HondaCR-Z2012Overview/honda/cr-z/2012/base/

2012 Honda CR-Z

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 CR-Z.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (AV-S7)

The 2012 Honda CR-Z is a passenger car built around a 3.8-quart oil capacity filled with 0W-20 API lubricant, paired with an AV-S7 automatic transmission that returns EPA ratings of 34 city, 38 highway, and 36 combined mpg. For a researcher cataloging issues, this model year registers just seven owner complaints alongside 2 recalls, with air bags surfacing as the leading trouble area. That places 2012 firmly on the lower end of the CR-Z's 20112016 complaint arc—well below the 38 logged in 2011 and modestly above the 2 reported in 2016—indicating that it carries one of the lighter complaint loads in the nameplate's covered history.

Model year201620152014201320122011

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.8 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque80 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy34/38/36 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 151R · 340 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 151R · 340 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP195-55R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rimN inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AV-S7)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length160.6 in
Overall width68.5 in
Overall height54.7 in
Wheelbase96.1 in
Curb weight2657 lb
Track (front / rear)59.8 / 59.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)59/41

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined34 / 38 / 36 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the CR-Z of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.3–10.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.30 sec — 2011 Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2011Hatchback 1.5L I-4 + Elec 10-kW 0.6-kWh8.30 sec16.40 sec122 hpFWD
2011EX Hatchback 1.5L I-4 + Elec 10-kW 0.6-kWh8.40 sec16.50 sec122 hpFWD
2011EX Hatchback 1.5L I-4 + Elec 10-kW 0.6-kWh8.60 sec16.40 sec122 hpFWD
2011EX Hatchback 1.5L I-4 + Elec 10-kW 0.6-kWh9.30 sec17.30 sec122 hpFWD
2011EX Hatchback 1.5L I-4 + Elec 10-kW 0.6-kWh9.60 sec17.20 sec122 hpFWD
2011EX Hatchback 1.5L I-4 + Elec 10-kW 0.6-kWh10.50 sec17.60 sec122 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.8 qt of 0W-20 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Oil0W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.8 qt

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts87 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts23 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs7 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts80 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub133 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub133 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)750 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity0.99-1.10 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity2.67 oz
Standard BCI Group Number151R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance340 cca

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)46.0-54.0 psi
Engine Compression142 Minimum PSI. 28 Maximum variation PSI.

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket17 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle41 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket17 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle80 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.063; Rear: 0.063 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0016 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.354 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
17 ft. lbs., Step 2: 907 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
127 ft. lbs., step 2: 9027 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118 ft. lbs., Step 2: 4018 ft. lbs

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2012 model registers a sharp drop in federal complaints, falling to just 7 after a peak of 38 in 2011, and it also shows the second‑lowest recall count (2) of the six‑year span. Across the generation, complaints and recalls steadily decline from 2011 through 2016, while technical service bulletins (TSBs) remain relatively high but gradually taper (35 → 31 → 22 → 27 → 30 → 23). The 2012 year sits near the low point of this downward trend, suggesting that the most serious issues had already been addressed early in the model’s life cycle. Its top complaint areas—air‑bag concerns (6) and a single “electrical system, unknown or other” issue—are modest and there were no crash or fire complaints reported. **Takeaway:** 2012 is one of the cleaner years in the CR‑Z’s early run, making it a comparatively safe used‑car choice.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
31
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
7
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 7 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Air Bags6
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V500000Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator ModuleReported 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… Remedy: 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…

16V061000Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator ModuleReported 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… Remedy: 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 31 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
A18-0482026-02-28Air BagsService Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Driver's Airbag…
A21120B2023-06-13Electrical SystemService News - The navigation clock and date are incorrect. This is due to a limited GPS…
A21120B2022-01-29Electrical SystemServiceNews Article - The clock shows the incorrect time. This issue is due to a limited…
APaS022620219022021-02-26Service BrakesDealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2011-2016…
APaS021020219022021-02-10Service Brakes, HydraulicDealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2011-2016…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific CR-Z. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2012 CR-Z take?

3.8 qt of 0W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2012 CR-Z have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the CR-Z get?

EPA figures are 34 city / 38 highway / 36 combined mpg.