This page covers 3 recalls, 395 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2012 Honda CR-V.
25 mpg combined
9.4 L/100km
Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
For the 2012 CR-V, the highest complaint volume clusters around the engine, electrical system, and powertrain. On the engine side, owners frequently report a grinding noise at startup, which many trace to the variable timing control actuator, it tends to appear without any warning lights on the dash. Electrical complaints cover a range of issues with lighting, starting, and related systems. A notable secondary pattern involves suspension and structural corrosion: owners in rust-prone regions report trailing arm brackets and mounting points corroding to the point of failure, sometimes causing the suspension to collapse or shift while driving. Several owners describe the vehicle pulling or wandering after a trailing arm or strut gave way, with no prior warning. The corrosion-related suspension failures appear concentrated on the rear of the vehicle, particularly the lower trailing arm body mounts.
395
Total Complaints
27
Crash-Related
4
Fire-Related
19
With Injuries
By System
The 2012 Honda CR-V has 4 recalls, the most serious being a Takata airbag inflator that can explode and send metal fragments into the cabin, posing a risk of serious injury or death.
A separate safety concern involves the brake-shift interlock, which can fail to work properly in cold temperatures, allowing the gear selector to be moved out of Park without pressing the brake pedal and causing the vehicle to roll unexpectedly. On the door side, operating the door lock while pulling the interior handle at the same time can knock the latch cable out of position, leaving the door unable to latch or causing it to swing open after locking. One recall affects only LX trim vehicles built during a two-day window in August 2012, where an incorrect certification label lists wrong weight ratings and tire specifications, which can lead to improper loading and raise the risk of a tire failure.
At a glance
What can fail
In cold weather, the brake-shift interlock may fail, allowing the gear shift to move out of PARK without pressing the brake pedal. The vehicle could then move forward or backward unexpectedly.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the gear shift assembly stopper to restore proper brake-shift interlock function.
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The safety certification label on the driver's door lists incorrect values for gross vehicle weight rating, axle weight ratings, tire size, and rim size.
What the fix does
Dealers will apply a corrective label at no cost to the owner.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
When a door lock is activated while opening the front door, the cable connecting the interior handle to the latch can slip out of position. This may prevent the door from latching properly or cause it to open unexpectedly when locks are operated.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front door latch assemblies and, on certain 2012 CR-V models, replace the interior front door handles.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
