2013 Honda CR-V Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2013 CR-V most often describe two symptoms: a shudder or vibration felt at low speed under light acceleration, and a loud rattle from the engine on cold start-up. Both appear in complaints across a wide mileage range, from a few thousand miles to well past 100,000, and the transmission symptom in particular often returns after fluid service or a software update. A smaller but recurring set of reports covers night-time headlight performance, rear brake wear, and cold-weather problems with the rear hatch.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Shudder/vibration at low speed under light acceleration

   • 62 complaints (16%)
   • median 56,000 mi at 5.2 yrs old (39 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe a shake, shudder or wobble that appears roughly between 20 and 40 mph when accelerating gently, often feeling like driving over rumble strips, and that fades once speed rises or the throttle is released. Complaints mention transmission fluid replacement and a transmission software update providing only temporary relief, sometimes for as little as a week, with some owners told a torque converter or axle replacement was needed. Several say dealers could not reproduce the symptom or declined further repair once the vehicle was outside a mileage extension. Reported from roughly 25,000 to over 80,000 miles, most commonly in the 45,000-100,000 mile range and at light throttle at low speed.

   6 related service bulletins

   What to check: During a test drive, accelerate gently from a stop through about 25-40 mph and feel for a shudder or shake through the steering wheel and seats. Ask whether the transmission software update and fluid service described in the service bulletins have been done and when.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The car seems to intermittently wobble or vibrate when driving. I have had the wheels tested and purchased new tires. I have also had the dealer upgrade the transmission software which costs $250. The problem still persists. We have less than 90,000 miles on the vehicle and transmission. I have tested this over clean, new roads and the vibrating continues. This has continued for months.”

   NHTSA complaint #11327223, filed 2020-06, 87,000 miles

   “The Honda CR-V 2013 we purchased on 7/3/18 has been experiencing a vibration while in motion between aprox 10 MPH -30 MPH. It took place on city, town and county roads we have not driven on highway yet. It vibrates similar to driving over rumble strips in the highway to inform you of lane edges.it seems to stop if you let the foot of accelerator pedal. It is somewhat unnerving and can be a little scary to our young driver.”

   NHTSA complaint #11112913, filed 2018-07, 92,800 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine rattle on cold start (VTC actuator)

   • 78 complaints (20%)
   • median 25,000 mi at 3.5 yrs old (50 state mileage)
   • filed 2013–2026

   Owners report a loud metallic grinding or rattling from the front of the engine for about a second or two right after start-up, most often described as happening when the engine is cold or the outside temperature is low. Complaints describe the variable valve timing actuator as the part involved, with some owners paying for an actuator replacement that later produced the same noise again, and others told the sound was nothing to worry about. Several mention the dealer could not reproduce the noise or suggested the timing chain as the next step. Appears from low mileage on up, with reports from a few thousand miles to over 100,000, typically on the first start of the day and in cold weather.

   10 related service bulletins

   What to check: Listen to a cold start, ideally after the car has sat overnight or at least a few hours, with the hood open or from the front of the vehicle. Ask for service records showing whether an actuator was replaced and whether the timing chain was checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “As like other reports my car has been making a large rattling sound for years and it's getting worse and from what I've looked up it can be very bad and expensive to repair and Honda needs to look into why this is happening to our cars and do a recall because this should not be our responsibility to pay for a defect. I am assuming it is the same vtc actuator that needs to be replaced and possibly the timing chain which is extremely expensive to replace.”

   NHTSA complaint #11377815, filed 2020-12, 25,000 miles

   “During winter months at freezing and below part # 110153 variable timing control, vtc actuator malfunctions. At the first start up the vehicle makes a grinding noise (metal upon metal). This was confirmed by the originating dealer and I was told that even though this happens consistently in crv-s when the temperature falls at or freezing that there is nothing to worry about. The engine won't freeze up nor will there be any damage to the power train? …”

   NHTSA complaint #10658894, filed 2014-11, 7,889 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Rear brake wear and judder

   • 24 complaints (6%)
   • median 23,900 mi at 2.2 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2021

   Owners report rear brake pads and rotors wearing out early, in some cases repeatedly within a short time after replacement, with calipers also replaced. Other complaints describe continuous vibration through the brake pedal or the whole vehicle while braking before coming to a stop. Some describe the parking brake indicator not lighting when the brake is engaged, and one report describes a parking brake that released without warning. Mainly reported between roughly 20,000 and 80,000 miles, with several owners noting rear brakes needed service near 30,000-35,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect rear pad and rotor thickness and ask for brake service records, since repeat rear work is a common theme. Check that the parking brake indicator lights up when the brake is set.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Went to 802 Honda berlin vermont for 30,000mile service they informed me I needed rear brakes,I said repaire them.I have owned two otheir Honda crv. An neaver replaced brakes before 45000 miles.$439.21.”

   NHTSA complaint #10782593, filed 2015-10, 30,823 miles

   “Pulled into driveway and was a couple of feet away from the garage door, going only one or two MPH,put foot on brake to stop and suddenly the car lurch forward,press as hard as I could on brake pedal,but car kept moving forward till it hit garage door,then everything stopped. You can see by the marks on the driveway that the front tires were spinning forward while the rear tires were locked ( because I had hard pressure on the brake pedal) and slid a few feet, we have taken pictures of the car and driveway and will try to send to you. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11055052, filed 2017-12, 36,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase test drive in the 25-40 mph range and a cold start are the two most informative checks on this model year, since those are where owners most often describe symptoms. Ask for service records on transmission software and fluid work, VTC actuator replacement, and rear brake history before agreeing on a price.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.