2011 Honda CR-V: Excessive oil consumption
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2011 CR-V report: excessive oil consumption. CarComplaints.com lists 15 owner complaints, average mileage 87,200 miles.
NHTSA has 43 owner complaints for the 2011 CR-V in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11636480 (filed 01/17/2025): “The contact owns a 2011 honda cr-v. the contact stated that the check engine warning light remained illuminated on the vehicle. the contact stated that over time she became aware that the oil level was gradually getting lower than normal. the vehicle was taken…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11574198 (filed 02/27/2024): “Oil consumption is exaggerated with to obvious observed signs, i.e, no visible leaks, no blue smoke from tailpipe, no smell behind vehicle. oil needs to be added every ~70 miles as per the dipstick. engine light will illuminate when oil too low. car running fi…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: rebuild/repair piston rings (2 reports) up the oil viscosity (1 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Internal engine work (lifters, oil consumption, fuel dilution diagnosis) requires engine teardown or dealer software/tests. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $4,000 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
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