Showing the 2012 CR-V EX-L. NHTSA's VIN data shows it with a 2.4 L engine, but that may not be every version of it, so the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
About every 2012 CR-V
The 2012 Honda CR-V has 403 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, with engine the most common part at 89. It rates 25 to 26 mpg combined on gasoline and carries a 5-year fuel cost of $12,490 to $12,990 at U.S. average prices. NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall. There are 3 recall campaigns, covering transmission and drivetrain, accessories, and door latches and locks, which may apply.
Written by AI from public EPA and NHTSA data. Not a review.
Fuel economy
25–26 mpgcombined; city 22–23, highway 29–30; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$12,490–$12,990U.S. average; Ohio $11,160–$11,610 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2012 CR-V. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 403 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 CR-V. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Engine
89
4
2
4
Electrical system
68
0
1
0
Unknown or other
52
3
0
3
Power train
48
1
1
6
Steering
35
2
0
1
Air bags
30
15
0
11
Structure
29
6
0
4
Suspension
26
2
0
1
Service brakes
23
2
0
2
Visibility/wiper
23
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
21
6
0
3
Exterior lighting
14
0
0
0
12 more parts
Visibility
14
0
0
1
Latches/locks/linkages
7
0
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
6
0
1
2
Seat belts
6
4
0
3
Seats
6
1
1
1
Wheels
4
1
0
1
Electronic stability control (ESC)
2
0
0
0
Engine and engine cooling
2
0
0
0
Equipment
2
0
0
0
Equipment adaptive/mobility
2
0
0
0
Fuel system, gasoline
2
0
0
0
Tires
2
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2012 CR-V over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
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."
Risk: 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.
Honda is recalling certain model year 2012 CR-V, equipped with the LX trim level and manufactured from August 30, 2012, to August 31, 2012. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification." The incorrect values for Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, Gross Axle Weight Rating front and rear, tire size, and rim size were specified on the safety certification label.
Risk: A misprinted label could lead to improper vehicle loading. Improper loading could result in a tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will apply the corrective label free of charge. The safety recall began on November 14, 2012. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
Honda is recalling certain model year 2012 Honda CR-V and model year 2013 Acura ILX vehicles. If the manual or power door lock is activated while an interior front door handle is being operated by an occupant, the cable connecting the interior door handle to the door latch mechanism may become loose and move out of position. There is a possibility that the cable can move far enough out of position to prevent the door from properly latching.
Risk: If the door is not fully latched, the door may open while driving or in a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury to the vehicle occupants.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front door latch assemblies in the affected vehicles, free of charge. Additionally, the interior front door handles in certain Honda CR-Vs will also be replaced, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on, or about, August 16, 2012. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 105 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2012 CR-V, the latest on May 16, 2019. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: air bags (23), engine and engine cooling (18), electrical system (16), equipment (10), parking brake (10).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Engineering analysis EA21002 Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture · covers 37 makes
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2012 CR-V.
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: sport utility vehicle. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
CR-V Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
23 / 30 / 26
CR-V All-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
22 / 29 / 25
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data