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2011 Honda CR-V problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2011 Honda CR-V. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 21% of relevant complaints.
Better than 85% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 302 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 10%).
Does the 2011 Honda CR-V have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 54 of 252 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Honda CR-V concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (21%). For comparison, the 2010 scores 35% and the 2012 scores 35%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2011 compares with other Honda CR-V years
Of the 14 Honda CR-V years with enough complaints to score, the 2011 is the 4th-best on engine and transmission share (21%). The worst is the 2015 (56%), the best the 2023 (9%). By volume, the 2011 drew 554 complaints (54 drivetrain), against 481 for the 2010 and 403 for the 2012.
Honda CR-V years to avoid and best years →
2010 CR-V problems · 2011 · 2012 CR-V problems · 2013 CR-V problems · 2014 CR-V problems · 2015 CR-V problems · 2016 CR-V problems · 2017 CR-V problems · 2018 CR-V problems · 2019 CR-V problems · 2020 CR-V problems · 2021 CR-V problems · 2022 CR-V problems · 2023 CR-V problems
The rest of the picture on the 2011 Honda CR-V
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2011 Honda CR-V said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 54 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2011 Honda CR-V engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 13 recall campaigns on the 2011 Honda CR-V, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
13 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2011 Honda CR-V? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2011 Honda CR-V have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 54 of 252 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Honda CR-V concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (21%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Honda CR-V?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2011 Honda CR-V is air bags: 295 of 554 complaints (53%) name it, followed by electrical system (55) and structure (45). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 21% of the relevant total.
Is the 2011 Honda CR-V reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 21% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 85% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Honda CR-V years we score, it ranks 4th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2011 Honda CR-V?
No. NHTSA lists 13 recall campaigns on the 2011 Honda CR-V, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which Honda CR-V years are better?
Among the Honda CR-V years we track, the 2023 (9%), the 2022 (12%) and the 2021 (19%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2011 (21%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/honda-cr-v
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.