UsedScore

2013 Honda CR-V: Solid

Owners filed 195 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Honda CR-V in its first five years on the road, about 65 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 (25% of complaints, median 18,000 miles).

Complaint index
0.9×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical CR-V year
Rank
4th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
195
first five years; 65 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
2
campaigns
4th generation, 2012–2016 · 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. Engine25% · 49 complaints · median 18,000 miles
  2. Air bags7% · 13 complaints · median 29,000 miles
  3. Powertrain15% · 29 complaints · median 9,000 miles
  4. Speed control11% · 21 complaints · median 3,000 miles
  5. Brakes11% · 21 complaints · median 14,000 miles
  6. Lights15% · 29 complaints · median 1,000 miles
  7. Electrical10% · 20 complaints · median 22,000 miles
  8. Body and structure4% · 8 complaints · median 17,000 miles
  9. Fuel and propulsion5% · 9 complaints · median 2,000 miles
  10. Visibility8% · 15 complaints · median 5,000 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 commonly report the passenger air bag warning light staying on or flickering without cause, and several describe crashes where an air bag failed to deploy or deployed unexpectedly. Repairs have included sensor or control unit replacement, sometimes tied to a Takata-related recall.

Warning signs:
Many note the passenger or driver air bag warning light illuminating intermittently or staying lit, sometimes with no one in the passenger seat.
What shops did:
Dealers reset codes, replaced seat weight sensors or seat frames, or told owners parts such as the SRS unit needed replacing, though the light sometimes returned.
Mileage:
most between 20,000 and 70,000 miles, among 18 complaints that give it

“The passenger" air bag is off" icon is on all the time in the upper right hand corner of the dash.”

“This occurs at any time sitting , driving on side roads, highway at any speed. It does not happen all the time.”

Engine

Owners commonly report a grinding or rattling engine noise on cold starts that dealers link to the VTC actuator, with some also describing stalling, hesitation, or timing chain problems. Repairs sometimes helped temporarily, but many say the noise or symptoms returned even after parts were replaced.

Warning signs:
Many describe a loud metal-on-metal grinding or rattling noise lasting a few seconds on cold starts, sometimes with shuddering or vibration during light acceleration or a check engine light.
What shops did:
Dealers often replaced or attempted to replace the VTC actuator, sometimes multiple times, though several owners report the noise or shuddering returned, and some say dealers could not duplicate or diagnose the issue.
Mileage:
most between 15,000 and 65,000 miles, among 68 complaints that give it

“The engine exhibited a loud grinding noise when starting in cold weather”

“Shakes at speed 30-45 MPH during acceleration. Shakes sometimes goes away when foot is removed momentarily and gas is reapplied”

Powertrain

Owners describe a CR-V that shudders or vibrates during light acceleration and gear shifts, along with a grinding noise on cold starts tied to the VTC actuator. Repairs like fluid changes, software updates, or part replacements are frequently reported as only temporary fixes.

Warning signs:
Many notice a shaking or judder feeling between 1st-2nd or 2nd-3rd gear around 20-35 mph, and a brief grinding noise when starting the engine cold.
What shops did:
Dealers often flushed or replaced transmission fluid, updated software, or replaced the VTC actuator or torque converter, but several owners say the shudder or rattle returned afterward.
Mileage:
most between 20,000 and 80,000 miles, among 53 complaints that give it

“When the car is cold at 30 MPH the car vibrates. Dealer reset software on transmission. Did not fix problem.”

“A loud grinding noise lasting a few seconds after initial start up after car has been sitting”

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

Recalls (2)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 23V858000December 20232,490,460 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge.

  • 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.

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 113 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2013 CR-V. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • A18-057 · June 2018This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators.
  • A17-063 · September 2017The water pump seized or the drive belt shredded.
  • 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.
  • A16-012 · February 2017at cold start-up, the engine rattles loudly for about 2 seconds.
  • A-HNS-03252016-3 · March 2016"dealer message - honda has updated the dealer q&a to provide you with the latest information regarding stop sale/ safety recall: honda 2007-2015 multi-model driver’s airbag inflator (service…
  • A-HNS-03182016-3 · March 2016"dealer message - honda has updated the dealer q&a to provide you with the latest information regarding stop sale/ safety recall: honda 2007-2015 multi-model driver’s airbag inflator (service…

All 2013 CR-V bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2013 Honda CR-V reliable?
Owners filed 195 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Honda CR-V in its first five years on the road, about 65 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 2013 CR-V problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the engine (25%), the air bags (7%) and the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (15%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2013 Honda CR-V been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2013 Honda CR-V, the most recent in December 2023 (fuel system, gasoline). 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 2013 Honda CR-V on NHTSA.gov · How we rate