YearToAvoid

2012 Honda CR-V Steering Problems

NHTSA lists 35 steering complaints for the 2012 Honda CR-V, 9% of all complaints for the year, with 2 crashes and 1 injury reported. Median mileage at failure was 58,500 miles. No related recall covers this issue.

Steering complaints
35
9% of 403
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
58,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical steering symptoms owners report

  • Steering wheel suddenly locks up or seizes at various speeds, sometimes accompanied by a warning light, then returns to normal after the vehicle is stopped and restarted.
  • Electric power steering (EPS) shuts off intermittently at low speed, especially while turning in parking areas or garages, making the vehicle hard to maneuver.
  • Power steering assist cuts out briefly and then comes back while driving, catching drivers off guard during turns.
  • Steering becomes unusually tight or stiff, particularly when backing up or turning left, with a dash indicator light flashing on and off.
  • Some owners report steering resistance or a bouncing/binding feel when turning, occurring right after starting the engine.
  • A small number of steering failures preceded a loss of control that led to a collision, including one case with an injury.

When 2012 Honda CR-V steering complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 24, 2012, latest Mar 11, 2026.

2012 Honda CR-V steering complaints: complaints filed per month2Jul 2012Jul 2013Sep 2014Apr 2017Nov 2018Jul 2020Jan 2023Aug 2023
35 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2012 to Mar 2026; peak Jul 2013 (2).

Steering recalls for the 2012 Honda CR-V

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Steering complaints by CR-V model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201014 (3%)
  2. 201110 (2%)
  3. 201235 (9%)
  4. 201315 (4%)
  5. 201415 (3%)
  6. 201545 (7%)
  7. 201617 (4%)
  8. 201764 (4%)
  9. 2018325 (15%)
  10. 2019195 (18%)
  11. 202041 (12%)
  12. 2021111 (34%)
  13. 2022137 (53%)
  14. 2023325 (63%)
  15. 2024126 (32%)
  16. 202551 (21%)

Frequently asked questions

How many steering complaints does NHTSA have for the 2012 Honda CR-V?
NHTSA lists 35 steering-related complaints for the 2012 Honda CR-V, which is 9% of the 403 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for steering problems on the 2012 Honda CR-V?
No. The data shows no related recalls tied to the reported steering complaints for the 2012 CR-V.
At what mileage do steering problems usually appear on the 2012 CR-V?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for steering complaints is 58,500 miles.
Did the steering issues cause any crashes or injuries?
NHTSA records show 2 crashes and 1 injury among the 35 steering complaints for the 2012 CR-V, with no fires reported.
How does the 2012 CR-V compare to other years for steering complaints?
The 2012 CR-V's 9% share of complaints tied to steering is higher than the 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014 model years, which ranged from 2% to 4%, though several later years such as 2018, 2019, and 2023 show higher shares.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.