Service bulletin - The tailgate won?t open from the outside handle in temperatures near freezing or colder, but will open in warmer temperatures. There is an internal failure of the tailgate outer handle switch.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Honda CR-V cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2013 Honda CR-V have filed 19 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 4,000 miles at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 CR-V | 8 |
| 2010 CR-V | 13 |
| 2011 CR-V | 14 |
| 2012 CR-V | 10 |
| 2013 CR-V (this page) | 19 |
| 2014 CR-V | 24 |
| 2015 CR-V | 15 |
| 2016 CR-V | 21 |
| 2017 CR-V | 28 |
5crashes
1injury
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control 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: ENGINEERING REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION. STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS NOT WORKING (AUDIO AND CRUISE CONTROL) AND SRS LIGHT ON WITH DTC 11-1 THRU 11-B ON CERTAIN VEHICLES. MODELS 2012-2013 CR-V.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2013 CR-Vs describe multiple serious throttle and cruise-control failures. Most alarming are sudden unintended acceleration incidents in parking lots and driveways—vehicles revving to full throttle despite the brake pedal being pressed, causing collisions with trees, mailboxes, parked cars, and in one case sending another driver to the hospital. One owner reported the problem correlates with cold weather (low 30s to freezing temperatures).
On the highway, owners cite delayed and sluggish accelerator response above 50 mph, where light pedal input produces no reaction for several seconds, then abrupt over-acceleration. Cruise-control problems include sudden uncontrolled speed surges (55 to 70 mph in ~10 seconds) that the cancel button will not stop, and stalling or significant speed loss when climbing hills, a problem multiple owners say was present from day one of ownership.
Low-speed driving reveals hesitation and non-response: coasting at 10–12 mph with light pedal pressure produces no RPM change or acceleration; drivers must rock the pedal aggressively multiple times to trigger response, then get an abrupt lurch. One owner noted this problem worsened progressively from 1,400 miles onward. Dealers have been unable to diagnose or repair most of these issues. One dealer stated the manufacturer acknowledged the electronic throttle problem but had no remedy available.
Same Honda CR-V cruise control reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration in low-speed/parking situations
Vehicle accelerates suddenly when owner is applying brake, particularly in parking lots and driveways. Occurs with foot firmly on brake, engine revs to full throttle, and car lunges forward into obstacles or other vehicles. No floor mat interference detected. Appears tied to cold weather (low 30s to freezing) conditions in some cases.
When: Low-speed parking, driveway situations; noted in cold weather (low 30s); some incidents early in ownership (1,999 miles reported)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs suddenly while brake pedal depressed; Vehicle lurches forward at full throttle despite brake pressure; Brake and accelerator feel as if they are fighting each other; Occurs even with both hands on wheel, foot clearly on brake
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer initial evaluation did not reveal cause; vehicle towed and awaiting diagnosis; one case noted dealer stated manufacturer was aware but engineers had no remedy available
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda aware of electronic throttle issue per one dealer report; no recalled or TSB repairs mentioned by owners
Delayed/sluggish acceleration response at highway speed
Throttle response is delayed or non-responsive when accelerating from 50+ mph. Accelerator pedal feels unresponsive initially, then vehicle suddenly lurches forward with excessive acceleration after several seconds. Computer has sluggish reaction time. Occurs consistently at highway speeds above 50 mph.
When: Highway speeds above 50 mph, particularly when accelerating from 50 to 60 mph
Symptoms owners cite: No response when pressing accelerator pedal; Long delay before acceleration engages; Sudden lurch and over-acceleration after delay; RPM does not change initially with pedal movement
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer tested and found no issues; problem persists
Cruise control sudden uncontrolled acceleration
When cruise control is engaged, vehicle suddenly accelerates rapidly (e.g., 55 to 70 mph in ~10 seconds) without driver input. Cancel button does not disengage the acceleration; brakes must be applied to stop the surge. Occurs intermittently (roughly 20% of the time) and started developing weeks or months after purchase.
