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The 2011 Honda CR-V has 8 critical safety recalls on file — the kind NHTSA opens when crashes, fires, or injuries are documented. 551 owner complaints alongside. Read those first.
The 2011 Honda CR-V has 551 NHTSA owner complaints and 13 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is airbags at 293 complaints, typically surfacing around 68,463 miles (~$1,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 CR-V | 960 | 11 |
| 2009 CR-V | 386 | 12 |
| 2010 CR-V | 480 | 15 |
| 2011 CR-V (this page) | 551 | 13 |
| 2012 CR-V | 400 | 3 |
| 2013 CR-V | 381 | 2 |
| 2014 CR-V | 585 | 1 |
Significant reliability concerns on file. Read the trouble spots before buying.
The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the engine was repaired or replaced.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: No · Lane departure warning: No
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2011 Honda CR-V SUV AWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 68,463 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 13 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 2.0/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
Left rear caliper pin stuck resulting in catastrophic failure of pads and brake drum. Dealer unable to explain how or why and upon completion of repair stated a new pin was not needed.
Scheduled recall to be looked at, however my local dealership called me the day of appointment to tell me they do not have the part for that and would need to order it and then schedule my appointment. So the person ordered it and then I had to call back to see if the part came…
Vehicle bought new in 2011 and only one owner. In early 2015, my vehicle went from having my oil changed between 5000 and 7000 miles to barely making it to 3000. Vehicle manufacture recommends synthetic oil and is the only type of oil that has ever been used for this vehicle. No…
This car has killed 6 batteries in 5 years. The dealer just keeps saying everything is fine, but it frequently needs jump starts and battery replacements. There is no pattern as to weather conditions, just frequent failures at different times of year. I am reporting the most…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 2.0 out of 10 based on 551 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Honda CR-V has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
On the NHTSA data, the 2011 Honda CR-V is one to avoid unless a specific vehicle proves otherwise. The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the engine was repaired or replaced. The record behind that call: Engine: 31 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 53,000–96,662 mi; Reliability score 2.0/10 — below the segment average; 13 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the airbags first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 293 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 68,463 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 2.0 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 551 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is airbags. Typical failure occurs around 68,463 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 293 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 68,463 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 68,463 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 551 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.