2013 Honda Cr-V other reported problems

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

While our 2013 Honda CR‑V was still drivable, we began experiencing a brief but loud rattle or grinding noise at cold start, especially after the vehicle had been sitting. Several years ago the dealer replaced the Variable Timing Control (VTC) actuator because of this cold‑start rattle. After a period without noise, the cold‑start rattle returned and became frequent, along with concerns about abnormal oil consumption. We reported these symptoms repeatedly during routine service visits. In March 2026, the CR‑V was brought to the Honda dealer for a routine oil change. The vehicle arrived running normally. After the service, the dealer advised that the vehicle would no longer start and was undriveable. Their diagnosis was a failed VTC actuator, a stretched/jumped timing chain, and internal engine damage requiring timing‑system repair, cylinder head/valve work, and possibly pistons and rings due to oil‑consumption‑related wear. The failure occurred without any warning lights or messages immediately prior to the event. The only prior symptom was the recurring cold‑start rattle that had been present for years and was previously addressed once by replacing the VTC actuator. The dealer has confirmed the failure and provided written estimates; the vehicle remains disabled. This pattern—cold‑start rattle, VTC actuator failure, timing‑chain stretch/jump, and internal engine damage—appears consistent with a known defect in the VTC actuator/timing system on this generation of Honda CR‑V. If the timing‑chain failure had occurred at highway speed rather than while the vehicle was at the dealer, it could have caused sudden loss of power and increased the risk of a crash.

NHTSA complaint #11746350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Prolonged starter cycle with engine rattling noise

NHTSA complaint #11682815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Driving on hwy at 55. Heard very loud pop and then shattered sunroof blew off. Was NOT near an overpass. No debris from passing vehicles. Dash cam shows this.

NHTSA complaint #11644974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Severe frame rot on driver’s side of vehicle just forward of rear wheel. Rear control arm bolt support location has rusted away. Discovered August 5, 2024 when up on lift for a tire rotation. Garage advised vehicle unsafe to drive. Vehicle has 96,374 miles and is out of warranty. However, Honda issued a recall on 2007-2011 CRVs for same situation where vehicles were repaired or bought back. Vehicle has been inspected by 2 private garages, a Honda dealer, and a Honda collision center to assess repair options. We have been told not to drive the vehicle. I understand the warranty has expired however a failure could result in loss of control and a repair quote from a Honda collision center is $5,871.63. If the vehicle were in an accident insurance company would total it, per Arbella. Instead, we are left to spend more than 2/3 of its trade in value to repair it. It seems that the CRV frame issue was not limited to the 2007-2011 model years, and I believe we should receive consideration from Honda to repair or buy back the for a vehicle. It would appear more CRVs should be inspected for unsafe frame rot, and Honda should be held accountable for a design that does not let road salt and moisture drain.

NHTSA complaint #11614475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

After getting my car service at the dealer, I notice my horn didn't Chirp and my lights didn't flash when I locked my doors. Upon investigating this, I noticed my hood was ajar. It was down to what I would call the safety latch. When I fully closed the hood, everything worked fine. I realized then that I had just driven 20 miles at 70 MPH. If the hood had flown up at that speed it would have been catastrophic. I checked to see if there was a warning light to warn that the hood is ajar but there is not. There are warning lights that a door is ajar and the rear hatch is ajar but not the Hood. Since my horn chirp and my light flash didn't work, apparently the car knows the hood is ajar but there is not warning light. I think there should be. thank you [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11613354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

For the past few months my car vibrates whenever i decrease in speed or change to lower gears. The whole car vibrates. I have brought it to the dealer recently and they advised of faulty transmission after i paid for diagnostic /inspection. There has also been several incidents where the car has been stuck in park. It even happened when i placed the car in park while at a stoplight.

NHTSA complaint #11472190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Transmission shakes or quivers around 25-30 mph. At speed above 35mph right rear suspension (axle) shakes, quivers. I was checking For a recall because of all the complaints of same issues on honda owners website. The car is becoming unsafe to drive. This is the first effort I have made to research problem. The Honda website indicated a 2013 crv Recall but not for my vin number.

NHTSA complaint #11438822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

When I slowed down when approaching a stop sign the engine revved up high. I was able to stop by braking but eventually had to turn off the engine and luckily when restarting it ran normally.

