Honda CR-V 2012–2016 problems by year and mileage
4th generation · RM1-RM4
NHTSA data through 24 September 20262,435 complaints, 1,658 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 2012 Honda CR-V
Close- Median failure report
- 36,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 403
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
Most reported on the 2012
- Engine89 reports · median 37,000 mi
- Electrical system68 reports · median 30,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise52 reports · median 50,000 mi
3 recall campaigns name the 2012: Power train — automatic transmission; Equipment — other; Latches/locks/linkages — doors. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2013 Honda CR-V
Close- Median failure report
- 26,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 382
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2013
- Engine97 reports · median 29,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline95 reports · median 39,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise48 reports
2 recall campaigns name the 2013: Fuel system, gasoline — delivery; Power train — automatic transmission. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2014 Honda CR-V
Close- Median failure report
- 21,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 587
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2014
- Engine190 reports · median 30,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise108 reports · median 32,000 mi
- Electrical system77 reports · median 9,000 mi
1 recall campaign names the 2014: Fuel system, gasoline — delivery. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2015 Honda CR-V
Close- Median failure report
- 4,500 mi
- Complaints filed
- 670
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
Most reported on the 2015
- Engine243 reports · median 1,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline148 reports · median 970 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise144 reports · median 1,000 mi
3 recall campaigns name the 2015: Fuel system, gasoline — delivery; Engine; Engine and engine cooling — engine. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2016 Honda CR-V
Close- Median failure report
- 19,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 393
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
Most reported on the 2016
- Engine101 reports · median 22,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise85 reports · median 24,000 mi
- Fuel and propulsion system65 reports · median 9,500 mi
3 recall campaigns name the 2016: Fuel system, gasoline — delivery; Engine; Air bags — frontal. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. The 2012 reports latest and the 2015 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2012 has had 3 more years on the road to accumulate mileage.
The short answer
“Is the 2012–2016 Honda CR-V reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 19,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 80,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 1,658
- Recalls
- 7
Most reported
- Engine29.6% of complaints · median 20,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise17.9% of complaints · median 20,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline16.6% of complaints · median 17,000 mi
Owners filed 2,435 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012–2016 Honda CR-V; the engine leads with 29.6% of them, and half of the 1,658 that record an odometer reading came by 19,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
42% of complaints that record mileage fall within the first 12,000 miles, against 10.7 reports per 1,000 miles between 20,000 and 80,000. Failures clustered that early usually indicate a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2012–2016 Honda CR-V last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2012–2016 Honda CR-V, half of the 1,658 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 19,000 miles and 90% by 80,000 miles.
39 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 14 past 200,000 — each one proof that a CR-V reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Honda CR-V 2012–2016 · 1,658 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 522 complaints.
- First 12,000 miles — 42% of all failures
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 14 complaints (0.8%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 186
- 25%
- 2,010
- Median
- 19,000
- 75%
- 46,000
- 90%
- 80,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 522 | 31.5% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 128 | 7.7% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 87 | 5.2% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 105 | 6.3% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 100 | 6.0% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 68 | 4.1% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 90 | 5.4% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 70 | 4.2% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 54 | 3.3% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 50 | 3.0% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 48 | 2.9% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 41 | 2.5% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 38 | 2.3% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 22 | 1.3% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 35 | 2.1% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 25 | 1.5% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 27 | 1.6% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 24 | 1.4% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 19 | 1.1% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 13 | 0.8% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 7 | 0.4% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 7 | 0.4% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 10 | 0.6% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 4 | 0.2% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 8 | 0.5% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 5 | 0.3% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 4 | 0.2% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 9 | 0.5% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 200,000+ | 14 | 0.8% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Common CR-V problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Honda CR-V 2012–2016
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Fuel and propulsion system135 reports6,5001,500–34,000Fuel and propulsion system: 135 reports, median 6,500 miles, middle half 1,500 to 34,000 miles.
- Throttle and speed control142 reports10,0002,000–34,000Throttle and speed control: 142 reports, median 10,000 miles, middle half 2,000 to 34,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline404 reports17,0001,000–55,000Transmission and driveline: 404 reports, median 17,000 miles, middle half 1,000 to 55,000 miles.
