With an annual repair cost averaging just $430, the 2011 CR-Z is no exception to the rule that you can count on a used Honda. Just make sure to keep a little cash put aside for a new traction battery every eight to 10 years or so.
Key Points
- The biggest transmission issue facing the 2011 Honda CR-Z is a software glitch that sees cars going in the wrong direction. This was addressed with a recall in 2011.
- Since the software glitch recall was issued, there has been only one complaint registered regarding the wrong-direction problem.
- A Honda hybrid traction battery is only expected to last up to ten years at the most, and can run up to $3,000 to replace.
- The 2011 CR-Z will run without a working traction battery, but may have trouble accelerating and maintaining highway speeds.
- Aside from the aforementioned recall and three complaints, the 2011 CR-Z has a spotless record with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
A Software Glitch Saw CR-Zs Going in Reverse While in Drive, and Vice-versa
The 2011 Honda CR-Z’s main transmission issue comes down to a recall issued specifically for those with manual transmissions.
The concern here is that the vehicle could move in the opposite of the intended direction due to a software glitch. If the engine were to stall while the brake pedal was not being pressed, the onboard computer could simply reverse the direction of the electric motor in the hybrid system.
In the powertrain complaints department, there are reports for this very problem. Whether this means that a few VINs were left out of the recall, or someone missed the notification, who can say?
By and large, the issue seems to have been handled, with only one complaint for this problem having been registered since the recall was first issued. Just make sure to check your VIN and you should have no problem with your vehicle driving in the wrong direction.
No Matter How Well You Maintain Your 2011 CR-Z, the Traction Battery Has a Limited Lifespan
A Honda hybrid comes with a standard car battery for things like running your infotainment system and headlights, and a traction battery for producing the power that gets your car moving. A standard car battery can last up to four years, while a Honda traction battery might last up to 10 years, or 100,000 miles.
The 2011 CR-Z has been on the road for more than 10 years by now, and almost any used 2011 CR-Z you can find is likely to have more than 100,000 miles on the odometer. On average, the number should be closer to 150,000 by now than it is to 100,000.
Hondas are known to last longer than most vehicles. There’s no reason you can’t push a CR-Z past 300,000 miles. But the traction battery has an expiration date, and no amount of proper maintenance is going to make it last forever. Sooner or later, it will need to be replaced.
A new Honda CR-Z traction battery can cost up to $3,000. So, you have to consider whether you’re going to be willing to spend another three grand a few months from now. The vehicle will run without a traction battery, according to CR-Z drivers on the “Cars” subreddit, but it will be difficult to get up to highway speeds.
The 2011 Honda CR-Z is Just as Reliable as Any Used Honda Out There… If You Can Foot the Battery Bill
The 2011 Honda CR-Z might wind up being one of the best-used car purchases you’ve ever made, as long as you know what you’re getting. These vehicles are difficult to sell because not a lot of people are looking for decade-old hybrids, so the Kelley Blue Book puts the low-end pricing at around $6,000.
A hybrid with a burnt-out traction battery isn’t totally useless, but you’re going to have difficulty getting up to highway speeds, and you’re going to have difficulty maintaining them. Essentially, your car won’t have much get-up-and-go. In short, you can drive a hybrid without a traction battery, but you won’t want to.
So, whatever you’re spending on a used CR-Z, you’ll want to add another two, three grand to that number, and then ask yourself if it’s still worth it. With proper care, most Hondas can easily pass a quarter million miles, so, you could have years left on the original transmission even if the previous owner already clocked 150,000 miles.
Other than the aforementioned recall, there aren’t that many transmission issues that you need to look out for in a 2011 CR-Z. So, as long as you can manage the traction battery problem, a used Honda hybrid might just be your ticket to the high-mileage club.
Photos: Honda