NHTSA complaint #11438305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

It’s vibrating while accelerating at low speeds between 20mph till 40mph the shaking is horrible when i went to honda they told me i have to change the fluid but not grantee to fix thus problem

NHTSA complaint #11438440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

NHTSA complaint #11384086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

AS LIKE OTHER REPORTS MY CAR HAS BEEN MAKING A LARGE RATTLING SOUND FOR YEARS AND IT'S GETTING WORSE AND FROM WHAT I'VE LOOKED UP IT CAN BE VERY BAD AND EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR AND HONDA NEEDS TO LOOK INTO WHY THIS IS HAPPENING TO OUR CARS AND DO A RECALL BECAUSE THIS SHOULD NOT BE OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR A DEFECT. I AM ASSUMING IT IS THE SAME VTC ACTUATOR THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND POSSIBLY THE TIMING CHAIN WHICH IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE.

NHTSA complaint #11377815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

LAST WINTER, MY CAR WOULD MAKE A RATTLING NOISE EVERY TIME I STARTED THE CAR. I READ ONLINE THAT DURING COLD WEATHER, THIS COULD HAPPEN. NOW THE SPRING AND SUMMER HAVE GONE BY AND THE RATTLING STILL CONTINUES EVERY TIME I START MY CAR AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN IDLE FOR A LITTLE BIT. I HAVE FURTHER READ THAT THE VTC ACTUATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED HOWEVER, I AM STILL SEEING REPORTS THAT THE RATTLING REAPPEARS AFTER A COUPLE MONTHS EVEN AFTER REPLACING IT. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE FREE TO REPLACE (VS PAYING 800 DOLLARS) CONSIDERING IT DOESN'T GUARANTEE TO FIX THE ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #11354255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

EXTERIOR PAINT IS FLAKING OFF SPECIFICLY ON INSIDE AND OUTSIDE ANGLES. PLASTIC COVERS ON HEADLIGHT ARE FOGGING AND PERMENANTLY ETCHED.

NHTSA complaint #11338319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE HEATER BLOWS COLD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND WARM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, IT HASN'T BEEN RECALLED. THIS IS GOING TO COST ME A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX AND IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING SINCE IT IS A WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE. WE BOUGHT A HONDA FOR THE DEPENDABILITY AND UNFORTUNATELY THIS MAY BE THE LAST.

NHTSA complaint #11321773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE HEAT FROM THE DRIVER SIDE IS LOWER THAN THE HEAT FROM THE FRONT MIDDLE AND PASSANGER SIDE VENT. A SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN CREATED FOR THIS SB 14-063. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE IT IS VERY UNSAFE. THE DRIVER SIDE BLOWS COLD AIR NOT HOT AT ALL AND THE DEFORESTER DOES NOT WORK. N OW THAT IT IS WINTER IT IS IMPACTS VISIBILITY AND IS DANGEROUS.

NHTSA complaint #11288413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CAR STUTTERS AT LOW SPEEDS (APPROX 20-30MPH). THIS COULD CAUSE A COLLISION IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE AS EXPECTED.

NHTSA complaint #11276913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SHAKING/JUDDER WHEN ACCELERATING AT SPEEDS OF 20-40 MPH.

NHTSA complaint #11254638 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

VTC ACTUATOR FAILS, STARTS A RATTLE AT COLD START WHICH CAUSES INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION AND STRETCHING OF THE TIME CHAIN. COSTS THOUSANDS TO REPLACE AND HONDA REFUSES TO ISSUE RECALL EVEN AFTER 100S OF COMPLAINTS.

NHTSA complaint #11233058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

BACK PASSENGER DOOR WON'T UNLOCK FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE DOOR. ALL PASSENGERS HAVE TO GET OUT FROM DRIVERS SIDE. SAFETY CONCERN. JUST PURCHASED VEHICLE 07/15/18

NHTSA complaint #11230132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2013 HONDA CR-V BLUETOOTH. RECIPIENT OF CALL HEARS LOUD NOISE AND CANNOT HEAR ME CLEARLY. I HEAR THEM CLEARLY. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING WITHIN THE LAST 3 YEARS. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A PROGRAMING PROBLEM. THAT SHOULD BE HONDA'S ISSUE. I AM UNABLE TO USE MY HANDS FREE DEVICE WHICH I SPECIFICALLY BOUGHT THE CAR FOR BECAUSE IT IS THE LAW THAT IT MUST BE USED. IT PUTS THE DRIVER WHO NEEDS TO USE THIS IN DANGER. THE DEALER NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHANGING OUT THE UNIT BUT APPEARS NOT TO LISTEN TO THE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. IT SHOULD BE FIXED BY A RECALL. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR FAULTY SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #11220728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND SHIFTS FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR ANYWHERE BETWEEN 20-25MPH THERE IS A VIBRATION THAT APPEAR TO COME FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE VISITED THE DEALER SEVERAL TIME TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER. THE FIRST TIME THEY TOLD ME FLUID WAS NEEDED, THE SECOND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, NEED TO BE CHANGED. THE 3RD TIME THEY NEEDED A CODE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM, THE FORTH TIME THEY UPGRADES THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. ALL THESE CHANGES HAVE IMPROVED THE PROBLEM FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS ONLY. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO COMPANY IN CALIFORNIA. THE PROBLEM STILL PRESENT.

