Problems like heavy oil consumption, unintended acceleration, hard starts, and 12 airbag recalls put a damper on 2011 CR-V’s reputation for reliability. Also, some owners had trouble getting into their compact SUV altogether, due to a faulty locking mechanism.
Key Points
- The 2011 Honda CR-V suffers several pressing issues, including 12 recalls. Each of the 12 recalls stemmed from the industry-wide Takata airbag recall that affected nearly 67 million U.S. vehicles.
- The 2.4L inline-four K24Z engine used by the 2011 CR-V has struggled to remain safe and reliable. Issues like acceleration while braking, oil consumption, and difficulty starting have left owners with premature wear, expensive repairs, and frustration.
- Some 2011 CR-V owners have had trouble entering and locking their vehicles thanks to faulty locking mechanisms. Honda ultimately extended the warranty for the parts used, but only for 2007-2008 models.
- Technical Service Bulletins have been issued by Honda to address several issues including oil consumption, cylinder head oil leaks, and engine hesitation. To date, there appears to be no official fix from Honda regarding unintended acceleration problems in the 2011 CR-V’s engine.
Takata Airbags Pose a Potentially Fatal Problem for 2011 CR-V Owners
The 2011 Honda CR-V was heavily affected by the Takata airbag recalls. In total, the NHTSA lists 12 recalls for the 2011 CR-V. Every one of those recalls concerns the CR-V’s airbags. We’d be amiss not to mention the fault is due to the now-defunct Takata Corporation. Takata’s nearly 20% market share resulted in around 67 million U.S. vehicles with defective airbags.
Takata’s airbags have been a major source of concern for drivers. Inflators in Takata airbags have reportedly shown a rare tendency to explode, sending metal fragments toward vehicle occupants. These instances have resulted in 28 deaths worldwide.
Owners with affected vehicles are strongly encouraged to visit their dealer for a free replacement. Worth noting is that four of the 12 recalls were for incorrectly installed replacement airbags. Only 537 2011 CR-Vs were affected in the most prevalent case. The other three improper installation recalls affected a similarly low number of CR-Vs.
Lastly, Honda offered a warranty extension for affected vehicles. If you’re looking into a used 2011 CR-V, ensure the airbag recalls have been taken care of.
Honda’s 2.4L K24Z Engine Struggles to Start, and Refuses to Stop
Apart from the airbag recalls, the 2011 CR-Vs other major issue is its lone 2.4L four-cylinder engine. The 2011 CR-V utilizes the K24Z engine to get things moving. Unfortunately, it’s had more than its fair share of problems with things like:
- Acceleration while braking
- Engine hesitation
- Oil consumption
- Premature wear
- Difficult/noisy start-up
Arguably the worst issue would be the unintended acceleration. Many owners have reported their vehicles accelerating while the brakes are applied. Incidentally, several of those instances resulted in a collision, and the cars were subsequently destroyed. There is currently no known fix for this issue.
Oil issues in the K24Z were somewhat common as well. Honda ultimately published service bulletins to deal with leaking cylinder heads and faulty piston rings causing oil consumption.
We covered the K24Z even more in-depth, including its problems, in this article. We’ll suffice by saying that the 2011 CR-V’s engine problems alone earned it the “Beware of the Clunker” badge from Car Complaints. However, Honda has taken steps to remedy some situations by issuing several service bulletins.
2011 CR-V’s Consistent Locking Mechanism Failure Renders its Key Fob Useless
Lastly, the 2011 CR-V has given its owners problems with its locking mechanisms. A quick search of NHTSA complaints will show many reports indicating owners getting locked out of their vehicles. Generally, owners are unable to unlock/lock their cars electronically. With the key fobs useless, owners must resort to unlocking their vehicles manually.
While this is not a serious safety issue, it’s certainly a major inconvenience. Honda Problems reports the issue lies in the CR-V’s faulty door lock actuators. Owners who have had their actuators replaced soon found they needed another and spent hundreds of dollars in the process. The issues ultimately led to a class-action lawsuit which ended in a settlement.
As a result, Honda extended the warranty, but only for 2007-2008 models, much to the chagrin of other model year owners with the same faulty actuators. To date, there appears to be no lasting fix.
Airbag, Engine, and Door Lock Issues Move the 2011 CR-V Toward the Bottom of the Crossover SUV Segment
The 2011 Honda CR-V was a promising crossover in nearly every regard. But it suffered from several pervasive issues. The Takata airbag recall dealt a serious blow with over 12 recalls and reports of deaths caused by the airbag’s inflators. Additionally, customers were left inconvenienced by door locking mechanisms that refused to work as expected.
But the nail in the reputational coffin for the 2011 CR-V was its engine. Airbags aren’t used every time you drive, and when under recall, can be fixed for free. Unfortunately, the K24Z had no such recall. It proved to be a costly, and sometimes dangerous, part of the CR-V’s makeup.
If you’re looking for a vehicle free of problems, your best bet is to avoid the 2011 CR-V.
Photos: Honda
