Service bulletin - A surge, vibration, or judder may be felt while driving under light acceleration. To minimize the possibility for the judder to occur, a software update for the transmission is available at the customer's request. Additionally, the transmission fluid will be replaced. If the judder returns after the software update, refer to Service Bulletin 17-040, Vibration While Driving Under Light Acceleration After Software Update.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Honda CR-V powertrain problems
severe Owners of the 2012 Honda CR-V have filed 45 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain, typically surfacing around 59,700 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 →
Failure mileage
Complaints
45
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 CR-V | 32 |
| 2009 CR-V | 10 |
| 2010 CR-V | 26 |
| 2011 CR-V | 13 |
| 2012 CR-V (this page) | 45 |
| 2013 CR-V | 86 |
| 2014 CR-V | 65 |
| 2015 CR-V | 135 |
| 2016 CR-V | 42 |
1crash
1fire
6injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 45 powertrain complaints filed for the 2012 Honda CR-V, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Owners have filed 45 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Service bulletin - A surge, vibration, or judder may be felt while driving under light acceleration. To minimize the possibility for the judder to occur, a software update for the transmission is available at the customer's request. Additionally, the transmission fluid will be replaced. Complete 15-086 first to update the vehicle. If the judder returns after updating the vehicle, the torque converter may need to be replaced.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service bulletin - to occur, a software update for the transmission is available at the customer's request. Additionally, the transmission fluid will be replaced. Complete 15-086 first to update the vehicle. If the judder returns after updating the vehicle, the torque converter may need to be replaced. Refer to the INSPECTION section of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service bulletin - The electric differential pressure solenoid (EDPS) in the rear differential has excessive oil pressure, causing the AWD indicator to come on and DTC C-1858-73 (differential fluid pressure deviation high) to set.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service bulletin - On some 2012-14 CR-V's and in cold weather, the AWD indicator may come on with DTC C1850-14 (low or no torque to the rear wheels). Over time, moisture and cold weather will cause the AWD relay to fail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2012 CR-V powertrain complaints cluster around several distinct problems. The most common is VTC (Variable Valve Timing Control) actuator noise on cold startup—a loud grinding or metallic rattle lasting a few seconds, worsening over time, especially in cold weather. Honda issued Service Bulletin 09-010 in 2011 and an updated bulletin in March 2016 acknowledging the defect, but refuses to cover repairs without being able to reproduce the fault during service. Many owners report the noise continuing after attempted VTC or torque converter replacement.
Transmission shuddering on acceleration from 0–45 mph is the second major problem. Owners describe jerking or vibration during low-speed merging and passing, particularly between 1st and 2nd gear. Service Bulletin 17-040 (May 2017) addresses this for 2012–14 models; dealers often recommend transmission fluid changes without mentioning the bulletin. Warranty expires at 80,000 miles or five years, leaving owners liable for $3,000+ torque converter costs if issues occur beyond that window.
Power loss and hesitation—where the engine idles then suddenly surges forward after a 2–3 second delay—occurs intermittently, often without warning lights. Dealers cannot reproduce these failures consistently, leaving complaints unresolved.
Separate critical failures include the vehicle rolling backward while in Park on inclines, unintended gear shifting to Neutral at highway speeds from light shift-lever contact, persistent oil leaks from the intermediate drive shaft bearing despite repeated repairs, and one documented vehicle fire with severe burns to both occupants following fuel leak and sputtering.
Same Honda CR-V powertrain reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
VTC Actuator Cold-Start Grinding/Rattle
Variable Valve Timing Control (VTC) actuator produces loud grinding, rattling, or metallic noise at engine startup, particularly in cold conditions. Noise lasts a few seconds and occurs because cold oil doesn't flow to the gear. Owners report the noise progresses from occasional to every startup. Dealers acknowledge the problem but often refuse repair without being able to reproduce it during service visits.
