GRINDING/RATTLING ENGINE NOISE ON FIRST START-UP ONLY. APPEARS TO BE THE VTC ACTUATOR PROBLEM. HAPPENS ONLY IN COLD WEATHER. ALMOST BOUGHT A TOYOTA RAV4 INSTEAD. MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT THE TOYOTA?
2012 honda CR-V engine problems
moderate 65 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100
Complaints
65
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$3,100
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
2012 CR-V was purchased on 4/9/16 with 36,000 miles. During the first winter a startup problem became obvious that was covered and repaired by Honda due to a recall for the faulty Variable Timing Actuator. VTA was replaced on 3/2/17 with 41,000 miles (5000 miles later). During the winter of 2019 symptoms started to sporadically reappear. The same part is failing. A newer upgraded part was suppos…
VTC ACTUATOR GRINDING ON COLD START. REPORTED TO HONDA. PAID TO HAVE IT REPLACED OUT OF POCKET AT A COST OF $1443.83 ON 9/24/18 AT 111,863 MILES. AT 122,000 MILES STARTED HAVING HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION. AFTER SEVERAL MISDIAGNOSIS BY HARE HONDA, DETERMINED SAME ISSUE AS 2011 TSB A12-089 PROBLEM WITH STICKING PISTON RINGS. REQUIRES FULL ENGINE REBUILD QUOTED AT $2000. IF NOT FIXED CAN CAUSE ENGINE …
THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO SB-09-010 THAT HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF CR-V OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING SPANNING FROM 2012-2014 MODEL YEARS (OTHER HONDA'S SUCH AS THE ACCORD ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE ALL THE BACK TO 2008). STARTING AROUND 40,000 MILES (AFTER OUR 3 YEAR/36K WARRANTY EXPIRED OF COURSE) OUR VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE ON COLD STARTUPS (AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR 2 OR…
HEATER IS BLOWING VERY COLD AIR (28 DEG) ON DRIVER SIDE, (130 DEG) ON PASSENGER SIDE. THIS CONDITION IS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONERY, IT BECOMES MUCH COLDER WHEN IN MOTION. THERE WAS A TSB CREATED NOVEMBER 2014, REGARDING THIS PROBLEM.
VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN STARTING IN COLD WEATHER
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2012 honda CR-V?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 65 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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