2012 Honda CR-V electrical problems

Filed Aug 28, 2026 · Electrical · TX

2012 Honda CR-V - I've had to replace my battery multiple times. I would go out the car and it would be dead. I even tried replacing the alternator. I am replacing batteries at an average of every 2.5 years. Honda tells me I can do a diagnostic test for $189. I see there are repeated complaints about the Honda CR-V needing a software update. They will just keep selling new batteries and not do the fix. At one point, I even lost power steering. It is dangerous, and they should be made to correct it.

Filed May 2, 2024 · Electrical · NH

Windshield defrost on drivers side produces no air or heat. Windshield became frosty and had to pull car over because of lack of visibility. Also heat on driver's side does not work, which is not a safety issue but may be related. Took it to the dealer where purchased. They flushed the heatcore. Which did nothing to fix the problem .

Filed Oct 1, 2023 · Electrical · NY

In July of this year, I took a 20 minute drive with my kids and then went to a bagel shop. I tried to turn on the car and it acted like the battery had been drained. I got a jump, had my battery tested, and it was fine. A week later, it started happening nearly any time I took a short trip, and I needed to purchase a portable jump starter. I then had my alternator and battery tested again, and both were in working condition and passed. On September 12th, 2023, as I was pulling into my driveway, my power steering locked up on and off and I could not turn my car once it was in my driveway. I turned it off and it would not restart again (like I had left my lights on all night). I jumped it and let it run for an hour. I rode it around the block and it seemed fine, but I took it to a shop that I trust. They informed me that my alternator was only charging my battery when my high beam lights were on and that there was a service bulletin by Honda regarding a software update to the PCM if this occurred. Honda charged me $189 to have the software updated, and I needed a new battery because the faulty charging circuit fried a battery that I got this year. This should be a mandatory recall because if my kids and I were driving and my power steering locked like that on a highway, we could have been killed. If you had an actual recall on this, you could actually possibly save many lives on this popular vehicle!!!

Filed Aug 11, 2023 · Electrical, Steering · TX

While I was driving the car, an indicator with "Battery" symbol showed up on the monitor. All off a sudden I see all the lights went ON/OFF and I couldn't steer the wheel. The Power Steering stopped working and the car was running. Since I was near a 4-way stop sign, I managed to pull my car on the side without an accident. Then I got roadside assistance to tow my car to a mechanic shop. They said the "Alternator" need to be replaced. I did that and went for a "Battery" checkup based on the indicator. The battery was good. It would have been a life threatening incident if I were somewhere on a highway. I wanted to make sure this is taken care seriously by the manufacturer and find a fix. Because it just impacts all electrical things and we can't steer the car!

Filed Jun 16, 2023 · Electrical · 90,000 miles · GA · fire

The contact owns a 2012 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that overnight a fire started in the garage where the vehicle was located, and the majority of the fire was centered around the vehicle. Most of the house was burned. No one was injured. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire department. The contact was awaiting for the fire department report. The contact believed that the vehicle was experiencing a similar failure to the federal safety agency campaign number: 12V486000 (Electrical System, Visibility). The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 90,000.

Filed Mar 10, 2023 · Electrical · GA

My Honda CRV 2012 rear and trunk doors will not lock. This is creating a safety hazard for me and my family as it leaves my car unsecured when I am away from my vehicle.

Filed Jan 17, 2023 · Electrical · TX

2012 Honda CR-V has 70,000 miles on it. I am now on the 4th battery, which is dead, and I may have to buy a 5th battery. I am replacing batteries at an average of every 2.5 years. Honda keeps telling me nothing is wrong with the electrical system, and that my battery keeps going bad for no reason. I am aware of a technical service bulletin for the problem (12-041), but Honda tells me to implement the fix, I have to buy a new battery. I am getting frustrated by getting stranded.

Filed Jan 14, 2023 · Electrical, Steering · TX

Details can be found in Service Bulletin 15-086. Shudder in vehicle steering wheel would make it harder to control. Metal shavings in ATF fluid from transmission grinding. Software update required to repair issue at the cost of owner.

Filed Oct 14, 2022 · Electrical · CT

The car doors keep clicking locking and the light shows a door open. Can be turning or just driving highway and clicks. My mechanic says it’s an actuator and looked it up and seems that there was a safety recall, 2 service bulletins and a safety class action suit on this. I never received a thing on this. I called My Honda dealer and they show nothing. They just have an air bag recall which never received a letter on either.

Filed Nov 25, 2020 · Electrical · 78,000 miles · WI

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 honda cr-v. The contact stated that the battery was replaced several times however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to rhinelander honda (1737 n stevens st, rhinelander, wi 54501) and the contact was informed the battery failed due to an aftermarket part that was installed on the vehicle. The battery was not replaced. The contact mentioned that the battery was taken to an installer of the aftermarket starter and the contact was informed that there were no issues found with the battery. The contact mentioned that previously the battery failure caused the alternator to become inoperable. The manufacturer was not contacted or made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.