We discuss the theoretical and experimental situations for charge symmetry violation (CSV) effects in the elastic scattering of π + and π − on deuterium (D) and 3 He/ 3 H. Accurate comparison of data for both types of targets provides evidence for the presence of CSV effects. While there are indications of a CSV effect in deuterium, it is much more pronounced in the case of 3 He/ 3 H. We provide a description of the CSV effect on the deuteron in terms of single-and double-scattering amplitudes. The ∆-mass splitting is taken into account. Theoretical predictions are compared with existing experimental data for π − d scattering; a future article will speak to the π-three nucleon case.