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Honda CR-V

EPA MPG: 25 mpg

RECALL ALERT:
There are 3 recalls on this vehicle. Learn More.

Reliability

Overall Reliability

The 2012 CR-V is more reliable than other cars from the same model year.

The 2012 Honda CR-V has been recalled 3 times by NHTSA. View Recalls
Most Common Trouble Spots
Common Trouble Spot
Common Trouble Spot

Owner Reported Trouble Spots

The Reliability score is based on our latest subscriber survey of 2012 Honda CR-V owners. The owner comments describe problems respondents experienced with this vehicle.

Suspension/Steering

Shocks or struts, ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, alignment, steering linkage (includes rack and pinion), power steering (pumps and hoses, leaks), wheel balance, springs or torsion bars, bushings, electronic or air suspension.

What Owners Say

Alignment

"Car needed front and rear alighment"

Anonymous A., IA (2012 Honda CR-V LX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)
Ball joints

"They broke. Literally. Was told its a weird fluke. Not anything they- mechanic ms - had seen. Thankfully repair was under $2000"

Anonymous, CA (2012 Honda CR-V EX-L 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

"Routine maintenance on a 13 year old car"

Anonymous, CA (2012 Honda CR-V EX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)
Shocks or struts

""needed to replace shocks, struts at 85,000 miles due to wear, leaking""

Anonymous A., AZ (2012 Honda CR-V EX-L 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

""Again, routine maintenance on a 13 year old car""

Anonymous, CA (2012 Honda CR-V EX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

"Front struts had top bearings that failed in the original and in two replacement brands. A third replacement is in now and seems to be working well after 5,000 miles"

Anonymous A., WI (2012 Honda CR-V EX-L 2.4-L 4 Cyl)
Tie rods

"Car needed new tie rod ends"

Anonymous A., IA (2012 Honda CR-V LX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

"dealership found tie rods loose and replaced them"

Anonymous, NY (2012 Honda CR-V EX-L 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

"replaced right outer tie rod end"

Anonymous, MA (2012 Honda CR-V EX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)
Tire wear is uneven

""Uneven tire wear caused by shocks, struts""

Anonymous A., AZ (2012 Honda CR-V EX-L 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

Climate System

AC compressor, blower (fan) motor, condenser, evaporator, heater system, automatic climate system, electrical failure, refrigerant leakage.

What Owners Say

A/C compressor

"AC stopped working not blowing any cold air"

Anonymous, TN (2012 Honda CR-V EX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

"Since it was new it hasn't [u put tha much air"

Anonymous, CA (2012 Honda CR-V EX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

"AC compressor bearings are very noisy and the compressor needs replacement"

Anonymous, CA (2012 Honda CR-V EX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

"Although the AC works, on hot days the air coming out is not very cold. I've had it checked with my mechanic and he says there is nothing wrong. At nearly 200,000 miles, I suppose it just doesn't work as energetically as the AC once did."

Anonymous, (2012 Honda CR-V LX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)
Other climate system problem

""The AC system is less effective. On hot days, we take the other car.""

Anonymous A., CA (2012 Honda CR-V EX-L 2.4-L 4 Cyl)
Refrigerant leaks

""Need to spend about $1,200 to fix the problem. Problem has been slowing getting worse over the last several months.""

Anonymous, FL (2012 Honda CR-V EX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

""Repair shop recommended to replace the condenser and evaporator for $1200. I added refrigerant and leak sealer to A/C unit, which has thus far restored the unit to normal cooling capacity.""

Anonymous, AL (2012 Honda CR-V EX-L 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

Exhaust

Muffler, pipes, catalytic converter, exhaust manifold, heat shields, leaks.

What Owners Say

Other/unsure

""Rear differential failed with 74000 miles on the vehicle, very expensive repair .""

Anonymous, NY (2012 Honda CR-V EX-L 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

""Oil use, requires adding oil after a one or two thousand miles""

Anonymous A., PA (2012 Honda CR-V EX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

"starter went out"

Anonymous, HI (2012 Honda CR-V Unsure 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

"Alternator failed and I replaced it and the battery last week."

Anonymous, TN (2012 Honda CR-V EX-L 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

"Needed new starter"

Anonymous, FL (2012 Honda CR-V LX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

""Parasitic drain, causing vehicle to not start/dead battery""

Anonymous, CA (2012 Honda CR-V Unsure 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

"I studied Consumer Reports before my purchase. I was very disappointed that the VCT Actuator which is a very common problem with this era of vehicle and wasn't flagged in your reviews. And it's an expensive fix. Neglecting the issue becomes a catastrophic problem. CR didn't do it's job."

Anonymous, AB (2012 Honda CR-V EX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

In-car Electronics

Infotainment system (audio, GPS, phone), rear entertainment system, backup or other camera/sensors, head-up display.

What Owners Say

Backup or other camera/sensors

"the display screen is cloudy and does not allow a clear view"

Anonymous, AB (2012 Honda CR-V EX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)
Display screen goes blank

""Evidently the previous owner put coins in the cd player, damaging the cd player also causing the radio to not turn the radio screen off when the car is turned off. That drains the battery over a day without being driven. This was a common enough problem that I found out online replacing it was the only solution. I bought a used one because of the shape of the radio and the built-in hazard lights. I also learned through forums that I had to discover the serial number and look up a secret anti-theft code to input or it wouldn't work.""

