The Lemon Index2013 Honda CR-V.
The 2013 Honda CR-V is one of the most reliable years by owner complaints: 173 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 47, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, it has 2 recalls, and it gets 25 to 26 mpg combined. The best Honda CR-V year is 2001.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 382 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Honda CR-V year. 2013 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 5K to 63K miles on the car (258 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 15K–65K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 20K–77K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 18K–80K miles
Recalls 2
- fuel system, gasoline 2023
The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
- transmission & drivetrain 2013
During sub-freezing temperatures, the brake-shift interlock blocking mechanism may become slow and allow the gear selector to be moved from the Park position without pressing the brake pedal.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Honda told dealers about
Honda sent dealers 113 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- An engineering request for an investigation on certain vehicles, where by the inner door…
- Service bulletin - replace the vtc actuator if the engine rattles loudly for 2 seconds during…
- Service bulletin - at cold start-up, the engine rattles loudly for about 2 seconds
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
- ClosedElectrical overstress2019–2024
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CR-V SUV 4WD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Honda CR-V SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2450–2550 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
Every time I start my car in the morning and sometimes other times during the day it makes a terrible grinding noise
2013 Honda CR-V owner · NHTSA complaint 10905066
More owner reports
Vtc spins after ignition starts: dealer states that this problem is not to be addressed per Honda manufacturer policy.
NHTSA complaint 10850885
When high beams are on, the low beams go off making it very difficult to see for 25 to 30 feet. If a child or a dog were to run in front of the auto I wouldn't have enough reaction time to avoid hitting them.
NHTSA complaint 10556121
Quick answers
Is the 2013 Honda CR-V reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew 2.1× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 47; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Honda CR-V year by this measure since 2010 is 2011.
What are the most common 2013 Honda CR-V problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (23%), lights (16%) and transmission & drivetrain (14%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2013 Honda CR-V have?
2 safety recalls (latest: fuel system, gasoline). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2013 Honda CR-V get?
25 to 26 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2013 Honda CR-V safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2013 Honda CR-V problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 5,200 and 63,200 miles. The middle report was at 26,000 miles, from 258 complaints.
Does the 2013 Honda CR-V have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 14% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2013 Honda CR-V cost in fuel a year?
About $2450 to $2550 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2013 Honda CR-V have?
2.4L 4-cyl.
What Honda CR-V year is better than the 2013?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2011, 2010 and 2013.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works