2012 Honda CR-V problems and recalls

Owners have filed 403 complaints on the 2012 Honda CR-V, and NHTSA has issued 3 recalls. The most cited component is the Engine (89 complaints).

403
Complaints
3
Recalls
27
Crash reports
4
Fire reports
24
Injuries
76.5
Severity index

Severity index 76.5 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 76.5p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 39 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 70% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 89 complaints (22.1%)89 22%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 68 complaints (16.9%)68 17%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 52 complaints (12.9%)52 13%Power TrainPower Train: 48 complaints (11.9%)48 12%SteeringSteering: 35 complaints (8.7%)35 9%Air BagsAir Bags: 30 complaints (7.4%)30 7%StructureStructure: 29 complaints (7.2%)29 7%SuspensionSuspension: 26 complaints (6.5%)26 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE8922.1%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6816.9%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5212.9%
POWER TRAIN4811.9%
STEERING358.7%
AIR BAGS307.4%
STRUCTURE297.2%
SUSPENSION266.5%

Complaints filed per year

026512012: 372013: 272014: 342015: 512016: 382017: 462018: 402019: 222020: 172021: 162022: 82023: 242024: 112025: 192026: 13 (partial year)12131415511617181920212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
201237
201327
201434
201551
201638
201746
201840
201922
202017
202116
20228
202324
202411
202519
2026 (year to date)13
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (54 against 41).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
12V50100016/10/2012EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELSHonda is recalling certain model year 2012 CR-V, equipped with the LX trim level and manufactured from August 30, 2012, to August 31, 2012. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification." The incorrect values for Gross Vehicle Weight Rat
13V14300015/04/2013POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONHonda is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 CR-V, Odyssey, and model year 2013 Acura RDX vehicles. During sub-freezing temperatures, the brake-shift interlock blocking mechanism may become slow and allow the gear selector to be moved from the Park position without pressing t
12V33800019/07/2012LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCHHonda is recalling certain model year 2012 Honda CR-V and model year 2013 Acura ILX vehicles. If the manual or power door lock is activated while an interior front door handle is being operated by an occupant, the cable connecting the interior door handle to the door latch mecha

Other Honda CR-V model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 15 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-09-03. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.