Recall 12V338 covers 172,837 2012-2013 Acura Ilx and Cr-V vehicles for front door latch cables that can prevent latching. Repair is free.
Acura is recalling 172,837 2012-2013 Ilx and Cr-V vehicles because using a door lock while someone pulls an interior front door handle can loosen the latch cable and keep the door from fully latching. An unlatched door can open while driving or in a crash, increasing injury risk; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The front interior door handle and door latch work together to open and secure the door. A cable links the inside handle to the latch mechanism, which is the hardware that catches the striker and holds the door closed after it shuts. On 2012-2013 Acura Ilx and Cr-V vehicles, that cable has to stay seated in its proper position while the lock and handle are used.
The problem starts when an occupant operates the interior front door handle at the same time the manual or power door lock is activated. That timing can loosen the cable and let it move out of position. If it moves far enough, the latch does not fully secure the door, even after the door appears closed.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue depends on the handle and lock being used at the same time, so an owner is not given a dashboard light, sound, or other clear clue before the latch stops holding properly.
Who's affected?
Spans the Ilx and Cr-V across the 2012 and 2013 model years, with the door latch listed for both.
| 2013 Acura Ilx | Latch |
|---|---|
| 2012 Honda Cr-V | Latch |
| Units affected | 172,837 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle.
What's the safety risk?
If a front door is not fully latched, it can open while driving or during a crash, increasing injury risk for occupants. Until the repair is done, make sure each front door is fully latched before driving and schedule service promptly. Repair will be free at any franchised Acura dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2012-2013 Acura Ilx or Cr-V is included in this recall.
- Look for the owner letter mailed on August 16, 2012, or call Acura customer service at 1-800-999-1009 if you bought the vehicle used and never received one.
- Contact a franchised Acura dealer to ask whether the free front-door-latch repair is open for your VIN.
- Reference recall number 12V338 when you call the dealer.
- Avoid driving with any door that does not latch fully until the front-door-latch repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Acura technician replaces the front door latch assemblies on affected vehicles. For the CR-V vehicles included in this campaign, the service also replaces the interior front door handles. The filing describes the work as free of charge, with parts and labor covered under the recall. Because the remedy status in this article is not marked available, treat the dealer repair as free once available and confirm scheduling with an Acura dealer before arranging service.
Timeline
| July 19, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 16, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V338?
Recall 12V338 covers 172,837 2012-2013 Acura Ilx and Cr-V vehicles with front door latch assemblies that can fail to latch after the door lock is operated while an interior front door handle is in use. Acura dealers replace the affected latch assemblies for free.
What should I do if my 2012-2013 Acura Ilx or Cr-V is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 12V338. If it is, contact a franchised Acura dealer to schedule the front door latch assembly replacement. Reference recall number 12V338 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Acura dealers replace the affected front door latch assemblies free of charge. Certain Cr-V vehicles also receive new interior front door handles at no cost.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is that a front door that is not fully latched can open while driving or in a crash, increasing injury risk for occupants. Until the repair is complete, make sure the front doors are fully latched before driving.
What if I bought this vehicle used?
The free repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Ilx or Cr-V is included, then call a franchised Acura dealer and reference recall number 12V338.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V338000 |
|---|---|
| Acura customer service | 1-800-999-1009 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V338 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V338000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →