2011 Honda Cr Z Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2011 Honda Cr Z carries 3 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering inflator module. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Door handle and lock actuator failure.” Honda vehicles use the Maintenance Minder system — your dashboard displays a Code A (oil change) or Code B (oil change plus inspections) along with sub-codes 1-6 for additional services. Intervals adjust based on how you drive. The schedule below reflects Honda's underlying targets.

3 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Campaign #19V500000 · Jun 27, 2019

Issue: 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.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are S5B and W59.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Campaign #16V061000 · Mar 2, 2016

Issue: 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.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JY0, JY1, and JY2.

POWER TRAIN

Campaign #11V458000 · Jul 9, 2011

Issue: 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.

Risk: UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH OR PERSONAL INJURY TO THE PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THE MOVING VEHICLE.

Fix: HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE ECU SOFTWARE, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AUTOMOBILE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-999-1009.

Recall data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2011 Honda Cr Z.

Reported to NHTSA

Door handle and lock actuator failure

STRUCTURE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER

5 NHTSA complaints · 2016-09 → 2018-02

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
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11074520
BOTH DOOR HANDLES HAVE MALFUNCTIONED AND I HAVE NO WAY OF ENTERING THE CAR!
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11032233
DOOR KNOB ON DRIVIERS SIDE WON'T OPEN AND FINALLY BROKE. RUST ON INSIDE OF HATCHBACK. PASSENGERS SIDE DOOR IS NOT OPENING LIKE IT SHOULD. BEEN HAVING TROUBLE SINCE I PURCHASED CAR. IT IS A DEFECT
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10903562

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CV axle and power train failure

POWER TRAIN

3 NHTSA complaints · 2011-05 → 2023-09

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)
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11546850
As I was pulling away from a stop sign, the right-hand CV shaft snapped in the middle. Fortunately, I had just enough speed to coast into a parking lot, so I was not a traffic obstacle. On closer inspection, the failure occurred underneath the rubber/metal dynamic damper clamped
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11434814
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA CR-Z. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN UNUSUAL CLUNKING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING AND WAS A
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10398663

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Takata air bag recall parts delay

AIR BAGS

11 NHTSA complaints · 2016-04 → 2017-05

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA CR-Z. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10908591
TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM HONDA REGARDING THIS RECALL IN MARCH OF 2016. I CONSIDER MYSELF A REASONABLE MAN BUT ITS BEEN MORE THAN 5 MONTHS AND STILL NO PARTS AVAILABLE. THE LETTER STATES THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE SUMMER OF 2016. MY DEALER HAS BEEN LESS THAN
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10905549
TAKATA RECALL HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR MY AIRBAG INFLATOR TO COME IN SINCE MARCH 2ND. I HAVE BEEN IN A RENTAL FOR OVER FOUR MONTHS. I HAVE CALLED GILLMAN HONDA SAN ANTONIO MONTHLY FOR AN UPDATE ON IT ETA. IT WAS FIRST LATE MAY/EARLY JUNE, THEN IT WAS LATE JUNE, THEN IT WAS SUMMER
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10894748

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Electric power steering assist malfunction

STEERING

4 NHTSA complaints · 2015-02 → 2022-02

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
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11453593
VEHICLE HAS PERIODICALLY STARTED EXHIBITING STRANGE AND DANGEROUS ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING (WHILE STOPPED AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS) AND, OF GREATER CONCERN, WHEN THE COMPUTER IS DETECTING ISSUES IT IS NOT SHUTTING DOWN THE EPS SYSTEM AS IT SHOULD BUT, INSTEAD
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11052655

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Loss of braking effectiveness

SERVICE BRAKES

3 NHTSA complaints · 2011-03 → 2014-08

I ENTERED I 40 W. FROM THE ENTRANCE RAMP AT EXIT 150 IN STATESVILLE N. C. AND TRAVELED APPROX. 23 MILES TO EXIT RAMP 128 I 40 W. AT CLAIRMONT N.C. I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AND HAD ACTUATED THE ECON. BUTTON. AS I EXITED THE INTERSTATE I APPLIED THE BRAKE BUT GOT NO BRAKING
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10628492
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
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10505648

