Honda Crf250l Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Honda Crf250l options? We analyzed 10 model years (2014–2024) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
Free VIN check
Found a Honda Crf250l? Check that exact car.
Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Honda Crf250l has 5 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls across model years 2014–2024. The most reported issue area is ENGINE.
- Make
- Honda
- Model
- Crf250l
- Model years analyzed
- 2014–2024 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 5
- Safety recall campaigns
- 3
- Crash-related complaints
- 1
- Fire-related complaints
- 0
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2014 (4 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ENGINE
- Reliability signal
- Excellent
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.
What the complaint data suggests
ExcellentThe HONDA CRF250L has 5 NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record. 1 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 5 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 3 federal recall campaigns
- 1 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
3 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2014–2024. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 5 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
5 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
I BOUGHT TWO OF THESE FOR MY WIFE AND I WHILE OUT OPERATING THESE VEHICLES AT ABOVE 90 DEGREES SEVERE FAILURE OF THE FUEL SYSTEM CAUSED THE VEHICLES TO STALL AND DIE CAUSING MORE THAN TEN TIMES OF BOTH VEHICLES WITHIN MINUTES OF EACH OTHER TO FAIL. PLACING VEHICLES ON KICKSTANDS WITH COOLING FANS RUNNING UNTIL FANS SHUT OFF TO BE ABLE TO RESTART AND RIDE. I HAVE TAKEN TO THE FAY MYERS DEALERSHIP FOR BOTH TO BE SERVICED AND THEY RETURNED TO ME A VERDICT OF CANNOT REPEAT FAILURE LOOKING AND RESEARCHING ONLINE SHOWED SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THIS MACHINE HAVING THIS EXACT FAILURE INDICATING A POSSIBLE FLEET FAILURE THAT HONDA WILL NOT RECOGNIZE. MLHMD3817G5302254 IS THE OTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS BOUGHT AT THE SAME TIME AND EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME FAILURES.
THE ENGINE DO NOT START AND STALL WHILE RIDING. (STARTER MAGNETIC SWITCH FAILURE)
2014 HONDA CRF250L WITH 3512 MILES. FOUR MILE FROM HOME ON FREEWAY 405 SOUTH AS I WAS RIDING ABOUT 55 MPH AND SUDDENLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE ENGINE SHUT OFF CAUSING THE BIKE TO STALLED ON A BUSY FREEWAY AND ALMOST GOT RAN OVER BY FAST COMING TRAFFIC. UNABLE TO BUMP START IN GEARS I HAVE TO COAST THE BIKE TO A NARROW EMERGENCY LANE. TRY TO RESTART THE BIKE BUT WITHOUT SUCCESS. TOW THE BIKE HOME AND RECHARGE OVER NIGHT AND CHECK OIL, AIR AND PLUG THEY ARE FINE. START THE BIKE AND TEST RODE AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE BIKE RAN FINE WITH THROTTLE OPEN BUT WOULD SHUT DOWN AGAIN WHEN SHIFTING. I FOUND THIS PROBLEM IS AN SAFE AND HOPE HONDA HAVE A SOLUTION BEFORE SOMEONE GET HURT OR KILL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HONDA CRF250L. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HONDA CRF250L. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FAULTY CAM CHAIN TENSIONER. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 02/24/15*LJ UPDATED 9/13/2017*CN
Showing 5 of 5 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Honda Crf250l
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Honda Crf250l, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Honda Crf250l has 5 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Honda Crf250l has 3 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 1 of the Honda Crf250l's 5 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Excellent) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Honda Crf250l vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Honda Crf250l vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Honda Crf250l has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
Compare
Buyers also compare
How does the Honda Crf250l stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.
Explore
Other Honda models
By state
Check a Honda Crf250l by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Honda Crf250l.
Research more
Keep researching before you buy
Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.
Honda Crf250l reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Honda Crf250l reliable?
Excellent. The Honda Crf250l has 5 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ENGINE. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Honda Crf250l years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2014 (4 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Honda Crf250l problems?
Top reported issues: ENGINE (3 complaints); FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (1 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (1 complaints).
Does the Honda Crf250l have recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Honda Crf250l. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.