53 complaints reported

2013 Honda CR-V Engine

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
53
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Aug 2025

VTC rattles on startup. Please email me at [XXX] so we can start another lawsuit against Honda. This is a known problem that everyone from honda to your backyard mechanic are aware of. I used to love Honda. I even paid extra to get this specific Honda CRV. Kind of feel like a fool now. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HONDA CR-V, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2025
Jan 2025

AFTER DRIVING MY NEW CAR FOR 20,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS WHILE DRIVING. I NOTICE SHIFTING FROM D TO N THEN TRANSMISSION MAKES SHAKING NOICES. NOTICE THERE ARE ISSUES WITH SOLENOIDS TOO. THE SHIFT D KEEPS FLASHING AND THERE IS A CODE ERROR THAT KEEPS COMMING P0977. EVEN THOUGHT I KEEP MY SUV'S MAINTANCE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, I KEEP GETTING TRANSMISSION SHUTTLE ISSUES. IN ADDITION, THE A/C STOP WORKING WHILE MY SUV HAS ONLY 95,000 MILES

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HONDA CR-V, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2015
Mar 2024

Engine rattles loudly for 2 seconds on cold start-up. The rattle started in 2021 at 90k miles, used to be intermittent but since 2022 it occurs every cold start-up. Two different mechanics have diagnosed the problem as a VTC defect requiring replacement, based on Honda’s TSB bulletin, which diagnoses the rattle as a defective VTC. No warning indicator lights have ever appeared for this issue. The cost to replace the VTC is $1200. A class action lawsuit has been filed for this very issue (JULY 5, 2023 case 3:23-CV-01238) - it states that a 2011 study showed that the VTC defect can stretch the vehicle’s timing chain and cause premature failure of the timing chain tensioner, and that damage to these internal engine components can cause catastrophic engine failure and lead to accidents. Honda should be held responsible for selling vehicles with defective parts, and owners should not have to pay for these replacements.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HONDA CR-V, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Feb 2021
Oct 2022

The vehicle stutters when travelling 30-35 miles per hour. It has done this since I bought the vehicle. I have taken it to the Honda dealership to correct and to another mechanic. The Honda dealership say it's a problem Honda has not sent a recall on and they don't know how to fix it. It is also a hot topic on many forums regarding this vehicle.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HONDA CR-V, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2013
May 2021

VEHICLE STATIONARY. VARIABLE TIMING CHAIN ACTUATOR (VTC ACTUATOR) STARTED TO GRIND UPON ENGINE STARTS AT 90K. HAD THE VTC REPLACED FOR $700 AND WITHIN A YEAR IT FAILED AGAIN CAUSING THE SAME GRINDING NOISE UPON ENGINE STARTS. DEALER THEN REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONERS FOR $1200 SAYING THAT WAS THE ISSUE CAUSING THE NOISE. NEXT MORNING THE CAR IS MAKING THE SAME GRINDING NOISE. TOOK BACK TO DEALER BUT APPARENTLY THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE THE SOUND. VIDEO RECORDED THE SOUND TO SEND THEM. HONDA IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE: TSB 16-012 I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN 2013 AND HAVE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT HONDA. I SPENT OVER $2000 TRYING TO HAVE THIS FIXED AT THE DEALER AND THE ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED. I WANT TO SELL THIS VEHICLE BUT CAN'T ALLOW SOMEONE ELSE TO BUY A DEFECTIVE CAR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HONDA CR-V, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2020
Sep 2020

A SURGE, VIBRATION, OR JUDDER MAY BE FELT WHILE DRIVING UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HONDA CR-V, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Sep 2020
Jun 2020

ENGINE RATTLES AT STARTUP, VTC ACTUATOR, AFRAID THAT THIS WILL LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME WE START THE VEHICLE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HONDA CR-V, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2020
Apr 2020

WHEN STARTING COLD, AS SITTING OVERNIGHT, TURN KEY ,GRINDING NOISE FROM ENGINE, ONLY TIME IT HAPPENS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HONDA CR-V, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2020
Nov 2019

