This page covers 4 recalls, 37 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2011 Honda CR-Z.
34–36 mpg combined
6.5–6.9 L/100km
Two Seaters
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. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
The 2011 Honda CR-Z received a three-star overall rating from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program, which covers US-market vehicles. In frontal crash testing, the CR-Z earned three stars, as did side crash testing. The vehicle performed better in rollover resistance, receiving five stars, and also achieved five stars in side pole crash testing. NHTSA maintains these ratings across model years until a vehicle redesign occurs.
3/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The dominant complaint pattern for the 2011 CR-Z centers on the airbag system, which draws the most reports by a wide margin. Owners describe the airbag warning light illuminating unexpectedly and staying on, sometimes paired with an unreliable speedometer reading from the instrument cluster. Steering draws the next cluster of reports, with owners noting the power steering warning light appearing suddenly during cold-weather driving, suggesting the electric power steering system can drop out without prior symptoms. The powertrain category is smaller but includes a few owners reporting CV axle failures, specifically the shaft snapping under load, leading to sudden loss of drive power. One isolated report describes a parked vehicle's windshield shattering with no apparent impact, though that detail appears only once and doesn't reflect a broader pattern across these complaints.
37
Total Complaints
5
Crash-Related
3
With Injuries
By System
The 2011 Honda CR-Z has 4 recalls, the most serious being a Takata airbag inflator defect where the driver's frontal airbag can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, risking serious injury or death to the driver and passengers.
On the drivetrain side, two related recalls affect manual transmission models. Under certain conditions, including extreme temperatures combined with high electrical loads from the battery and accessories, the engine control unit can trigger a stall-prevention routine that inadvertently commands the hybrid electric motor to rotate the drivetrain. Separately, the manual transmission itself can allow unexpected vehicle movement. Both issues raise the risk of a crash or injury to anyone in the path of the vehicle. These concerns are specific to CR-Z models equipped with a manual transmission.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to high humidity, temperature, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator at no cost.
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
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
Moisture can seep into the dual-stage driver frontal air bag inflator over time, potentially causing it to rupture.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
When the engine stalls while the brake pedal is not pressed, the engine control software may cause the hybrid electric motor to move the vehicle backward or forward opposite to the selected gear.
What the fix does
Honda dealers will update the engine control software at no cost to restore proper vehicle movement control.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
In certain conditions—extreme temperatures, high electrical loads, and low engine speeds—the engine control software may incorrectly command the hybrid electric motor to reverse, causing the vehicle to move backward unexpectedly.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the engine control unit software to prevent this incorrect reverse command.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
