HONDA: ON CERTAIN CYLINDERS, THE PISTON RINGS MAY ROTATE AND ALIGN AND CAN LEAD TO SPARK PLUG FOULING AND POWERTRAIN WARRANTY HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO COVER REPAIRS ON SOME VEHICLES. MODEL 2010-2012 CROSSTOUR.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Honda Crosstour powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2012 Honda Crosstour have filed 7 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain 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 →
Complaints
7
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Crosstour (this page) | 7 |
| 2013 Crosstour | 5 |
| 2014 Crosstour | 5 |
| 2015 Crosstour | 3 |
When does it fail?
Of the 7 powertrain complaints filed for the 2012 Honda Crosstour, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 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
Of the 4 model years of Honda Crosstour we track for powertrain problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 7.
Powertrain accounts for 22% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 5 categories tracked.
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.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Extreme vibration at 35-45 MPH and at acceleration more so in a right turn Honda says the axles are on national back order I have read complaints about this problem that date back more than a year this should be a recall. It is getting dangerous to drive.
Honda is aware of faulty VTC actuators on certain models. There is no active recall to repair the defective part. This issue causes extra wear on the engine, which could then lead to catastrophic failure. That causes great hazard as that failure can occur at any time. Honda is currently charging owners roughly $2000 (in Wake County, NC) to repair this issue. This should be a covered recall for…
Passenger side harsh vibrations - mostly on any road going above 30mph under acceleration the and harsh vibration is felt through out the passenger side front side of the car. After digging online and wasting several hours and countless days at mechanics the outcome is a bad passenger side front axle (driveshaft) called several dealers - local junk yards - plenty of auto part stores and nothing…
On 11/23/15 I bought my 2012 Honda crosstour to my mechanic after feeling a shimmy in the front end. Wanted to make sure car was not out of alignment. After checking all the normal check points (ie.. Tires, wheel balance, motor and transmission mount), did a check on both right and left axles. Mechanic stated the fluttering is due a manufacture defect in the driver side axle. Honda was told me…
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Honda crosstour. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced shuddering and violent shaking. The contact also indicated the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The vehicle was taken to nalley Honda where it was diagnosed the transmission was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however the failure recurred and the vehicle was no longer…
My 2012 crosstour is now suffering from what seems to be the very common shaking/shuddering issue. The problem presents between 20-45mph and again around 60mph, while under acceleration. The parts remain on national backorder. How can Honda get away with not supporting these vehicles? Owners really should begin to consider getting together to bring a class action lawsuit against Honda.
Had powertrain trouble with your 2012 Honda Crosstour?
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 Crosstour?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 7 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 7 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 98,371 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/Crosstour.
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.