Home · 2011 Honda Cr-z · Complaints

What 38 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Honda Cr-z

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (38)Crash / fire / injury (5)Airbags (16)Body & structure (5)Electrical system (4)Steering (4)Transmission & drivetrain (4)Brakes (3)Seat belts (3)Wheels (2)Engine (1)Engine & cooling (1)

4 of 38 complaints match · Electrical system · clear filters

May 7, 2021SteeringTransmission & drivetrainElectrical system

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.

NHTSA ODI 11415545

Sep 8, 2018Electrical systemEngine

ON 09/04/2018 MY HONDA CR-Z IMA LIGHT CAME ON, I TOOK IT TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY NEVER HAD AN IMA LIGHT COME ON WITHOUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BE ON. THEY TOOK IT FOR DIAGNOSTICS, AND CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT MY CLUTCH SENSOR IS BAD AND THAT IS WHATS CAUSING THE IMA LIGHT TO BE ON. THE PERSON WHO I SPOKE TO AT HONDA SAID THAT THEY DIAGNOSE ABOUT FORTY CARS A DAY FOR SEVEN YEARS AND NEVER RAN INTO THAT ISSUE. THEY SAID THAT I WOULD BE GOOD DRIVING IT AND WOULD EXPERIENCE MORE PROBLEMS IN ABOUT A YEAR IF I DON'T FIX THE CLUTCH SENSOR ON 9/07/2018 MY CAR HAD A LIGHT COME ON THAT SAID CHECK FUEL CAP WHICH I'M GUESSING MY FUEL SENSOR IS OUT NOW, BUT HONDA IS NO HELP WILL NOT HELP ME OUT CLAIMS THE CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY WHEN IT HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON IT.THIS CAN BE A BIG SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE FACT THAT IF MY IMA BATTERY FAILS ON ME MY LIFE CAN BE IN DANGER ALONG WITH THE OTHERS AROUND ME. ALSO FOR A COMPANY TO CLAIM THEY HAD NEVER RAN INTO THESE ISSUES THEY DO NOT SHOW MUCH INTEREST IN FIXING IT.

NHTSA ODI 11128233

Dec 7, 2017Electrical systemBody & structure

DOOR LOCKS ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WHILE USING INTERIOR DOOR LOCK BUTTON OR KEY FOB. PARKING LIGHTS WILL FLASH WHEN KEY FOB BUTTON IS PRESSED. PROBLEM STARTED WITH PASSENGER DOOR FIRST THEN 2 WEEKS LATER DRIVER DOOR STOPPED. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS FAILED LOCK ACTUATORS.

NHTSA ODI 11053379

Jan 30, 2012Electrical system

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE THE MOTOR STARTED TO SPUTTER. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT A RODENT HAD EATEN THE WIRE THAT GOES TO THE AMBIENT TEMP. SENSOR. PER DEALERSHIP THIS SENSOR CONTROL THE ABILITY FOR THE MOTOR TO PROPER ADJUST FUEL MIXTURE BASED ON TEMP. CAR ONLY HAS 20018 MILES AND THEY STATE THAT THE DAMAGE IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN TALKING WITH HONDA REP HE STATED THAT THE WIRES ARE SOY BASED. *TT

NHTSA ODI 10445868

Working with the data? Download all 38 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 26, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Honda Cr-z verdict →