2013 Honda CR-V

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Engine is the leading concern among 382 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 20th highest complaint count among 26 CR-V model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 382

Of the 2013 reports, 22 involved a crash. 13 people were injured.

Primary concernEngine97 reports · 25% of complaints
Owner complaints382Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship2 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Engine97
  2. Power train95
  3. Other or unspecified48
  4. Electrical system38
  5. Exterior lighting32
  6. Air bags27
  7. Service brakes26
  8. Vehicle speed control26

Recalls and investigations

  1. Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpDec 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.

    Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    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.

    Campaign 23V858000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. Power train, automatic transmissionApr 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."

    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.

    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.

    Campaign 13V143000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: electrical system

38 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 14, 2015

    WE PURCHASED A 2013 HONDA CRV AND WOUND UP RETURNING THE VEHICLE THAT DAY WITH ONLY 20 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE CAR. WE WERE ON THE FREEWAY, MY HUSBAND WAS BEHIND US IN OUR OTHER CAR. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 55 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE GAS PEDAL BASICALLY LOST POWER. IT FELT AS IF THE RESISTANCE BEHIND THE PEDAL JUST DISAPPEARED (ACCELERATOR HESITANCY ALSO HAPPENED AT A LEFT TURN GOING 5 MPH). AT THAT MOMENT THE CAR LOST POWER...SEVERAL SECONDS LATER, THE PEDAL RESUMED ITS NORMAL FEEL AND POWER RESUMED...IT DID THIS 3 TIMES. RIGHT AT THE FIRST TIME IT DID THIS, I HEARD A TRIPLE CLICK (SOUNDED LIKE THE CLICKS YOU GET WHEN THE CAR DOES NOT TURN ON AFTER BATTERY DRAIN). SO, CLICK, CLICK, CLICK, LOSS OF POWER, POWER, LOSS OF POWER, POWER, LOSS OF POWER, POWER. I IMMEDIATELY GOT INTO THE RIGHT LANE THINKING THE CAR WAS GOING TO DIE ON ME AND EXPECTING TO HAVE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. MY HUSBAND WATCHED THE WHOLE THING IN OUR TRUCK SO HE HAD A GOOD VIEW. HE SAW 3 EXPULSIONS OF BLUISH EXHAUST COME OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE AND SAW THE CAR SLOW DOWN AT EACH OF THE POWER LOSS EVENTS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT IS HAPPENING NO ONLY TO THIS CAR, BUT THE FORESTER AND RAV4 AND OTHERS. SERVICE WAS SO RELIANT ON THEIR COMPUTER READ OUT, WHICH SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG, THAT WE DID NOT HAVE FAITH THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM AND FIND A SOLUTION. SO WE CANCELLED THE SALE. IT IS ASHAME THAT THE NHTS HAS ONLY REQUIRED MAT CHANGES AS RECALLS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A COMPUTER PROGRAMMING ERROR IN WHICH THE CAR COMPUTER (WHICH NOW CONTROLS THE GAS PEDAL RATHER THAN AN ACTUAL LINE GOING TO IT) IS TELLING THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN. AND THE FACT THAT THE COMPUTER DOES NOT RECORD A PROBLEM LIKELY IS FURTHER EVIDENCE OF A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION. THE AUTO INDUSTRY AND OUR OWN GOVERNMENT WATCHDOG IS MAKING OUR ROADS LESS SAFE. THIS ISSUE IS RAMPANT. CAR MATS, REALLY PEOPLE?

  2. Suspension, Electrical system, Aug 18, 2015

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA CR-V. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A HANGING WIRE AND THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COVER FOR THE AXLE WAS HANGING AND THE ELECTRONIC ALL WHEEL DRIVE SENSOR CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

  3. Electrical system, Aug 3, 2015

    THE REAR LIFTGATE AND REAR PASSENGER DOOR FAILED TO OPEN WHEN I USED THE REMOTE TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. THE REAR LIFTGATE DID OPEN AFTER THE THIRD TRY WITH THE REMOTE KEY FOB. THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN BY EITHER THE EXTERIOR OR INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. I ENGAGED AND DISENGAGED THE REAR SEAT CHILD LOCK SEVERAL TIMES AND ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DOOR, THE DOOR STILL WILL NOT OPEN. UPDATED 09/15/15*LJ *CN

