10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
34,510 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Honda CR-V engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Honda CR-V Owner Comments (Page 4 of 5)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #25

Oct 292015

CR-V

  • 28,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Starting car sound is a grinding sound. Tends to happen in the morning when I first start it up for the day. I think Honda should replace the cam actuator gear assembly. What else is getting ruined on my car when no action has been taken place by Honda?

- Brookfield, WI, USA

problem #24

Nov 132015

CR-V

  • 24,000 miles
Sudden acceleration: When foot on brake, the engine surges

- Fairfax, VA, USA

problem #23

Oct 212015

CR-V

  • 33,000 miles
When I "cold" start my car (mornings, after 6 hours of nonuse) there is a loud grinding/screeching noise that lasts a few seconds (https://www.youtube.com/watch?V=V3Z00ln1dd8). The schaumburg (il) dealership says Honda is aware of this problem and has not provided a solution to them yet. I contacted them on March 13, 2015, regarding this. They provided the same answer today...while the problem/noise persists. I am hoping this complaint will help force Honda develop a (vtc actuator?) solution and provide it to Honda drivers.

- Arlington Heights, IL, USA

problem #22

Aug 132014

CR-V

  • 24,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Honda CRV 2012 when starting the care in the morning, engine makes a rattling noise after it starts. This has been happening for the past year or so, on a daily basis. Of late, it happens in the evening as well. I.e) whenever the car has not been running for a couple of hours. The Honda dealership is saying that there is no bulletin from american Honda company on this, in order to fix the issue. And that this is not causing any damage to the engine. However, I see a service bulletin issued in October 2012 specifically for this, and it is stored on the NHTSA.dot.gov website. Service bulletin 2012 american Honda motor co., Inc. ' all rights reserved atb 41171-48259 (1210) 1 of 6 October 6, 2012 09-010 spoke to american Honda customer service and they clarified that they had updated that bulletin since then. They are advising the dealers to not apply those steps and have removed it as a recommendation (since 2013) to fix the engine rattle noise. They are deeming this as a "noise irritant". and asked us to check back in 4 months from now. However, on a product such as this car, the appearance is important. Right now, it sounds like I am driving a clunker! also, the concerns are: A) damage to the engine / actuator is still happening? B) is it safe to start the engine despite rattling noise? C) engine might eventually not start at all D) a loose part might destroy the engine while driving on a highway and result in an accident! thanks!

- Odessa, TX, USA

problem #21

Apr 012015

CR-V

  • 20,000 miles
Engine makes rattling or grinding noise on startup, usually in the morning or when the car has set for at least 6 to 8 hours.

- Decatur, GA, USA

problem #20

Oct 052015

CR-V

  • 52,000 miles
On cold starts here a load scrapping sound that lasts for 2-3 seconds. Never hear it on warm starts.

- Livonia, MI, USA

problem #19

Jun 102015

CR-V

  • 33,200 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Purchased a Honda CRV 2012 from a dealership but they brought the car to me for a test drive which resulted in my not hearing the grinding noise on startup. The engine makes a grinding sound every time you start it (cold starts...when I start it in the morning it makes the sound and if I start it within 15-20 minutes after the initial start it is much milder of a noise.) the Honda mechanic said they could not fix it (still under warranty at the time) because Honda has not done a "software update." I now see, after researching the issue, that this is an ongoing problem with Honda CRV's that has not been rectified.

- Grand Rapids, MI, USA

problem #18

Dec 302014

CR-V

  • 35,000 miles
Loud noise on start-up all the time (doesn't matter if cold or hot). Took to dealer, peoria, il - 12/30/2014 suspected vtc actuator. Dealer said could not duplicate, after I even recorded the noise. Brought back in April 2015, insisted they listen while I was there. Diagnosed vtc actuator. Said Honda had a tech bulletin, said they know about the problem but will not allow dealer to fix it. Told to check back again soon. I checked back over several months. Same answer. There is no fix, Honda knows about the problem. How can a manufacturer know there is a problem, and say they can't fix it. I can't resale the vehicle with this noise. The noise is very loud and embarrassing on every start up. Dealer refuses to fix or provide any solution. This seems to be a problem with different Honda vehicles, and consumers can't get the problem fixed.

- Pekin, IL, USA

problem #17

Jan 152015

CR-V

  • 40,000 miles
Cold start of engine causes loud grinding noise only 2 and a half years of ownership 50,000 miles looking online it is not a unique problem and is an engine design flaw. Honda only says it's working on the problem but doesn't have a fix yet. They say the official problem is that the vtec actuator is defective. Given the number of posts asking about this problem I would assume the company would work on it especially if it is a problem with the engine.

- Arcadia, CA, USA

problem #16

Sep 012014

CR-V

  • 43,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Honda CR-V. when the vehicle was started, a loud grinding sound emitted from the front of the vehicle. The failure recurred each time the vehicle was started if it had been parked for over four hours. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician stated that they were aware of the failure and the contact would be placed on a waiting list. The contact stated that the vtc actuator was faulty and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 43,000.

- Yorkville, IL, USA

problem #15

Apr 012012

CR-V

  • 3,600 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Shortly after purchasing vehicle brand-new the car would not start. No lights had been on. Had vehicle towed to the dealership for a "fix." Now this has happened again- battery completely dead without warning leaving me and my young children stranded for hours. I just had the vehicle serviced at the end of may (about 5 weeks ago) and everything passed inspection then. Also like other reports I see, my engine sometimes makes a loud grinding sound when starting. My dealership said that "this just sometimes happens." I'm not convinced- I've driven some very old cars that don't even do this! this was my first brand new car and I'm not pleased.

