2012 Honda CR-V Problems Cover Loose Door Latches, Rollaway, and Grinding Noise on Startup
Essentially a 2012 Civic with an SUV body, it’s just as dependable as the popular compact. You’ll want to hear crunching sounds on startup, and make sure you take care of the door latch and foldable recalls, but you don’t have to worry about behind the wheel of your 2012 CR-V.
- The 2012 Honda CR-V was included in the recall for door latches that can be opened while the vehicle is in motion.
- Winter solstice may occur due to the cold’s effect on the vehicle’s anti-brake mechanism.
- A grinding sound on startup may be a sign that the VTC actuator has failed.
- Two in the 2012 CR-V are still open, but the airbag complaints are only 25 in total, making a major recall unlikely.
- The 2012 CR-V received an overall five-star rating with NHTSA, a Top Safety Pick award with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and fewer than 400 complaints on file in total, making it one of the most dependable SUVs on the road. today.
The doors may open while the vehicle is in motion
It was the first to hit the 2012 Honda CR-V in 2012. Along with the 2013 Acura ILX, the 2012 CR-V was included among nearly 200,000 units with door latches that were prone to opening while the car was in motion.
As for the exact mechanics of this issue, I’ve come down to a cable mechanism that can vibrate out of place when the door lock switch and doorknob are turned on at the same time. If this occurs, the latch can no longer be trusted to close the door while the vehicle is in operation.
The repair included replacing the door latch assemblies on damaged vehicles. On Honda CR-Vs, in particular, the front door handles will be replaced as well. Some complaints the following year reported parts shortages and incomplete repairs, but there has only been one complaint on the door handle since 2013.
This latest complaint was registered in 2018, and it had to do with the driver’s ignition key failing to open the door. So, we’d probably say this issue has been successfully corrected with the recall, just be sure to check the VIN so you don’t have to wait around for parts.
Solstice may occur on cold days
This sounds a little confusing: If it’s really cold outside, your CR-V could roll over any hill you’re standing on. The problem is with the brake shift interlock mechanism. When temperatures drop below freezing, this part may be slow to move because the material from which it is built contracts.
The car is designed not to get out of park without the driver depressing the brake pedal. Cold affects the unit that controls this function, so, when the temperature drops below thirty degrees Fahrenheit, the CR-V may slide out of the vehicle’s position with or without the brakes applied.
Rollover can be prevented by keeping the parking brake on, but you don’t have to worry about that. Fortunately, there is a recall in progress, released in 2013 and covering about 200,000 Honda units. There have been no recent reports of a cold day, so the recall seems to have done its job.
This is, of course, a bigger concern if you live in an area with cold winters, such as Minnesota, New York, Wisconsin, etc. For drivers in California or Florida, you might not even think it’s worth a dealer trip. But, rollback fixes are free, so you can also take care of it if you have a fix pending.
A grinding noise on start-up may indicate a failure of the VTC actuator
There is a 2012 Honda CR-V, on the NHTSA website and elsewhere, which indicates potentially serious problems with the VTC actuator. VTC stands for Variable Timing Control, and the actuator is a component that helps manage the timing of the air intake valve.
Basically, if you’re having issues with your VTC starter, it means your engine isn’t breathing properly, and since your car needs oxygen for the combustion process, it could mean stalling and engine failure if the problem isn’t corrected.
It is not difficult to identify the problem. If you hear a loud crunching sound when starting your vehicle, this is probably the trigger. Unfortunately, there have been no subpoenas regarding this matter yet, and no investigations are ongoing in this segment.
Drivers reported that they simply had to replace the part from their own pocket every two years or so, as the car is now out of warranty and the problem is not occurring at a rate high enough to warrant any action on the part from NHTSA.
The worst 2012 Honda CR-V problems are very rare
The biggest concern for any 2012 Honda CR-V driver will be the VTC operator. The part alone can cost hundreds of dollars to replace, and if it fails once, you may feel like you’re sitting on a time bomb waiting to fail again.
But the problem caused less than a hundred complaints on the NHTSA website, across more than a quarter of a million units sold in 2012, so the odds of you being affected are slim. And even if this happens, you can avoid any permanent damage to the engine if it is repaired promptly.
The 2012 Honda CR-V is one of those cars where your biggest concern won’t be manufacturing defect, but the previous owner. It’s basically a Honda Civic with a compact SUV body as a crossover, so, with proper maintenance and driving habits, it can hit those big numbers on the odometer.
In other words, the most important thing is the driving test. Listen for any strange noises, look for any warning lights (or electrical tape on the dashboard), learn how they perform on hills and at highway speeds, and make sure you don’t buy auto parts at a “gently used” price.
