2011 Honda CR-V powertrain problems
severe Owners of the 2011 Honda CR-V have filed 13 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain, typically surfacing around 20,000 miles at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2007 CR-V | 32 |
| 2008 CR-V | 32 |
| 2009 CR-V | 10 |
| 2010 CR-V | 26 |
| 2011 CR-V (this page) | 13 |
| 2012 CR-V | 45 |
| 2013 CR-V | 86 |
| 2014 CR-V | 65 |
| 2015 CR-V | 135 |
The failure pattern owners describe
Acceleration hesitation and shudder are the most common complaint, hitting owners at low speed (making turns) and on highway inclines. Multiple owners mention Honda Service Bulletin 17-040 and TSB 10-077, indicating Honda knows about the transmission behavior, but dealers applied conflicting fixes—some recommended one fluid change, others three. One owner found the bulletin herself and notes it officially covers 2012-14 models only, though her 2011 has the same symptom.
Unintended full-speed acceleration in parking lots appears in multiple reports. Vehicle accelerates without driver input when shifting or starting, brakes don't work, and only putting the car in Park stops it. One event sent a vehicle into a cement pole multiple times.
An engine mount bolt sheared completely off a 2011 driven normally, dropping the engine and cracking the bracket. Shifter mechanisms stuck in Park and couldn't release the ignition key; the dealer's first fix lasted two days. One owner experienced complete electrical shutdown while turning onto a highway—power steering and all systems died at once—and later the car wouldn't start at all.
Rear axle housing rusted through and broke off during driving on at least one example. Transmission failure at 125,000 miles cost $3,600. A TPMS system fault locked the traction control on and forced all-wheel drive mode on the highway.
These aren't isolated incidents—multiple owners report the same hesitation issue, and some talked to other 2011 CR-V owners who had identical problems.
Same Honda CR-V powertrain reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Torque converter shudder and hesitation on acceleration
Engine hesitation, shudder, and loss of power during acceleration at low speeds and on highway inclines. Multiple owners report the same issue affecting different 2011 CR-Vs. Honda Service Bulletin 17-040 addresses this for 2012-14 models but reportedly should include 2011.
When: During acceleration events, particularly at low speed (corner turns) and at highway speeds (40+ mph inclines)
Symptoms owners cite: hesitation on acceleration; shudder during acceleration; high RPM revs with no speed increase; inability to accelerate smoothly on inclines
Codes mentioned: TSB 17-040, TSB 10-077
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission fluid change recommended by dealers (conflicting guidance: one-time vs. three-time fluid changes); torque converter replacement estimated at $3,000+
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda Service Bulletin 17-040 issued 5/20/2017 for 2012-14 models; TSB 10-077 for PCM PGM-FI software update; owners report dealer often charges full diagnostic hour instead of flat-rate labor for out-of-warranty vehicles
Unintended acceleration in parking and low-speed situations
Vehicle accelerates at full speed without driver input when shifting between gears in parking lots and when starting. Brake application does not stop vehicle; only placing car in Park stops acceleration.
When: During low-speed parking maneuvers and vehicle startup
Symptoms owners cite: full-speed acceleration without driver input; brake pedal ineffective during acceleration event; vehicle only stops when placed in Park; loud engine roaring during event
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles involved in collisions with poles and parked cars; damage sustained
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 11V458000 (Powertrain) referenced by one owner; manufacturer awareness confirmed
Engine mount bolt shear
Engine mount bolts sheared clean off, causing engine to drop. Engine bracket cracked and engine nearly fell out, restrained only by cross member. Occurs in corrosion-prone environment (rust belt).
When: During normal driving on local road
Symptoms owners cite: large clunk sound; difficulty steering; loud weird noise from vehicle; visible engine drop
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle required towing; Honda dealer inspection for corrosion initiated; recall for corrosion noted by owner
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Corrosion recall noted for this vehicle model; owner had vehicle inspected at Honda dealership
Electrical system and ignition failures
Power steering and entire electrical system shut down while driving at highway entry. Later, car would not start with no sound from ignition despite battery replacement. Two separate incidents over 6 months.
When: October 2015 while turning onto highway; April 2016 in driveway with vehicle unused overnight
Symptoms owners cite: power steering complete failure; electrical system shutdown; inability to shift to Neutral during failure; no-start condition with no ignition sound; battery drained despite replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Initial repair shop estimated $2,000 computer fix; Honda dealer identified ignition fuse as cause of first incident; battery replaced in March 2016
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda dealership repaired first incident (ignition fuse); second incident pending dealership resolution as of complaint date
Shifter mechanism failure (Park position)
Transmission would not shift into Park and ignition key could not be released. Recurred two days after initial repair.
When: At 8,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: unable to shift into Park; key stuck in ignition and cannot be removed
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced shifter pin and adjusted shifter cable; second adjustment of cable required two days after initial repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer repairs completed; failure corrected after second cable adjustment
TPMS system electromagnetic interference
Tire Pressure Monitoring System faults while driving on highway, triggering traction control system that cannot be manually disabled, forcing all-wheel drive mode operation on highway. Dealer attributes fault to radio frequency interference from cell phone charger cord in 12V accessory outlet.
When: While driving more than 49 mph for over 20 minutes with phone charger plugged into 12V outlet
Symptoms owners cite: TPMS system fault; traction control system activates and cannot be turned off; forced all-wheel drive operation on highway
Repairs/costs cited: TPMS system reset required; warranty does not cover reset cost
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer explanation provided; Honda warranty does not cover TPMS reset; issue affects most Honda cars per dealer
Transmission failure
Transmission complete failure requiring replacement. Owner reports $3,600 cost for new transmission and notes six different transmission versions available for this single SUV model, with removal costs higher than competitors.
When: At 125,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: transmission failure
Repairs/costs cited: $3,600 for new transmission; removal cost significantly higher than Ford or Chevy equivalents per repair shop estimate
EVAP emission control system leak
Check Engine Light illuminated with EVAP emission control system leak diagnostic code. Owner tightened fuel tank cap without resolution.
When: Within one week of complaint submission (October 2022)
Symptoms owners cite: Check Engine Light illuminated
Codes mentioned: P0455
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel tank cap tightening attempted without resolution; diagnostic appointment scheduled
Rear axle housing corrosion and failure
Rear axle housing completely rusted and broke off during normal driving, disabling vehicle. Owner notes recall was ignored.
When: January 1, 2026 during driving
Symptoms owners cite: rear axle housing broke off
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle disabled; towed to home; repair cost unknown to owner
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Corrosion recall noted by owner as apparently not addressed
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2011 Honda CR-V?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 11,450 and 54,000 miles, with the median around 20,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 11,450; a quarter make it past 54,000. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.