My 2013 Honda CRV has made a grinding noise almost since I bought it when I start it. This has been going on for three years and when you call the service dept they state "No fix yet" That is absolutely ridiculous. I have spent $26,000 on a new vehicle and I have to be ashamed every time I start my vehicle. That might not seem like a lot of money to some people but to a hard working single parent, it is a lot of money. They say it is not harming the vehicle but how can a loud grinding noise every time you start your vehicle not be harming anything? Then when the warranty runs out will it just be my problem? Come on, it has been three years and they have not found a fix yet? Is it because they are not looking for one? We can do amazing things in this world and we can't fix a simple noise in three years? I am so upset and it seems like there is not one darn thing I can do about it !

To give some context to my complaint. This is my second Honda CRV lease and I have been very loyal up until this point. For me to complain about anything takes quite a bit. Most days I am filled with gratitude and go with the flow. But everyone has a breaking point and especially since I am paying over $600 a month for a lease. I expect the vehicle to work properly.

My Experience: As the weather has changed to cooler fall temperatures as of recent. I started hearing on almost all cold start ups of my Honda CRV (2013) a grinding sound. As the temperature dropped the grinding noise got worse. I took my CRV into Honda three weeks ago. The dealership's response was that the VCT actuator needs replacing but they were instructed by Honda head office not to replace it until a new actuator is developed. Expected delivery date sometime in late January 2016.. "hopefully". The dealership service manager said Honda is aware of this problem but there is nothing they can do for me at the moment. I was quickly escorted to my vehicle and that was it from the dealership. I was asked to call them to see if there are any updates in late January. I received a survey a few days later to rate my recent service appointment. I explained that I was unhappy with their service. Shortly after I received an email apologizing with the Honda hotline that I could call to complain.

I called the Honda hotline and after waiting 10 minutes to talk to a customer service rep. I finally had the opportunity to explain my situation. The rep said she would get back to me with some answers. It has been 5 business days and no response from Honda.

The worst part of this terrible experience is as a Honda owner I have been left in the dark and there has been no compensation for breaking the lease terms. I am a real estate agent and transport my clients to showings. The look on my client's faces when I start my car is unnerving to say the least. They ask me questions like "is this car safe?" or "do have the money to fix it?" Very embarrassing.

My lease is up in Dec 2016 and I can't wait to drop off my CRV. "Goodnight Honda".

NEVER EXPECTED THIS FROM A WELL REPUTABLE COMPANY.

COMPANY WHICH IS KNOWN FOR THEIR RELIABLE CARS ARE HAVING ISSUES WHICH ARE NOT EVEN FIXED TILL DATE

WHAT A SHAME?

SHAME ON YOU HONDA

Update from Apr 7, 2016: SO one day our dealer contacted us and said that they have received the part (VCT ACTUATOR) for our 2013 HONDA CR V, the next my dad took the car to the dealer and it took approx. 2 hours to replace the VCT ACTUATOR and done. THE GRINDING NOISE WAS GONE. PROBLEM IS FIXED

I have always changed oil before it reaches the 15% level according to maintenance monitor.I have used only MOBIL 1 0W-20 SYNTHETIC AND Honda filters from the dealer. I was very surprised when my wife told me about the grinding noise during a cold start. I had to hear it for myself first which I did the first week of October.

We made inquiries about it with our local dealer but were discouraged from having them look at it because it was no longer in warranty We decided to get a second opinion from Eisinger Honda in Kalispell MT. We left the car with them overnight so they could cold start it and diagnose the problem. After hearing it they immediately notified Honda.The response from Honda stated that it was a known problem and would be repaired free of charge by Honda when they had a satisfactory fix for the problem. This just happened October 19.

We feel a little relieved that Honda has owned up to it as a factory defect but we have no idea when it will be repaired or what the cause of the problem is. They really need to take a sample engine apart and scrutinize every part to find the failure. I notice this engine noise is getting a lot of play on the internet and eventually it will call into question both their reliability and their integrity. Don't get me wrong, we like our CRV but we bought in the hope of not having any engine problems like 2003 Subaru Outback, which needed head gaskets at 40,000 miles and again when we decided to sell it at 167,000 miles. May trade in still not fixed for 2016 CRV with new Earth dreams engine design if the defect doesn't lower its value

Update from Nov 21, 2015: Tried procedure listed by other on the Internet,turn key full on and full off 2-4 times and it works sometimes but not always.This morning it was 12 deg F but did not make the usual noise.

