Bought the car from Planet Honda dealer in Golden, CO back in 2016. Car at time of purchase only had just over 17,000 miles on it. After about 6 months it developed a rattling noise when you started car. I took it back to Honda and they checked it out and said it was a VCT actuator. They replaced it under warranty, no cost to me.

Fast forward to around fall of 2022, the car now had about 70,000 miles on it. The rattling at start up came back again. The rattling noise continued and never went away, so in June of 2023 took it back to Honda dealership to have service check it out. ( I always had oil changes at or before recommended intervals) Honda service called me the next day and said, you guessed, it has a bad VCT actuator and it would need replaced.

They quoted me a price of about $975.00 to replace it. So, I paid them to have it replaced for the second time in less than 75,000 miles.

After the VCT actuator the car starts up without any rattling.

I'm debating whether to keep the car since this part may go bad again in around 50,000 miles from now.

The engine grinds at every cold start. A mechanic replaced the vtech accuator but the problem continues. The mechanic said he does not know what else could be causing it. The noise is very loud and scary. My neighbors ask me what the heck is making that noise and not to ever buy another Honda. I’m scared to death of the engine breaking down while I’m driving. I contacted Honda and they played dumb….never heard anything about this before. I can’t afford a new car right now. I don’t know what to do.

My 2013 Honda CRV 4WD developed a cranking noise upon cold start. The lowest temperature in this part of AU is only 3 - 25 deg C. It wouldn't start the first time with the cranking as well as a whining sound. I turn off the ignition and try again another time or two for it to start. Noticed that the problem persists even when the engine is left to rest for a few hours.

The local mechanics have no clear clue, and I have ended up spending over $800 for a couple of engine oil flushes, as well as the starter motor replacement. Checked the battery to be fine. The problem has not gone away. I am afraid that one day I will be stalled somewhere unable to start, having to spend on a tow job as well as an unknown/unsure fix. Intend to bring the cover to a Honda dealer to check if their knowledge and honesty (which I haven't experienced really in the past) points to a faulty VTC Actuator as suggested in this forum.

I bought a used certified pre-owned Honda CR-V from my local Fox Honda in Sept. 2016, as my old car was having a bunch of car problems well over 100,000 miles. Initially excited to be driving a newer used car for once and was happy about it. Sometimes when winter hit about a couple months later, I started having these grinding noise. Low and behold, I googled the problem and the first thing I see is that it is a common problem on all models of Honda.

Like others have said, it only happens when it's cold out. But at a certain temperature. It was do it when it's 40-50 degrees, but doesn't when it reaches 20-30 degrees sometimes. It's embarrassing to say that the only remedy I've found that works half the time is to put your car on the ON position until the chime goes away and then start the car. This method works sometimes by reducing/eliminating the grinding sound. It doesn't however, get rid of the sound permanently.

My old car that was sold, never had this problem; even if it was 16 years old.

Contacted American Honda several times to report problem. They tried to influence me that given my location climate the problem could not occur. Dealership I purchased car used from admitted openly to being aware of the problem and the lack of any permanent solution from Honda to address it.

After repeated inquiries on my own over months I finally had the dealer tell me a fix was distributed by Honda. American Honda offered zero notification to me personally even though I opened a complaint with a case # and contacted them several times. I would not have received any notification from the dealer also unless I kept after them.

Upon dropping my vehicle off where this start up problem occurred religiously every day for over 2 years regardless of oil change frequency and permanent use of full synthetic, I decided to again contact American Honda to report my actions so they could update their records and confirm what the dealer was telling me about the fix. The "customer service" agent at American Honda in Torrance, CA was more than rude and uncooperative. She refused to offer any information nor alternatives regarding the problems which precisely sounded like internet accounts of the VTC-actuator problem because as she advise Honda has NOT acknowledged the problem or issued a TSB regarding my specific VIN or vehicle year/model. Quite convenient for Honda since they NEVER investigated my complaint.

The agent then REFUSED to offer me a supervisor or manager as I had requested during the call and advised that she could NOT have one contact me at their convenience to address my complaint. So Honda makes up their own definition of "customer service" and expects you to comply. Be advised that it will take you being a royal PITA with Honda corporate and potentially your dealer to get this fixed on their dime. Combined they are quite united in their collusion to hide this problem from the public and it will take a "responsible" shop' to admit to it's existence and extent.

