Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Honda CR-Z, and it carries 3 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 11 | 29% |
| Power train | 3 | 8% |
| Steering | 2 | 5% |
| Structure | 2 | 5% |
| Structure | 2 | 5% |
| Suspension | 1 | 3% |
| Visibility | 1 | 3% |
| Air bags | 1 | 3% |
| Steering | 1 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
The contact owns a 2011 Honda CR-Z. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the trunk was opened and the windshield unexpectedly shattered. There was no impact to the windshield to cause the failure. The ve
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
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
NHTSA complaint: Power train
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
NHTSA complaint: Steering
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
NHTSA complaint: Power train
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 S
NHTSA complaint: Steering
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 CONCLUSIO
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
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
NHTSA complaint: Structure
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2011 Honda CR-Z. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 wi
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 (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 2010-20
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
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 re
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
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 1-800-999-1
| Reliability raw | 71 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 84 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 65 | good |
| Performance | 39 | below average |
| Efficiency | 57 | average |
| Safety | 73 | good |
Percentile ranks against other sports & two-seaters in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 11 of them (29%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 71/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2011 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.