HONDA CR-V · model year

2012 HONDA CR-V

499 NHTSA complaints, 47 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

5 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2012HONDACR-V carries 499 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 47 crashes, 6 fires, 43 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 5/5 rating, with 5/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 4/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2012 CR-V is engine with 89 filings, followed by electrical system (63) and unknown or other (49). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 77 investigation files overlapping the 2012 CR-V, and 9 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

499
Complaints
47
Crashes
6
Fires
43
Injuries
0
Deaths
2012 HONDA CR-V — NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2012 HONDA CR-V. Overall composite: 5.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 5.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 5.0 ★
  • Side Crash 5.0 ★
  • Rollover 4.0 ★
NHTSA overall 5.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.

Total Complaints

499 filings

Crashes Reported

47 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

NHTSA NCAP overall: 5/5 — Top NCAP rating · Front: 5/5 · Side: 5/5 · Rollover: 4/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE89
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM63
UNKNOWN OR OTHER49
POWER TRAIN47
STEERING34
AIR BAGS30
VISIBILITY/WIPER23
SERVICE BRAKES23
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL20
SUSPENSION19
STRUCTURE:BODY18
EXTERIOR LIGHTING14
SEATS6
STRUCTURE6
SEAT BELTS6

Recalls (3)

12V33800019/07/2012

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 loos

12V50100016/10/2012

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 Weig

13V14300015/04/2013

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

Recent Complaints

20260216SUSPENSION

Due to excessive corrosion the spring/strut broke while driving. The tire is off at an angle and could have come completely off endangering the driver and other drivers. There was no warning light or any other indication that this was going to happen. The car was taken to a local garage and at the insistence of Honda, it was also towed to a Honda dealership. Both locations deemed the car irreparable and a total loss due to excessive rust and corrosion. Honda has been contacted multiple times and refuses to acknowledge any issues. Even though we were given a case number, there hasn't been any closure to the case.

20260216UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Due to excessive corrosion the spring/strut broke while driving. The tire is off at an angle and could have come completely off endangering the driver and other drivers. There was no warning light or any other indication that this was going to happen. The car was taken to a local garage and at the insistence of Honda, it was also towed to a Honda dealership. Both locations deemed the car irreparable and a total loss due to excessive rust and corrosion. Honda has been contacted multiple times and refuses to acknowledge any issues. Even though we were given a case number, there hasn't been any closure to the case.

20251209ENGINE

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, leaving me stranded in the path of traffic. A vehicle approaching from behind nearly rear-ended me because I could not clear the intersection. ​There are no warning lights prior to the stall. This loss of power at intersections poses an immediate safety risk of collision. I suspect this may be related to the known VTC actuator/timing chain defect affecting this model year.

20251114SUSPENSION

During the installation of the rear frame bracket (recommended from the 2011 recall), it was determined the vehicle is unsafe. The frame brace recall not designed for the 2012 CRV would not fit the vehicle. Notified customer of the condition of the left control arm. Not safe for the road. Recommended not to drive this vehicle.

20251114STRUCTURE:BODY

During the installation of the rear frame bracket (recommended from the 2011 recall), it was determined the vehicle is unsafe. The frame brace recall not designed for the 2012 CRV would not fit the vehicle. Notified customer of the condition of the left control arm. Not safe for the road. Recommended not to drive this vehicle.

20251107STRUCTURE:BODY

Rear wheel subframe broke off, separated from the chassis

20251107SUSPENSION

Rear wheel subframe broke off, separated from the chassis

20251024SUSPENSION

The contact owns a 2012 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware of an abnormally loud sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The contact stated that while performing an inspection of the vehicle, the contact became aware of severe corrosion on the forward mount of the rear trailing arm mounts on the driver’s and passenger’s sides. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was confirmed that the forward mount of the rear trailing arm mounts on the driver’s and passenger’s sides was severely corroded. In addition, the contact was informed that the corrosion was so severe that the vehicle was not repairable. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included. The contact was informed that the VIN was one month off from being included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a

Mileage: 188,100

20250919SUSPENSION

The contact owns a 2012 Honda CR-V. While the contact's daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear control arm detached. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The dealer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact referenced an unknown recall with a similar failure description; however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 228,000.

Mileage: 228,000

20250914SUSPENSION

TPMS warning light was on and then entire Dash lit up while steering was crooked on the column. Driving while incident occurred did not cause accident. disabled vehicle due to the same manufactured defects in the 2007 through 2011 Honda CRV models that have a recall on them my vehicle was manufactured August 2012 past cutoff date for the gen 3 model. Submitting this request for repair unable to drive the vehicle and it's current condition. This all due to the same manufacturer defect found on the rear control arm gen 3 body type and suspension of the 2007 through 2011 models same gen 3 should be repaired and accepted as a recall having exact same issue because it's the exact same type of model car.