Anonymous, NC (2012 Honda CR-V EX-L 2.4-L 4 Cyl)
Hardware replacement

"electronic compass stopped working two years after purchase. The dealer was ineffective with repairs."

Anonymous, NM (2012 Honda CR-V EX-L 2.4-L 4 Cyl)
Other in-car electronics problem

"Impossible to find sensors to pair with the monitor in the system"

Anonymous A., WI (2012 Honda CR-V EX-L 2.4-L 4 Cyl)
Phone pairing (e.g., Bluetooth)

"Bought used in 2019 and phone answering never worked right. Recently, the bluetooth pairing stopped working."

Anonymous, PA (2012 Honda CR-V EX-L 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

Brakes

Premature pad/rotor wear, pulsation or vibration, antilock system, parking brake, master cylinder, calipers, squeaking, brake failure, regenerative braking.

What Owners Say

Calipers

"Replacement required this year along with brake pads. $1300 CDN."

Anonymous A., ON (2012 Honda CR-V EX-L 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

"Stuck caliper caused early brake pad wear and rotor polishing"

Anonymous A., WY (2012 Honda CR-V EX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)
Premature brake wear

"It seems like I have to get brakes replaced every two years."

Anonymous, VT (2012 Honda CR-V Unsure 2.4-L 4 Cyl)
Regular brake failure

"Brake maintenance required this year - $1200. Callipers replaced and other work."

Anonymous A., ON (2012 Honda CR-V EX-L 2.4-L 4 Cyl)
Rotors

"had to replace rear pads & rotors"

Anonymous, MA (2012 Honda CR-V EX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

Electrical Accessories

Cruise control, clock, warning lights, body control module, keyless entry, wiper motor or washer, tire pressure monitor, interior or exterior lights, horn, gauges, 12V power plug, USB ports, alarm or security system, remote engine start, heated or cooled seats, heated steering wheel, headlights, automatic headlights, automatic wipers, wireless charging pad.

What Owners Say

12V battery

"Battery not charging back up with alternator problems"

Anonymous, TN (2012 Honda CR-V EX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

""A battery only lasts a couple of years in this car. I have to always carry a charged booster pack because I never know when it will suddenly fail. This was true of the OEM battery as well as several name-brand replacement batteries. My garage tells me this is common with this model, as the electrical load is just too large for the battery.""

Anonymous, WA (2012 Honda CR-V EX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

"on several occassions the battery was dead because something was causing the battery to drain"

Anonymous, AB (2012 Honda CR-V EX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)
Exterior lights (other than headlights)

""Center brake light. This is (I think) the only exterior LED light on this car, and it was the first to fail. It is an external integrated module. The waterproof seal failed, allowing water to enter and short out the circuitry. The repair was $620. To replace a brake light!""

Anonymous, WA (2012 Honda CR-V EX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)
Other electrical system problem

""Since we bought this vehicle new it has constantly had an unknown electrical leak that drains the battery in two to four days, eventually causing battery failure. We replace the battery at least once a year, sometimes 24 months. They cannot find the problem""

Anonymous, AL (2012 Honda CR-V EX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

Paint/Trim

Paint (fading, chalking, peeling, or cracking), loose interior or exterior trim or moldings, rust.

What Owners Say

Loose exterior trim or moldings

""Had car for 1 yr. Thin black trim outlining windows,where glass comes up & down out of, this thin black molding is separating & ends are sticking up. Push them down & they pop back up.This black thin trim won't stay down & it's located all over the exterior.""

Anonymous, (2012 Honda CR-V EX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

"The thin black trim lines the wheel wells & edges pop up & faded."

Anonymous, (2012 Honda CR-V EX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

"Plastic trim on window and windshield is flapping."

Anonymous, CA (2012 Honda CR-V EX-L 2.4-L 4 Cyl)
Rust

"In 2020 had rust on back door just over top of the back windshield which i fix but is now reapearing"

Anonymous A., QC (2012 Honda CR-V EX-L 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

Body Hardware

Windows, locks and latches, doors or sliding doors, tailgate, trunk or hatch, mirrors, seat controls (power or manual), seat belts, sunroof, convertible top, glass defect.

What Owners Say

Seat controls - manual

"The back seats are not able to be put back in seating position after using them for hauling stuff."

Anonymous, CA (2012 Honda CR-V EX-L 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

""The manual release for the back seats, which allows the seats to lay flat to expand the usable cargo space, failed first for one side, then the other. When it failed it was not possible to lay the seats flat, which greatly reduced the rear cargo space flexibility. We paid approximately $350 to repair one side. We have not yet repaired the other side.""

Anonymous, CO (2012 Honda CR-V EX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

"The driver's seat wouldn't stay up to the level I wanted it to be."