When: Cold startups; more frequent in cold weather; can progress to occur on every start after months or years of intermittent noise
Symptoms owners cite: Loud grinding or rattle noise at startup; Metallic grinding sound lasting 2-3 seconds; Noise more pronounced in cold weather; Noise eventually occurs on nearly every cold start; Engine vibration during startup; Sound described as muffler-like rattle or dry metal-on-metal grinding
Repairs/costs cited: Honda Service Bulletin 09-010 (issued Oct 2011) and updated bulletin issued March 2016; some owners report VTC actuator replacement provided intermittent relief; torque converter replacement attempted by some owners with no resolution; owners cite costs of $3,000+ for transmission/torque converter work
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service Bulletin 09-010 (October 2011); Honda acknowledged awareness but refusal to replace part without field verification; bulletin issued but no recall; class-action settlement (March 2018) excluded CR-Vs; dealers advise reproduction of fault before warranty coverage
Transmission Shudder/Judder on Acceleration
Transmission hesitation or shuddering when accelerating from stop, typically between 1st and 2nd gear shifts or during acceleration from 0-45 mph. Owners report jerking or vibrating sensation in the vehicle; issue can be dangerous when merging into traffic or passing. Shuddering stops if foot is eased off gas pedal or vehicle accelerates aggressively past the problem speed range.
When: When accelerating from stopped position up to 40-45 mph; occurs across all road conditions but more pronounced on flat surfaces
Symptoms owners cite: Shuddering or judder sensation during acceleration; Vehicle hesitates or jerks between 1st and 2nd gear; Whole vehicle shakes during light acceleration; Shuddering stops when foot removed from gas or aggressive acceleration applied; Occurs during low-speed merging and passing maneuvers; May be accompanied by sputtering
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report transmission fluid changes and computer updates attempted without resolution; torque converter replacement cited as recommended fix with costs of $3,000+; some dealers claim no defect found despite complaints
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service Bulletin 17-040 (May 2017) for 2012-14 CR-Vs, though owners report bulletin should apply to 2011 models as well; dealers sometimes recommend transmission fluid change without disclosing bulletin; warranty coverage limited to 80,000 miles and 5 years
Transmission Hesitation and Power Loss
Vehicle hesitates or loses power during acceleration, with 2-3 second delay before response. Occurs intermittently at low speeds or on highway; no check engine light appears. Owners report engine idles then suddenly launches forward unpredictably.
When: When accelerating from traffic stop, during merging, on highway between 25-65 mph
Symptoms owners cite: 2-3 second delay when depressing accelerator; Engine does not rev during hesitation period; Vehicle coasts without power response; Sudden uncontrolled surge forward after delay; Intermittent failure, cannot be reliably reproduced; No warning lights illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission fluid changes and computer updates attempted without resolving issue; dealers unable to duplicate condition during service visits; one case reports throttle bore replacement with failure recurrence
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda states no other complaints of similar issue; dealers cannot provide fixes if defect cannot be reproduced
Park to Reverse Rollback
Vehicle rolls backward unexpectedly after being placed in Park. Failure occurs without warning; vehicle continues to roll even with park engaged. One case resulted in child exiting vehicle before impact with parked car and subsequent injuries to occupants.
When: Immediately after placing vehicle in Park while on inclined driveway or slope
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls backward while in Park; Rapid backward motion without driver input; Rollback without warning; Occurs on slopes or inclined surfaces
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 13V143000 (Powertrain) cited by owner as possible reason
Intermediate Drive Shaft Oil Leak
Oil leak from passenger side intermediate drive half shaft bearing (Honda part 44500-T0A-A00). Leak produces wet oil residue under splash guard and has recurred despite multiple repairs. Root cause never identified; dealer suggests repeated replacement of same part until leak stops.
