2013 Honda CR-V Complaint Log

This honda cr-v had a sudden surge of acceleration while the brake pedal was pressed. The brake pedal was stepped off to put car into drive, but then the car suddenly went forward over 30 mph and crashed into a fence and tree in the driveway straight across from it about 5 feet away. The airbag did not immediately deploy, but deployed a minute later. The entire front end of the car was destroyed. The driver tried to press the brake, shift into neutral and even turn the key of the car off to shut it off but none of those worked. This car was purchased at carmax in May 2025 and had no issues per them. There were no warning lights on the car prior to this.

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; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to a dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.

The AWD light came on while the vehicle was in normal operation on October 25, 2025. Two days later, a diagnostic service was done at Bay Ridge Honda (Bay Ridge Honda did not previously worked on my vehicle), and it was determined that the rear differential on my vehicle failed. A differential is quite durable and does not fail easily. The mechanic who performed the diagnostic, stated that it looked like someone tried to repair it. In addition, an independent mechanic confirmed that the damage occurred as a result of improper service at a Honda dealership. Because of the failure, I also noticed the rear of the vehicle seemed to be dragging. The failure occurred after the vehicle had been serviced at authorized Honda dealerships, Plaza Honda and Middletown Honda. Those are the only two places where routine and repair services have been performed on my vehicle. This created a safety hazard because a failed differential can lead to loss of vehicle control, putting the safety and lives of others and myself at risk. I'm concerned that improper workmanship caused the failure. Since I don't know which dealership is responsible, I reached out to American Honda Motor Co, Inc. for assistance, but they have not provided a satisfactory resolution and insisted that I resolve the issue with both dealerships. I'm requesting that NHTSA investigate and document if improper servicing contributed to the differential failure.

My 2013 Honda CRV completely broke down in late August 2025, as I was backing out of my driveway. Our lives were at risk. This could have happened in traffic, causing a terrible collision. My local Honda dealership found the chain guides broken and the timing off, and recommended replacement of several parts (timing chain, guides, tensioner, exhaust cam, rockers, and ... VTC actuator). Initially, they thought the cause was a lack of proper maintenance, specifically, infrequent or improper oil changes. I knew we had taken proper care of our car, so I began investigating. The check engine light was on for at least 2 years (as well as the rattling at start-up), and I had not gotten clarity on it until recently, after consulting with multiple professionals. Finally, a Jiffy Lube tech said it was due to the VTC actuator. I then brought my car to the Honda dealership in July 2025 for an oil change and to discuss the check engine light and VTC actuator issue. At that time, they did not alert me to the VTC actuator defect or the potential for complete engine failure. As I continued my investigation, I found a Honda Service Bulletin starting in 2016 (when my car was still under its three-year warranty) and updated in 2017 (when my car was still under its five-year Power Train warranty) describing the VTC actuator as defective. Had American Honda issued a recall at that time, instead of an SB, and had notified me of this defective part, my warranties in those years would have covered the replacement costs of my VTC actuator and related engine parts. And also been significantly less expensive. Flash forward to this fall 2025: as I continued my investigation, I discovered multiple class-action lawsuits against American Honda for this exact issue—a known defective VTC actuator. It turns out they conducted an internal study in 2011 that found the VTC actuator was defective. Now the dealership believes my car's failure was caused by a defective VTC actuator.

Service Bulletin 16-012 was issued for 2013 CRV for the VTC actuator. This is obviously an issue that Honda is aware of but is refusing to fix. I’ve had to replace this part twice at the same interval of time. The first replacement was covered under my warranty however now that I am out of warranty this repair costs almost 3,000$. I contacted American Honda who refuses to provide good will even though they are aware this is a known issue. I was advised that if this wasn’t repaired it would be a safety issue. I believe this should be covered on Hondas dime especially if this has to replaced multiple times at no fault of the customer.

On [XXX] while making a left turn from [XXX] onto [XXX] , my 2013 Honda CR-V began shaking and making a humming noise just before it suddenly shut off in the middle of the intersection, nearly causing a collision. There were no dashboard warning lights or error messages before the failure. The vehicle is currently in the same condition, and the fuel pump remains installed and is available for inspection upon request. No mechanic, dealer, manufacturer, police, or insurance representative has inspected the vehicle since the incident. The tow truck driver who transported the car, based on the absence of the fuel pump sound, suspected the fuel pump was malfunctioning. I replaced the battery following the incident, but the problem persists. While the official recall website indicates no open recalls for my specific VIN, there are two recalls issued for the 2013 Honda CR-V model related to similar fuel pump issues. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2013 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 132,000. At the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 267,000.

