Is the 2011 Honda CR-V a bad year?
555 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other CR-V years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2011 Honda CR-V are in line with other CR-V years. Air bags and body structure stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2011 CR-V owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 62,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 295 (53%) | 42k–78k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 45 (8%) | 20k–144k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 55 (10%) | 30k–95k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 43 (8%) | 31k–97k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Speed control | 19 (3%) | 9k–62k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 14 (3%) | 9k–74k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Latches and locks | 10 (2%) | 28k–140k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 10 (2%) | 18k–91k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Brakes | 19 (3%) | 13k–60k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 10 (2%) | 7k–56k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 20 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 14 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 12 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 8 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 62,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 555 complaints: 29 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 11 report an injury · 15 say the car was towed.
16 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Poor acceleration and pickup when applying gas. Worse in hotter weather.
Interstate highway driving at highway speed 70MPH up an incline or hilly area would cause the 2011 crv engine to hesitate accelerating, causing a high RPM rev but no speed increase, I.e.
Oil consumption problem - took my car in for routine oil change. 96662 miles. Oil life at 15% per manual oil maintenance.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 62,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2011 Honda CR-V: 13
An accumulation of road salt may cause the frame to corrode and possibly detach the rear trailing arm. A detached rear trailing arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement. An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode. An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags)… An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement. An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags)… An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
One dealership may have incorrectly installed the replacement air bag inflators. In the event of a crash, an incorrectly installed passenger frontal air bag inflator may deploy the air bag improperly, increasing the risk of injury.
The air bag inflator repair kit may have been assembled by the supplier with an incorrect wire harness. If an inflator with an incorrect wire harness is installed, the air bag may not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Honda: 70
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2011 Honda CR-V. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Replace the vtc actuator if the engine rattles loudly for 2 seconds during cold start-up
Engine rattles at cold start-up
Never use conventional wheel & tire assemblies on pax vehicles; MIL on after throttle body cleaning or replacement…
Engine has a loud rattling noise at a cold start up
Neighbouring years
2010 CR-V: 483 complaints, keep it · 2012 CR-V: 403 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Honda CR-V year
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Other Honda models: Honda Accord · Honda Accord Hybrid · Honda CR-V Hybrid · Honda Civic · Honda Civic Hybrid · Honda Civic Si · Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid · Honda Crosstour · Honda Element · Honda Fit · Honda GL1800 · Honda HR-V · Honda Insight · Honda Odyssey · Honda Passport · Honda Pilot · Honda Prologue · Honda Ridgeline · Honda VTX1300. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2011 Honda CR-V a bad year?
555 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other CR-V years. At 62,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Honda CR-V?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (295), body structure (45), electrical system (55), engine (43), speed control (19).
How many recalls does the 2011 Honda CR-V have?
13 recall campaigns list this model year: Body structure (NHTSA 23V-228), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-502), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-500), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-378) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.