2012 Honda CR-V: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
401 NHTSA owner complaints · 3 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
For six years the fourth-generation CR-V (2012–2016) was one of the most dependable cars in the dataset, scoring in the 80s. Then the fifth generation arrived in 2017 with a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine, and the record turned: petrol diluting the engine oil in cold climates, rising oil levels, misfires and stalling, and a heater that would not warm the cabin in winter. Read the full note on the model page. 2012 specifically: a year the record favours — 401 complaints, score 88/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Honda CR-V: the years to buy and the years to avoid, including 2012 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 401 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 28.64
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
2012 Honda CR-V - I've had to replace my battery multiple times. I would go out the car and it would be dead. I even tried replacing the alternator. I am replacing batteries at an average of every 2.5 years. Honda tells me I can do a diagnostic test for $189. I see there are repeated complaints about the Honda CR-V needing a software update. They will just keep selling new batteries and not do the fix. At one point, …
Left and Right suspension Front and Back. Yes car will be available for inspection when called. No one’s safety was at risk. It has been confirmed by an independent service center. No other place has inspected the car/component except for the independent service center. No there were no warning lamps, I was able to tell something was wrong because when I’d turn and still till this day, it immediately makes a sound. T…
The frame rust issue was recalled through 2011, my 2012 was manufactured in the same plant same time as the 2011 model, and has the same rust issue, but was not included in the recall. I have significant damage to my vehicle from rust frame, causing it to be borderline unsafe without modification. I would like to have this included in the recall.
Recalls: 3 campaigns
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 13V143000 | 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. |
| 12V501000 | 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 Weight Rating front and rear, tire size, and rim size were… |
| 12V338000 | 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 loose and move out of position. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 26 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,350
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Engine89 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Electrical System68 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other51 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Power Train48 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Steering35 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
- Air Bags30 complaints · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,700
Other Honda CR-V years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Honda CR-V?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (89 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2012 Honda CR-V a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 88/100, computed from 401 NHTSA complaints and 3 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2012 Honda CR-V's most common problem?
89 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2012 Honda CR-V sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2012 Honda CR-V cost to run per year?
About $5,313 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $26,568 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2012 Honda CR-V have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for the 2012 Honda CR-V, 0 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 15/04/2013. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compact suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2012 Honda CR-V really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 401 complaints, 3 recalls on record
- 401 NHTSA complaints on record (28.6/yr of exposure) — better than a typical year of this model (63.0/yr)
- 3 recall campaigns, 0 touching safety-critical systems