2013 Honda CR-V Engine Problems
Owners have filed 97 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2013 Honda CR-V, 25% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 28,750 miles. The words owners use most often: “vtc actuator” (33% of reports).
- 97engine complaints
- 28,750median miles at failure
- 5mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 31%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Vtc actuator: mentioned in 32 of 97 complaints (33%)
- Grinding noise: mentioned in 23 of 97 complaints (24%)
- Cold start: mentioned in 11 of 97 complaints (11%)
- Variable timing: mentioned in 6 of 97 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 66 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 97 complaints, 5 mention a crash, 1 an injury.
Honda CR-V engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 CR-V | 10 | 6% | 400 |
| 2025 CR-V | 25 | 10% | 8,475 |
| 2024 CR-V | 24 | 6% | 50,490 |
| 2023 CR-V | 21 | 4% | 5,000 |
| 2022 CR-V | 19 | 7% | 55,000 |
| 2021 CR-V | 33 | 10% | 52,000 |
| 2020 CR-V | 39 | 11% | 50,000 |
| 2019 CR-V | 112 | 10% | 5,925 |
| 2018 CR-V | 530 | 25% | 5,814 |
| 2017 CR-V | 531 | 30% | 15,000 |
| 2016 CR-V | 101 | 26% | 21,500 |
| 2015 CR-V | 243 | 36% | 1,000 |
| 2014 CR-V | 190 | 32% | 30,000 |
| 2013 CR-V | 97 | 25% | 28,750 |
| 2012 CR-V | 89 | 22% | 37,153 |
| 2011 CR-V | 37 | 7% | 83,000 |
| 2010 CR-V | 53 | 11% | 73,025 |
| 2009 CR-V | 8 | 2% | 87,000 |
| 2008 CR-V | 23 | 2% | 71,500 |
| 2007 CR-V | 14 | 2% | 115,500 |
| 2006 CR-V | 11 | 3% | 111,650 |
| 2005 CR-V | 16 | 3% | 123,684 |
| 2004 CR-V | 12 | 2% | 81,861 |
| 2003 CR-V | 6 | 1% | 135,000 |
| 2002 CR-V | 7 | 1% | 119,000 |
| 2001 CR-V | 9 | 6% | 108,000 |
| 2000 CR-V | 2 | 2% | 94,423 |
| 1999 CR-V | 5 | 4% | 115,500 |
| 1998 CR-V | 6 | 5% | 175,000 |
| 1997 CR-V | 3 | 3% | 217,600 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the 2013 Honda CR-V. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
While our 2013 Honda CRâV was still drivable, we began experiencing a brief but loud rattle or grinding noise at cold start, especially after the vehicle had been sitting. Several years ago the dealer replaced the Variable Timing Control (VTC) actuator because of this coldâstart rattle. After a…
Transmission shudders on acceleration at low speeds up to 40 mph
My 2013 Honda CRV completely broke down in late August 2025, as I was backing out of my driveway. Our lives were at risk. This could have happened in traffic, causing a terrible collision. My local Honda dealership found the chain guides broken and the timing off, and recommended replacement of…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2013 Honda CR-Vs have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 97 owner complaints about engine for the 2013 Honda CR-V (25% of the 382 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2013 Honda CR-V engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 28,750 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2013 Honda CR-V?
The most frequent phrase is “vtc actuator”, in 32 of 97 complaints, followed by “grinding noise” (23).
Other 2013 Honda CR-V problems
- Power Train problems (95)
See all 2013 Honda CR-V problems or engine problems across all CR-V years.