Honda CR-V 2012–2016
4th generation · RM1-RM4
NHTSA data through 12 August 20263,328 complaints, 2,270 with mileageMethod
On this generation, 45% of failures fall within the first 12,000 miles — a rate roughly 6 times higher than during the rest of the car's life.
- First 12,000 miles — 45% of all failures
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 16 complaints (0.7%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 150
- 25%
- 1,600
- Median
- 17,412
- 75%
- 42,746
- 90%
- 76,263
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 771 | 34.0% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 180 | 7.9% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 118 | 5.2% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 141 | 6.2% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 137 | 6.0% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 89 | 3.9% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 117 | 5.2% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 103 | 4.5% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 70 | 3.1% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 68 | 3.0% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 58 | 2.6% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 52 | 2.3% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 51 | 2.2% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 26 | 1.1% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 47 | 2.1% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 28 | 1.2% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 30 | 1.3% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 29 | 1.3% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 24 | 1.1% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 17 | 0.7% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 8 | 0.4% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 9 | 0.4% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 14 | 0.6% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 5 | 0.2% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 12 | 0.5% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 4 | 0.2% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 5 | 0.2% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 5 | 0.2% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 5 | 0.2% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 11 | 0.5% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 4 | 0.2% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 3 | 0.1% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 1 | 0.0% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 3 | 0.1% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 3 | 0.1% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 1 | 0.0% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 1 | 0.0% |
| 200,000+ | 16 | 0.7% |
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.
Owners filed 3,328 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012–2016 Honda CR-V, and 2,270 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
45% of failures fall within the first 12,000 miles — a rate roughly 6 times higher than during the rest of the car's life. Failures clustered that early usually indicate a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear.
The most-reported areas are the engine (21.5% of complaints, typically around 20,000 miles), problems owners could not categorise (13.0% of complaints, typically around 20,000 miles), the transmission and driveline (12.1% of complaints, typically around 17,000 miles).
7 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Engine20,000median 20,125 miles, middle half 2,000 to 47,000
- Problems owners could not categorise20,000median 19,500 miles, middle half 1,000 to 41,000
- Transmission and driveline17,000median 17,412 miles, middle half 1,000 to 55,000
- Electrical system24,000median 23,790 miles, middle half 8,000 to 45,000
- Airbag system32,000median 31,578 miles, middle half 12,000 to 58,000
- Throttle and speed control10,000median 10,213 miles, middle half 2,000 to 34,000
- Fuel and propulsion system6,500median 6,553 miles, middle half 1,500 to 34,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 717 | 21.5% | 20,000 | 2,000–47,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 434 | 13.0% | 20,000 | 1,000–41,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 404 | 12.1% | 17,000 | 1,000–55,000 |
| Electrical system | 328 | 9.9% | 24,000 | 8,000–45,000 |
| Airbag system | 146 | 4.4% | 32,000 | 12,000–58,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 141 | 4.2% | 10,000 | 2,000–34,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 134 | 4.0% | 6,500 | 1,500–34,000 |
| Body structure | 128 | 3.8% | 20,000 | 3,000–65,000 |
| Steering | 128 | 3.8% | 15,000 | 2,000–44,000 |
| Brakes | 120 | 3.6% | 19,000 | 5,000–35,000 |
Which systems, and when
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 17,412 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 21.5% of complaints (717 reports, 501 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 20,125 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 2,000 and 47,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 13.0% of complaints (434 reports, 255 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 19,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 1,100 and 40,925 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 12.1% of complaints (404 reports, 273 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 17,412 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 9.9% of complaints (328 reports, 213 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 23,790 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 4.4% of complaints (146 reports, 85 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 31,578 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 12,136 and 57,800 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 4.2% of complaints (141 reports, 110 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 10,213 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.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2015 model year drew the most — 975 complaints — while 2013 drew the fewest at 500. The median year sits at 545.
Recalls and what they cover
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.
Reported severity
Of the 3,328 complaints filed against this generation, 264 reported a crash; 29 reported a fire; 222 reported an injury; 9 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 7.9% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, an early-failure pattern is comparatively good news on a used example: 45% 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 19,500, 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.
Documented problems
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.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 512 | 356 |
| 2013 | 500 | 332 |
| 2014 | 796 | 544 |
| 2015 | 975 | 725 |
| 2016 | 545 | 313 |
Recalls (7)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 23V858000 | 2024-03-29 | Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump |
| 17V305000 | 2017-06-20 | Engine |
| 15V714000 | 2015-11-13 | Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
| 15V121000 | 2015-03-27 | Engine and Engine Cooling:engine |
| 13V143000 | 2013-05-13 | Power Train:automatic Transmission |
| 12V501000 | 2012-11-14 | Equipment:other:labels |
| 12V338000 | 2012-08-16 | Latches/Locks/Linkages:doors:latch |
What owners reported
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, he approached a traffic signal and when the brake pedal was depressed an unusual noise was present. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnosis. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the…
2012 · 2 miles · Brakes
I have had the headlights adjusted 3 times. There is insufficient light to drive by at night. I do not feel safe on the road in this vehicle after dark. The dealer said it is the nature of the new reflective lights which do not shine out. He said there is nothing else they can do to fix them. I reported the issue…
2012 · 6 miles · Exterior lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Honda crv. The contact stated that he depressed the accelerator pedal but the vehicle hesitated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection but they could not determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure…
2012 · 10 miles · Transmission and driveline
In stop and go traffic, with and without the econ button on, the car hesitates to accelerate to the point that it has nearly caused accidents. Took it to Honda and asked them to drive to witness the problem. I don't think they drove it. The problem is somewhat intermittent, so you never know when it will happen. You…
2012 · 100 miles · Engine
Built from 2,270 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page