PURCHASED THE CAR USED FROM A HONDA DEALER, STILL UNDER THE 30,000 MILLAGE WARRANTY. TIMING CHAIN BEGAN SLIPPING AFTER A FEW MONTHS AS WEATHER GOT A BIT COLDER. BROUGHT IT IN AND THEY SAID 'THEY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS'. PICKED UP THE VEHICLE AND WITHIN A SHORT TIME THE NOISE CAME BACK AGAIN. THIS WENT ON. I GOOGLED AND FOUND THE THE TIMING CHAIN WAS A CHRONIC ISSUE IN THESE VEHICLES. FEELS LIKE ITS LOOSE. I BROUGHT IT INTO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD ITS THE TIMING CHAIN AND SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY. CAN YOU HELP? LOTS OF THESE CARS ARE RECALLED BUT MY PARTICULAR VIN ISN'T ON THE LIST WHICH IS VERY PECULIAR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HONDA CR-V, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Feb 2016
Nov 2019

DURING LIGHT ACCELERATION THERE WAS A SHUDDERING AROUND 20-30 MPH. IT LESSENED AFTER I DECELERATED. IT CONTINUED FOR AROUND 8 MONTHS OR LONGER. I HAD IT CHECKED BY A NEARBY MECHANIC. HE PRINTED OFF SOME INFORMATION TO HAVE THE SOFTWARE UPDATED AND TO TAKE IT THE A HONDA DEALER. I CALLED THE CLOSEST, DEALERSHIP FOR AN APPOINTMENT. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD DO A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, COSTING ME $120 AND THEN PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD REPLACE THE FLUIDS EVEN BEFORE I EXPLAINED THE ISSUE. AFTER 3 1/12 HRS AND OVER $500 DOLLARS I WAS ON MY WAY HOME. BREAKDOWN ON THE BILL. LABOR AMT $490 PARTS $69.14 AND OF COURSE $39.13 TAX. I FEEL THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION. I KNOW THERE ARE MANY OWNERS OF HONDA CR-V HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND THAT HONDA HAVE NOT STEPPED UP AND TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ISSUE, IF I HAVE ANY OTHER ISSUES WITH THE SHUDDERING I WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER HONDA, EVER. I OWNED A HONDA CIVIC AND HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THAT CAR FOR AS LONG AS I HAD IT. SO TIME WILL TELL IF THE ISSUE IS COMPLETELY SOLVED. ALSO, THEY WANTED TO REPLACE MANY ITEMS THAT WAS NOT THE REASON FOR MY VISIT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HONDA CR-V, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2019
Nov 2019

FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS THE ENGINE MAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN I START IT. MOSTLY IN COLDER WEATHER. I'VE DISCUSSED THIS WITH ANOTHER HONDA CR-V OWNER AND THE SAME THING STARTED HAPPENING WITH THEM.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HONDA CR-V, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2018
Oct 2019

ENGINE IS RATTLING ON COLD STARTUPS MAINLY WHEN TEMP IS BELOW 40. TOOK VEHICLE TO HONDA DEALERSHIP AND HAD THE VTC ACTUATOR REPLACED BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND NOW THE ENGINE IS CONSUMING EXCESSIVE OIL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HONDA CR-V, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: May 2016
Sep 2019

THE CRV EXHIBITS A LOUD RATTLE FROM THE VALVE COVER. THE NOISE COMES ON EVERYTIME THE AC COMPRESSOR KICKS ON. DEALER REPLACED VTC ACTUATOR WITH NO RESULTS. THEN DEALER REPLACED AUTO BELT TENSIONER WITH NO RESULTS. NOISE IS LOUD AND TURNS PEOPLES HEADS AS I BACK UP OR TAKE OFF. IVE READ MANY SIMILAR STORIES FROM OTHER CRV OWNERS. DEALERS UNABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HONDA CR-V, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2019
Apr 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA CR-V. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HONDA CR-V, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2019
Apr 2019

