2012 Honda CR-V Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other CR-V years
- About as many complaints as other years 15th of 30 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 403 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Honda CR-V. That ranks 15th out of 30 CR-V model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (89 complaints, 22%), typically at around 37,153 miles. Complaints mention 27 crashes, 4 fires, 24 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
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- 403owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 27complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2012 Honda CR-V problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 89 | 22% | 37,153 | “vtc actuator” (30%) | $1,000 |
| Electrical System problems | 68 | 17% | 30,000 | “service bulletin” (12%) | $1,250 |
| Unknown or Other | 52 | 13% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 48 | 12% | 55,500 | — | — |
| Steering | 35 | 9% | 58,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 30 | 7% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 29 | 7% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 26 | 6% | 181,550 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 23 | 6% | 14,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 23 | 6% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 21 | 5% | 20,298 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 14 | 3% | 11,053 | — | — |
| Visibility | 14 | 3% | 32,350 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 7 | 2% | 7,029 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 6 | 1% | 6,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 1% | 24,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 6 | 1% | 18,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 4 | 1% | 40,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 0% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 0% | 27,100 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 0% | 36,575 | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 2 | 0% | 12,528 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 0% | 3,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2012 Honda CR-V recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: Honda 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 the brake pedal. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk: If the gear selector is moved from the park position without pressing the brake pedal it can allow the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda or Acura dealer. The dealer will install an updated brake shift interlock blocking mechanism free of charge. The recall began on May 13, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's campaign recall numbers are S96, S97, and S98.
Equipment:other:labels
Problem: Honda 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 Rating, Gross Axle Weight Rating front and rear, tire size, and rim size were specified on the safety certification label.
Risk: A misprinted label could lead to improper vehicle loading. Improper loading could result in a tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will apply the corrective label free of charge. The safety recall began on November 14, 2012. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Problem: Honda 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 mechanism may become loose and move out of position. There is a possibility that the cable can move far enough out of position to prevent the door from properly latching.
Risk: If the door is not fully latched, the door may open while driving or in a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury to the vehicle occupants.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front door latch assemblies in the affected vehicles, free of charge. Additionally, the interior front door handles in certain Honda CR-Vs will also be replaced, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on, or about, August 16, 2012. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA21002) — opened Sep 17, 2021, still open.
- Electrical overstress (EA19001) — opened Apr 19, 2019, closed Sep 19, 2024, led to recall 20V024.
- Autoliv Air Bag Propellant Mixture (EQ12002) — opened Feb 14, 2012, closed May 8, 2012.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2012 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle pulled to the left. The driver pulled over, and the vehicle was towed to the residence. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that the rear driver's side wheel suspension assembly had…
Driving on the interstate, my moonroof exploded. Sunny day April 30, 2025. Nothing hit the roof. Thankfully I had the shade closed. I purchased a replacement roof from a local salvage yard and no issues with the replacement.
2012 Honda CR-V - I've had to replace my battery multiple times. I would go out the car and it would be dead. I even tried replacing the alternator. I am replacing batteries at an average of every 2.5 years. Honda tells me I can do a diagnostic test for $189. I see there are repeated complaints…
Left and Right suspension Front and Back. Yes car will be available for inspection when called. No oneâs safety was at risk. It has been confirmed by an independent service center. No other place has inspected the car/component except for the independent service center. No there were no warning…
The frame rust issue was recalled through 2011, my 2012 was manufactured in the same plant same time as the 2011 model, and has the same rust issue, but was not included in the recall. I have significant damage to my vehicle from rust frame, causing it to be borderline unsafe without modification…
Other Honda CR-V years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 CR-V | 154 | 0 |
| 2025 CR-V | 257 | 1 |
| 2024 CR-V | 391 | 2 |
| 2023 CR-V | 516 | 3 |
| 2022 CR-V | 265 | 3 |
| 2021 CR-V | 335 | 4 |
| 2020 CR-V | 355 | 7 |
| 2019 CR-V | 1,105 | 8 |
| 2018 CR-V | 2,158 | 5 |
| 2017 CR-V | 1,774 | 7 |
| 2016 CR-V | 394 | 3 |
| 2015 CR-V | 672 | 3 |
| 2014 CR-V | 587 | 1 |
| 2013 CR-V | 382 | 2 |
| 2012 | 403 | 3 |
| 2011 CR-V | 554 | 13 |
| 2010 CR-V | 481 | 15 |
| 2009 CR-V | 386 | 12 |
| 2008 CR-V | 962 | 11 |
| 2007 CR-V | 887 | 12 |
| 2006 CR-V | 398 | 12 |
| 2005 CR-V | 479 | 12 |
| 2004 CR-V | 501 | 12 |
| 2003 CR-V | 468 | 13 |
| 2002 CR-V | 515 | 15 |
| 2001 CR-V | 142 | 1 |
| 2000 CR-V | 129 | 2 |
| 1999 CR-V | 127 | 3 |
| 1998 CR-V | 128 | 3 |
| 1997 CR-V | 108 | 2 |
See all Honda CR-V problems by year, every Honda model, or the Honda VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Honda CR-V?
Owners most often report engine, electrical system, unknown or other problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 89 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Honda CR-V?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2012 Honda CR-V a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other CR-V model years, the 2012 has about as many complaints as a typical year, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.