced... you will still have a 51R battery. Honestly, for a gen5 CRV, the 51R a bit on the small side if you are an infrequent or short trip driver. For the 1.5Ts they went to a much bigger and more robust battery (an H4/Group 47) beginning model year 2020. A full spec new fully charged 51R will self deplete sitting with the vehicle parked after about 4 weeks. An older battery will deplete sooner. A battery in a cumulative low state of charge can deplete in just a few days.

I suspect that your current battery sees persistent inadequate charging when you drive, unless you drive at least a total of 2 hours per week (say in 4 30 minute total drive trips). Reason: normal parasitic drain on modern Hondas is about 50ma. That IS normal, and required to keep all the various electronic systems and sensors in a power on standby mode so you have no delay when you start your vehicle before driving. That alone depletes about 3-4% of the capacity of a good solid 51R (at full charge) per day. It is what it is and this level of parasitic drain is common all across the industry in newer vehicle designs... so you cannot shop your way around it.

You could have a larger battery installed to give you more days of reserve VS normal parasitic drain, AND/OR you could put a smart charger/maintainer on your battery once every week on a day when you will not be driving to give it a chance to fully saturate the charge on your battery and also help obtain maximum life from your battery. The bigger battery does not prevent eventual normal discharge, but it does give you about 30% more reserve power over a 51R.

I honestly don’t know which size battery I have, as I’m on my third in just under seven years. Just got a new battery at the end of 2023, as well as a new starter (garage assumed that was the issue).

 

If I can't get the dealership to resolve the issue, I'm trading it in and likely going with another make unless there's solid proof supporting Honda's acknowledgement and repair of the problem.

You havent said whether you have taken it to your dealer for examination?

If you have, what did they say?

 

From what I read in other groups and threads, Honda put in a smaller battery in the CRV's (not sure what year) to save on weight. If you look at the battery it is pretty small. I think most Crvs are group 51R. There are some threads that will show you what parts to order to replace it with a larger group size, Group 35. I found my 51R batter only got me 2 years, which is what yours is running for replacements. Batteries should last 3-5 years. Ive also seen a thread on how to replace to the H5 group battery (huge). The switchout was pretty easy to go from a 51R to 35, its got more CCA. I dont think its necessarily a parasitic issue, I think because its a smaller battery the little degradation over time drops it below what is needed to start the car.

 

Have you seen this video? I have the same issue with my CRV 2017. According to TSB 17-032, "This can happen if the electronic parking brake (EPB) is applied within 3 to 4 seconds of the vehicle being shut off or if the EPB switch is held for a 3 to 4 second duration when the vehicle is off. Update the VSA modulator-control unit, do the VSA sensor neutral position memorization (ALL SENSOR), set the tire pressures to the driver's door jamb label cold inflation values, and do the TPMS calibration procedure."

This mechanic reproduced the issue for his clients' crv 2017 and fixed it. Hope it helps!

(Part 1)

(Part 2)

FYI: Honda TSB 17-032

17-032 Honda Gauge and Instrument Panel TSB

17-032 Honda Gauge and Instrument Panel TSB

www.tsbsearch.com

 

I have a Honda CRV 2022 & had to replace the battery in early 2024. Today, Jan 2025, battery is bad & needs to be replaced..again. So clearly, something is draining my new battery. I paid to replace the last battery..normal wear not warranty. Yeah..no, I suspect something is draining it.

 

We have a 2017 Honda CR-V and experienced a battery-draining issue, going through two batteries within a year.

In our case, the problem appeared to be caused by a poorly installed aftermarket GPS tracker that had been added without our knowledge (not a stalker device—we’re certain because of its hard-to-access location plus our car is always inside of our garage at night). According to a Honda mechanic in another state, the most plausible explanation is that the dealer in Northern California—where I purchased the car brand new—installed it to track potential “unpaid loan” buyers. After the GPS was removed, the battery issue was resolved (it’s been about six months now, and so far, so good). The mechanic also noted that no certified Honda technician would have installed the GPS in the way it was done.

Who knows—I honestly don't know who to believe—but that’s how it turned out for us. Hope anyone else dealing with a battery-draining issue gets it resolved—it’s definitely frustrating!

 

Did they actually remove the device or did they simply unplug it?

 

I just spoke with my dealer and he said 90% of parasitic drain is caused by aging remote starters.

 

Interesting. I have a 2015 with 70k. No remote starter here, and my parasitic drain started a few years ago.