HONDA CR-Z · model year

2012 HONDA CR-Z

8 NHTSA complaints, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

4 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2012HONDACR-Z carries 8 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 4/5 rating, with 4/5 front crash, 3/5 side crash, and 5/5 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-Z is air bags with 6 filings, followed by electrical system (1) and unknown or other (1). 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 2 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-Z, 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.

8
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
2012 HONDA CR-Z — NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2012 HONDA CR-Z. Overall composite: 4.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 4.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 4.0 ★
  • Side Crash 3.0 ★
  • Rollover 5.0 ★
NHTSA overall 4.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.

Total Complaints

8 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: 4/5 — Strong NCAP rating · Front: 4/5 · Side: 3/5 · Rollover: 5/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1

Recalls (2)

19V50000027/06/2019

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped wi

16V06100003/02/2016

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-20

Recent Complaints

20220629ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Same issue as the 2012 CRV recalls of the passenger aide lock actuators. The passenger door lock works sometimes but the car will constantly try to lock that door if it is unlocked, because it won’t always lock. The dealership isn’t sure, I wonder if it’s a fuse because I hear the entire mechanism when it works. Also, it works with the drivers side child safety control which turns off the controls on the passengers side and also keeps it locked so someone cant jump in your cat when you unlock the drivers door. This is the exact problem the Accords and CRV has in the same year and I want to get mine repaired also. Its in perfect condition and taken care of.

20220629UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Same issue as the 2012 CRV recalls of the passenger aide lock actuators. The passenger door lock works sometimes but the car will constantly try to lock that door if it is unlocked, because it won’t always lock. The dealership isn’t sure, I wonder if it’s a fuse because I hear the entire mechanism when it works. Also, it works with the drivers side child safety control which turns off the controls on the passengers side and also keeps it locked so someone cant jump in your cat when you unlock the drivers door. This is the exact problem the Accords and CRV has in the same year and I want to get mine repaired also. Its in perfect condition and taken care of.

20190910AIR BAGS

PASSENGER SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DEACTIVATES WHEN MOISTURE IS PRESENT IN THE AIR. ESPECIALLY PREVALENT WHILE RAINING.

Mileage: 85,000

20190403AIR BAGS

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DETECTIVES AND REACTIVATES ON IT'S OWN SOMETIMES. WARNING POPS UP RANDOMLY.

Mileage: 89,000

20161114AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CR-Z. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20160714AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CR-Z. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS). HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20160329AIR BAGS

I RECEIVED A NOTICE IN THE MAIL REGARDING MY VEHICLE BEING RECALLED FOR AN AIRBAG PART THAT WON'T BE ABLE TO BE REPAIRED UNTIL MID SUMMER OF 2016. I WAS TOLD I CAN GET A RENTAL VEHICLE BUT I'M ONLY 18 AND THE VEHICLE IS IN MY NAME ONLY SO I'M NOT CURIOUS AS TO HOW I CAN RENT A VEHICLE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

20160202AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CR-Z. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR ANY IMPACT OF A CRASH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO POLICE REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT SOMETHING UNDER THE VEHICLE MADE THE AIR BAG DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Compare 2012HONDACR-Z to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 9 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2012 HONDA CR-Z have?
The 2012 HONDA CR-Z has 8 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2012 HONDA CR-Z?
The 2012 HONDA CR-Z received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 4/5, front crash rating of 4/5, side crash rating of 3/5, and rollover rating of 5/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2012 HONDA CR-Z?
Yes, the 2012 HONDA CR-Z has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 HONDA CR-Z?
The most-complained component for the 2012 HONDA CR-Z is AIR BAGS with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2012 HONDA CR-Z 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-Z has an NHTSA safety rating of 4/5. 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.