- Waukesha, WI, USA

problem #14

Jun 052015

CR-V

  • 36,306 miles
Loud metallic rattle noise on cold start-up. Honda dealer found Honda service bulletin 09-010 issued, but no fix for this problem has been issued to date.

- Santa Clara, CA, USA

problem #13

Sep 142012

CR-V 4-cyl

  • 500 miles
This has occurred multiple times. I was driving, came to a stop and was unable to accelerate to 25 mph. The car hesitated upon acceleration and then suddenly accelerated. Normally when it occurs it has happened after a stop at a light, stop sign or corner. However, it has also happened while I've been on the highway, let off the gas and then attempted to accelerate. I brought it to my Honda dealer for repair and they cannot duplicate the circumstances. I reported it to Honda headquarters and they can do nothing if the dealer the can not find the problem and had no other complaints about this problem which seems unlikely. This is very scary and could lead to a collision.

- Whitestone, NY, USA

problem #12

Feb 142014

CR-V 4-cyl

  • 30,000 miles
During cold weather (winter) when vehicle is started first time in the morning there is a one time grinding noise? dealer indicated that the issue was with the variable timing control valve, dealer replaced vtc, noise didn't go away. Dealer now indicates that Honda is working on permanent solution but it has been close to a year and no permanent solution so far.

- Apple Valley, MN, USA

problem #11

Oct 182014

CR-V 4-cyl

  • 6,723 miles
I went to park in a diagonal, on street parking spot, and applied the brake to stop. The car instead accelerated, jumped the curb and proceeded into an adjoining parking lot. I turned hard right to avoid vehicles and struck the retaining wall at the back of the lot with my left front quarter panel. This impact steepened the turn and shot me back out of the lot and onto the street. I proceeded up the street, the car accelerating all the time. I tried to determine if I was accidentally stepping on the gas, and felt I was indeed on the brake. My car proceeded rapidly up the street, over 1/10th mile in distance. In a panic to try and stop the car I stomped on the emergency brake, which locked up the rear wheels. My rear tires were in a skid for over 150 feet, which produced a sideways skid, the car turning right and slamming broadside into a park vehicle which stopped me. I feel this is a case of unintended acceleration, and have been made aware of other such incidents in late model crvs.

- Kingsport, TN, USA

problem #10

Aug 142013

CR-V 4-cyl

  • 15,000 miles
This is similar to the complaint on the 2013 I saw posted which is..." the contact owns a 2013 Honda CR-V. the contact stated that when starting the vehicle, a grinding noise was heard from the front end. The failure was recurring and intermittent. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure was unable to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 19,000. Kmj..... on my 2012, it has been in to service for this problem twice- they replaced an actuator for the starter- but now admit that is not the problem. It usually occurs in colder weather and it is a heck of a loud grinding noise when starting that continues after the key has been returned to normal.. for up to about 20 seconds. I was told that Honda knows about this problem and admits to it.. and is working on a fix-- but that was a few months ago now- and I have not heard from them what to do... we do not trust this car to start- and will be worried more as winter approaches..the primary reason we buy Honda's to be dependable.

- Candler, NC, USA

problem #9

Jul 082013

CR-V

  • 20,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Honda CR-V. the contact stated that while starting the vehicle after being idle for an extended time, the contact heard a rattling noise from the engine. The vehicle was taken for diagnosis where the contact was advised that the vtc actuator would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer several times. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure but did state that the vehicle was consuming more than 2.5 quarts of engine oil within a 15 day span. The manufacture was contacted and stated that they would further investigate the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000. The current mileage was 26,492.

- Maspeth, NY, USA

problem #8

May 012012

CR-V 4-cyl

  • miles
Submission from constituent re 2012 Honda CR-V intermittent problem. The consumer stated the vehicle would pause, when she attempted to accelerate after the vehicle, had been idling. There was zero response for 3-4 seconds, then the vehicle would uncontrollably surge forward. The dealer was unable to duplicate the problem. The dealer informed the consumer, the problem was her using her left foot to brake. The problem has since been resolved. Updated 01/30/14

- Nampa, ID, USA

problem #7

Jan 072014

CR-V 4-cyl

  • 20,700 miles
Vehicle did not start on a cold morning (Tuesday 07th January, 2014, 9:30 am est). Outside temperature was around -10F (as indicated by cars dash). I do not have a garage. So car was parked outside. I cleared snow on top of car and I tried starting, but it wont start. I gave the starter, 10-12 minutes recovery time between trying subsequent starts. But, car would make clicking noise. Geico emergency roadside was backed up and they said it will take 6 hours to send some one. I had to get it jump started later that evening. Additional facts: (I use the car everyday. I did not leave any electrical appliance/lights on on the above day).

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #6

Sep 222013

CR-V

  • 20,000 miles
While driving, I smelled some burning, and saw white smokes, so pulled over, and turned off the engine, got out of the car. After 30 seconds or (possibly a few mins), it caught fire (engine under the hood), and people around us tried to put out the fire using their own fire extinguisher to no avail. Fire truck arrived within minutes, and was able to put out fire. At this time, insurance does not seem really interested in finding out the root cause. Honda dealer says they are out of the mix since they did not service the vehicle. Honda America is saying that they will not look into this and simply wait for the outcome from insurance investigation. Honda has a history of recalls (CR-V) associated with fire hazards specifically from 2002-2006, and 2012 CR-V could be defective as well, but their responses over this accident is simply outrageous. So I'm filing a complaint against NHTSA, hoping that someone in the Agency can take a look at this, and get to the bottom of this fire incidence, and hopefully, this can prevent "fatal" disasters in the future.

- Fremont, CA, USA

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