Now I'm left with a vehicle that has suffered a well known problem and a fix that may or may not work along with "free" uncertainty as to whether future problems in this area may not be traced back to this original problem. Yet Honda has absolutely no offer for responsibility over the apparent design flaw or delay in accepting this a a major defect that SHOULD have triggered a recall.

Good luck to my fellow CR-V owners, it proves that manufacturers CAN engineer mechanical alternatives but have no clue on how to manufacture "integrity".

It started in the first winter only when it was cold over night. I would start up the CRV and a horrible grinding noise at start up. As the years gone on and visits to dealership. There are no fixes and the dealership says its a known problem with all Honda cars that the manufacturers have not changed the design of the VTC actuator and no plans to correct or recall problem.

Currently it make the HORRIBLE LOUD noise at every start up. So every time I start up my car I have people tell me I need to get that check out. The noise is loud enough to hear up to 8 lanes across in a parking lots. I will not be buying another HONDA.

Purchased 2013 CRV (17000miles) about 3 months ago and never noticed grinding noise at startup until about 3 weeks ago. The car now makes the grinding noise every morning when I start it up. I scheduled an appt with local Honda service dept to check it out. Based on the number of complaints I will be surprised if they do anything to try and fix the problem.

Update from Dec 20, 2016: Took my CR V to local dealer and the service manager said Honda now has a fix and they would take care of the VTC actuator for me. No charge. It's been about one month since they did the work and it seems to have resolved the issue. I let my wife garage her car, so my CR V is outside in the weather most of the time. We have had some cold temperatures and so far no more grinding noise.

Thanks Honda

I bought this car in December of 2012, and around early 2014 (probably about a year later) I noticed a horrible grinding noise on a cold start. I took it to the dealer and of course, it was not making the noise when I had in the service department. It continued, so I brought it back and this time they told me it was a known issue with the engine and there was no fix for it yet, but Honda was working on it....nothing to worry about it, my car would not break down.

Months go by, I called Honda several times and got the same answer; it is the VTC actuator, no plans to correct it. How disappointing.

It's an extremely loud and embarrassing noise. I spent a lot of money on this vehicle, and have been a loyal Honda customer, but I'm done.

Shame on you Honda. I'm getting rid of it and buying American.

Have leased 2 Honda vehicles and was happy with them so decided to purchase my 3rd. Now almost every time I start my car whether at home, work, anywhere it makes the most ridiculous embarrassing sound. People in passing literally turn their heads like wth was that?? "Oh hey CFO sorry it's just me starting the 1st brand new vehicle I ever bought." So for 3 years every time I visit my Honda dealer I ask if there is a fix yet and get..."umm yeah no, sorry Honda is looking into it and will let you know as soon as they find a fix." It's BS and surprised there is no lawsuit against them by now. It's not fair to the consumer and is not acceptable. Either fix it or buy my car back and let me buy something else!!!!!!

I found out after this started happening to my vehicle that this has been a multiple year issue that Honda has known about and still hasn't developed a satisfactory repair. The CR-V and apparently other models of Honda have this grinding noise during cold startups after the vehicle sits for a period. The grinding is momentary and doesn't usually occur until another prolong cold sitting period. Knowing this deals with the timing, this has to have a lasting impact to the engine life. They have the engineers that can solve this, it' must be a money issue with taking the risk versus coming up with the fix. Maybe my last Honda and I currently own four.

https://youtu.be/0o_p8bJpwEQ

I have been to the Honda dealership several times about this problem and a problem with the battery. After 3 visits they replaced the battery. The engine makes a grinding sound when it is first started for the day. Can't be because of cold weather because I live in California. I was finally told to bring the car in overnight so they could see what the engine was like in the morning. Went to take it in and was told it was the actuator and they didn't need to keep it overnight. I asked if there was a recall and they said no. They said it wasn't damaging the e

engine. Not sure I believe that. It seems as if it should be replaced for free. Worried about warranty running out.