Problems · NHTSA complaints

2011 Honda CR-Z problems

Owners filed 38 complaints about the 2011 Honda CR-Z with NHTSA between Mar 2011 and Jun 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (16).

Complaints
38
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags16
  2. Structure5
  3. Power train4
  4. Steering4
  5. Electrical system4
  6. Seat belts3
  7. Wheels2
  8. Service brakes2
  9. Suspension1
  10. Visibility1
  11. Vehicle speed control1
  12. Engine1
  13. Tires1
  14. Equipment adaptive/mobility1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20115
20122
20132
20142
20151
201611
20176
20182
20190
20200
20212
20222
20231
20240
20250
20262

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

16 reports3 crashes2 related recalls
“I STARTED HEARING A KNOCKING NOISE AT THE REAR OF MY CAR. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT THE TIE ROD OR END AND THE SUSPENSION SHOCK OR STRUT NEED TO BE REPLACE. CAN YOU CHECK THIS OUT FOR ME SO I WILL BE SAFE DRIVING IT. THANK YOU”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 13, 2026Suspension, Air bagsODI 11743912

Structure

5 reports
“DRIVER DOOR WILL NO LONGER OPEN FROM OUTSIDE. PROBLEM STARTED WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT, THEN GOT WORSE SO THAT THE DOOR WILL NO LONGER OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE NO MATTER WHAT. USING PASSENGER DOOR NOW TO GET IN, AND IT IS NOW FAILING IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT, AND I EXPECT I WILL SOON NEED TO ENTER THROUGH THE REAR HATCH. ONLINE SEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE ON 2011 HONDA CRZ'S.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 23, 2018StructureODI 11074520

Power train

4 reports1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2011 Honda CR-Z. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who repaired the front axle. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V256000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000. The VIN was not available.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 27, 2023Power trainODI 11546850

Steering

4 reports1 crash
“On February 15 I took a short drive into Woodstock, Vt. My trip into Woodstock was without incident, except for the fact that I got a "check tire pressure" alert, probably due to the very cold weather. When I finished my business and restarted the car, there was an additional alert: "check power steering". The car previously had no issues with steering. I drove the car to another nearby parking spot. There was no power assist at all. I wrestled the car into the parking space and called AAA for a tow. The tow truck driver arrived in about an hour. He asked for the keys and started the car. The problem had disappeared. With a friend tailing me I drove to a nearby auto repair shop, asked them to investigate and told them I would pick the car up the next day. They called me the next day and informed me that they had connected the car to the computer analyzer and found no problem. They had also driven the car on the day I dropped it off and again the next day and were unable to reproduce the problem. I went online and discovered others have had similar issues: https://www.crzforum.com/threads/scary-power-steering-eps-issue.87738/ and…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 23, 2022SteeringODI 11453593

Electrical system

4 reports
“2011 CR-Z PASSENGER CARS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS THE ENGINE STALL WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT PRESSED, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT (ECU) SOFTWARE MAY CAUSE THE ELECTRIC MOTOR OF THE HYBRID SYSTEM TO MOVE THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE SELECTED GEAR. ADDITIONALLY THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING IS DRAINING NEW 12V BATTERIES WITH LESS THAN A 6 MONTHS USE (SEE ATTACHMENT). VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAUSED BY ENGINE STALL AND LACK OF POWER STEERING COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH OR PERSONAL INJURY TO THE PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THE MOVING VEHICLE. THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN A RECALL ON 2011 HONDA CRZ MANUAL TRANS FOR THE ISSUE MENTIONED ABOVE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 7, 2021Steering, Power train, Electrical systemODI 11415545

Seat belts

3 reports3 crashes
“NOTE: THIS IS THE SECOND FRONTAL BASED CRASH LISTED ON THIS SITE FOR A HONDA 2011 CRZ PERHAPS THE DRIVER THAT WAS INVOLVED WITH THE PREVIOUS CRASH DID NOT REALIZE THE BRAKES FAILED. AT APPROXIMATELY 17:17 I NOTICED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC I TRIED TO APPLY MY BRAKES AND PUSHED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR DID NOT SLOW FOR AT LEAST 1 1/2 CAR LENGTH. IN A PANIC I TRIED TO PRESS HARDER WITH BUT NOTHING HAPPENED THE CAR NEVER SLOWED. THE CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WITH THE FULL FORCE OF FORTY-FORTY FIVE MPH AND TOTALLY COLLAPSED THE ENGINE INTO THE DRIVERS CAB BOTH OF MY KNEES WERE BLEEDING AND SWOLLEN FROM THE IMPACT OF THE ENGINE BEING IN THE DRIVERS COMPARTMENT. THE POLICE OFFICER TOLD SOMEONE THAT HELPED ME OUT OF THE CAR IT LOOKED LIKE I NEVER PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL. HOW CAN I HONDA CHARGE A PREMIUM WITH RESULTS LIKE THIS AND EXPECT PEOPLE TO COME BACK. IT IS WORSE FEELING IN THE WORLD TO REALIZE YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY BRAKES AND YOUR SAFETY EQUIPMENT YOU PAID A PREMIUM FOR FAILS TO WORK. HONDA HAS LOST A CUSTOMER FOR LIFE AND I SHOULD HAVE LISTENED TO THE ACCORD OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE RECURRING BRAKE REPAIRS.THE AIR BAG DID…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 9, 2013Air bags, Seat belts, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 10505648
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.