The 2011 draws 1.68 complaints per run and the 2014 1, a 1.7-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age, so 80% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Air Bags, with 36 complaints, typically at 4.9 years.
Honda CR-Z years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 6 | 5 | yes | |
| 2014 | 4 | 4 | yes | |
| 2013 | 10 | 9 | yes | |
| 2012 | 7 | 7 | yes | |
| 2011 | 32 | 19 | yes |
Among the 5 Honda CR-Z years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2011, 2015, 2013; the three worth hunting are 2014, 2012, 2013.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 8.3% | covered | |
| 1 year | 10% | covered | |
| 2 years | 20% | covered | |
| 3 years | 35% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 41.7% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 58.3% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 66.7% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 75% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 76.7% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 90% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 95% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 96.7% | you pay | |
| 15 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 20% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 80% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 8% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Honda CR-Z, the early trouble is Seat Belts and Service Brakes — reported at around 1 year, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Air Bags at 4.9 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 4.9 yrs | 4 | — | |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Structure | 6.8 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Power Train | 6 yrs | — | — | |
| Electrical System | 8.2 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Seat Belts | 1 yrs | 4 | — | |
| Steering | 7.5 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Service Brakes | 2.5 yrs | 1 | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the CR-Z's vehicle class. Per production run, the Chevrolet Corvette draws 3.41 and the Dodge Viper 1.2, against 1.33 for the CR-Z.
| Same class as the CR-Z | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audi R8 | 8 | 2008–2023 | |
| Chevrolet Corvette | 155 | 1981–2026 | |
| Dodge Viper | 45 | 1992–2017 | |
| Mazda MX-5 | 34 | 1990–2026 | |
| Lamborghini Huracan | 25 | 2015–2026 | |
| Ford GT | 12 | 2004–2022 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
Is the Honda CR-Z reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.33 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.
Which CR-Z years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2011, 2015, 2013. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2014, 2012, 2013. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do CR-Z problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age. The most reported system is Air Bags, typically at 4.9 years, followed by Unknown Or Other.
Will the warranty cover CR-Z problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 20% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 8% of the complaints here.
Is the CR-Z more reliable than the Chevrolet Corvette?
Yes: 1.33 complaints per production run for the CR-Z against 3.41 for the Chevrolet Corvette.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.