VTC rattles on startup. Please email me at [XXX] so we can start another lawsuit against Honda. This is a known problem that everyone from honda to your backyard mechanic are aware of. I used to love Honda. I even paid extra to get this specific Honda CRV. Kind of feel like a fool now. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

6/27/2025 Driving to work on Garden State Parkway fast lane driving 65 miles per hour. Tire experienced a complete blow out. Tire walls burst apart and smoked. Driving straight on a clear highway.

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2013 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was an independent dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 164,000 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 200,000.

The contact owns a 2013 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while in a commercial parking garage, a second vehicle crashed into the rear of the vehicle, causing the driver to inadvertently press the accelerator pedal and lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle accelerated forward and crashed into a truck before crashing head on into a pole. During the failure, the vehicle sustained severe front end damage, but no air bags deployed. The contact sustained neck and back injuries, which were treated at the scene and later at the urgent care medical facility. The contact indicated that the vehicle was destroyed and later towed to the home. No police report was taken. The cause of the failure has not yet been determined. The local dealer was notified of the incident. The manufacturer had not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 72,000.

Prolonged starter cycle with engine rattling noise

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.

Driving on hwy at 55. Heard very loud pop and then shattered sunroof blew off. Was NOT near an overpass. No debris from passing vehicles. Dash cam shows this.

While driving the steering wheel will lock up and become unable to be turned. It feels as the power steering goes out. The issue is intermittent and happens during a turn. The problem has been discovered at 0-35 mph and sometimes requires turning the vehicle off and restarting. Often the steering wheel will force itself to a steering wheel "lock" position beyond what the wheel is being mechanically turned to. Vehicle has no outstanding recalls and has had regular service.

VTC Actuator causes engine to rattle loudly at cold start-up for about 2 seconds. The problem has been confirmed by dealer Honda service bulletin 16-012.

After getting my car service at the dealer, I notice my horn didn't Chirp and my lights didn't flash when I locked my doors. Upon investigating this, I noticed my hood was ajar. It was down to what I would call the safety latch. When I fully closed the hood, everything worked fine. I realized then that I had just driven 20 miles at 70 MPH. If the hood had flown up at that speed it would have been catastrophic. I checked to see if there was a warning light to warn that the hood is ajar but there is not. There are warning lights that a door is ajar and the rear hatch is ajar but not the Hood. Since my horn chirp and my light flash didn't work, apparently the car knows the hood is ajar but there is not warning light. I think there should be. thank you [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Severe frame rot on driver’s side of vehicle just forward of rear wheel. Rear control arm bolt support location has rusted away. Discovered August 5, 2024 when up on lift for a tire rotation. Garage advised vehicle unsafe to drive. Vehicle has 96,374 miles and is out of warranty. However, Honda issued a recall on 2007-2011 CRVs for same situation where vehicles were repaired or bought back. Vehicle has been inspected by 2 private garages, a Honda dealer, and a Honda collision center to assess repair options. We have been told not to drive the vehicle. I understand the warranty has expired however a failure could result in loss of control and a repair quote from a Honda collision center is $5,871.63. If the vehicle were in an accident insurance company would total it, per Arbella. Instead, we are left to spend more than 2/3 of its trade in value to repair it. It seems that the CRV frame issue was not limited to the 2007-2011 model years, and I believe we should receive consideration from Honda to repair or buy back the for a vehicle. It would appear more CRVs should be inspected for unsafe frame rot, and Honda should be held accountable for a design that does not let road salt and moisture drain.

The VTC Actuator in several Honda vehicle models from between 2011 and 2015 are known to be defective (as per Honda's technician bulletins). The defective part damages the internal engine components responsible for ensuring the engine's timing. Honda has refused to issue recalls to address this issue faced by millions of Honda vehicle owners. Honda has known about this issue since at least 2011. Honda released a replacement VTC Actuator but the replacement has also been shown to be defective. The issue can cost upwards of $2,000 to repair and Honda continues to sell vehicles with this defect without notifying prospective buyers. I would not have purchased my 2013 Honda CR-V in January, 2024 had I been notified of this serious defect. Please see the attached file for more information.

The contact owns a 2013 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormally loud sound. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the swing arm bolt had fractured, and the sub-frame was severely corroded. The independent mechanic replaced the swingarm bolt; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the front suspension stabilizer bar had previously been replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 106,467.

The drivers side door is the only key hole available to unlock or lock the car. This key hole is jammed at a diagonal angle and will not accept a key in any way. Thus, whatever state the car is currently in (locked in my case) is the state that it will stay. No professional has checked it out. It is easily inspectable. There were no warnings by the car that this would happen, however, within 24 hrs before the door lock was jammed, the car wouldn't stay locked and would unlock and release the trunk door on its own while unattended.

Transmission stutters between 35-45 mph.

