2013 Honda CR-V: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
381 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
26,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 258 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 97 of 381 complaints (25.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 41 | 10.8% |
| Braking behavior | 41 | 10.8% |
| Steering behavior | 20 | 5.2% |
| Engine operation | 15 | 3.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 15 | 3.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 97 |
| Power Train | 94 |
| Unknown Or Other | 48 |
| Electrical System | 34 |
| Exterior Lighting | 31 |
| Air Bags | 27 |
| Service Brakes | 25 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 25 |
Engine: 97; Power Train: 94; Unknown Or Other: 48; Electrical System: 34; Exterior Lighting: 31; Air Bags: 27; Service Brakes: 25; Vehicle Speed Control: 25
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 124 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 54 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 31 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 30 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 124; 25,000 to 49,999: 54; 50,000 to 74,999: 31; 75,000 to 99,999: 30; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 8
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (124). 123 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 53 |
| 2014 | 39 |
| 2015 | 42 |
| 2016 | 39 |
| 2017 | 46 |
| 2018 | 31 |
| 2019 | 40 |
| 2020 | 23 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 15 |
| 2023 | 10 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 13 |
| 2026 | 7 |
2013: 53; 2014: 39; 2015: 42; 2016: 39; 2017: 46; 2018: 31; 2019: 40; 2020: 23; 2021: 13; 2022: 15; 2023: 10; 2024: 10; 2025: 13; 2026: 7
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 41 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 41 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 20 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 10490937 · 2013-01-03 (January 3, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA CR-V. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE EXTREMELY DIM AND WERE NOT POINTING TOWARD THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400.
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10490937 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10498237 · 2013-02-15 (February 15, 2013)
I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF THE SAFETY LIGHTS CAME ON ,ON THE DASH BOARD, ANTILOCK BRAKES,TRACTION CONTROL,VEHICLE STABILITY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.THE FIRST TIME THE LEFT FRONT ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 300 MILES ON IT .THE SECOND TIME, WITH LESS THAN 3000 MILES ON IT , ALL OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN ON THE DASHBOARD AND I HAD DIFFICULTY STOPPING THE CAR. THE BRAKES WERE VERY DIFFICULT TO USE, THEY SEEMED TO GET STUCK AND WERE MAKING AN AWFUL RACKET.CORROSION WAS FOUND IN W…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,993 miles reported. Look up ODI 10498237 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10498436 · 2013-02-17 (February 17, 2013)
IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT! I HAVE PURCHASED A 2013 HONDA CRV EX AWD IN DECEMBER 2012. I TEST DROVE MY CAR AND PURCHASED IT AROUND 12 NOON SO THAT IS WHY I DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO TEST THE HEAD LIGHTS. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY GIVE YOU A VERY POOR VISIBILITY, ESPECIALLY, IT'S HIGH BEAMS ARE EVEN WORST THAN THE LOW BEAMS. WHEN YOU DRIVE AT NIGHT YOU DON'T FEEL SAFE AND MUST USE YOUR FOG LIGHTS!!!! IT IS SAD BUT TRUE... I HOPE THAT HONDA WILL NOTICE THE PROBLEM AND REPLACE THOSE TERRIBLE HEAD LIGHTS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 10498436 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10504861 · 2013-03-28 (March 28, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA CRV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADREST COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED AND WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THEY SHOULD LEAN THE SEAT BACK TO RELIEVE PRESSURE. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED BASED ON NHTSA SAFETY STANDARDS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CENTER CONSOLE WOULD SIT TOO HIGH AND WAS BECOMING A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT CLIMB OVER THE CONSOLE IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75. *TR UPDATED 4/29/1…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10504861 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10505799 · 2013-04-10 (April 10, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MAGNIFICATION OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR WAS TOO HIGH AND CAUSED AN UNCLEAR SIGHT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. A CLAIM WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 23 miles reported. Look up ODI 10505799 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10510772 · 2013-05-06 (May 6, 2013)
AFTER TAKING OUR NEW HONDA CRV ON ITS FIRST SHORT TRIP - MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING, I BEGAN TO REALIZE THAT ON FREEWAY DRIVING THERE WAS A CONSTANT VISUAL DISTRACTION WITH THE DRIVERS-SIDE DOOR REAR MIRROR. MAINLY DUE TO THE "SPLIT" FROM THE DESIGN OF THE MIRROR. IT CAUSES A VISUAL IMPAIRMENT TO MY PERIPHERAL VISION, GIVING A FALSE SENSE OF PASSING CARS COMING" TOO CLOSE" TO THE VEHICLE AS THEY PASS TO THE RIGHT (FREEWAY DRIVING). THIS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES ABOUT 5 TIMES IN A 120 MILE DRIVE. AT ONE POINT, A CAR COMING UP ALONG MY DRIVER'S SID…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,075 miles reported. Look up ODI 10510772 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10511323 · 2013-05-09 (May 9, 2013)
ON ALL 2013 CR-VS THE WINDSHIELD SIDE TRIM STRIPS ARE NOT CLOSE TO THE WINDSHIELD, ALLOWING A WATER-DAM EFFECT DURING A RAIN STORM. IN PRIOR YEARS, THE TRIM DETAIL WAS DIFFERENT. ON 2013 MODEL YEARS, THE TRIM STARTS 1/16" AWAY FROM THE WINDSHIELD AT THE TOP, BUT INCREASES TO 1/2" AT THE BOTTOM. ADDITIONALLY, THE DEPTH OF THE CHANNEL UNDER THE TRIM STRIP IS 1/2" OR GREATER. AT SPEED DURING A STORM, WHEN THE WIPER SWEEPS RAIN IN THE LEFTWARD ARC, IT IS NOT EJECTED ENTIRELY FROM THE WINDSCREEN, BUT IS "STORED" UNDER THE TRIM STRIP. WHEN THE W…
Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10511323 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10514275 · 2013-05-30 (May 30, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DOWN SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,900. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10514275 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
13V143000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 2013-04-15 (April 15, 2013)
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 such, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Consequence: If the gear selector is moved from the park position without pressing the brake pedal it can allow the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda or Acura dealer. The dealer will install an updated brake shift interlock blocking mechanism free of charge. The recall began on May 13, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's campaign recall numbers are S96, S97, and S98.
NHTSA campaign record ↗23V858000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 2023-12-18 (December 18, 2023)
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 vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
NHTSA campaign record ↗