SERVICE BULLETIN - AT COLD START-UP, THE ENGINE RATTLES LOUDLY FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS. THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING CONTROL (VTC) ACTUATOR IS DEFECTIVE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Honda Crosstour engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Honda Crosstour have filed 3 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
3
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Crosstour | 4 |
| 2013 Crosstour (this page) | 3 |
What stands out
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 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 engine 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 - AT COLD START-UP, THE ENGINE RATTLES LOUDLY FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS. THIS MAY BE INTERMITTENT AND OCCURS WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 40° F. THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING CONTROL (VTC) ACTUATOR IS DEFECTIVE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE NEWS ARTICLE - WHILE DRIVING UNDER STEADY CRUISE (BETWEEN 30 AND 65 MPH) OR LIGHT ACCELERATION, DOES THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY RATTLE OR RUNS ROUGH WITH THE MIL BLINKING? SINCE THESE DRIVING CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY TO ACTIVATE VCM OPERATION, THE PROBABLE REASON FOR THESE SYMPTOMS IS STICKING VCM ROCKER ARMS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE BULLETIN - REPLACE THE VTC ACTUATOR IF THE ENGINE RATTLES LOUDLY FOR 2 SECONDS DURING COLD START-UP.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Engine Rattles at Cold Start-Up Supersedes 09-010, dated March 3, 2015 to revise the information highlighted in yellow.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Car vibrates excessively when idling or in park. Have three thousand miles on odometer and problem seems to be getting worse. Started happening immediately after purchasing car.
Had engine trouble with your 2013 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 engine problem on the 2013 Honda Crosstour?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 3 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?
Based on the 3 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 106,000 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 $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.
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/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.