2013 Honda CR-V: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
381 NHTSA owner complaints · 2 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. 2013 specifically: a year the record favours — 381 complaints, score 86/100. 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 2013 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 381 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 29.31
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
I was driving then I shut off like I shut the car off and restart it while I was driving then my electric power steering symbol keeps coming on.
The contact owns a 2013 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30–40 MPH, the transmission shuddered. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed it with transmission failure. The independent mechanic flushed the transmission fluid; however, the failure reoccurred. The failure was persistent. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact referenced an unknown recall; how…
uUknown. Sometimes I smell gas on & off when the car is running, especially. I open the windows and it subsidesafter ahwile & it not as strong.
Recalls: 2 campaigns (1 severe)
| 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. |
| 23V858000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX… |
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.
- Engine97 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Power Train95 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Unknown Or Other48 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Electrical System38 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Exterior Lighting32 complaints · typical job: Headlamp assembly or lighting-module replacement (1.5 h labour + parts)$360–$1,380
- Air Bags27 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 2013 Honda CR-V?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (97 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2013 Honda CR-V a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 86/100, computed from 381 NHTSA complaints and 2 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2013 Honda CR-V's most common problem?
97 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2013 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 2013 Honda CR-V cost to run per year?
About $5,256 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $26,282 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 2013 Honda CR-V have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for the 2013 Honda CR-V, 1 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 2013 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 — 381 complaints, 2 recalls on record
- 381 NHTSA complaints on record (29.3/yr of exposure) — better than a typical year of this model (63.0/yr)
- 2 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems