Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Honda CR-Z, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags16
- Structure5
- Unknown or other5
- Electrical system4
- Steering4
- Power train4
- Seat belts3
- Service brakes2
- Wheels2
- Engine and engine cooling1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 5 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 7 2011 CR-Z vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 6 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2011 Honda CR-Z failed the safety check 3.03% of the time — 22% more often than the average 2011 passenger car (2.49%). Median odometer at inspection: 123,326 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2011
2,932 new Honda CR-Z cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2011; the largest markets were the United Kingdom (1,599), France (389), Belgium (173).
- Average mass
- 1,248 kg
- Average power
- 84 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Petrol 94% · Electric 5.8%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
In the Netherlands
182 first registered in 2011 are on Dutch roads; 43% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €26,575.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde121
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld47
- Stofhoes stuurinrichting beschadigd, dicht niet af45
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm39
- Band onvoldoende profiel31
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt28
- Schijf-, trommelrem loopt niet vrij22
- Band beschadigd22
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
1,326 cars built in 2011 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 71 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 1,433 of these cars first registered in 2011 took their annual MOT test. 75% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2011 the figure was 63%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2011 |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 9.1% | 8.6% |
| Suspension | 6.5% | 14.1% |
| Tyres | 6.2% | 7.3% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 4.5% | 16.0% |
| Visibility | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 2.6% | 4.4% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
32 of these cars first registered in 2011 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 191,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
347 2011 cars are on the New Zealand register; 93% arrived as used imports, 7% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 1 variant; 0 of 1 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 Honda CR-Z 3 HB FWD | ★★★☆☆ | 9.5 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- No
- Lane departure warning
- No
- Best overall rating
- 3 / 5
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 6.4–7.1 L/100 km (about 33–37 mpg US), CO₂ 147–163 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| CR-Z · Two-seater · Regular gasoline | 6.7 | 6.0 | 6.4 |
| CR-Z · Two-seater · Regular gasoline | 7.7 | 6.4 | 7.1 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 2011 Honda CR-Z.
| 2016046 1 Feb 2016 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the driver frontal airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment. Increased pressure may cause the inf… |
| 2011329 7 Sept 2011 | Engine On certain vehicles equipped with a manual transmission, specific operating conditions (such as extreme temperatures, combined with high battery and accessory l… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-2013 Acura ZDX vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CR-Z PASSENGER CARS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 8, 2010, THROUGH JUNE 27, 2011. SHOULD 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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Honda told its dealers about the 2011 Honda CR-Z: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10237952 | Service News - The navigation clock and date are incorrect. This is due to a limited GPS receiver Capacity resulting in a rollover of the internal chip memory; the rollover occurred on January 1, 2022, at 12:00AM local time. |
| 10211583 | Our records indicate that a PRODUCT UPDATE has not been completed on this vehicle; refer to the address card for the affected VIN. The software controlling the IMA battery on your vehicle incorrectly maintains the battery and, over time, the battery develops a memory effect that appears as a reduction in battery capacity. If the software is not updated, it is likely that the vehicle may set a code falsely indicating a deteriorat on of the battery pack, or the battery level gauge may suddenly drop to empty and start charging unnecessarily. |
| 10206994 | ServiceNews Article - The clock shows the incorrect time. This issue is due to a limited GPS receiver capacity resulting in "rollover" of the internal chip memory; the "rollover" will occur on January 1, 2022 at 12:00AM local time. As a result, the navigation date and time will be incorrect. |
| 10193025 | Our records indicate that a PRODUCT UPDATE has not been completed on this vehicle; refer to the address card for the affected VIN. The software controlling the IMA battery on your vehicle incorrectly maintains the battery and, over time, the battery develops a memory effect that appears as a reduction in battery capacity. If the software is not updated, it is likely that the vehicle may set a code falsely indicating a deterioration of the battery pack, or the battery level gauge may suddenly drop to empty and start charging unnecessarily. |
