When I bought both of our '09s used a few years ago, I just went through and replaced all the fluids when I had the time. They both came with fresh oil changes from the dealers, but I did a drain-and-fill of the auto trans fluid, drained and refilled the coolant (using Honda's blue 50/50 coolant), and visually checked other things like the belts. These use timing chains, so no worries about timing belts, but some recommend changing the timing chain tensioner. I need to swap the power steering fluid out, and also replace the brake fluid, once our weather improves.
Common problems I have had in both of the '09s include:
- Failed AC compressor clutch; both compressors replaced with remanufactured Honda.
- One failed starter, the other slow cranked...both replaced.
- Evap solenoids replaced in both--it causes the common "check fuel cap" error.
- Struts. (Only get KYB struts--I found the Monroes to be as bad as I was warned!)
- Poor quality leather (or vinyl, or whatever) on the door armrests.
- Dying TPMS sensors. I proactively replaced mine. The other throws the TPMS system error light.)
Individually, I have a dead seat heater and heated mirror in mine (totally forgot to fix them
again before winter), a mystery noise that came and went away after a year (likely the power steering pump) and I have noisy valves even after an adjustment. The other now has a leaking transmission.
If you live in the rust belt, or anywhere that salts roads in the winter, keep a careful eye on where the rear trailing arms attach to the body. These are rusting out and causing catastrophic failures. Honda in Canada is buying them back under a recall if they are found to be dangerously rusted. No word from Honda US, but a couple of members here have already posted pictures of these failures on their 3rd gen CR-Vs.
That is pretty much it, in a nutshell.