20250822SUSPENSION

Was driving my 2012 Honda CRV home from the store when the AWD light came on. By the time I got it home another light came on EPS. When I got out I noticed the drivers side rear tire looked tilted. Upon further inspection I could see that the control arm had fallen down along with the whole trailing arm from rust. After investigating I learned that there was a recall for this exact thing but only for 2007-2011 models. I called Honda and they told me to get it to a Honda dealership for diagnosis report so I haf it towed there. They said that if ut were the same issue as the recall that they could make an exception after a case manager reviewed everything. The Honda dealership documented that the rust on the underrails of the frame were critical for the overall integrity and safety of the car and that the control arms were rusted and broken through. When I sent everything to Honda, they said that since my vin was not part of the recall there was nothing they would do for me. There are ma

20250813POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

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 covered under the TSB. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

20250802SUSPENSION

The car was being driven and the rear wheel and hub assembly all came off. Luckily, the car was being driven at a slow speed at the time. The problem turned out to be that the rear frame was all completely rusted out and where it was connected it all pulled out. After doing some research, there was a recall on the previous years for the exact same thing. Evidently, the problem still was not taken care of. If the car would have been a few months older it would have been covered under the recall. The car was taken to the dealership and had the factory rep look at it but they refused to do anything.

20250617STRUCTURE:BODY

Complete rear tire assembly came loose from the unibody frame from rust. Not a drop of rust on the body of the car.Thank god we weren’t on the highway. they told me it was unfixable.Thank you Honda.And the recall stopped at 2011? Honda obviously doesn’t care about safety and human life.

20250617POWER TRAIN

Complete rear tire assembly came loose from the unibody frame from rust. Not a drop of rust on the body of the car.Thank god we weren’t on the highway. they told me it was unfixable.Thank you Honda.And the recall stopped at 2011? Honda obviously doesn’t care about safety and human life.

20250617SUSPENSION

Complete rear tire assembly came loose from the unibody frame from rust. Not a drop of rust on the body of the car.Thank god we weren’t on the highway. they told me it was unfixable.Thank you Honda.And the recall stopped at 2011? Honda obviously doesn’t care about safety and human life.

20250515SUSPENSION

On Monday, April 21, I was traveling down a long hill (2 lanes up, 1 downhill) when my vehicle went into an uncontrolled, broadside skid into 2 lanes of oncoming traffic. I continued to skid back to the right side of the road, back to the left, and finally back to the right where I got it pulled onto the berm. Upon examination, my right rear tire was tilted outward at approximately 30 degrees. The wheel was totally locked up. I called a towing company as the vehicle was completely unable to be driven. A state police officer showed up, apparently called by a passerby, for traffic control and assess the safety of the situation. The car was hauled via tilt-bed truck to my local auto repair shop. One of the mechanics there told me his wife had the same vehicle, only a year older, that he been recalled due to this being and issue for 2011. I called Honda customer care and was informed that the recall was not in effect for 2012 model year. Customer care advised me to have the car taken t

20250515WHEELS

On Monday, April 21, I was traveling down a long hill (2 lanes up, 1 downhill) when my vehicle went into an uncontrolled, broadside skid into 2 lanes of oncoming traffic. I continued to skid back to the right side of the road, back to the left, and finally back to the right where I got it pulled onto the berm. Upon examination, my right rear tire was tilted outward at approximately 30 degrees. The wheel was totally locked up. I called a towing company as the vehicle was completely unable to be driven. A state police officer showed up, apparently called by a passerby, for traffic control and assess the safety of the situation. The car was hauled via tilt-bed truck to my local auto repair shop. One of the mechanics there told me his wife had the same vehicle, only a year older, that he been recalled due to this being and issue for 2011. I called Honda customer care and was informed that the recall was not in effect for 2012 model year. Customer care advised me to have the car taken t

20250515SUSPENSION

The contact owns a 2012 Honda CR-V. The contact called on behalf of her son. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed and exiting a parking lot, the rear axle on the vehicle snapped. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact’s son pulled over, and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where the vehicle was declared a total loss. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.

Mileage: 160,000

20250430STRUCTURE

The contact owns a 2012 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 55 MPH, the suspension failed, and the vehicle started veering back and forth uncontrollably between two lanes. The contact's wife was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that that the rear driver's side trailing arm had detached from the frame due to severe corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a related recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that a goodwill assistance could be considered after the dealer had diagnosed the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 230,000.

Mileage: 230,000

Compare 2012HONDACR-V to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 9 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2012 HONDA CR-V have?
The 2012 HONDA CR-V has 499 NHTSA complaints, 47 crashes, 6 fires, 43 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2012 HONDA CR-V?
The 2012 HONDA CR-V received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 5/5, front crash rating of 5/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 4/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2012 HONDA CR-V?
Yes, the 2012 HONDA CR-V has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 HONDA CR-V?
The most-complained component for the 2012 HONDA CR-V is ENGINE with 89 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2012 HONDA CR-V safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2012 HONDA CR-V has an NHTSA safety rating of 5/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.