The contact owns a 2013 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, he was involved in an accident where he crashed into a truck, but the driver's air bag did not deploy. The contact stated that the fumes from the air bag burned his left hand, and he had to seek medical attention. The contact mentioned that his injuries would have been severe had he not been wearing a protectant glove on his hand. The vehicle was towed to the towing lot. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

Car shudders when accelerating at 20-25 mph. I had gotten this looked at and fixed about 2-3 years ago per two recalls and it had resolved. Just recently I noticed it started up again.

The contact owns a 2013 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while reversing, the rearview camera image was significantly blurry. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

VTC problems. Too many not to start a recall. Very expensive.

Electronic power steering intermittently fails, mostly on low speed turns. Local Honda dealership has had the car two weeks, can’t find any error codes upon investigation. Yet problem still happens.

My 2013 Honda crv LX locks keep locking and unlocking by itself replaced drivers side lock actuator still has the same problem replaced with OEM.

The contact owns a 2013 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle drove over a bump in the road and the steering wheel became unstable. The vehicle was driven to the local service center who diagnosed that the rear driver’s side lower control arm on the front suspension mount had separated from the unibody frame due to corrosion. The contact was informed that the entire unibody frame needed to be replaced to repair the control arm. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 158,000. The contact stated that they will no longer need this complaint. They contacted the dealership and they agreed to buy the vehicle and make the situation a fair settlement.

On February 5, I was parking my vehicle in a parking lot space. The vehicle lurched forward and hit another parked car causing $925 in damages to that car. I put it into Park and then Reverse and it lurched backwards. I did not have any control over the car. I took it to the North Shore Honda dealer in Glen Head, NY and they were unable to find anything wrong but I know there is a problem and I am very nervous driving the car. There were no warning lamps before or after the incident. I have read on the internet of other people experiencing uncontrolled acceleration of their vehicle.

Powertrain problem as many others stated. I got the vehicle used after extensive research claiming how great it was & because I've owned an Accord for over 20 years with no problems. All I could find on line was rave reviews. When I took the vehicle for test drive it was in the middle of rush hour traffic so went on side roads. I could feel it shake but thought the roads were just not smooth. Within a few days the shaking got worse and brought it to the most reputable service station in the area. I was told it was a transmission judder. They ran a check and there was no recall on my vin # although they found that it was a known problem with Honda. They performed a TBS transmission flash update, hoping it might solve the problem. That was only 1/2 the repair required. Because it was a transmission problem, they recommended Honda do that. Honda also said the my vin wasn't supposed to have the problem and charged me for a triple flush of the transmission fluid because the way it's built, enough of the fluid can't be replaced in one flush. It's somewhat better now but I was told to keep paying attention because it's possible the converter will also need to be repaired. I'm so disappointed with Honda. I always trusted them and all the great reviews on line, but it wasn't until I was told to specifically google "Honda CRV transmission judder or shutter", that I found the flood of many owners that had the same problem. They know about the issue yet charged close to $500 for the flush, not counting the over $300 flash update by the service station also needed. Honda just claims some vin numbers don't qualify even though they have the issue, but they don't explain what determines that disqualification. Just "Sorry Mam, your vin isn't on the list. The car is not safe with that shake. It jumps when trying to slow down for a yellow light. You can feel it shake & hurts my injured back- the reason I got it in the 1st place.

At low speed when transmission is shifting I feel a shudder. I took it to a qualified mechanic whom I trust and he said he needed to do a power flush on the transmission. He did so then about 2 weeks later it started again. I took it back and at that time it did not do what I said. I just bought this vehicle used in November 2022. It has 85,000 miles on it. I take an elderly neighbor (88) to the store etc. as she no longer drives and I feel that I am putting her life at risk when we are going to the store. I am retired and cannot afford to have the transmission replaced. Please help. No warnings.

3 passenger side air bags were activated while drivng at a very slow speed as I was preparing to unload 3 children in a school drop off area

My Honda CRV- 2013 has door locking and unlocking on its own, mainly located on the passenger side. This happens even when I am driving. My locks will just start locking and unlocking repeatedly like there is a short in the system. This is causing some type of serious drain on my brand-new battery which I just bought 2 weeks ago. Somehow the door locks are causing my entire battery to go Dead. I have had to jump-start my car these past few days! this a serious and defect that is all over the internet.

ACCELERATING FROM 25 TO 30 MPH VEHICLE SHUDDERS WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS. THIS IS DISTRACTING AND I AM FEARFUL THAT ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION WILL QUIT WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE HAS 13,000 MILES.