| 10187885 | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2011-2016 CR-Zs, 2010-2014 Insights, & 2011-2017 Odysseys with a customer complaint of the brake pedal feeling soft or spongy when depressed, almost reaching the floor. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to any repair attempts. |
| 10187292 | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2011-2016 CR-Zs, 2010-2014 Insights, & 2011-2017 Odysseys with a customer complaint of the brake pedal feeling soft or spongy when depressed, almost reaching the floor. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to any repair attempts. |
| 10186024 | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2011-2016 CR-Zs, 2010-2014 Insights, & 2011-2017 Odysseys with a customer complaint of the brake pedal feeling soft or spongy when depressed, almost reaching the floor. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to any repair attempts. |
| 10186009 | "Service Bulletin - There are several A/C leak detection tools available. -Refrigerant Gas Leak Detector -Ultrasonic Leak Detector -Leak Dye" |
| 10185509 | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2011-2016 CR-Zs, 2010-2014 Insights, & 2011-2017 Odysseys with a customer complaint of the brake pedal feeling soft or spongy when depressed, almost reaching the floor. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to any repair attempts. |
| 10184333 | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2011-2016 CR-Zs, 2010-2014 Insights, & 2011-2017 Odysseys with a customer complaint of the brake pedal feeling soft or spongy when depressed, almost reaching the floor. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to any repair attempts. |
| 10172565 | Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only. |
| 10139579 | Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only. |
| 10129552 | Service bulletin - The MIL comes on and DTC P0455 (EVAP system large leak) and/or DTC P0456 (EVAP system very small leak detected) is set. The fuel fill cap (gas cap) may also be loose or have a stick-slip feeling when tightened. The fuel fill cap gasket creates too much friction, preventing the cap from sealing properly. |
| 10128559 | Dealer message - On Monday, June 23, 2014, American Honda announced three recalls for various 2001-11 Honda models. As of July 23, 2014, affected VINs have been identified, and service bulletins 14-040, Safety Recall: Accord, Civic, and Others ? Front Passenger?s Airbag Inflator Can Be Over-Pressurized, 14-045, Recall: Front Driver?s Airbag Inflator May Produce Excessive Pressure After Long-Term Exposure to High Absolute Humidity Recall, and 14-046, Recall: Front Passenger?s Airbag Inflator May Produce Excessive Pressure After Long-Term Exposure to High Absolute Humidity have been posted to I |
| 10128531 | Dealer message - On Monday, June 23, 2014, American Honda announced three recalls for various 2001-11 Honda models. As of August 4, 2014, affected VINs have been identified, and VIN status inquiry has been updated. |
| 10118839 | Service bulletin - The software controlling the IMA battery incorrectly maintains the battery and over time the battery can develop a memory effect that appears as a reduction in battery capacity. Additionally, DTC P0A7F (Battery Module Deterioration) may be stored. |
| 10118827 | Dealer message - Today, October 3, 2014, American Honda is announcing a product update for all 2011-12 CR-Z and 2010-12 Insight vehicles. The product update involves updating the IMA battery control unit software to address premature battery deterioration concerns. |
| 10118170 | Service bulletin- The software controlling the IMA battery incorrectly maintains the battery and over time the battery can develop a memory effect that appears as a reduction in battery capacity. Additionally, DTC P0A7F (Battery Module Deterioration) may be stored. |
| 10118043 | Service bulletin - The software controlling the IMA battery incorrectly maintains the battery and over time the battery can develop a memory effect that appears as a reduction in battery capacity. Additionally, DTC P0A7F (Battery Module Deterioration) may be stored. |
| 10116768 | Dealer message - Due to our improving inventory situation of inflators, on November 14th we will begin No VIN ordering on part numbers 04770-SWA-405 (07 to 11 CRV, 11-15 CRZ, 10-14 Insight, 07-12 RDX) and 04770-SJA-405 (05-12 RL) - attachment. |
| 10116767 | Dealer message - Due to our improving inventory situation of inflators, on November 14th we will begin No VIN ordering on part numbers 04770-SWA-405 (07 to 11 CRV, 11-15 CRZ, 10-14 Insight, 07-12 RDX) and 04770-SJA-405 (05-12 RL). |
| 10116763 | Dealer message - Due to our improving inventory situation on inflators, starting November 14th we?ll begin open ordering on certain part numbers |
| 10116762 | Dealer message - Due to our improving inventory situation on inflators, starting November 14th we?ll begin open ordering on certain part numbers |
| 10116761 | Dealer message - Due to our improving inventory situation on inflators, starting November 14th we?ll begin open ordering on certain part numbers |
| 10115219 | Service bulletin - For any TPMS-related warranty repairs, all recorded DTCs must now be entered into the warranty claim. Make sure your repair order includes those DTCs. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation