2013 Honda CR-V Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 95 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2013 Honda CR-V, 25% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 38,894 miles. The words owners use most often: “vtc actuator” (14% of reports).
- 95power train complaints
- 38,894median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $550typical repair cost reported by owners
- 8%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 13 of 95 complaints (14%)
- Cold start: mentioned in 7 of 95 complaints (7%)
- Grinding noise: mentioned in 7 of 95 complaints (7%)
- Rear differential: mentioned in 5 of 95 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 2013 Honda CR-V at $550, and half of them between $410 and $2,100.
Based on 5 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2017–2024), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 52 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 95 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 1 an injury.
Honda CR-V power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 CR-V | 20 | 13% | — |
| 2025 CR-V | 7 | 3% | 3,000 |
| 2024 CR-V | 17 | 4% | 5,000 |
| 2023 CR-V | 14 | 3% | — |
| 2022 CR-V | 10 | 4% | 18,000 |
| 2021 CR-V | 12 | 4% | 14,800 |
| 2020 CR-V | 20 | 6% | 11,500 |
| 2019 CR-V | 20 | 2% | 11,000 |
| 2018 CR-V | 64 | 3% | 8,750 |
| 2017 CR-V | 144 | 8% | 20,900 |
| 2016 CR-V | 45 | 11% | 22,000 |
| 2015 CR-V | 150 | 22% | 970 |
| 2014 CR-V | 68 | 12% | 43,000 |
| 2013 CR-V | 95 | 25% | 38,894 |
| 2012 CR-V | 48 | 12% | 55,500 |
| 2011 CR-V | 14 | 3% | 18,000 |
| 2010 CR-V | 30 | 6% | 11,800 |
| 2009 CR-V | 11 | 3% | 104,000 |
| 2008 CR-V | 37 | 4% | 59,719 |
| 2007 CR-V | 36 | 4% | 61,000 |
| 2006 CR-V | 25 | 6% | 67,500 |
| 2005 CR-V | 25 | 5% | 31,743 |
| 2004 CR-V | 13 | 3% | 115,000 |
| 2003 CR-V | 23 | 5% | 39,750 |
| 2002 CR-V | 24 | 5% | 36,000 |
| 2001 CR-V | 6 | 4% | 44,000 |
| 2000 CR-V | 15 | 12% | 86,036 |
| 1999 CR-V | 11 | 9% | 88,260 |
| 1998 CR-V | 8 | 6% | 113,500 |
| 1997 CR-V | 5 | 5% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
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.
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…
The contact owns a 2013 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30â40 MPH, the transmission shuddered. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed it with transmission failure. The independent mechanic flushed the transmission fluid; however, the…
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 power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 95 owner complaints about power train 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 power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 38,894 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2013 Honda CR-V?
Owners report a typical cost of $550 (half paid between $410 and $2,100), from 5 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2013 Honda CR-V?
The most frequent phrase is “vtc actuator”, in 13 of 95 complaints, followed by “cold start” (7).
Other 2013 Honda CR-V problems
- Engine problems (97)
See all 2013 Honda CR-V problems or power train problems across all CR-V years.