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Seat belt pretensioning in frontal crash

SEAT BELTS

2 NHTSA complaints · 2011-09 → 2011-10

****REVISION TO PREVIOUS COMPLAINT**** I WAS RECENTLY INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN THIS VEHICLE. I AM FINE, HOWEVER, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD ME TO THE SEAT PROPERLY. AS THE IMPACT HAPPENED THE SEAT BELT LOCKED AND HELD ME MIDWAY, FROM THE BACK OF THE SEAT TO THE
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10428235
I WAS RECENTLY INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN THIS VEHICLE. I AM FINE, HOWEVER, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD ME TO THE SEAT PROPERLY. AS THE IMPACT HAPPENED THE SEAT BELT LOCKED AND HELD ME MIDWAY, FROM THE BACK OF THE SEAT TO THE STEERING WHEEL, AND DID NOT 'PRETENSION' ME
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10428020

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Note: NHTSA also opened 1 defect investigation(s) on this vehicle that closed without action.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 13, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Code A)

Every 7,500 mi

Replace 0W-20 full-synthetic oil and filter. The Maintenance Minder triggers Code A between 7,500 and 10,000 miles depending on driving conditions.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation (Sub-code 1)

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate tires front-to-back to even out wear. Honda triggers Sub-code 1 alongside every other oil change.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection (Code B)

Every 15,000 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake. Code B includes a multi-point inspection of brakes, suspension, and fluids.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid (Sub-code 5)

Every 45,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 3 years regardless of mileage to prevent moisture absorption and corrosion of ABS components.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission / CVT Fluid (Sub-code 3)

Every 30,000 mi

Replace ATF or CVT fluid. Honda CVT models (Civic, HR-V, Accord LX) use Honda HCF-2 — do not substitute. The Maintenance Minder triggers earlier under heavy stop-and-go.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Rear Differential Fluid (AWD models, Sub-code 5)

Every 30,000 mi

AWD CR-V, Pilot, Passport, Ridgeline: replace rear diff fluid every 30,000 miles, sooner if towing.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Engine Air Filter (Sub-code 4)

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Honda uses a long-life cellulose element on most port-injected engines.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Spark Plugs (Sub-code 6)

Every 105,000 mi

Honda uses iridium-tipped plugs rated for 100,000+ miles. Replace at 105,000 miles or whenever Sub-code 6 displays.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Coolant (Sub-code 5)

Every 60,000 mi

Honda Long-Life Type 2 (blue) coolant: first change at 120,000 miles, then every 60,000 miles. Do not mix with other coolant types.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter (Sub-code 3)

Every 15,000 mi

Replace the cabin air filter — accessible behind the glove box on most Hondas. Honda recommends 15,000 miles in dusty conditions, longer in clean climates.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Valve Clearance Adjustment (Sub-code 6)

Every 105,000 mi

Inspect and adjust valve clearances at 105,000 miles. Critical on K-series and L-series engines to prevent valve recession.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$495–$535

Shop

~$345–$375

DIY

Pro only

Mechanical-bucket valvetrains (many Honda 4-cyls, older Toyotas) need this. Hydraulic lifters don't. Shop work — feeler-gauge precision required.

Timing Chain — No Replacement

On condition / lifetime

Modern Honda engines (K-series, L-series, R-series, plus all Earth Dreams 1.5T and 2.0T) use a timing chain designed to last the life of the engine. No scheduled replacement.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Pro only

Timing chains are normally lifetime. Listen for rattle on cold start — that's the actionable signal. Replacement is major work, quote separately.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

16 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

5

complaints mentioning a crash

0

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2011 Honda Cr Z reflects Honda's published service intervals and the Maintenance Minder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.