UsedScore

2012 Honda CR-V: Solid

Owners filed 178 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Honda CR-V in its first five years on the road, about 67 for every 100,000 sold: 0.9× the rate of a typical CR-V year. That's close to a typical year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the engine (21% of complaints, median 24,000 miles).

Complaint index
0.9×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical CR-V year
Rank
5th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
178
first five years; 67 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
3
campaigns
4th generation, 2012–2016 (first year of the generation; redesign years often run worse) · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2012 Honda CR-V EX-L

Photo: 2012 Honda CR-V EX-L · IFCAR, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Engine21% · 38 complaints · median 24,000 miles
  2. Air bags6% · 10 complaints · median 24,000 miles
  3. Electrical23% · 41 complaints · median 21,000 miles
  4. Brakes9% · 16 complaints · median 10,000 miles
  5. Speed control7% · 13 complaints · median 8,000 miles
  6. Steering8% · 14 complaints · median 16,000 miles
  7. Body and structure5% · 9 complaints · median 5,000 miles
  8. Seats and belts4% · 8 complaints · median 11,000 miles
  9. Visibility15% · 26 complaints · median 13,000 miles
  10. Powertrain8% · 14 complaints · median 14,000 miles

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Air bags

Owners of this CR-V report air bags that sometimes fail to deploy at all, deploy only on one side, or only partially inflate during collisions, occasionally alongside a warning light that comes on before any crash. A few say dealers pointed to a clockspring or sensor problem needing paid repair, while others found no clear explanation from the dealer or manufacturer.

Warning signs:
Some owners noticed the air bag warning light turning on intermittently, sometimes when turning the steering wheel, before any crash occurred.
What shops did:
A few owners report dealers diagnosing a faulty clockspring or a weight sensor/seat frame issue requiring paid replacement, while others say the manufacturer would not investigate the non-deployment.
Mileage:
most between 25,000 and 70,000 miles, among 14 complaints that give it

“The airbag light often turns red, indicating that airbags are not likely to be deployed if needed.”

“The airbag only deployed on the passenger side not on the driver's side.”

Electrical

Many owners describe their CR-V's battery repeatedly dying or the charging system acting up, sometimes accompanied by power steering or door lock glitches. Dealers often replace batteries or apply a software update, but several owners say the trouble keeps coming back.

Warning signs:
Owners report clicking or grinding when starting, dashboard battery or EPS warning lights, dim or flickering lights, doors locking/unlocking on their own, and difficulty turning the steering wheel.
What shops did:
Dealers most often replaced the battery (sometimes multiple times), and in some cases replaced the alternator, starter, or applied a software update, though many owners say the problem returned or could not be duplicated.
Mileage:
most between 15,000 and 45,000 miles, among 51 complaints that give it

“I have had 3 batteries in my cr-v since purchase and was told it was due to a bad cell”

“I see all the lights went ON/OFF and I couldn't steer the wheel. The Power Steering stopped working and the car was running.”

Engine

Many 2012 CR-V owners report a persistent grinding or rattling noise from the engine on cold starts, tied by dealers to the VTC actuator, with some also describing stalling or hesitation while driving. Repairs are inconsistent, and several owners say the noise returns after replacement or that dealers could not fix it.

Warning signs:
Many notice the grinding or rattling noise lasts a few seconds right after starting, especially in cold weather or after the car has sat for hours.
What shops did:
Dealers often diagnosed a faulty VTC actuator and sometimes replaced it, though many owners report the noise returned or that no permanent fix was available, especially once out of warranty.
Mileage:
most between 20,000 and 60,000 miles, among 68 complaints that give it

“Whenever I start my car I hear a grinding noise which I have been told is the vtc actuator.”

“When vehicle is started first time in the morning there is a one time grinding noise”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (3)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 13V143000April 2013204,169 vehicles

    Power train: automatic transmission

    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.

  • NHTSA 12V501000October 2012264 vehicles

    Equipment: other: labels

    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.

  • NHTSA 12V338000July 2012172,837 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch

    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.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Honda sent NHTSA 105 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2012 CR-V. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • A18-138 · February 2019This bulletin has been cancelled because the collection is now complete.
  • A17-028 · July 20182012 CR-V Driver?s Airbag Inflator Collection.
  • A18-057 · June 2018This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators.
  • A15-086 · May 2017A surge, vibration, or judder may be felt while driving under light acceleration.
  • A17-040 · May 2017A surge, vibration, or judder may be felt while driving under light acceleration.
  • A09-010 · February 2017at cold start-up, the engine rattles loudly for about 2 seconds.
  • A15086 · August 2016a surge, vibration, or judder may be felt while driving under light acceleration.
  • A16-31 · June 2016ahm is conducting a study of driver's airbag inflators from specific locations.

All 2012 CR-V bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2012 Honda CR-V reliable?
Owners filed 178 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Honda CR-V in its first five years on the road, about 67 for every 100,000 sold: 0.9× the rate of a typical CR-V year. That's close to a typical year. Ratings compare CR-V years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2012 CR-V problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the engine (21%), the air bags (6%) and the electrical system (23%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2012 Honda CR-V been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2012 Honda CR-V, the most recent in April 2013 (power train). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Honda. The 2012 Honda CR-V on NHTSA.gov · How we rate