Honda HR-V Problems by Year
NHTSA has 1,857 owner complaints and 13 safety recalls on file for the Honda HR-V, across 12 model years (2016–2027). The 2023 model year has the most complaints (687). The most reported problem area overall is visibility/wiper.
Honda HR-V years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical HR-V year: 2016, 2019, 2023. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2023 HR-V: 687 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2016 HR-V: 241 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2019 HR-V: 236 complaints, 7 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2027 HR-V: 3 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2026 HR-V: 18 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2025 HR-V: 47 complaints, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Honda HR-V problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper problems | 354 | 10 | 0 |
| Electrical System problems | 313 | 11 | 7 |
| Power Train problems | 180 | 11 | 6 |
| Steering problems | 178 | 11 | 15 |
| Service Brakes problems | 116 | 11 | 34 |
| Engine problems | 110 | 12 | 3 |
| Structure problems | 103 | 9 | 7 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 88 | 10 | 9 |
| Visibility | 88 | 7 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 85 | 11 | 1 |
| Air Bags | 81 | 10 | 39 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 78 | 5 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 66 | 10 | 18 |
| Lane Departure | 54 | 8 | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 26 | 9 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 23 | 8 | 6 |
| Seats | 21 | 8 | 1 |
| Suspension | 15 | 7 | 0 |
| Wheels | 14 | 5 | 3 |
| Back Over Prevention | 11 | 6 | 1 |
| Tires | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Firerelated | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Autohold Brake System/brake Hold | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Honda HR-V problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2024: steering (51)
- 2023: visibility/wiper (319) · steering (78) · visibility (78)
- 2019: electrical system (67)
- 2016: power train (75) · electrical system (56)
All Honda HR-V model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 HR-V | 3 | 0 | — | Engine | |
| 2026 HR-V | 18 | 0 | 5★ | Unknown or Other | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2025 HR-V | 47 | 1 | 5★ | Steering | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2024 HR-V | 109 | 4 | 5★ | Steering | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2023 HR-V | 687 | 3 | 5★ | Visibility/wiper | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2022 HR-V | 88 | 3 | 5★ | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2021 HR-V | 63 | 4 | 5★ | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2020 HR-V | 84 | 5 | 5★ | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2019 HR-V | 236 | 7 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2018 HR-V | 158 | 3 | 5★ | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 2017 HR-V | 123 | 0 | 5★ | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2016 HR-V | 241 | 2 | 5★ | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Honda: all Honda models · Honda VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Honda HR-V years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2016 (241), 2019 (236), 2023 (687) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical HR-V year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Honda HR-V?
Visibility/wiper, with 354 complaints across 10 model years.
How many recalls does the Honda HR-V have?
13 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.