Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Honda cr-v. The contact stated that while stopped, there was a rapid increase in the engine rpms. The failure continued until the contact shifted into neutral. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and they were unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 14,210.
2011 Honda CR-V cruise control problems
severe 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
6crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 14 cruise control complaints filed for the 2011 Honda CR-V, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 14 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2011 CR-V has a documented pattern of unintended acceleration during braking across multiple mileage ranges, often resulting in crashes. Honda dealers consistently report inability to diagnose or replicate the issue, leaving owners without answers or solutions.
Owners of 2011 CR-Vs describe sudden, uncontrolled acceleration while depressing the brake pedal, occurring both at stops and during active driving. Engine RPMs spike—often to red line—while brakes become soft or unresponsive. The vehicle surges forward despite foot pressure on the brake pedal. Incidents happen across the mileage spectrum, from 14,210 to 66,000 miles, at traffic lights, stop signs, while parking, and on highways at speed.
Several owners report severity: one vehicle accelerated to over 100 mph on a highway; another hit 20 mph while stopped, deploying airbags. Low-speed parking lot incidents also documented. One driver smelled a burning odor just before acceleration began. One owner reported this happened twice; another said it's happened multiple times intermittently.
Honda service centers consistently cannot diagnose the problem. One dealer suggested floor mats; another found no defects after inspection. One owner paid for a computer chip replacement with no confirmation it solved anything. The pattern is crashes—into trees, fences, buildings, light poles, walls—totaling thousands in damage. Honda tells owners the issue "is not known to be a problem with this vehicle." Owners describe high anxiety afterward, with some unwilling to drive the vehicle again.
Same Honda CR-V cruise control reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2010 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration during braking
Engine accelerates and revs while brake pedal is depressed. Vehicle continues moving forward or accelerating despite driver applying brakes. Occurs at various speeds from stop lights to highway speeds. Engine may rev to red line. In some cases, shifter moved to neutral to stop acceleration.
When: Across wide mileage range: 14,210 to 66,000 miles. Occurs while stopped at lights, during parking, or while actively braking during driving.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden engine acceleration while braking; Engine revving despite brake applied; Soft or unresponsive brake pedal; Vehicle moving forward or surging despite brake pressure; Engine RPMs red-line; Burning odor before acceleration in one case; Intermittent high idle after start
Repairs/costs cited: One owner had computer chip replaced at Honda dealer. Most other owners reported Honda dealers unable to diagnose or reproduce the problem. No repairs documented in majority of complaints. Some vehicles crashed; one deemed destroyed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Multiple owners report Honda service centers unable to replicate the problem. Honda inspection found no defects in some cases. Computer chip replacement performed in one case. Manufacturer stated issue 'is not known to be a problem with this vehicle' in one case. No recalls or TSBs mentioned. Manufacturer offered no assistance in some complaints.
Brake pedal ineffectiveness during acceleration event
Brake pedal becomes soft, unresponsive, or offers no resistance when vehicle unexpectedly accelerates. Foot pressure on brakes has minimal effect on slowing vehicle.
When: Occurs during unintended acceleration events; two owners mentioned high idle at low mileage around start-up
Symptoms owners cite: Soft brake pedal with no resistance; Brake pedal moves only slightly despite pressure; Brakes do not slow vehicle during acceleration event; Brakes work normally after shifting to neutral or after stopping
Repairs/costs cited: No specific brake repairs documented. One owner noted brakes worked fine after the event. Emergency brake used as backup in one incident.
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
I was accelerating from an on ramp to enter the highway. After I was in the flow of traffic, I hit my brakes to keep pace with the traffic. My brake pedal would only move slightly and the engine was reving. I moved the shifter to neutral and the engine was still revving. I then hit the button on the side of the gear shift to put the car in d3 and continue to try the brakes. The brakes…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2011 Honda CR-V?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2011 Honda CR-V?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 29,417 and 57,000 miles, with the median around 45,946. A quarter of owners report trouble before 29,417; a quarter make it past 57,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Honda/CR-V.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.