2013 Honda CR-V Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 28,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

VTC rattles on startup. Please email me at [XXX] so we can start another lawsuit against Honda. This is a known problem that everyone from honda to your backyard mechanic are aware of. I used to love Honda. I even paid extra to get this specific Honda CRV. Kind of feel like a fool now. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF…Owner complaint, filed 2025

After driving my new car for 20,000 miles, the transmission shifts while driving. I notice shifting from d to n then transmission makes shaking noices. Notice there are issues with solenoids too. The shift d keeps flashing and there is a code error that keeps comming p0977. Even thought I keep my suv's maintance in excellent condition, I…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 39,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2013 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30, 40 MPH, the transmission shuddered. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed it with transmission failure. The independent mechanic flushed the transmission fluid; however, the failure reoccurred. The failure was persistent.…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 83,000 miles

The AWD light came on while the vehicle was in normal operation on October 25, 2025. Two days later, a diagnostic service was done at Bay Ridge Honda (Bay Ridge Honda did not previously worked on my vehicle), and it was determined that the rear differential on my vehicle failed. A differential is quite durable and does not fail easily.…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 4,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

This lighting of this vehicle is poor. The low beam lights seem adequate, but the hi-beam lights are not bright enough. Compared to other cars, the hi-beams are dim. Replacing the bulbs does not solve the problem, the new bulbs do not improve the lighting.. This defect is more apparent in rural settings, in areas where outside lighting…Owner complaint, filed 2019

I am hoping, that by bringing this to your attention, something can be done to fix the poor headlights on honda crvs.. We have had many 1990-1991 honda accords that didn't seem to have an issue with headlights. We have a 2006 honda crv, and now own a 2013 honda crv. The headlight lamps would burn out often on the 2006 crv figuring the…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 55,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 32,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2013 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 132,000. At the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 267,000.Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 267,000 miles

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2013 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was an independent dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 164,000 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 200,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 24,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2013 honda cr-v. The contact stated while attempting to drive through a car wash, the vehicle would not stop while depressing the brake pedal. The contact stated that the vehicle crashed into a wall. The contact was not injured and a police report was not filed. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 30,000 miles

The rear brake pads and rotor on the passenger rear tire were destroyed in less than 2,000 miles and replaced with new parts twice from different [VIN]. A third set of rotor and brake pads and a caliper was installed and they failed within 2 weeks. The car has less than 78,000 miles on it and I have been the only owner. The honda…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 75,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 36,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2013 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while in a commercial parking garage, a second vehicle crashed into the rear of the vehicle, causing the driver to inadvertently press the accelerator pedal and lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle accelerated forward and crashed into a truck before crashing head on into a…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 72,000 miles

The contact owns a 2013 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, he was involved in an accident where he crashed into a truck, but the driver's air bag did not deploy. The contact stated that the fumes from the air bag burned his left hand, and he had to seek medical attention. The contact mentioned that his injuries…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 105,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 3,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

My gas pedal got stuck while starting the car. The car revved so loud and fast until bluish smoked filled the inside of the car and came out the tail pipe. Good thing the car was in park. The pedal released on it's own. After doing some research, I see that other owners of this vehicle has experienced the same thing. After taking their…Owner complaint, filed 2019

My 2013 cr-v car has stalled from the first day I drove it out of the lot. When on cruise control and climbing a hill it stalls by 10 miles or more.Owner complaint, filed 2017

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 47,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (15).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2013 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormally loud sound. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the swing arm bolt had fractured, and the sub-frame was severely corroded. The independent mechanic replaced the swingarm bolt…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 106,467 miles

The drivers side door is the only key hole available to unlock or lock the car. This key hole is jammed at a diagonal angle and will not accept a key in any way. Thus, whatever state the car is currently in (locked in my case) is the state that it will stay. No professional has checked it out. It is easily inspectable. There were no…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 31,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

Front wheel bearings wore out at approximately 50,000 miles. Steering became difficult and the bearings produced a lot of noise. Both front wheels affected. Dealer replaced bearings and no problems since.Owner complaint, filed 2022

The contact owns a 2013 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle started shaking and shuddering. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact drove to a local mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed and the contact was informed that the rear axles needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not…Owner complaint, filed 2022, at 66,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 3,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

uUknown. Sometimes I smell gas on & off when the car is running, especially. I open the windows and it subsidesafter ahwile & it not as strong.Owner complaint, filed 2026

High pressure fuel lines punctured and leaked fuel into engine bay and onto top of fuel tank.this was 2 seperated incindences.probable cause was by squirrels.very dangerous and expensive repair. Vehicle was parked at my residence.damage discoverd as vehicle was being driven. Copst to repair line from tank to engine bay $679.91Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 50,413 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 36,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

While driving the steering wheel will lock up and become unable to be turned. It feels as the power steering goes out. The issue is intermittent and happens during a turn. The problem has been discovered at 0-35 mph and sometimes requires turning the vehicle off and restarting. Often the steering wheel will force itself to a steering…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Steering locked while driving my 2013 honda crv. My car is kept in excellent condition and on 07-28-19 driving down my street and power steering went out. Also drivers window stopped going up and down. Then started again. Drove few more feet and steering went out again. Car was driving down a city street on a strait street no turning.…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 130,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 30,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

6/27/2025 Driving to work on Garden State Parkway fast lane driving 65 miles per hour. Tire experienced a complete blow out. Tire walls burst apart and smoked. Driving straight on a clear highway.Owner complaint, filed 2025

The welds on the steel rims are defective. They corrode pre maturely are cause tire pressure to drop. This vehicle was bought new and is less then two years old. Honda refuses to take responsibility . It's not a warranty issue it's a defective part that should be addressed and fixed by honda . This vehicle is not safe to drive as at any…Owner complaint, filed 2015, at 80,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

Now, we have had two seat belts fray without explanation in our 2013 Honda CRV EX-L. In 2018, we contacted the local dealer about the first belt's issues and were told that the belt had been sliced. This determination was made without ever accessing the inside of the belt mechanism and likely was simply said to get rid of us. In 2022, a…Owner complaint, filed 2022

The contact owns a 2013 honda cr-v. While driving approximately 5 MPH, the contact rear ended the preceding vehicle. The seat belt failed to restrain the contact and her head struck the steering wheel. Medical attention was not received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was driven to the dealer and they did not find anything wrong…Owner complaint, filed 2016, at 18,500 miles

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2013 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that months after the vehicle was purchased, the rearview camera displayed a black screen while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The contact stated that the failure obstructed the driver's visibility, which prevented the driver from safely operating the vehicle. No warning lights were…Owner complaint, filed 2025

The contact owns a 2013 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while reversing, the rearview camera image was significantly blurry. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 85,000 miles