2012 CRV EX-L AWD whistle/high pitch noise

[mymrh]

Bought a 2012 CRV EX-L AWD. Heard whistle/high pitched/whine noise on my way home from the dealer. The noise is very noticeable while driving 55 - 60 mpr. The same noise is much less noticeable above or below this mpr range. It is especially louder when the driver let go of gas pedal at 55 - 60 mpr. I can reproduce the noise consistently. The noise can be heard from the driver side easier than the passenger side.

At first I thought it is some kind of wind noise, but now I believe it might be something else. Took it to the dealer, they recognized the noise, but wouldn't do anything, because they heard the same noise after test drive another new CRV. Called Honda, was assigned to a case manager, still waiting for a call. Hopefully, the case manager can be some help.

Update: Honda case manager couldn't do anything, just ask to go the dealer, and suggest try as many dealer as I can...if one wouldn't work with me. I found the noise is less noticeable now. I have 9000 miles on the car now. I didn't do anything on the car, just driving to work during the week days. The noise is still there, just much less noticeable. I will keep monitoring. I also plan to go to another Honda dealer for a second opinion. According to the message from my Honda case manager, the dealership need to be involved. However, I doubt the dealer could do anything with less noticeable noise. I hope Honda could fine a solution, and issue a TSB.

The noise could be similar to the noise issue on Honda Odyssey. Honda issued a TSB to fix it. I hope Honda would do the same for CRV.

http://dvpatel.homelinux.com/forumfiles/SB/A12-030.PDF

Problem statements from others:

Caliomni: EX-L AWD
I believe we have the same issue. I have a 2012 EXL as well. I hear a high pitched whistling noise on the drivers side when I go above about 40 mph. When I hit more open areas or over 55-60 ish, its more pronounced.

Billybob: EX AWD

We have noticed the exact same noise with our 2012 EX AWD as well. Sounds like a high pitched whine. And, yes it seems to only occur between 55 and 60 or 65. As you said, easing off the speed from 65 will bring back the "whine" once your speed approaches lower speeds until you reach 55 mph. Below that, all is quiet. I'd venture to say that a lot of folks might not hear this noise but I have very sensitive hearing to high pitched noises. Other than this noise, the cockpit is very quiet
We just completed our first trip with our 2012 AWD EX and noticed what I would describe as a high speed gear "whine." It might not be noticeable to most folks however I have very sensitive hearing to high pitched sounds so I picked up on it. I never said anything to my wife / copilot and she never indicated that she noticed it.
The sound / whine takes kicks in around 55 mph and seems to fade away around 60. I'm not sure if it fades away or just is minimized by higher engine noise. Aside from the whine, the car is very quiet. Your sound seems very similar to mine although you're describing it as a "high pitched whistle."
One final comment about our EX AWD. It does not have Nav. for what its worth and "whine" is most apparent while in Cruise Control. I noticed it when I had the speed set for 55mph. It definately is far less noticeable when driving without CC since the accelleration tends to be much faster etc. Consequently, if your goal is 65 and your excellerating rapidly to keep up with or move at the max speed limit, it isn't that noticeable. If ,on the other hand, you're trying to milk every mile per gallon, with Cruise Control, that's when its most noticeable.

hans471: EX-L AWD

I have this same noise on my EX-L AWD no Nav. I have been paying attention to it. It is faint. On mine I notice it more at lower speeds (40-50?) under light load. To me it sounds like a gear whine. BUT, I am not 100% sure. I figured it was gear noise due to the AWD system. I also think if the car had more road noise it would be masked and we wouldn't hear it. I am betting that we are for the most part all hearing the same noise. We have now tuned into it and will pick it out when others might not.

I have to admit I am sensitive to automotive sounds. Why? Its what I did for 40 years. I trained technicians to locate and repair such things while working for GM, Toyota and Chrysler. I was pretty good at it as I actually did a class just on that. It was "NVH" that is: Noise, Vibration, and Harshness. This car does have a very faint noise in it. Its not just your car. And, I know you hear it and don't want to but to be honest, it may not be a real issue or something that will cause a long term problem. It could be gear whine and its just the nature of the beast as Honda has said. Too soon to say for sure, but we will be keeping an eye on it.

I have no problem with confronting Honda on this. I had to get on their case about a common Fit problem we, along with many others, had. Honda had no clue about what was causing it. I worked though it and got my Fit working like new and then had to "educate" the District Rep on it. Seems she admitted she knew nothing about cars and she had to depend on the dealer techs to fix them. Of course the same dealer techs she trusted had no clue what was wrong with my car.

