Most common 2012 Honda CR-Z problems
Share of the 7 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Honda CR-Z complaints by model year
Best CR-Z years: 2015, 2012. Years to avoid: 2011. Compare all years →
2012 Honda CR-Z recalls (2)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-2013 Acura ZDX vehicles.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2012 Honda CR-Z:
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2012 Honda CR-Z owners say
Air bags
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Honda CR-z. The contact stated that while driving, the passenger side air bags deployed without any warning or any impact of a crash. There were no injuries and no police report filed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that something under the vehicle made the air bag deploy. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Honda CR-z. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V061000 (air bags); however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
2012 Honda CR-Z engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4-cyl hybrid | CVT | FWD | 34 / 38 / 36 |
| 1.5L 4-cyl hybrid | 6-speed manual | FWD | 31 / 37 / 34 |
EPA ratings. Class: Sports car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Honda CR-Z a good car?
Based on 7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 CR-Z rates average: 20% fewer complaints than a typical year of the CR-Z at the same age. It is one of the best CR-Z years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Honda CR-Z?
The air bags — 6 complaints, 86% of all complaints for this model year. Next is the electrical system (1).
How many recalls does the 2012 Honda CR-Z have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2012 Honda CR-Z, the most recent from June 27, 2019 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Honda CR-Z?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2015 and 2012. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2011. See the full Honda CR-Z years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Honda CR-Z problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 89,000 miles; 0% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.