When: When cruise control activated; one case noted problem began one month after purchase; another noted same issue after four months of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden rapid acceleration while on cruise control; Acceleration continues despite pressing cancel button; Can go from 55 mph to 70 mph in 10 seconds; Requires brake pedal to disengage; Intermittent occurrence
Stalling on cruise control going uphill
Vehicle stalls or loses speed when on cruise control and climbing a hill. Speed drops 10+ mph, then picks back up, then stalls again. Dealers have stated this is normal behavior for the CR-V EX, but owners report it as a dangerous safety issue in traffic. Problem present from first day of ownership in multiple cases.
When: When on cruise control ascending hills; present from first drive in some vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle speed drops 10 or more mph when climbing hill on cruise; Car stalls or loses power on inclines; Stalling repeats as hill continues; Behavior occurs consistently on cruise control uphill
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer stated this is normal CR-V behavior; Honda dealer claimed transmission waits for computer to shift, yet no RPM change occurs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers stated this is normal for CR-V EX models; manufacturer aware per complaint but no remedy offered
Low-speed coasting acceleration lag and hesitation
When coasting at very low speeds (10–12 mph) and applying light pressure to accelerator, vehicle does not respond. RPM does not change, speed remains constant. Driver must rock the pedal hard two to three times to get response, which then causes abrupt lurch. Problem started early (1,400 miles) and progressively worsened. Dealer explanation regarding transmission awaiting computer command does not match symptom (no RPM change).
When: Low-speed coasting (10–12 mph); problem began around 1,400 miles and worsened progressively to 7,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No response to light accelerator pedal input at low coasting speed; RPM does not change with pedal movement; Vehicle continues at same speed despite pedal input; Requires aggressive rocking of pedal multiple times; Results in abrupt lurch when engine finally responds; Progressively worse over time
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to detect and correct on two separate visits
Accelerator non-response in intersection/traffic situations
During normal driving maneuvers (e.g., turning right into intersection), accelerator suddenly fails to respond. Vehicle stalls or does not move, leaving driver and occupants stranded in traffic for 3–5 seconds while other vehicles approach. After a delay, vehicle abruptly responds and acceleration resumes. Occurs occasionally after initial incident.
When: During intersection turns and traffic situations; occasional reoccurrence
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator fails to respond when pressed; Vehicle does not move or move slowly in traffic; Prolonged delay (3–5 seconds) before response; Abrupt delayed response after stall period
Repairs/costs cited: No warning light or diagnostic code revealed to dealer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer aware but no action taken due to lack of warning light or failure code
Vehicle movement without brake engaged (park-to-drive shift without brake)
Vehicle moves or rolls away after being placed in park when engine is left running and gear selector is moved without brake pedal pressed. Car begins moving as if someone jumped in and drove it away, rolling down flat surface without external cause.
When: When engine left running and vehicle shifted from park without brake engagement
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls away or moves on its own after shift; Occurs on flat, non-sloped surfaces; Vehicle acts as if driven by external force
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: This reflects a known recall issued for some CR-V models regarding gear selector requiring brake pedal engagement
Gas pedal sticking on startup
Upon starting the vehicle, the gas pedal becomes stuck and causes engine to rev very high and loudly, with bluish smoke visible inside and exiting tailpipe. Pedal releases on its own after the episode. Owner notes other owners report same issue but dealers cannot duplicate or find cause during inspection.
When: Upon vehicle startup
Symptoms owners cite: Gas pedal gets stuck on startup; Engine revs loudly and quickly; Bluish smoke fills cabin and exits tailpipe; Pedal releases on its own
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to replicate or find issue when inspected
Noise during low-speed acceleration
Vehicle makes noise when accelerating at low speeds. Limited detail provided in complaint.
When: Low-speed acceleration
Symptoms owners cite: Noise during low-speed acceleration
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had cruise control 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 cruise control problem on the 2013 Honda CR-V?
It's a meaningful issue. 19 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 2,320 and 32,000 miles, with the median around 4,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 2,320; a quarter make it past 32,000. 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 $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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.