DURING A COLD START-UP THE ENGINE RATTLES LOUDLY FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS EVERY SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. HAD IT BACK TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY ADVISED THEY DIDN'T HEAR IT. THE VTC ACTUATOR IS DEFECTIVE APPARENTLY FROM PRIOR COMPLAINTS. THE SECOND ISSUE THE CAR STARTED TO SHUDDER AND VIBRATE ON THE ROAD WHEN DRIVING AT SLOWER SPEEDS. NOT SURE IF I NEED A SOFTWARE UPDATE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HONDA CR-V, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jul 2013
Mar 2019

AT THE STATIONARY POSITION, HEARD A LOUD GRINDING SOUND EVERY TIME I START THE CAR. DEALERSHIP STATED IT IS A VTC ACTUATOR FAILURE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HONDA CR-V, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Nov 2017
Mar 2019

AT THE STATIONARY POSITION, HEARD A LOUD GRINDING SOUND WHEN I START THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 1-2 SECONDS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HONDA CR-V, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Sep 2014
Feb 2019

I HAVE A 2013 HONDA CRV AT ABOUT 65,000 MILES. THE VSA, EPS, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALL AT THE SAME TIME. I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS RUNNING ROUGH WHILE IDLE AND WOULD NOT PICK UP AFTER STOPPING. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND NOTATED THAT IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE FOR THE TIMING CHAIN TO STRETCH. I HAVE BEEN METICULOUS ABOUT MAINTENANCE ON MY VEHICLE. NOTABLY TIMING CHAINS SHOULD LAST THE ENTIRE LIFE OF THE ENGINE. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP AND BEEN ADVISED THAT INDEED THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE VTC ACTUATOR (NOTABLY ANOTHER COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE MODELS). THE PRICE TO FIX THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS CONSIDERING THE LOW MILES AND METICULOUS MAINTANCE BY THE HONDA DEALERSHIP. I BELIEVE AN INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO COMPLETED AS THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO YOUR ENGINE WITH LITTLE TO NO WARNING THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HONDA CR-V, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Feb 2019
Jan 2019

ENGINE MAKES LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN STARTING COLD SIMILAR TO WHAT OTHERS HAVE DESCRIBED AS THE VTC ACTUATOR PROBLEM. CAR HAS 83,000 MILES ON IT. FYI.....THIS IS MY SECOND HONDA CR-V.....I TRADED IN THE LAST ONE AT 78,000 MILES WHEN IT WAS DOING THE SAME THING!!!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HONDA CR-V, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2019
Nov 2018

ON COLD START THE ENGINE MAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 28,500 MILES ON THE CAR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HONDA CR-V, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2018
Sep 2018

THE VTC ACTUATOR MAKES NOISE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A LONG TIME.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HONDA CR-V, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Sep 2018
Sep 2018

MAKES CRATING SOUND WHEN IT IS COLD STARTED

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HONDA CR-V, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Apr 2018
Jun 2018

MAKES GRINDING NOISE AT START UP. SIMILAR TO OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH VTC VALVE ISSUES

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HONDA CR-V, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Feb 2018
Mar 2018

HEAVY VIBRATION IN GREAR WHEN COME TO A STOP ....FEELING VIBRATION ON THE SEAT...TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP SAY THEY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT THER NO FIX FROM HONDA AT THIS TIME....DEALER STATE LOT OF CUSTOMER HAVE THE SAM COMPLAIN BUT NOTHING THEY CAN DO AT THIS TIME.....

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HONDA CR-V, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Mar 2018
Jan 2018

ENGINE MAKES A RATTLE NOISE ON COLD START UP. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE VTC ACTUATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 83000 MILES. THIS WAS IN AUGUST OF 2017. IT IS NOW JANUARY OF 2018, CAR NOW HAS 90355 MILES AND THE RATTLE NOISE HAS RETURNED. WILL TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS WEEK TO SEE WHAT WILL BE DONE NEXT. FROM WHAT I HAVE RESEARCHED, HONDA HAS NOT COME UP WITH A REAL FIX. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS FOR PREVIOUS MODELS. COME ON NHTSA, PUT SOME HEAT ON THESE GUYS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HONDA CR-V, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: May 2017

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Honda CR-V has 53 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.