- Problems owners could not categorise437 reports20,0001,000–41,000Problems owners could not categorise: 437 reports, median 20,000 miles, middle half 1,000 to 41,000 miles.
- Engine720 reports20,0002,000–47,000Engine: 720 reports, median 20,000 miles, middle half 2,000 to 47,000 miles.
- Electrical system330 reports24,0008,000–45,000Electrical system: 330 reports, median 24,000 miles, middle half 8,000 to 45,000 miles.
- Airbag system146 reports32,00012,000–58,000Airbag system: 146 reports, median 32,000 miles, middle half 12,000 to 58,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 720 | 29.6% | 20,000 | 2,000–47,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 437 | 17.9% | 20,000 | 1,000–41,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 404 | 16.6% | 17,000 | 1,000–55,000 |
| Electrical system | 330 | 13.6% | 24,000 | 8,000–45,000 |
| Airbag system | 146 | 6.0% | 32,000 | 12,000–58,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 142 | 5.8% | 10,000 | 2,000–34,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 135 | 5.5% | 6,500 | 1,500–34,000 |
| Body structure | 128 | 5.3% | 19,000 | 3,000–68,000 |
| Steering | 127 | 5.2% | 16,000 | 2,000–45,000 |
| Brakes | 121 | 5.0% | 19,000 | 5,000–35,000 |
System by system, in words
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 19,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 29.6% of complaints (720 reports, 501 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 20,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 2,000 and 47,000 miles.
A single system taking 29.6% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 17.9% of complaints (437 reports, 255 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 20,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 1,000 and 41,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 16.6% of complaints (404 reports, 272 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 17,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 1,000 and 55,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 13.6% of complaints (330 reports, 213 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 24,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 8,000 and 45,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 6.0% of complaints (146 reports, 85 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 32,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 12,000 and 58,000 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 5.8% of complaints (142 reports, 110 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 10,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 2,000 and 34,000 miles.
Known problems with the 2012–2016 CR-V
Powertrain boundary at 2015
Major mid-generation powertrain change at MY2015: the port-injected K24Z7 plus 5-speed automatic was replaced by the direct-injection K24W plus CVT. Treat 2012-2014 and 2015-2016 as distinct failure populations.
Engine/Nvh 2015–2016
Pronounced idle and low-speed vibration in Drive on the 2015-2016 direct-injection/CVT cars; Honda issued service bulletins with revised engine mounts, driveshaft and PCM/CVT software.
Hvac
A/C condenser leaks, a persistent complaint across this generation.
Before you buy a 2012–2016 CR-V: the 3-minute check
Generated from 1,658 mileage-tagged complaints, 7 recall campaigns, 3 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 7 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Ask for throttle and speed control repair records. Reports on this area come at a median of 10,000 miles — on any car this age it already happened or never will; the question is whether it was fixed under warranty.
- Ask for fuel and propulsion system repair records. Reports on this area come at a median of 6,500 miles — on any car this age it already happened or never will; the question is whether it was fixed under warranty.
- Check powertrain on boundary at 2015 cars. Major mid-generation powertrain change at MY2015: the port-injected K24Z7 plus 5-speed automatic was replaced by the direct-injection K24W plus CVT. Treat 2012-2014 and 2015-2016 as distinct failure populations.
- Check engine/nvh on 2015–2016 cars. Pronounced idle and low-speed vibration in Drive on the 2015-2016 direct-injection/CVT cars; Honda issued service bulletins with revised engine mounts, driveshaft and PCM/CVT software.
- Check hvac. A/C condenser leaks, a persistent complaint across this generation.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, an early-failure pattern is comparatively good news on a used example: 42% of the reported failures occur in the first 12,000 miles, which on a car of this age means they have already happened or they were never going to. Service history matters more than mileage here.