  4. Electrical system, Jan 1, 2015

    BATTERY WAS GOING DEAD PERIODICALLY. THOUGHT I WAS LEAVING A LIGHT ON OR DOOR OPEN. TOLD THE HONDA DEALER TO CHECK THE BATTERY WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THEY NEVER CHECKED IT. DIDNT EVEN PUT THAT I ASKED TO CHECK IT. OUT OF WARRANTY BATTERY WENT DEAD. DID A CHECK AT AUTOZONE THEY SAID IT WAS THE ALTENATOR. CHANGED ALTENATOR STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. VOLTAGE REGULATOR. THE VOLTS ONLY STAY UP WHEN I KEEP THE HEADLIGHTS ON. ( MORE TO THIS STORY ABOUT MY BAD DEALERSHIP EXPERIENCE BUT DON'T WANT TO GET INTO IT) *JS

  5. Electrical system, Dec 4, 2014

    AT WORK, FINISHED MY SHIFT, MOVE CAR TO EXIT, TURN CAR OFF WENT IN SWIPE MY CARD GET IN CAR PUT KEY IN TO START AND CAR ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER, ALL LIGHTS LIGHTS ON IN CAR, WINDOWS WORKS BUT BATTERY WOULDN'T START...THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES AT WORK, I HAD TO JUMP START, ENGINE STARTS UP AT FIRST TURN OVER...MY CAR HAVE A VERY RATTLES SOUND WHEN I PUT KEY IN TO START AT ALL TIMES, IS LIKE I EXCEED THE TURNING POINT BUT I DON'T. I TURNED KEY NATURALLY TO START BUT STARTER STILL RATTLES...I BELIEVED IT'S A STARTER PROBLEM AND IT'S SCARING ME, MY CAR IS JUST ONE YEAR OLD, I BOUGHT IT LAST YEAR SEPTEMBER OF 2013... *TR

  6. Electrical system, Engine, Nov 17, 2014

    ON 9/23/14 30000 MILE CHECK UP PERFORMED AT DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR. ON 10/14/14 IN HEAVY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC I ACCELERATED TO PASS A CAR ON INTERSTATE 4; VEHICLE HICCUPED AND LOST POWER; ABLE TO GO TO SHOULDER OF THE ROAD ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC; TURNED VEHICLE OFF THEN ON AGAIN; VEHICLE STARTED WITHOUT HESITATION. DROVE CAR TO DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT; THEY CHECKED IT OUT; SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG; HOWEVER, THEY RAN A COMPUTER UPDATE FOR THE ALTERNATING SYSTEM STATING THAT THEY "THINK" PROBLEM IS SOLVED. CONTACTED HONDA REGIONAL; THEY AUTHORIZED AN INSPECTION AT A DIFFERENT HONDA DEALERSHIP ON 11/12/14. I WAS AGAIN TOLD THAT THEY COULD FIND NO REASON THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER; AT THAT POINT, HONDA REGIONAL TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING MORE THEY CAN DO. I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THIS ANSWER. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE? *TR

  7. Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Vehicle speed control, Sep 23, 2014

    THE HEADLIGHTS KEEP BLOWING. HAVE BEEN THROUGH 3 SETS IN 10 MONTHS! TAKEN IT IN TO HONDA, AND THEY BLAME THE CONSUMER'S IMPROPER INSTALLATION AS A CAUSE. WE HAD AUTO ZONE HELP US INSTALL THEM EACH TIME. BEEN COMPLAINING SINCE DAY 1 THAT THE HEADLIGHTS CONSTANTLY DIM AND COME BACK UP. HONDA BLAMES THE CARS "SMALL BATTERY" AS THE REASONING BEHIND IT. THEN IF IT'S THEIR "BATTERY" THAT'S CAUSING IT THEN MAKE THE SPACE BIGGER! ALSO, ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS HAVE NOTICED THE CAR LAGS WHEN HITTING THE ACCELERATOR. HAS ALMOST CAUSED MULTIPLE COLLISIONS. YOU PRESS THE ACCELERATOR EXPECTING THE CAR TO MOVE, BUT IT DELAYS. WHICH IS REALLY DANGEROUS WHEN YOUR TRYING TO MAKE A QUICK TURN. HONDA SAYS "IT'S NORMAL, ALL CARS DO IT". THERE REALLY NEEDS TO BE RECALLS ISSUED FOR THESE! THESE THINGS ARE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES! I'VE REVIEWED MULTIPLE PEOPLE STATING THE SAME ISSUES WITH THEIR HONDA'S, AND YET HONDA REFUSES TO HELP THEIR CONSUMERS AND STILL CONTINUES TO PRODUCE FAULTY AND DANGEROUS CARS. *TR

