Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Honda CR-V owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2012 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that overnight a fire started in the garage where the vehicle was located, and the majority of the fire was centered around the vehicle. Most of the house was burned. No one was injured. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire department. The contact was awaiting for the fire department report. The contact believed that the vehicle was experiencing a similar failure to NHTSA campaign number: 12V486000 (Electrical System, Visibility). The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 90,000.
In July of this year, I took a 20 minute drive with my kids and then went to a bagel shop. I tried to turn on the car and it acted like the battery had been drained. I got a jump, had my battery tested, and it was fine. A week later, it started happening nearly any time I took a short trip, and I needed to purchase a portable jump starter. I then had my alternator and battery tested again, and both were in working condition and passed. On September 12th, 2023, as I was pulling into my driveway, my power steering locked up on and off and I could not turn my car once it was in my driveway. I turned it off and it would not restart again (like I had left my lights on all night). I jumped it and let it run for an hour. I rode it around the block and it seemed fine, but I took it to a shop that I trust. …
While I was driving the car, an indicator with "Battery" symbol showed up on the monitor. All off a sudden I see all the lights went ON/OFF and I couldn't steer the wheel. The Power Steering stopped working and the car was running. Since I was near a 4-way stop sign, I managed to pull my car on the side without an accident. Then I got roadside assistance to tow my car to a mechanic shop. They said the "Alternator" need to be replaced. I did that and went for a "Battery" checkup based on the indicator. The battery was good. It would have been a life threatening incident if I were somewhere on a highway. I wanted to make sure this is taken care seriously by the manufacturer and find a fix. Because it just impacts all electrical things and we can't steer the car!
2012 Honda CR-V - I've had to replace my battery multiple times. I would go out the car and it would be dead. I even tried replacing the alternator. I am replacing batteries at an average of every 2.5 years. Honda tells me I can do a diagnostic test for $189. I see there are repeated complaints about the Honda CR-V needing a software update. They will just keep selling new batteries and not do the fix. At one point, I even lost power steering. It is dangerous, and they should be made to correct it.
2012 Honda CR-V has 70,000 miles on it. I am now on the 4th battery, which is dead, and I may have to buy a 5th battery. I am replacing batteries at an average of every 2.5 years. Honda keeps telling me nothing is wrong with the electrical system, and that my battery keeps going bad for no reason. I am aware of a technical service bulletin for the problem (12-041), but Honda tells me to implement the fix, I have to buy a new battery. I am getting frustrated by getting stranded.
The car doors keep clicking locking and the light shows a door open. Can be turning or just driving highway and clicks. My mechanic says it's an actuator and looked it up and seems that there was a safety recall, 2 service bulletins and a safety class action suit on this. I never received a thing on this. I called My Honda dealer and they show nothing. They just have an air bag recall which never received a letter on either.
Details can be found in Service Bulletin 15-086. Shudder in vehicle steering wheel would make it harder to control. Metal shavings in ATF fluid from transmission grinding. Software update required to repair issue at the cost of owner.
Starting problems. Many times the car would not start without jumping the battery. Took car to dealer, ike Honda, marion, il 62959 many times. First time, no trouble found, second time no trouble found, but when I picked the car up at the dealer CR-v would not start. Dealer kept car over night for testing and replaced the battery. Said it May have been a floating cell. Trouble continued. Next time dealer replaced the alternator. Still not fixed. After jumping car several more times, took car back to ike Honda and they did a product update 14-071, 12-17-14. Never received a recall notice from Honda. Still not fixed. Had trouble a couple more times, jumped car OK. Last time I took car in,10-10-15 no trouble found again. Battery checked out good, no draws on electrical system. Software up to date. In all cases car was parked overnight in our garage when it would not start. …
Vtc actuator: loud rattling noise upon cold start-up started at approx 75K miles. Car is stationary. Took car to dealership for regular maintenance and given a clean bill of health each time. In fact dealer told me it May have been my imagination because they could not duplicate the sound in shop. The extended warranty expires 2 months ago. Because the sound persisted and seems louder in fact, I left my CR-v at dealer's overnight, sound was heard and duplicated first thing in the am. Then I get a diagnosis of the vtc actuator failure at a replacement cost of $849. In addition, my timing chain cover is now mysteriously leaking oil, costing $748 for repair. I wonder if the constant rattling of the variable valve timing control actuator aided in this issue. …
This chronic issue started with a slow crank and then a no start and aaa replaced the battery on 3/6/16. Two weeks ago on August 23rd the car would not start in the parking lot after sitting for 10 minutes with the engine turned off. I jumped the battery and then had aaa test the battery and charging system. They diagnosed the issue as the charging system, likely the alternator as it was charging the battery intermittently. They jumped the vehicle and it was taken in for service at bill page Honda. They replaced the alternator in warranty and said the problem was fixed. On September 6th the car had a slow crank and then on September 7th the car would not start. I jumped the vehicle and took it directly to Honda and they are presently insisting that the issue is a dead battery. …
Electrical complaints in other CR-V years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2012 Honda CR-V?
NHTSA has 68 complaints about the electrical system of the 2012 Honda CR-V, 17% of the model year's 403 complaints. The component named most often is alternator/generator/regulator (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Honda CR-V electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2012 Honda CR-V, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2012 Honda CR-V electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 30,000 miles, and 43% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.