NHTSA complaint #11220759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WATER LEAKAGE FROM THE TOP OF THE ROOF TO THE BOTTOM OF THE REAR BUMPER. WATER POOLED IN THE SPARE TIRE WELL AND SLOSHED OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING WETTING THE CARPET AND THE BACK SEATS AS I HAD THEM FOLDED DOWN. THE SEAL WAS NOT PROPERLY DONE AT MANUFACTURER. I HAD IT REPAIRED BUT HONDA WOULD NOT REIMBURSE FOR THE DAMAGE. I DID NOT REALIZE THIS HAD HAPPENED AS I DON'T SIT IN THE BACK SEATS. THE CARPET AND SEATS HAVE SOURED, MOLDED AND MILDEWED. I RESEARCHERED ON LINE TO SEE IF OTHERS HAD THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND SEVERAL HAVE AND NOT JUST THE 2013 MODELS. HONDA HAS KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS NOT RECALLED NOR FIXED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #11192073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWS HOT AIR. I TOOK IT IN TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT IT IS COOLING CORRECTLY. CHECK AIR SYSTEM STATED NOTHING IS WRONG. I AM ASTHMATIC PATIENT AND THIS CAUSE ME TO HAVE ASTHMA ATTACKS

NHTSA complaint #11186609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE TEMPERATURE OF THE AIR COMING OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEATING VENTS IS SIGNIFICANTLY COOLER THAN THE TEMPERATURE COMING OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE. NO ADJUSTMENTS TO THE HEATING CONTROLS IMPROVE THIS SITUATION. IT IS BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT TO DEFROST THE WINDOW, WHICH IMPACTS VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING AND THEREFORE IMPACTS SAFETY. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT HONDA IS NOT COVERING REPAIR OF THIS ISSUE AND THAT CONSUMERS ARE SPENDING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO CORRECT A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW.

NHTSA complaint #11182657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE AWD SENSOR LIGHT IS COMING ON DUE TO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL SERVICE PRESSURE SENSOR. OTHER 2013 AND 2012 MODELS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL

NHTSA complaint #11180621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I PURCHASED AT 2013 HONDA CRV FROM POHANKA IN SALISBURY MD WITH 30K MILES. THE OTHER DAY I NOTICED MY DRIVER SIDE VENTS WERE BLOWING COLD AIR WITH THE HEAT ON.I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE HEATER CORE AND WAS GOING TO COST ME 400$ I PURCHASED BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY ON THIS VEHICLE WHICH SHOULD COVER THAT EXPENSIVE BUT DOESN'T. I'VE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL HAS A TSB 14-063 WHICH STATES A FACTORY DEFECT.FACTORY! MANY CRV CUSTOMERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM AND IT HAS YET TO BECOME A SAFETY RECALL.I CAN NOT DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD DURING COLD TEMPERATURES OR FOG/HUMIDITY,THAT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM TO ME AND MANY OTHERS WHO OWN THIS MODEL.IVE OWNED PROBABLY 15 HONDAS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A HEATER CORE PROBLEM ESPECIALLY AT 30KMILES.I, NOR SHOULD ANYONE HAVE TO PAY FOR A FACTORY MISHAP.THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS MODEL NEEDS TO BE PASSED AS A SAFETY RECALL IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS IN AN ACCIDENT.ITS NOT A IF IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ITS WHEN.I'VE READ ATLEAST 100 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM AND CANT UNDERSTANDS WHY HONDA WONT OWN UP TO THIS PROBLEM AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY!

NHTSA complaint #11162112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DRIVERS SIDE VENTS BLOWS COLD AIR WHEN HEAT IS ON. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE IS APPROXIMATE 30 DEGREES.

NHTSA complaint #11161431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

TSB 14-063 CODE. AFFECTS THE HEATING ELEMENT. IN MY INSTANCE, IT DOES NOT BLOW HOT AIR AT ALL. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH HONDA AND THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL. THIS COULD BE QUITE DANGEROUS IF IN COLD, INCLEMENT WEATHER. HEATER NEVER SWITCHES TO HOT AIR.

NHTSA complaint #11160979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ENGINE RATTLES AT EARLY MORNING START UP , HONDA AWARE OF VTC ACTUATOR DEFAULT AND NEEDS TO OPEN A RECALL CASES TO ALL CRV MADE BETWEEN 2012-2014

NHTSA complaint #11102253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.