Go figure.Was going to trade in on 2016 with new Earth Dreams 4-cyl but will keep until 100,000 miles which will be 2 more years.Car averaged 28.9 MPG on a 1400 mile trip to Oregon and back last weekend and so far uses 1/4 qt of oil in 8000 miles.Have nothing negative to say about this car except unusual noise.

I have a 2013 CRV and the start-up noise began last winter but just on cold mornings. Took it to the dealership and heard the same thing as others: it's not hurting the car and Honda's working on a fix for it. Now, eight months later I get the noise every time I start the engine, no matter what the temperature is.

I am very angry with the way Honda and it's technicians have sidestepped this issue by saying "we're working on it" and "it won't hurt your car." Sorry, but this noise sounds like metal-on-metal because due to no oil going to parts on startup. That has been documented by mechanics online. It's enraging and embarrassing to start this car up that's only a year and half old and it already sounds like a clunker! I can't imagine anyone wanting to purchase a car that sounds this horrible from the moment the key is turned.

Honda needs to make this right, period. Has anybody heard of a fix for this problem or if Honda has promised a fix in the near future?

Took to two dealers and the second dealer said Honda is aware of issue. That Honda is working on the problem. I was told the issue is just an annoyance and won't damage your vehicle. It's a irritating noise and expected a better solution from Honda then they are working on a solution and it's okay to drive .

Update from Sep 7, 2015: 9 months later and multiple calls to Honda . Nothing

They say its not a safety issue and engineers are STILL working on solving the problem .

Now, it makes the loud grinding noise even when 70 degrees out .

I wish HONDA would just be honest and say WE DON'T GIVE A CRAP AND YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT .

Purchased our car July 2013 in the panhandle of Florida. Our issue arose in November of the same year. The first cold snap we had the car had an awful grinding or rattling noise coming from the engine when you go to start it. The noise is loud and obnoxious and consistent anytime the temperature drops and the car has sat over night or throughout the course of the day.

In March 2014, the car went into the shop and the dealership service department acknowledged and verified my concerns and the noise. I was told at the time that we needed to wait for a part to be developed, and of course, the weather warmed up here in south Alabama. So on to November of 2014 and still no fixes and the first time the temperature drops, the car makes the awful noise again. Back into the shop it goes for the better part of the month (no loaner provided). VTC actuator was replaced twice along with the timing chain tensioner. The car STILL does the exact same thing.

I was asked by the dealership to allow the Honda engineering department 90 days to try to come up with a solution. 90 days passed, car goes back to the shop and nothing. Honda claims the car is functioning as designed and that it is not a safety or reliability issue. I have no idea how they can stand behind that claim when they did not design it to do what it's doing, nor do they know what the problem or solution is, therefore they have no idea what the future repercussions are. Now my car's been torn apart multiple times and I am paying for a new vehicle that never was "new".

One way or another I fully expect Honda to make right by this situation. I have done everything I know how to do in terms of trying to mediate a solution, now it seems that lemon law arbitration is the only route to get results. So far the Customer Relations department at American Honda was zero help, along with the dealership, along with the people over the sales and the parts and services department for our zone (southeast) with Honda, and either dealership (original place of purchase or servicing dealer). The car has been in the shop 5 times now for over the allotted 15 days and paperwork has been filed to notify the manufacturer of the defect (which has already been done in more than one way, yet this is another hoop to jump through in the process). Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I started out at one dealership - left overnight two different times but it would never do it for them the next morning. I tried the largest Honda dealership in my area, they actually had another 2013 in for the same noise. THANKFULLY the one time I left it at that one, the next morning it made the noise. They confirmed it was the VTC Actuator (sounds different than the one on the Accord that is known to go bad) and it was replaced and I had my car back by the end of the work day. I just hope it's not a reoccurring issue down the road.

Has only happened twice on extremely cold days and was told by some other CR-V owners that it sounds like the VTC Actuator is not working correctly. Right after initial startup, you hear a sound much like when you keep turning the key after you've started the car. The video shows the sound I've heard.

Since I haven't been able to duplicate it consistently, it's hard to tell if a part is failing or not. I'll keep an eye on it and see if it continues and mention it to the dealer upon next oil change.