Page 2 of 361

Contents
Child Safety P. 52 Exhaust Gas Hazard P. 65 Safety Labels P. 66
Opening and Closing the Tailgate P. 104 Security System P. 106 Opening and Closing the Windows P. 108
Operating the Switches Around the Steering Wheel P. 111 Adjusting the Mirrors P. 120
Interior Lights/Interior Convenience Items P. 132 Heating and Cooling System*
P. 142
Rear Entertainment System *
P. 173 Audio Error Messages P. 185 Audio Remote Controls P. 189
Bluetooth ® HandsFreeLink ® P. 194 Compass P. 223
Off-Highway Driving Guidelines P. 237 When Driving P. 239 Braking P. 253
Refueling P. 259 Fuel Economy P. 262 Accessories and Modifications P. 263
Maintenance Under the Hood P. 273 Replacing Light Bulbs P. 285
Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 296 Battery P. 305 Remote Transmitter Care P. 306
Heating and Cooling System *
/Climate Control System *
Maintenance P. 309 Cleaning P. 310
Engine Does Not Start P. 323 Jump Starting P. 324 Shift Lever Does Not Move P. 326
Fuses P. 333 Emergency Towing P. 336When You Cannot Open the Tailgate P. 337
Devices that Emit Radio Waves P. 343 Reporting Safety Defects P. 344
Authorized Manuals P. 349 Customer Service Information P. 350
Quick Reference GuideP. 2
Safe DrivingP. 23
Instrument PanelP. 67
ControlsP. 95
FeaturesP. 149
DrivingP. 225
MaintenanceP. 265
Handling the UnexpectedP. 315
InformationP. 339
IndexP. 351
Note: All page numbers referenced in this document are hyperlinked.
2012 CR-V Online Reference Owner's Manual
Page 5 of 361
Visual Index
4
Quick Reference Guide
❙Power Door Lock Master Switch (P 102)
❙Power Window Switches (P 108)
❙Rearview Mirror (P 120)
❙Interior Fuse Box (P 334)
❙Parking Brake (P 253)
❙Hood Release Handle (P 274)
❙Accessory Power Socket
(P 135)
❙Seat Heater Switches*
(P 139)
❙Shift Lever Automatic Transmission
(P 242)
❙Glove Box (P 133)
❙Driver's Front Airbag (P 40)
❙Door Mirror Controls (P 121)
❙Driver’s Pocket
❙Passenger's Front Airbag
(P 40)
❙Fuel Fill Door Release Handle (P 260)
Page 7 of 361
Visual Index
6
Quick Reference Guide
❙Audio Antenna (P 152)
❙Windshield Wipers (P 115, 292)
❙Door Lock/Unlock Control (P 99)
❙Headlights (P 112, 285)
❙How to Refuel (P 260)
❙High-Mount Brake Light (P 291)
❙Tailgate Release Button (P 105)
❙Opening/Closing the Tailgate
(P 104)
❙Rear Wiper (P 116, 294)
❙Back-Up Lights (P 288)
❙Brake/Taillights (P 288)
❙Rear Turn Signal Lights (P 288)
❙Rear Side Marker Lights (P 288)
❙Power Door Mirrors (P 121)
❙Maintenance Under the Hood (P 273)
❙Fog Lights*
(P 114, 286)
❙Multi-View Rear Camera *
(P 258)
❙Front Turn Signal/Parking Lights (P 112, 288)
❙Side Marker Lights (P 112, 287)
❙Tires (P 296, 317)
Page 8 of 361
7
Quick Reference Guide
Eco Assist System (P 119)
Ambient Meter ●Changes color to reflect your driving
style.
Green: Fuel efficient driving
Yellow: Moderate acceleration/
deceleration
White: Aggressive acceleration/
deceleration
● The ambient meter color changes in
accordance with your brake or
accelerator pedal operation.
ECON Button (P 119)
Helps maximize fuel economy.
ECON Mode Indicator (P 75)
Comes on when the ECON button is pressed.
* Not available on all models
Page 10 of 361