  8. Electrical system, Visibility, Apr 18, 2014

    THE HEATER SEEMS TO BE OVERHEATING AND MELTING MY VENTS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO HONDA, AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR A HEATER TO GET THAT HOT. THE HEATER IS SO HOT THAT YOU CANNOT TOUCH THE VENTS IF THE HEATER IS TURNED ON, YOU HAVE TO WAIT 2-4 MINUTES AFTER TURNING IT OFF BEFORE YOU CAN TOUCH THE VENTS. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE VENTS MELTING, AND THEY SAID THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING I DID TO MAKE IT HAPPEN, AND WILL NOT REPLACE THE VENTS OR CHECK THE HEATER UNTIL I FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE VENTS. *TR

  9. Electrical system, Feb 14, 2014

    THE CAR COMES WITH A BATTERY OF INSUFFICIENT SIZE AND AN INADEQUATE CHARGING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT NEED JUMP STARTING AFTER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS WITH A FAIRLY NEW BATTERY. THE 1ST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS AFTER 3 MONTHS AND AGAIN AT 6 MONTHS. SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS INCLUDE TURNING OFF ECONMODE, RIDING IN D3 OR 2ND, OR TAKING LONG RIDES AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. THE CAR WAS NOT ADVERTISED AS BEING THIS DEFECTIVE FOR EVERYDAY DRIVING. IT ALSO HAS POOR HIGH BEAMS AND FREEZING WINDSHIELD WASHERS. *TR

  10. Electrical system, Feb 3, 2014

    BLUE OX PATRIOT BRAKING SYSTEM/2013 HONDA CRV. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BEING TOWED WITH A SUPPLEMENTAL BRAKING SYSTEM. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED, TWICE WHILE RETURNING FROM A RECENT TRIP, THE SUPPLEMENTAL BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKED THE BRAKES DOWN ON HIS 2013 HONDA CRAB, THAT WAS BEING TOWED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ON BOTH OCCASIONS, HE WAS SLOWING DOWN GRADUALLY AND MAKING A SLIGHT TURN FROM ONE LANE TO THE NEXT. ON THE FIRST OCCASION, HE WAS GOING AROUND 30-35 MPH. ON THE SECOND, HE WAS EXITING A BUSY I-95 AND GOING AROUND 55 MPH. THE FULL FORCE PANIC STOP ISSUED BY THE SUPPLEMENTAL BRAKE PRACTICALLY STOPPED HIS MATRON. IT FLAT-SPOTTED ALL OF THE TIRES. THE CONSUMER NOTIFIED BLUE OX, OF THE INCIDENT. THEY AGREED TO ALLOW HIM TO RETURN THE BRAKING SYSTEM FOR AN EVALUATION TO DETERMINE WHY THE INCIDENTS MIGHT HAVE OCCURRED. AFTER A FEW WEEKS, HE FINALLY HAD TO CALL THEM, ONLY TO BE INFORMED THE UNIT PASSED ALL THE TESTS AND IT WAS NOT THEIR FAULT. BLUE OX, RETURNED THE BRAKING SYSTEM WITH NO COMMENT. *JB

  11. Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 17, 2013

    THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE AND MY DAUGHTER'S SIMILAR CAR ARE A DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ALREADY REGARDING THIS. THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN SEE DECENTLY IS WITH A COMBINATION OF LOW BEAMS AND DRIVING LIGHTS. *TR

  12. Electrical system, Dec 17, 2013

    FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD INCIDENT, PERTAINED OF ALL 4 DOORS LOCKING AND UNLOCKING REPEATEDLY, BY THEMSELVES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE, GOING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND ON SURFACE STREETS. THE MOST REENT INCIDENT WAS 12/16/13. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT UNLOCK. I USED BOTH THE AFTER MARKET REMOTE START FOB, THE FOB ON THE ORIGINAL FACTORY KEY AND ALSO THE MANUAL UNLOCK BY PUTTING THE KEY IN THE DOOR. AFTER 2 HOURS OF CONSTANTLY PUSHING BUTTONS AND CHECKING ALL ENTRANCES TO THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE UNLOCKED ON IT'S OWN, WITHOUT PUSHING ANY OF THE BUTTONS. MY 15 MONTH OLD CHILD AND I WERE LITERALLY STRANDED FOR THESE 2 HOURS UNTIL A TOW TRUCK COULD COME TO US. NOT TO MENTION THAT THE CAR UNLOCKED ITSELF ON IT'S OWN RIGHT BEFORE THE TOW COMPANY SHOWED UP. WHAT IF MY CHILD HAD BEEN INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENED???? *TR

  13. Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Structure, Aug 3, 2013

    WHEN ENTERING A HIGHWAY ON-RAMP IN MAKING THE TURN ALL DOORS WERE SUDDENLY UNLOCKED AND THE FRONT COURTESY LIGHTS IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAME ON. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED ABOUT 10 TIMES WHEN CORNERING. *TR