Anonymous, MO (2012 Honda CR-V EX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)
Tailgate, hatch or trunk

"It continues to leak along the roofline. The water runs down behind the interior trim and into the the spare tire wheel well. Honda dealer replaced rear window and that did no good whatsoever. Accumulation of water ranges from 1 to 3 inches during the rainy months, causing rusting of the spare rim and flat tire jack."

Anonymous, MS (2012 Honda CR-V EX-L 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

Engine Major

Engine rebuild or replacement, cylinder head, head gasket, turbocharger or supercharger, timing chain or belt.

What Owners Say

Other major engine problem

"The car started to make loud clattering noises when started up. some research indicated a timing actuator device was defective in this series of cars and was not subject to a recall. even though many cars had a similar problem. I was forced to pay over $1,000 to replace the device. there is a class action lawsuit pending for this device."

Anonymous, IL (2012 Honda CR-V LX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

"icons went off on screen.I had a diagnostic and it stated a new cam shaft was needed. Had it done at dealership,approx $2200,and it has been running fine for the past year, It has been the only repair not due to normal wear and tear,such as brakes and struts,although it may have been for this part,"

Anonymous, NH (2012 Honda CR-V EX-L 2.4-L 4 Cyl)
Timing belt or chain

"Timing chain stretched about one inch and was close to failure requiring emplacement."

Anonymous A., OH (2012 Honda CR-V LX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

Engine Minor

Accessory belts and pulleys, engine computer, engine mounts, engine knock or ping, fuel leaks, oil leaks.

What Owners Say

Oil leaks

"This has been ongoing for a couple of years. Some seal was faulty. I got it fixed a couple of months ago."

Anonymous, OR (2012 Honda CR-V LX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

"Oil pan drain, other leaks."

Anonymous, VA (2012 Honda CR-V Unsure 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

Engine Electrical

Alternator, starter, hybrid battery replacement, hybrid battery related systems, regular battery, battery cables, engine harness, coil, ignition switch, electronic ignition, spark plugs and wires failure, auto stop/start.

What Owners Say

Alternator

"Difficulty starting the vehicle began about 1 year ago. We finally had to have it fixed."

Anonymous, OR (2012 Honda CR-V EX 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

Noises/Leaks

Squeaks, rattles, wind noises, seals and/or weather stripping, air and water leaks.

What Owners Say

Squeaks or rattles

""The car is noisier than it used to beit's 14 years old, after alland it squeaks when we get in and out.""

Anonymous A., CA (2012 Honda CR-V EX-L 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

Drive System

Driveshaft or axle, CV joint, differential, transfer case, four-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive components, driveline vibration, electrical failure, traction control, electronic stability control.

What Owners Say

Differential

"periodic noise over a few weeks. Used differential replaced the original."

Anonymous, NY (2012 Honda CR-V EX-L 2.4-L 4 Cyl)

Transmission Minor

Gear selector and linkage, transmission computer, transmission sensor or solenoid, clutch adjustment, rough shifting, slipping transmission, leaks.

Transmission Major

Transmission rebuild or replacement, torque converter, premature clutch replacement.

Engine Cooling

Radiator, cooling fan, water pump, thermostat, antifreeze leaks, overheating.

Fuel System/Emissions

Sensors (O₂, or oxygen, sensor), emission-control devices (includes EGR), fuel-injection system, fuel gauge/sender, fuel pump, problems filling up the tank.

2012 SUVs Reliability

This Car
vs. Similar Cars

Honda vs. Other New Car Brands Reliability

Reliability History
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Overall Reliability Verdict
POTENTIAL TROUBLE SPOTS
Powertrain
Engine Major
Engine Minor
Engine Cooling
Engine Electrical
Transmission Major
Transmission Minor
Drive System
Fuel System/Emissions
Exhaust
Suspension/Steering
Brakes
Climate System
Build Quality
Electrical Accessories
Body Hardware
Paint/Trim
Noises/Leaks
In-car Electronics
Reliability indicates how models have performed in the past, providing the basis for predicting how the vehicles will hold up in the year ahead. These charts provide the most comprehensive reliability information available to consumers. Based on information received from our latest subscriber survey for about 380,000 vehicles, our reliability history charts give you a rundown on how 2000 through 2025 vehicles are holding up in 20 potential trouble spots, ranging from the engine, transmission, electric motor, EV charging, and brakes, to power equipment and the electrical accessories.
Recalls
PROVIDED BY
POWER TRAIN
Apr 15, 2013
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.
Summary:
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."
What should you do:
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.
For more information:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 13V143000
Potential Number of Units Affected: 204169
EQUIPMENT
Oct 16, 2012
A misprinted label could lead to improper vehicle loading. Improper loading could result in a tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
Summary:
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.
What should you do:
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will apply the corrective label free of charge. The safety recall began on November 14, 2012. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
For more information:
Honda's recall campaign number is S62.Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 12V501000
Potential Number of Units Affected: 264
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
Jul 19, 2012
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.
Summary:
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.
What should you do:
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front door latch assemblies in the affected vehicles, free of charge. Additionally, the interior front door handles in certain Honda CR-Vs will also be replaced, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on, or about, August 16, 2012. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
For more information:
Honda recall campaign numbers S45/S46/S47.Customers may contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 12V338000
Potential Number of Units Affected: 172837
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