Honda HR-V Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 180 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Honda HR-V across 11 model years. The 2016 model year has the most (75). The words owners use most often: “cvt transmission” (17% of reports).
- 180power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $9,200typical repair cost reported by owners
- 57%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- CVT transmission: mentioned in 31 of 180 complaints (17%)
- Motive power: mentioned in 12 of 180 complaints (7%)
- Limp mode: mentioned in 12 of 180 complaints (7%)
- Metal shavings: mentioned in 11 of 180 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the Honda HR-V at $9,200, and half of them between $8,000 and $10,200.
Based on 22 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2019–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 62 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 180 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 1 an injury.
Honda HR-V power train complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists power train for the Honda HR-V. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Vehicle: 2016 Honda HR-V Approximate Mileage: 114,400 miles Incident Description: While driving at highway speeds on the freeway, the vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic loss of motive power and dropped into an emergency "limp mode." The vehicle suddenly refused to accelerate and could not…
There is 7 recalls for the 2026 Honda HR-V. My daughter car which is barley driven had her engine- EMISSIONS SYSTEM PROBLEM. POWER MAY BE REDUCED. SEE YOUR DEALER. I made a appointment today to get looked at. They ran a diagnostic test and determine the fuel pump has bunch of problems. I will know…
I was driving to work at XXX for my 7:00am shift. Car started bucking and not responding to when I hit the gas. Was nervous so I left car at XXX and walked to work. I had car towed to Ocean Honda in Weymouth, MA. They ran a special diagnostics on my car and determined it was transmission failure…
In 2020/2021 Honda did a * Honda Service Bulletin 21-046 Honda Service Bulletin 21-047. They knew the CVT on models 2016/2021 had early CVT failure. They had us come in to add a program that was supposed to give us warning if the belt was going to break so we had time to get to a mechanic or the…
While traveling at freeway speed, the cvt transmission slipped and the vehicle suddenly lost all propulsion. The engine continued to run and responded to the accelerator, but the vehicle would not move under its own power. Multiple warning lights appeared, including a brake-system warning. The…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Honda HR-Vs have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 180 owner complaints about power train for the Honda HR-V. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Honda HR-V power train?
No recall currently lists power train for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the Honda HR-V?
Owners report a typical cost of $9,200 (half paid between $8,000 and $10,200), from 22 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Honda HR-V?
The most frequent phrase is “cvt transmission”, in 31 of 180 complaints, followed by “motive power” (12).
Other Honda HR-V problems
- Visibility/wiper problems (354)
- Electrical System problems (313)
- Steering problems (178)
- Service Brakes problems (116)
- Engine problems (110)
- Structure problems (103)
See all Honda HR-V problems.