Power train judders at low acceleration at speed of 20-25 mph. Mileage is ~86,000. Car make is 4/2013, complaint made 10/2022

My 2013 Honda CR-V EXL AWD started shuttering at slow take off speed just before shifting into 2nd gear and just before 3rd gear. It had around 76,000 miles on it. Looked up forums about this and contacted dealership to make appointment. On 06/20/2022 I had the transmission flushed and new fluid and they said that was the first thing that they would recommend to do. They said no software update was available. Solution lasted only a week. The shutter started back so I checked fluid and it appeared low so I took back to dealership and yes I checked after it was warm, when I got it to dealership it was at the right level, puzzling maybe it wasn’t on level surface when I checked ,nonetheless, I told them the shutter was back and they said it sounded like torque converter was bad and needed replacement but they didn’t have time to do a diagnosis and it would cost me to get diagnosed. I’ll have to get another appointment. The very next day the shutter is way worse than before and it made a weird noise in reverse. This shutter is dangerous not only is it a distraction but if you pull out in front of someone thinking you have enough time and this occurs it could cause a life threatening problem. I hope Honda will recall for this issue. I’ve seen where it has been and still is an issue for several year models not only 2013.

The contact owns a 2013 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle started shaking and shuddering. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact drove to a local mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed and the contact was informed that the rear axles needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 66,000.

I don't know what's wrong with it, it has been shuddering on low speeds. I just bought it yesterday and I'm devasted that I just got a 16,000 car and the same night I'm driving it and it's doing this. I have done research and this is no doubt a defect in many other people's car. This needs to be addressed how is this not a serious defeat and safety issue. You start off or pull out from a red light and it doesn't want to go, this IS a safety/accident concern. Please respond and please help. Honda has always been one of the best vehicles I have owned 5 in my lifetime, but I seen many many reviews with people pleading for Honda to fix this issue and they are turning their backs...not good for Honda to say the least. Regards, Teresa

The contact's mother owns a 2013 Honda CR-V. The contact's mother informed him that she had experienced hesitation between shifting gear and the indication shown on the gear selector. There was no warning light illuminated. His mother also informed him that the vehicle would stall upon the depression of the accelerator pedal without warning. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure and they informed him that there were no recalls on the vehicle. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V143000 (Power Train). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

Engine makes rattling sound on cold start-up. VTC actuator found to be defective by Honda mechanic and replaced. Vehicle vibrates/shudders when at a stop. Mechanic also found timing chain was off by one tooth and was fixed. Vibration/shuddering continues despite repairs. Vibration is noticeable on front seats. Concerned about engine and safety as engine causes seats to vibrate.

For the past few months my car vibrates whenever i decrease in speed or change to lower gears. The whole car vibrates. I have brought it to the dealer recently and they advised of faulty transmission after i paid for diagnostic /inspection. There has also been several incidents where the car has been stuck in park. It even happened when i placed the car in park while at a stoplight.

The Honda CRV is skipping/stuttering/juddering when accelerating between 25-45 mph. This has caused an issue when pulling out onto a highway. The mechanic advised me to have the VTC Actuator checked. Looking on line there is not a recall, but there are several safety bulletins and lawsuits connected to this issue. My vehicle was purchased used.

When I slowed down when approaching a stop sign the engine revved up high. I was able to stop by braking but eventually had to turn off the engine and luckily when restarting it ran normally.

The contact owns a 2013 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving 25-35 MPH, the vehicle started shuddering inadvertently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to continue to drive the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.

Transmission shakes or quivers around 25-30 mph. At speed above 35mph right rear suspension (axle) shakes, quivers. I was checking For a recall because of all the complaints of same issues on honda owners website. The car is becoming unsafe to drive. This is the first effort I have made to research problem. The Honda website indicated a 2013 crv Recall but not for my vin number.

It’s vibrating while accelerating at low speeds between 20mph till 40mph the shaking is horrible when i went to honda they told me i have to change the fluid but not grantee to fix thus problem

The Honda CR-V shudders under light acceleration between 25 and 35 MPH. This problem seems endemic to all generations of Honda CR-V's, not just mine, and apparently Honda has known about this for some time but hasn't informed owners, just dealers. It should have been part of a recall paid for by Honda. I just found out about it recently, after 8 years of ownership

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THROUGH A CAR WASH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000. *JS

Engine rattles loudly for 2 seconds on cold start-up. The rattle started in 2021 at 90k miles, used to be intermittent but since 2022 it occurs every cold start-up. Two different mechanics have diagnosed the problem as a VTC defect requiring replacement, based on Honda’s TSB bulletin, which diagnoses the rattle as a defective VTC. No warning indicator lights have ever appeared for this issue. The cost to replace the VTC is $1200. A class action lawsuit has been filed for this very issue (JULY 5, 2023 case 3:23-CV-01238) - it states that a 2011 study showed that the VTC defect can stretch the vehicle’s timing chain and cause premature failure of the timing chain tensioner, and that damage to these internal engine components can cause catastrophic engine failure and lead to accidents. Honda should be held responsible for selling vehicles with defective parts, and owners should not have to pay for these replacements.