NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 382 owner complaints for the 2013 Honda CR-V. It has 1 open investigation that names this model year.
Recalled components: fuel system and powertrain. Most-described problem: shaking, shuddering or vibration (58 complaints, 15%). Most-reported area: engine (97 complaints, 25%; median mileage when it happened: 28,800).
Fewer complaints than a typical CR-V year
The 2013 drew 134 owner complaints in its first three years, against 229 for a typical CR-V year. Best years are picked only from 2016 on, since counts for older years say less: owners filed fewer complaints in the early 2010s.
Years to avoid: 2017, 2018, and 2023; best year: 2016. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
During sub-freezing temperatures, the brake-shift interlock blocking mechanism may become slow and allow the gear selector to be moved from the Park position without pressing the brake pedal. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk: If the gear selector is moved from the park position without pressing the brake pedal it can allow the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda or Acura dealer. The dealer will install an updated brake shift interlock blocking mechanism free of charge. The recall began on May 13, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's campaign recall numbers are S96, S97, and S98.
Honda is recalling certain model year 2012-2013CR-V, Odyssey, and model year 2013 Acura RDX vehicles.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA has opened 2 investigations that name the 2013 Honda CR-V; 1 is still open. An investigation means NHTSA is reviewing reports of a problem. It is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Engineering analysis EA21002Open since Sep 17, 2021
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant - propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L.
NHTSA listing: CR-V. Component: Air bags (frontal, driver side, inflator module, passenger side). This investigation names 352 models.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.
NHTSA listing: CR-V. Component: Air bags (air bag/restraint control module). This investigation names 46 models.
An engineering analysis is a deeper review, usually opened after a preliminary evaluation. NHTSA lists investigations by make, model and model year only, so one can apply to only some versions of a model, such as one engine; its summary says which.
What owners report
Owners have filed 382 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 CR-V. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Shaking, shuddering or vibration58 · 15%
Median 56,000 miles at failure, from 37 reports with mileage
Median 28,800 miles at failure, from 66 reports with mileage
Powertrain95 · 25%
Median 38,900 miles at failure, from 52 reports with mileage
Electrical system38 · 10%
Median 32,400 miles at failure, from 26 reports with mileage
Exterior lighting32 · 8%
Median 2,000 miles at failure, from 25 reports with mileage
Air bags27 · 7%
Median 36,300 miles at failure, from 18 reports with mileage
Brakes26 · 7%
Median 28,400 miles at failure, from 23 reports with mileage
Speed control26 · 7%
Median 3,300 miles at failure, from 18 reports with mileage
Unknown or other48 · 13%
Median 49,000 miles at failure, from 20 reports with mileage
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Honda CR-V recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2013 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2017 CR-V drew the most (835) and the 2013 drew 134.
Owner complaints
2013: 382 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Honda CR-V
Model year
Complaints
2010
481
2011
554
2012
403
2013
382
2014
587
2015
670
2016
393
2017
1,771
2018
2,148
2019
1,101
2020
435
2021
435
2022
337
2023
631
2024
477
2025
281
2026
146
Safety recalls
2013: 2 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Honda CR-V
Model year
Recalls
2010
15
2011
13
2012
3
2013
2
2014
1
2015
3
2016
3
2017
7
2018
5
2019
8
2020
9
2021
5
2022
6
2023
7
2024
4
2025
5
2026
1
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 382 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Honda CR-V, the problems described most are shaking, shuddering or vibration (58), stalling or shutting off (12), and rust or corrosion (12). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2013 Honda CR-V safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2013 Honda CR-V earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2013 Honda CR-V?
Yes. NHTSA has 1 open investigation that names the 2013 Honda CR-V: desiccated air bag inflator rupture (EA21002, opened Sep 17, 2021). It has closed 1 other. An investigation is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
How do I check if my CR-V has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Honda dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Oct 2, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: CR-V.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.