Every recall campaign and owner complaint the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration holds for the 2012 Honda CR-V. Nothing on this page is written from memory — it is all imported from NHTSA's public database.
3 recall campaigns filed by Honda for the 2012 CR-V, newest first.
| Campaign | Component | What the recall says |
|---|---|---|
| 12V501000 2012-10-16 |
Equipment Other Labels |
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.
Risk: A misprinted label could lead to improper vehicle loading. Improper loading could result in a tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash. 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. |
| 13V143000 2013-04-15 |
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…
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. 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… |
| 12V338000 2012-07-19 |
Latches/Locks/Linkages Doors Latch |
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…
Risk: 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. 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 also be replaced, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on, or about, August 16,… |
Summaries are quoted verbatim from NHTSA's official campaign records. A single campaign often covers dozens of model years and several nameplates, so a summary may name vehicles other than the 2012 CR-V — that is normal. Every record listed here carries this vehicle's own make, model and model year in NHTSA's database. Whether a recall is still open on a particular car can only be determined by VIN.
403 owner complaints on file with NHTSA for the 2012 CR-V, grouped by the component owners reported. Counts reflect how many owners complained, not how often the fault actually occurs.
| Reported component | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine 1 fire |
60 | |
| Electrical System 1 fire |
44 | |
| Unknown Or Other 2 crash, 3 injured |
36 | |
| Power Train 1 crash, 4 injured |
24 | |
| Steering 1 crash |
23 | |
| Air Bags 7 crash, 5 injured |
19 | |
| Service Brakes | 17 | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 15 | |
| Structure 1 crash, 1 injured |
14 | |
| Visibility 1 injured |
12 | |
| Suspension | 11 | |
| Exterior Lighting | 11 |
A complaint is an unverified owner report. It is a signal about where to look, not proof of a defect.
Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaint filings on this model year. These are the owners' own words, not our diagnosis, and each one is a single unverified report.
Subject: Engine Stalls Upon Acceleration from Stop - Near Collision Description: I am experiencing intermittent engine stalling on my 2012 Honda CR-V. The issue occurs specifically when attempting to accelerate from a complete stop (e.g., at stop signs or intersections). When I press the gas pedal to proceed, the engine unexpectedly shuts off and loses all motive power. On several occasions, the vehicle has stalled multiple times in succession before it would stay running. In one severe incident, I was attempting a right turn onto a busy road from a stop sign. The vehicle stalled mid-turn, l
filed 12/09/2025 · ODI 11704098
Upon cold start, the engine makes a loud knocking or rattling noise for several seconds, most noticeable after the vehicle has been sitting overnight. The noise seems to be coming from the timing area of the engine and has been identified by multiple mechanics as likely due to a faulty VTC (Variable Timing Control) actuator. This issue happens consistently during cold starts, then disappears once the engine warms up. There are no warning lights, diagnostic codes, or messages displayed on the dashboard when this occurs. The noise is loud enough to raise safety concerns, as it could indicate pr
filed 04/09/2025 · ODI 11653733
2012 Honda CR-V - I've had to replace my battery multiple times. I would go out the car and it would be dead. I even tried replacing the alternator. I am replacing batteries at an average of every 2.5 years. Honda tells me I can do a diagnostic test for $189. I see there are repeated complaints about the Honda CR-V needing a software update. They will just keep selling new batteries and not do the fix. At one point, I even lost power steering. It is dangerous, and they should be made to correct it.
filed 08/28/2026 · ODI 11760454
WINDSHIELD DEFROST ON DRIVERS SIDE PRODUCES NO AIR OR HEAT. WINDSHIELD BECAME FROSTY AND HAD TO PULL CAR OVER BECAUSE OF LACK OF VISIBILITY. ALSO HEAT ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOES NOT WORK, WHICH IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE BUT MAY BE RELATED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE PURCHASED. THEY FLUSHED THE HEATCORE. WHICH DID NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM .
filed 05/02/2024 · ODI 11586661
Driving on the interstate, my moonroof exploded. Sunny day April 30, 2025. Nothing hit the roof. Thankfully I had the shade closed. I purchased a replacement roof from a local salvage yard and no issues with the replacement.
filed 08/31/2026 · ODI 11760876
Vtc actuator for timing tensioner is faulty. Has a horrible grind on start up. No warning lights, no dash lights. This can cause damage to the engine. Was class action involving same part.
filed 05/04/2026 · ODI 11735707
The contact owns a 2012 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the steering wheel started shaking, and the vehicle vibrated abnormally. The contact stated that the vehicle had previously received an alignment and tire rotation. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the drive shaft might need to be replaced, but the vehicle needed a more extensive diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 15-076 (Vibration While Driving at Highway Speeds); however, the vehicle was not cove
filed 08/13/2025 · ODI 11680474
I was at a corner waiting for traffic to clear so I could make a turn left. When I started to accelerate the vehicle started to hesitate and continued. The on coming car had to slam on their brakes and swerve to avoid hitting my passenger side. Since that time I had found out there was a service bulletin relating to this problem. Honda Service Bulletin 17-040. This is my granddaughters car and now I am reluctant to let her drive the vehicle. It is a very serious safety issue!! My frustration is that when I have discussed the issue with 2 different Honda dealers they didn't disclose there
filed 07/10/2023 · ODI 11531315
A recall only matters if it is open on your car. The lists above are for the model year as a whole; the free official lookup below tells you what applies to your specific 17-character VIN.
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Yes. NHTSA records 3 recall campaigns filed by Honda for the 2012 CR-V. The most recent is campaign 12V501000, filed 2012-10-16, covering Equipment › Other › Labels.
The most-reported component is Engine with 60 of the 403 owner complaints on file. Complaint counts show where owners report trouble; they are not proof of a defect.
403 complaints with NHTSA for the 2012 CR-V, spread across 75 reported component groups.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA's free recall lookup. Recalls are applied per vehicle, so the model-year lists above cannot tell you whether your particular car is covered.