On inspection, the engine and problems owners could not categorise are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. Problems owners could not categorise in particular shows a median failure mileage of 20,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
CR-V problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi82% below | At 90k mi93% below | At 120k mi96% below | At 150k mi98% below | At 200k mi99% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2,000–47,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 1,000–41,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 1,000–55,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 8,000–45,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Airbag system | 12,000–58,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Throttle and speed control | 2,000–34,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 1,500–34,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Honda CR-V 2012–2016 · 1,658 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 82% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 93% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 96% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 98% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 99%: the remaining 0.8% of reports (14) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
2012–2016 Honda CR-V recalls (7)
NHTSA records 7 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Dec 2023 · 2013–2016 · Fuel System, GasolineFuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. 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…
What can happen. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall…
May 2017 · 2015–2016 · EngineThe reduced performance may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Honda CR-V vehicles that recently received a replacement engine. The replacement engine may have been built with the wrong pistons, potentially affecting the engine's performance.
What can happen. The reduced performance may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engines and replace the incorrect components, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer…
Oct 2015 · 2016 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture…
The defect. American Honda Motor Company, Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2016 CR-V vehicles manufactured October 12, 2015, to October 19, 2015. The metal housing surrounding the driver's air bag inflator in these vehicles may have been manufactured…
What can happen. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or…
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began in November 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at…
Mar 2015 · 2015 · Engine and Engine CoolingLoss of engine power may result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2014 Accord L4 vehicles manufactured July 29, 2014, to July 31, 2014, 2015 Accord L4 vehicles manufactured August 14, 2014, to January 30, 2015, and 2015 CR-V vehicles manufactured September 9…
What can happen. Loss of engine power may result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash. If the engine leaks oil in the proximity of hot engine or exhaust components, there is an increased risk of a fire.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine short block, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's…
Apr 2013 · 2012–2013 · Power TrainIf the gear selector is moved from the park position without pressing the brake pedal it can allow the…
The defect. 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…
What can happen. 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.
The free 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…
Oct 2012 · 2012 · EquipmentA misprinted label could lead to improper vehicle loading.
The defect. 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…
What can happen. A misprinted label could lead to improper vehicle loading. Improper loading could result in a tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. 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.
Jul 2012 · 2012 · Latches/Locks/LinkagesIf the door is not fully latched, the door may open while driving or in a crash, increasing the risk of…
The defect. 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…
What can happen. 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.
The free fix. 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…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 2,435 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 163 (6.7%)
- Fires
- 19
- Injury reports
- 98
- Fatality reports
- 2
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
CR-V problems by model year
The 2015 drew the most complaints of this generation, 670, most of them about the engine, and the 2013 the fewest, 382. A typical year drew about 403.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 403 | 278 | 36,000 | Engine (89) | 3 |
| 2013 | 382 | 258 | 26,000 | Engine (97) | 2 |
| 2014 | 587 | 396 | 21,000 | Engine (190) | 1 |
| 2015 | 670 | 491 | 4,500 | Engine (243) | 3 |
| 2016 | 393 | 235 | 19,000 | Engine (101) | 3 |
What CR-V owners reported
The contact owns a 2012 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle pulled to the left. The driver pulled over, and the vehicle was towed to the residence. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that the rear driver's side wheel suspension assembly had detached and the…
2012 · 218,000 miles · Suspension
The contact owns a 2012 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while making a left turn, several warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel, and the steering wheel became significantly unsteady, causing a partial loss of vehicle control. Because the incident occurred within walking distance of the residence, the…
2012 · 210,000 miles · Body structure
The contact’s daughter owns a 2015 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The contact also stated that the vehicle would not accelerate over 80 MPH. The dealer was not contacted. The…
2015 · 170,000 miles · Engine
The contact owns a 2012 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH approaching a red light, the rear trailing arm detached from the tire. No warning lights were illuminated. The driver was able to dive to a parking lot. The vehicle was transported on a trailer by her father. The front door latch had…
2012 · 200,000 miles · Latches and locks
Built from 1,658 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built
Other CR-V generations
- CR-V 1997–2001 245 reports with mileage, most about the airbag system
- CR-V 2002–2006 1,603 reports with mileage, most about the airbag system
- CR-V 2007–2011 1,643 reports with mileage, most about the airbag system
- CR-V 2017–2022 2,357 reports with mileage, most about the engine
- CR-V 2023–2025 128 reports with mileage, most about the steering