2012 Honda CR-Z reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2012 Honda CR-Z holds 7 complaints after 15 years, a rate of 0 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most CR-Z years here — under the median of the other years, which is 0. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Inflator.

2011 Honda CR-Z EX — Photo by IFCAR, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons Public domain

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (6 of 7) and Electrical system (1). Complaints that include an odometer have a median of 87,000 miles.

Next to 2013

The 2013 CR-Z has 11 complaints, 0 per year. The 2012 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2013.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 Honda CR-Z. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (2)

Recall air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator 2019-06-27 · NHTSA campaign 19V500000

Summary 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. 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.

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. Honda's numbers for this recall are S5B and W59.

Vehicles affected 1,558

Recall air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator 2016-02-03 · NHTSA campaign 16V061000

Summary 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. 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.

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. Honda's numbers for this recall are JY0, JY1, and JY2.

Vehicles affected 2,232,187

NHTSA's count is every vehicle in that campaign. A campaign can cover other model years and other models.

Complaints by component (7 total)

Air bags

Electrical system

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Of the 2 complaints that include an odometer reading, the median is 87,000 miles.

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"Same issue as the 2012 CRV recalls of the passenger aide lock actuators. The passenger door lock works sometimes but the car will constantly try to lock that door if it is unlocked, because it won’t always lock. The…"
Electrical system, Unknown or other · filed 2022-06-29
"PASSENGER SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DEACTIVATES WHEN MOISTURE IS PRESENT IN THE AIR. ESPECIALLY PREVALENT WHILE RAINING."
Air bags · filed 2019-09-10
"PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DETECTIVES AND REACTIVATES ON IT'S OWN SOMETIMES. WARNING POPS UP RANDOMLY."
Air bags · filed 2019-04-03
"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…"
Air bags · filed 2016-11-14
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CR-Z. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS). HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER…"
Air bags · filed 2016-07-14

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2012 Honda CR-Z 3 HB FWD	4 stars	4 stars	3 stars	5 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
CR-Z	1.5L, 4-cyl	Automatic (AV-S7)	Front-wheel drive	34	38	36 MPG	$1800
CR-Z	1.5L, 4-cyl	Manual 6-speed	Front-wheel drive	31	37	34 MPG	$1900

Specs and fitment

Only generation, 2011–2016

Body styles 2-seat hatchback

Oil 0W-20 , 3.8 qt capacity

Tire size 195/55R16 (base) to 205/45R17 (EX)

Known issues for this generation

A September 2011 NHTSA safety recall (11V-458) covers 2011 CR-Z models with a manual transmission built through June 27, 2011: if the engine stalled without the brake pedal pressed, a software fault in the hybrid motor's control unit could move the car slowly in the opposite direction of the selected gear; Honda's fix is a free ECU/IMA software update. Complaint volume on the 2011 CR-Z is low overall — 38 NHTSA complaints, the largest share of them about air bags — and a smaller number describe electric power steering assist cutting out intermittently. For 2013, Honda gave the CR-Z a styling refresh and a higher-voltage lithium-ion battery pack that raised combined output from 121 to 130 horsepower.

Compare

Next year 2013 Honda CR-Z See every Honda CR-Z model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Honda CR-Z reliable?

What are common problems with a 2012 Honda CR-Z?

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (6 of 7) and Electrical system (1). Complaints that include an odometer have a median of 87,000 miles.

Is the 2012 Honda CR-Z more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 CR-Z has 11 complaints, 0 per year. The 2012 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2013.

Has the 2012 Honda CR-Z been recalled?

The 2012 Honda CR-Z has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Honda CR-Z?

Owners have filed 7 complaints about the 2012 Honda CR-Z with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 Honda CR-Z get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 Honda CR-Z is 35 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What years did Honda sell the CR-Z in the US?

One generation, sold as 2011-2016 model years, with a styling and battery refresh for 2013.

Was the 2011 Honda CR-Z recalled?

Yes — manual-transmission 2011 CR-Z models built through June 2011 were recalled (NHTSA 11V-458) for a software fault that could move the car opposite the selected gear after a stall.