no report yet
Power train: automatic transmission
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.
2012 Honda CR-VProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 403 owner complaints about the 2012 Honda CR-V, most often about the engine. It is covered by 3 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 31, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2012 Honda CR-V has problems
403 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
89Engine6 crash/fire/injury
68Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
48Power train3 crash/fire/injury
35Steering2 crash/fire/injury
30Air bags15 crash/fire/injury
29Structure6 crash/fire/injury
26Suspension
23Service brakes
23Visibility/wiper
9014 other systems15 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 89 | 6 |
| Electrical system | 68 | 1 |
| Power train | 48 | 3 |
| Steering | 35 | 2 |
| Air bags | 30 | 15 |
| Structure | 29 | 6 |
| Suspension | 26 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 23 | 2 |
| Visibility/wiper | 23 | 0 |
| 14 other systems | 90 | 15 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2012 Honda CR-V recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Other: labels
Risk. A misprinted label could lead to improper vehicle loading.
no report yet
Doors: latch
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.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Honda.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
37kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 66 engine complaints. 92% were reported before 100,000 miles.
23under 30k miles61under 100k miles5100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
12 owners mentioned a cost$775median
Middle half: $600 – $1,250
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2012 vs. every other CR-V year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the CR-V median. How we score
'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2012 Honda CR-V safety ratings
2012 Honda CR-V SUV 4WD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (17.4% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2012 Honda CR-V, and the recalls they led to.
- Electrical overstressLed to recall 20V-024
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
- Autoliv Air Bag Propellant MixtureNo recall
In owners' words
What CR-V owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Subject: Engine Stalls Upon Acceleration from Stop - Near Collision Description: I am experiencing intermittent engine stalling on my 2012 Honda CR-V. The issue occurs specifically when attempting to accelerate from a complete stop (e.g., at stop signs or intersections). When I press the gas pedal…
Upon cold start, the engine makes a loud knocking or rattling noise for several seconds, most noticeable after the vehicle has been sitting overnight. The noise seems to be coming from the timing area of the engine and has been identified by multiple mechanics as likely due to a faulty VTC…
The 2012 Honda CRV with 107,000 miles was making noise on startup and first few minutes of running. This only happened a few times. No Engine light or oil light came on, but planned to bring to repair shop soon. Then the engine stalled driving on the highway. The car completely shutdown. When…
Own a 2012 CR-V?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.