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2012 Honda CR-V problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
35% of relevant owner complaints on the 2012 Honda CR-V are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 61% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 44 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 32%).
Does the 2012 Honda CR-V have engine problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 127 of 359 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Honda CR-V concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (35%), and the largest group is filed under engine (89). For comparison, the 2011 scores 21% and the 2013 scores 55%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. 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 2012 compares with other Honda CR-V years
Of the 14 Honda CR-V years with enough complaints to score, the 2012 is the 7th-worst on engine and transmission share (35%). The worst is the 2015 (56%), the best the 2023 (9%). By volume, the 2012 drew 403 complaints (127 drivetrain), against 554 for the 2011 and 382 for the 2013.
Honda CR-V years to avoid and best years →
2010 CR-V problems · 2011 CR-V problems · 2012 · 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 2012 Honda CR-V
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2012 Honda CR-V said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- 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 127 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2012 Honda CR-V transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2012 Honda CR-V involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total. 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.
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,…
2 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 2012 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.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2012 Honda CR-V
Does the 2012 Honda CR-V have engine problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 127 of 359 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Honda CR-V concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (35%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Honda CR-V?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2012 Honda CR-V is engine: 89 of 403 complaints (22%) name it, followed by electrical system (68) and power train (48). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2012 Honda CR-V reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 35% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 61% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Honda CR-V years we score, it ranks 7th-worst. 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 2012 Honda CR-V?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2012 Honda CR-V involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total: 13V143000 (power train: automatic transmission). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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 2012 (35%). 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.