Frank III: EX-L AWD

Drove to work yesterday. It's 25 miles one way and the speed varies from 30 to 80 mph. No noise and temperature was 40 degrees outside. Same ride home. No noise on the highway but when I drove it 35 to 40 mph the noise appeared. It's more like a whine and it came and went depending on whether I had my foot on the accelerator. The temperature was 54 so I am begining to think it is temperature related. Driving my 2010 CRV today. It has an ever so slight whine when accelerating but I would say the noise from the 2012 is 50 time louder. I am going to drive it some more and see if I can correlate it with RPM's, see if it goes away if I am in neutral at 40 MPH and if the temperature theory still holds true. Once I have more data I will get Honda involved. Anyone else have any ideas?

Fyrman:

Purchase a 2012 CR-V EX AWD 4 days ago and I noticed the whistling sound on the drivers side as soon as we hit 55 to 60 mph. Temperature in the 90's but even later in the day as the temp hit the 70's it was still there. Use of cruise control or not has not effect what so ever. I did notice that when in cruise control, going down hills made it more noticable than when going up, and it was a little quieter on the level road. Over 60 mph or below 55 mph it seemed to go away. For me it is annoying and I am not a youngster with hearing issues. I will be talking to the dealer. I am hoping someone has figured out what the cause is.

[jreagan]

Hmmm... There was a whistle back on the 2007/2008 models that was caused by the A/C expansion valve. However, there was a TSB and redesign that should have fixed it. I have no idea if this is the same, but your description sounds very familiar to my 2007 with the bad expansion valve.

[mymrh]

Thanks. I checked discussion for the A/C noise issue of 2007/2008 CRV. I believe that noise goes aways when the A/C is off. The noise in my 2012 CRV is there either A/C is on or off.

[Caliomni]

I believe we have the same issue. I have a 2012 EXL as well. I hear a high pitched whistling noise on the drivers side when I go above about 40 mph. When I hit more open areas or over 55-60 ish, its more pronounced.

I brought it back to the dealership. Two mechanics couldn't hear it on a drive. Finally the Asst Svc manager drove w/ me and he could hear it.

My husband can definitely hear it as well. My co-worker has a theory that its a scenario where younger people might hear it better? Which could be true as the mechanics were in their 50s and the Asst Svc Mgr, my husband and I are in our 30s.

Once the Asst Service Manager heard it, he lubed up the weather stripping on the window sill with a high quality grease saying it should take care of it within a couple days. It didn't do anything.

Sadly its become a very annoying issue with the car. Not only listening to it but knowing not everyone can hear it too.

I have another appointment to leave the car at the dealership for a few days on Friday. I'll let you know how it goes.

[mymrh]

I am in my 30s too. I knew the noise is not very easy to be noticed, since CRV is not a very quiet car in the first place, but I found the noise becomes a little bit louder when I let go of my gas pedal between 55-60 mpr, and becomes a little bit quieter when I hit the gas. By creating this difference, I believe it is kind of hard for everyone (siting at the drive side) to miss it.

I missed the call from a Honda case manager. I will call him back tomorrow, and provide a update.

[HPELLJACK]

We also have a 2012 EX-L that is making a noise. My wife was wondering if it was the tires, etc. Please let us know what you find out.

Thanks,

[rickhow]

Had a similar problem on a previous Toyota I owned. Service manage concluded that since it was heard at particular speed (speed range) it sure must have to do with speedometer or tach or cruise. He lubed the cables for all three going from engine to dash...it went away.

[Billybob]

We just completed our first trip with our 2012 AWD EX and noticed what I would describe as a high speed gear "whine." It might not be noticeable to most folks however I have very sensitive hearing to high pitched sounds so I picked up on it. I never said anything to my wife / copilot and she never indicated that she noticed it.

The sound / whine takes kicks in around 55 mph and seems to fade away around 60. I'm not sure if it fades away or just is minimized by higher engine noise. Aside from the whine, the car is very quiet. Your sound seems very similar to mine although you're describing it as a "high pitched whistle."

[Billybob]

As I indicated in my responce above, we're experiencing somethin similar to your noise and I do not believe it is tire related. It souonds like a gear whine to me. Although it is not appearent below 50, it occurs around 55 and seems to fade around 60 or 65. If the cockpit sound wasn't so quiet overall, one might not notice the "whine" but the interior noise - asided from the "whine" - is very quiet. Please let me know your take.

[Billybob]

We have noticed the exact same noise with our 2012 EX AWD as well. Sounds like a high pitched whine. And, yes it seems to only occur between 55 and 60 or 65. As you said, easing off the speed from 65 will bring back the "whine" once your speed approaches lower speeds until you reach 55 mph. Below that, all is quiet. I'd venture to say that a lot of folks might not hear this noise but I have very sensitive hearing to high pitched noises. Other than this noise, the cockpit is very quiet.