When: Multiple repair attempts over 3-4 years; leak recurs approximately 14 months after last repair
Symptoms owners cite: Wet oil residue under splash guard; Oil leak from passenger side bearing; Potential fire hazard from oil accumulation; Leak persists after repair
Repairs/costs cited: Honda part 44500-T0A-A00 replaced 3 times under warranty with leak recurring; dealer unable to identify root cause despite regional mechanic review; dealer proposes continued part replacement until leak stops
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Powertrain warranty coverage (conditions permitting)
Rear Differential Hydraulic Noise
Loud hydraulic noise from rear differential occurring when vehicle comes to stop and when starting. Noise progressively worsens during first year of ownership.
When: When vehicle is braking to stop and when starting; becomes progressively worse over time
Symptoms owners cite: Rear-end hydraulic-type noise; Noise during braking; Noise when accelerating from stop; Progressive worsening of noise
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda reported multiple times beginning at 2,497 miles and last report at 7,800 miles
Gear Shift Unintended Engagement
Gear shift lever moves from Drive to Neutral or lower gears without deliberately pressing the release button, creating safety hazard during highway driving. Light contact with shift lever is sufficient to cause unintended gear change.
When: While driving at highway speeds (65+ mph); can occur from bumping shift or accidentally removing beverage
Symptoms owners cite: Shift lever moves without pressing release button; Vehicle unexpectedly changes to Neutral during highway driving; Abrupt speed decrease with high-speed traffic behind vehicle; Release button pressure not required to shift
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One dealer acknowledged other CR-Vs exhibit same behavior
Highway Vibration and Steering Shake
Steering wheel shaking and abnormal vehicle vibration at highway speeds. One owner references Technical Service Bulletin 15-076 for vibration at highway speeds; vehicle had received alignment and tire rotation prior to complaint.
When: At highway speeds (60+ mph); one case at 30-40 mph with vibration disappearing above 40 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel shakes; Abnormal vehicle vibration at highway speed; Rough or bumpy feel on smooth road; Rumbling at 40 mph or higher
Repairs/costs cited: One independent mechanic suspected drive shaft replacement may be needed but vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Technical Service Bulletin 15-076 (Vibration While Driving at Highway Speeds); owner not covered by TSB; no recall issued
VTC Actuator Secondary Engine Damage
Defective VTC actuator causes timing chain to slip and lose teeth due to vibration and low oil pressure. Consequent damage includes cracked oil gaskets and persistent low oil pressure. Repairs addressing only noise do not resolve underlying damage.
When: Progresses over time starting 2016 on one vehicle; low oil pressure documented throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Extremely loud noise and vibration on cold start; Timing chain slipping and chipped/loose teeth; Low or lack of oil pressure; Cracks in oil gasket; Oil noticeably low after each oil change; Oil pressure restored only temporarily after repairs
Repairs/costs cited: Initial repairs eliminated noise and vibration only; underlying damage not addressed; oil gasket cracks recur with each oil change cycle
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda admitted VTC actuator is defective but refused responsibility for replacement, repair, or damage caused by defective part
Vehicle Fire with Fuel Leak
Vehicle experienced sputtering during highway driving followed by visible fuel leak noted by bystander. While driving slowly (5 mph), vehicle exploded with flames coming through passenger window. Both occupants suffered severe burns. Vehicle completely destroyed. Preceded by prior routine servicing with no reported issues.
When: Mid-afternoon on hot, sunny day at highway speed, escalating to low speed before failure
Symptoms owners cite: Engine sputtering while driving; Visible fuel leak from vehicle; Explosion and flames through passenger window; Vehicle fire while moving
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Fire Marshal report generated for investigation
Synthesized from 45 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Honda cr-v. While pulling into the driveway, the vehicle shifted into park. A few minutes later, the contact was altered by the child occupant that the vehicle had rolled back. The contact attempted to get into the vehicle, but the vehicle rolled back too quickly. The child occupant jumped out the vehicle before it crashed into another parked vehicle across the street…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2012 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 powertrain problem on the 2012 Honda CR-V?
It's a meaningful issue. 45 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 33 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 35,000 and 75,000 miles, with the median around 59,700. A quarter of owners report trouble before 35,000; a quarter make it past 75,000. 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.
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/2012/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.