9
Quick Reference Guide
Instrument Panel (P 67)
System Indicators
Malfunction
Indicator Lamp
Low Oil Pressure
Indicator
Charging System
Indicator Anti-lock Brake
System ( ABS)
Indicator Vehicle Stability
Assist (VSA ®) System
Indicator VSA ® OFF Indicator
Low Tire Pressure
Indicator Lights Reminders
Lights On Indicator
High Beam Indicator
Fog Light Indicator *
Immobilizer System
Indicator Seat Belt Reminder
Indicator
System Indicators
Cruise Control
Indicator
Parking Brake
and Brake System
Indicator Supplemental
Restraint System
Indicator
Side Airbag Off
Indicator
Door Open Indicator
Cruise Main Indicator
Tachometer Speedometer
Fuel Gauge
Security System
Alarm Indicator
Shift Lever Position Indicator
Low Fuel Indicator
Gauges
(P 77)/Information Display (P 78)/
Multi-Information Display (P 81)/System Indicators (P 68)
Tailgate Open
Indicator
ECON Mode Indicator TPMS Indicator
Maintenance Minder
Indicator
Washer Level
Indicator*
Ambient Meter
Temperature Gauge
Electric Power
Steering (EPS)
Indicator
Turn Signal and
Hazard Warning
Indicators
AWD
System
Indicator *
System Indicators
Canada U.S.
Canada
U.S.
*
Not available on all models
Page 17 of 361

16
Quick Reference Guide
VSA® OFF Button (P 249)
● The vehicle stability assist (VSA ®) system
helps stabilize the vehicle during
cornering, and helps maintain traction
while accelerating on loose or slippery
road surfaces.
● VSA ® comes on automatically every time
you start the engine.
● To turn VSA ® on or off, press and hold
the button until you hear a beep.
Cruise Control (P 245)
● Cruise control allows you to maintain a
set speed without keeping your foot on
the accelerator pedal.
● To use cruise control, press the CRUISE
button, then press once you have
received the desired speed (above 25 mph or 40 km/h).
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) (P 250)
● TPMS monitors tire pressure.
● TPMS is turned on automatically every
time you start the engine.
–/SET
Refueling (P 259)
a Pull the fuel fill door
release handle.
b Turn the fuel fill cap
slowly to remove the cap.
c Place the cap in the
holder on the fuel fill
door.
d After refueling, screw
the cap back on until it
clicks at least once.
Fuel recommendation: Unleaded gasoline with
a pump octane number 87 or
higher required
Fuel tank capacity: 15.3 US gal (58 L)
Page 71 of 361

70
uuIndicatorsu
Instrument Panel
IndicatorNameOn/BlinkingExplanation
Transmission
Indicator
●Comes on for a few seconds when you turn
the ignition switch to ON
(w , then goes off.
● Blinks if the transmission system has a
problem.
●Blinks while driving - Avoid sudden starts and
acceleration and have the vehicle checked by a dealer immediately.
Seat Belt
Reminder
Indicator
● Comes on and the beeper sounds if you are
not wearing a seat belt when you turn the
ignition switch to ON
(w . If the front
passenger is not wearing a seat belt, the
indicator comes on about six seconds later.
● Blinks while driving if either you or the front
passenger has not fastened a seat belt. The
beeper sounds and the indicator blinks at regular intervals.
●The beeper stops and the indicator goes off when you
and the front passenger fasten their seat belts.
● Stays on after you or the front passenger has
fastened the seat belt - A detection error may have
occurred in the sensor. Have the vehicle checked by a dealer. 2Seat Belt Reminder P. 30
Low Fuel
Indicator
●
Comes on when the fuel reserve is running
low (approximately 2.3 U.S. gal./8.6 Liter left).
● Blinks if there is a problem with the fuel
gauge.●Comes on - Refuel your vehicle as soon as possible.
● Blinks - Have the vehicle checked by a dealer.
Page 78 of 361
77
Instrument Panel
Gauges and Displays
Gauges
Gauges include the speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, and related indicators.
They are displayed when the ignition switch is in ON
(w.
Displays your driving speed in mph (U.S.) or km/h (Canada).
Shows the number of engine revolutions per minute.
Displays the amount of fuel left in the fuel tank.
Displays the temperature of the engine coolant.
■Speedometer
■Tachometer
■Fuel Gauge
■Temperature Gauge
1Fuel Gauge
NOTICEYou should refuel when the reading approaches .
Running out of fuel can cause the engine to misfire,
damaging the catalytic converter.
The actual amount of remaining fuel may differ from
the fuel gauge reading.E
1Temperature Gauge
NOTICEDriving with the temperature gauge pointer in the
upper zone can cause serious engine damage. Pull
safely to the side of the road and allow engine
temperature to return to normal. 2 Overheating P. 327