2011 Honda CR-Z problems, recalls, safety rating, MPG & value

Q: Does the 2011 Honda CR-Z have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2011 Honda CR-Z. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

Q: What gas mileage does the 2011 Honda CR-Z get?

The 2011 Honda CR-Z has U.S. EPA estimates of 34–36 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (2 versions).

Q: How much is a 2011 Honda CR-Z worth?

Comparable 2011 Honda CR-Z listings run roughly $7,000–$10,800, typically around $8,723 (from 65 vehicles).

2011 Honda CR-Z at a glance

Safety recalls3

Owner complaints38

Overall safety3 / 5 ★

Combined34–36 mpg

Typical price$8,723

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2011 Honda CR-Z recalls 3

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #19V500000 · manufacturer #S5B, W59 · 27/06/2019

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 …

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 NHTSA Campaign #16V061000 · manufacturer #JY0, JY1, JY2 · 03/02/2016

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 suscepti…

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 NHTSA Campaign #11V458000 · manufacturer #R94 · 07/09/2011

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.

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.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2011 Honda CR-Z common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 38 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags

Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.

Structure

Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.

Power Train

Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.

Steering

Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.

Electrical System

Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.

Seat Belts

Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.

2011 Honda CR-Z safety ratings

Overall★★★★★

Frontal crash★★★★★

Side crash★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Frontal — driver★★★★★

Frontal — passenger★★★★★

Side — front seat★★★★★

Side pole★★★★★

Rollover risk: 9.5% — NHTSA's estimated chance of rollover in a single-vehicle crash (dynamic test: no tip).

Frontal crash test — 2011 Honda CR-Z 3 HB FWD

Frontal crash test · ▶ watch video

Side barrier test — 2011 Honda CR-Z 3 HB FWD

Side barrier test · ▶ watch video

Side pole test — 2011 Honda CR-Z 3 HB FWD

Side pole test · ▶ watch video

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2011 Honda CR-Z 3 HB FWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2011 Honda CR-Z MPG & running costs

Combined34–36 mpg

City33 mpg

Highway38 mpg

Est. annual fuel cost$1,900

EPA size classTwo Seaters

TransmissionAutomatic (AV-S7) or Manual 6-spd

Engine start-stopYes

Passenger volume69 cu ft

Cargo volume10 cu ft

5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$2,500 less

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 2 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

What's a 2011 Honda CR-Z worth?

Low

$7,000

Typical price

$8,723

High

$10,800

From 65 comparable 2011 Honda CR-Z listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2011 Honda CR-Z costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$9,500

Fuel only$9,500

Per mile$0.13

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length

160.6 in

Width

68.5 in

Height

54.7 in

Wheelbase

96.1 in

Curb weight

2,657 lb

Front track

59.8 in

Rear track

59.1 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 2011 Honda CR-Z. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 1

Pedestrian alert sounds Closed

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that…

NHTSA #DP22005 · Electrical System · opened Jan 2023 · closed Aug 2023

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Manufacturer service bulletins 35

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 35.

Service Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Driver's Airbag Inflator for 2007-11 CR-V and Other Listed Years and Models.

Bulletin A18-048 · Air Bags · Feb 2026

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.

Bulletin A21120B · Electrical System · Jun 2023

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…

Bulletin A21120B · Electrical System, Equipment · Jan 2022