2011 Honda CR-Z: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
38 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
52,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 38 complaints (42.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 6 | 15.8% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 10.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 7.9% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 5.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 16 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Steering | 4 |
| Structure:Body | 4 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Seat Belts | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
Air Bags: 16; Unknown Or Other: 5; Electrical System: 4; Steering: 4; Structure:Body: 4; Power Train: 3; Seat Belts: 3; Service Brakes: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 4
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 14 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 11 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2011: 5; 2012: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 11; 2017: 6; 2018: 2; 2021: 2; 2022: 2; 2023: 1; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10392455 · 2011-03-22 (March 22, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA CR-Z. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY SHUTTER AND SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE INTENSITY OF THE SHUTTERING WOULD VARY AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ACTING AS IF IT WERE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,157. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 500.
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10392455 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10398663 · 2011-05-02 (May 2, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA CR-Z. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN UNUSUAL CLUNKING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING AND WAS A CONSTANT OCCURRENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10398663 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10428020 · 2011-09-30 (September 30, 2011)
I WAS RECENTLY INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN THIS VEHICLE. I AM FINE, HOWEVER, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD ME TO THE SEAT PROPERLY. AS THE IMPACT HAPPENED THE SEAT BELT LOCKED AND HELD ME MIDWAY, FROM THE BACK OF THE SEAT TO THE STEERING WHEEL, AND DID NOT 'PRETENSION' ME PROPERLY (PULL ME BACK AND HOLD ME SUNG TO THE SEAT. BECAUSE OF THIS, WHILE THE SEAT BELT WAS HOLDING ME MIDWAY, THE AIR BAG CAME OUT AT FULL FORCE AND THE CENTER OF THE AIRBAG IMPACTED ME IN THE MIDDLE OF MY CHEST, MORE SPECIFICALLY MY STERNUM. IF I WAS GOING TO COME INTO…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10428020 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10428235 · 2011-10-03 (October 3, 2011)
****REVISION TO PREVIOUS COMPLAINT**** I WAS RECENTLY INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN THIS VEHICLE. I AM FINE, HOWEVER, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD ME TO THE SEAT PROPERLY. AS THE IMPACT HAPPENED THE SEAT BELT LOCKED AND HELD ME MIDWAY, FROM THE BACK OF THE SEAT TO THE STEERING WHEEL, AND DID NOT 'PRETENSION' ME PROPERLY (PULL ME BACK AND HOLD ME SUNG TO THE SEAT. BECAUSE OF THIS, WHILE THE SEAT BELT WAS HOLDING ME MIDWAY, THE AIR BAG CAME OUT AT FULL FORCE AND THE CENTER OF THE AIRBAG IMPACTED ME IN THE MIDDLE OF MY CHEST, MORE SPECIFICA…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10428235 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10436320 · 2011-11-18 (November 18, 2011)
I HAVE A 2011 HONDA CRZ HYBRID. I HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON LOW BEAMS. THE VISIBILITY IS TERRIBLE. ON A HILLY, CURVY ROAD I CAN ONLY SEE ABOUT 10-15 FEET AHEAD. IT APPEARS THAT A DAARK SHADE IS PULLED 2/3S OF THE WAY DOWN ON THE WINDSHIELD. YOU CAN SEE THE POSTS BUT NOT THE SIGN ON TOP OF THE POST. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE HID ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION IN MY OWNERS MANUAL. I THINK THIS IS UNSAFE. I HAVE HAD 4 PEOPLE DIRIVE MY CAR AT NIGHT, AND THEIR REACTION IS THE SAME. GOOD LORD, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOUR HEADLIGHTS. I WROTE A LET…
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10436320 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10443851 · 2012-01-15 (January 15, 2012)
THE AUTOMATIC AIR DOES NOT ALWAYS TURN ON WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED. ALSO, THE REAR HATCH IS ALWAYS FROZEN SHUT IN TEMPERATURES BELOW 32 DEGRESS....
Owner-reported narrative. 16,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10443851 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10445868 · 2012-01-30 (January 30, 2012)
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE THE MOTOR STARTED TO SPUTTER. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT A RODENT HAD EATEN THE WIRE THAT GOES TO THE AMBIENT TEMP. SENSOR. PER DEALERSHIP THIS SENSOR CONTROL THE ABILITY FOR THE MOTOR TO PROPER ADJUST FUEL MIXTURE BASED ON TEMP. CAR ONLY HAS 20018 MILES AND THEY STATE THAT THE DAMAGE IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN TALKING WITH HONDA REP HE STATED THAT THE WIRES ARE SOY BASED. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 20,018 miles reported. Look up ODI 10445868 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10490722 · 2013-01-02 (January 2, 2013)
IN TEMPERATURES BELOW 32 DEGREES, THE REAR HATCH LOCK FAILS TO OPEN AND FREEZES SHUT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10490722 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
11V458000 · Power Train
Reported: 2011-09-07 (September 7, 2011)
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CR-Z PASSENGER CARS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 8, 2010, THROUGH JUNE 27, 2011. SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT PRESSED, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT (ECU) SOFTWARE MAY CAUSE THE ELECTRIC MOTOR OF THE HYBRID SYSTEM TO MOVE THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE SELECTED GEAR.
Consequence: UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH OR PERSONAL INJURY TO THE PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THE MOVING VEHICLE.
Remedy: HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE ECU SOFTWARE, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AUTOMOBILE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-999-1009.
NHTSA campaign record ↗16V061000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2016-02-03 (February 3, 2016)
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 2010-2013 Acura ZDX vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JY0, JY1, and JY2.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V500000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2019-06-27 (June 27, 2019)
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 with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are S5B and W59.
NHTSA campaign record ↗