SERVICE BULLETIN - THE POWER TAILGATE WONT OPEN IN TEMPERATURES NEAR FREEZING OR COLDER, BUT WILL OPEN IN WARMER TEMPERATURES. THE CAUSE IS THE POWER TAILGATE OUTER HANDLE SWITCH DOESNT WORK IN COLD WEATHER.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Honda CR-V body problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Honda CR-V have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the body at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 CR-V | 31 |
| 2010 CR-V | 34 |
| 2011 CR-V | 32 |
| 2012 CR-V | 17 |
| 2013 CR-V (this page) | 11 |
| 2014 CR-V | 22 |
| 2015 CR-V | 24 |
| 2016 CR-V | 10 |
| 2017 CR-V | 21 |
When does it fail?
Of the 11 body complaints filed for the 2013 Honda CR-V, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ 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 body complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 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 body 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.
HONDA: AN ENGINEERING REQUEST FOR AN INVESTIGATION ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, WHERE BY THE INNER DOOR HANDLE FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY. MODELS 2013 CIVIC, CR-V.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗HONDA: THE INNER DOOR HANDLE FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY ON CERTAIN VEHICLES. MODEL 2013 CIVIC, CR-V.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗HONDA: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE INNER DOOR HANDLE FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY. MODELS 2013 CIVIC, CR-V.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The most serious complaint across this cluster is frame and subframe corrosion. Two owners specifically document severe rust on the driver's side forward of the rear wheel and at the rear control arm bolt support area, with garages and a Honda collision center deeming the vehicles unsafe to drive. One owner discovered the rot at 96,374 miles during a routine tire rotation; another at 106,467 miles reported a fractured swing arm bolt and severe subframe corrosion. Repair quotes run over $5,800. Honda issued a recall for 2007-2011 CR-Vs with the identical failure but has not extended coverage to 2013 models.
Door lock actuators fail repeatedly. Owners report locks that won't open, won't close, or stick in either position. One owner replaced actuators in four of five doors at $200–$250 per replacement. Another has a jammed keyhole on the driver's door that won't accept a key.
Rear hatch latches freeze in cold weather. Multiple owners in cold climates cannot open the cargo lift or rear hatch when temperatures drop. Honda Service Bulletin 16-063 addresses this with a redesigned latch, but only covers vehicles under warranty.
Paint peels and flakes at body angles and around headlights, with clear coat turning cloudy. One complaint noted this happening from the earliest mileage.
A single complaint mentions an uncomfortable non-adjustable headrest and a center console positioned too high to climb over in an emergency.
Same Honda CR-V body reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Frame and subframe corrosion
Severe rust and corrosion of the frame, particularly on the driver's side forward of the rear wheel and at the rear control arm bolt support location. Owners report the subframe corrodes and becomes unsafe to drive, with one mechanic finding a fractured swing arm bolt accompanied by severe subframe corrosion.
When: 96,374 miles; 106,467 miles on another vehicle; corrosion discovered during routine service or after abnormal sounds
Symptoms owners cite: Visible frame rust and rot on driver's side forward of rear wheel; Rear control arm bolt support rusted away; Abnormally loud sound while driving; Swing arm bolt fracture; Severe subframe corrosion; Vehicle deemed unsafe to drive by multiple garages
Repairs/costs cited: $5,871.63 quoted for frame repairs by Honda collision center; swing arm bolt replacement attempted but failure recurred
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda issued recall on 2007-2011 CR-Vs for the same issue with repair or buyback options; no recall issued for 2013 model year despite same failure pattern
Rear hatch latch failure in cold weather
Rear hatch latch freezes and will not open in cold conditions. Owners in cold climates report recurring failures across multiple replacement parts. Honda Service Bulletin 16-063 addresses the issue with a redesigned latch, but warranty coverage has expired for out-of-warranty vehicles.
When: Failure started in 2017; failures recurred in 12/2018 and 12/2019; primarily during cold winter months
Symptoms owners cite: Rear hatch will not open when weather is cold; Cargo lift will not open in cold weather; No problem when warm outside
Repairs/costs cited: Latch replaced 12/28/2017; replaced again under warranty 12/10/2018; owner had to pay out-of-pocket for subsequent failures
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda Service Bulletin 16-063 issued to address the problem with redesigned latch; coverage limited to vehicles under warranty only
Door lock actuator failure
Power door locks malfunction, either freezing in locked or unlocked positions or becoming completely inoperative. Owners report needing to replace multiple door lock actuators. Recall was issued for 2007-2011 model years but problem persists in 2013 model year.
When: Multiple failures requiring 4 of 5 door actuator replacements over vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Door locks do not work; Doors will not lock or unlock with remote; Doors lock too well and cannot be unlocked; Doors will not lock or unlock automatically; Loud rattle sound when locking driver's door
Repairs/costs cited: Door lock actuator replacements at approximately $200-$250 per door; 4 of 5 doors required replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall was in effect for 2007-2011 CR-Vs; no recall for 2013 model year despite same failure pattern
Driver's door lock mechanism jam
Driver's side door keyhole becomes jammed at a diagonal angle and will not accept a key. Vehicle becomes stuck in locked or unlocked state with no way to operate the lock manually.
When: Preceded by 24 hours of lock malfunction where door would unlock and release trunk on its own
Symptoms owners cite: Keyhole jammed at diagonal angle; Will not accept key; Door lock and trunk malfunctioning before jam occurred
Paint degradation and peeling
Paint strips, flakes, and peels off the vehicle body, particularly at interior and exterior angles. Clear coat becomes cloudy and metallic finish fades. Issue occurs over the life of the vehicle with no factory service recall or warranty coverage offered for this model year.
When: Occurs slowly over the life of the vehicle; one complaint filed with 75 miles on odometer
Symptoms owners cite: Paint stripping off body; Paint fading and losing metallic finish; Paint peeling at inside and outside angles; Clear coat cloudy; Plastic headlight covers fogging and permanently etched
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda paint has recalls for other makes and models but not for 2013 CR-V
Headrest adjustment defect and center console design flaw
Headrest cannot be adjusted and is uncomfortable. Center console sits too high, creating a safety hazard that prevents the driver from climbing over it in an emergency situation. Dealer claimed design meets NHTSA safety standards.
When: Noted at 75 miles on vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Headrest cannot be adjusted; Headrest is very uncomfortable; Center console sits too high; Unable to climb over console in emergency
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer suggested leaning seat back to relieve pressure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated vehicle was designed based on NHTSA safety standards
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Honda paint is stripping right off the body. Honda paint is fading and losing metallic finish. Honda paint has other recalls but not my make and model.
Had body trouble with your 2013 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 body problem on the 2013 Honda CR-V?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, body issues most often appear around 85,846 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 $1,500 for body 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 body?
No active recalls currently cover body 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/2013/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.