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2016 Honda HR-V

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most HR-V years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Honda HR-V are substantially higher than the model-year median of 97.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all HR-V years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

117 reports with mileage · 122 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports1 fire reports11 injury reports

What owners actually said

239 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2019
Wheels

I LIVE ON A DIRT ROAD. WHEN THE ROAD IS WET, THE WHEELS COLLECT MUD AROUND THE REAR SURFACE WHILE DRIVING, THEN THE MUD SETTLES TO THE BOTTOM WHILE THE CAR IS STATIONARY, DRIES, AND THROWS THE WHEELS OUT OF BALANCE. SOMETIMES THE WHEELS ARE SO BADLY UNBALANCED THEY SHAKE VIOLENTLY ABOVE 50 MPH AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE SAFELY …

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I LIVE ON A DIRT ROAD. WHEN THE ROAD IS WET, THE WHEELS COLLECT MUD AROUND THE REAR SURFACE WHILE DRIVING, THEN THE MUD SETTLES TO THE BOTTOM WHILE THE CAR IS STATIONARY, DRIES, AND THROWS THE WHEELS OUT OF BALANCE. SOMETIMES THE WHEELS ARE SO BADLY UNBALANCED THEY SHAKE VIOLENTLY ABOVE 50 MPH AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE SAFELY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS BEGAN HAPPENING ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR NEW IN 2016. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR OF THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES. THEIR SOLUTION WAS TO REMOVE, WASH AND REMOUNT THE WHEELS. THEY DID IT FOR FREE TWICE BUT THEN INFORMED ME THEY WOULD CHARGE ME EACH SUBSEQUENT TIME THIS SERVICE IS NEEDED. THIS PROBLEM IS OBVIOUSLY A RECURRING PROBLEM AND HAS REQUIRED REPAIR SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I STOPPED GOING TO THE DEALER, BUT THE DEALER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM OR SAFETY ISSUE. I CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA AND THEY TOLD ME THE SAME, STATING THEIR WHEELS MEET ALL LEGAL REQUIREMENTS. AS A FORMER AUTO MECHANIC, I BELIEVE UNBALANCED, SKIPPING WHEELS ARE A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. SO, EVERY MONTH OR TWO, OR WHENEVER I NEED TO DO FREEWAY DRIVING, I HAVE TO JACK UP THE CAR, REMOVE THE WHEELS, POWER WASH THE DRY DIRT FROM THE BACK SIDES, AND REPLACE THEM TO ACHIEVE BALANCE AND GET THE VIBRATING AND BOUNCING TO STOP. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A CAR OR HEARD OF A CAR WHERE THIS IS A REASONABLE MAINTENANCE EXPECTATION THAT A MFR. OR DEALER EXPECTS AN OWNER TO TAKE ON. THIS HAS BEEN EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING, AND I BELIEVE THESE WHEELS ARE POORLY DESIGNED AND A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11186549

70,000 miles · Mar 5, 2019
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA HR-V. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE SPEED SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 35 MPH. DURING THE FAILURE, SEVERAL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, INCLUDING THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ED MORSE HONDA (3790 W. BLUE HERON BLVD, RIVIERA BEACH, FL) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA HR-V. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE SPEED SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 35 MPH. DURING THE FAILURE, SEVERAL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, INCLUDING THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ED MORSE HONDA (3790 W. BLUE HERON BLVD, RIVIERA BEACH, FL) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SENSOR FAILED AND DISLODGED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #11184257

58,000 miles · Feb 9, 2019
Service Brakes

CAR'S BREAKS REQUIRE HARD STEP TO FUNCTION AND SEEM TO "FAIL" WHEN BACKING UP IN THE MORNING. SEEMS TO FUNCTION NORMALLY DURING THE REST OF THE DAY. HAVE NOT TESTED FORWARD BREAKS IN MORNING SINCE WE ALWAYS BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11175908

58,000 miles · Feb 8, 2019
Service Brakes

I HAVE HAD BOTH REAR CALIPERS FAIL TO INCLUDE THE EPB UNIT. THE RIGHT REAR CALIPER FAILED AT APROX 48K ALONG WITH THE EPB UNIT. THE SECOND, LEFT REAR CALIPER FAILED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH AT APROX 58K WHICH GROUND DOWN THE NEW ROTOR AND BREAK PADS CAUSING THE REPLACEMENT OF BOTH ROTORS AND BREAK PADS. TH…

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I HAVE HAD BOTH REAR CALIPERS FAIL TO INCLUDE THE EPB UNIT. THE RIGHT REAR CALIPER FAILED AT APROX 48K ALONG WITH THE EPB UNIT. THE SECOND, LEFT REAR CALIPER FAILED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH AT APROX 58K WHICH GROUND DOWN THE NEW ROTOR AND BREAK PADS CAUSING THE REPLACEMENT OF BOTH ROTORS AND BREAK PADS. THESE PARTS SHO ULD NOT FAIL AT THIS LOW MILEAGE.

NHTSA ODI #11175757

70,400 miles · Jan 15, 2019
Power Train

I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN APRIL OF 2016, IT HAS 70K MILES ON IT, AND I'VE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH IT. LAST WEEK I WAS GOING ABOUT 40-50 MPH AND MY DASH SAID THE GEAR WAS IN NEUTRAL, AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. TOOK IT TO A FEW PLACES AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS TOTALLY SHOT.

NHTSA ODI #11170205

54,000 miles · Nov 5, 2018
Electrical SystemStructure

MY HONDA HR-V STARTED LEAKING WATER WHILE PARKED. THE WATER THAT ENTERED THE VEHICLE WAS SUBSTANTIAL (SEE ATTACHED PICTURES). THE WATER LEAKAGE WAS DETERMINED A THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR THAT THE DEALERSHIP HIRED AFTER FAILING TO DETECT THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR OVER A MONTH. THE WATER WAS LEAKING IN THROUGH A…

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MY HONDA HR-V STARTED LEAKING WATER WHILE PARKED. THE WATER THAT ENTERED THE VEHICLE WAS SUBSTANTIAL (SEE ATTACHED PICTURES). THE WATER LEAKAGE WAS DETERMINED A THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR THAT THE DEALERSHIP HIRED AFTER FAILING TO DETECT THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR OVER A MONTH. THE WATER WAS LEAKING IN THROUGH A FAULTY SEAL IN THE WINDSHIELD ABOVE THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR-BAG PLASTIC MOLDING AND GETTING BEHIND THE DASHBOARD. THE WATER CAUSED ELECTRICAL DAMAGE IN THE CAR THAT MADE LIGHTS AND RELAYS START TRIPPING OUT, EVENTUALLY THE BATTERY DIED. THE CAR WAS PARKED DURING THE INCIDENT AND I FOUND THE DAMAGE AFTER RAIN STORM. THE CARPETS ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO BEING WATER DAMAGED AND POSSIBLY LEAD TO MOLD. THE RAINSTORM THAT CAME THROUGH WAS SIGNIFICANT, HOWEVER THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN GOING ON WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE TO A LESSER EXTENT. DUE TO THE WAY THE WATER WAS GETTING INTO THE CAR IT COULD BE ALMOST UNDETECTABLE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME SINCE ALL OF THE DAMAGE IS HIDDEN BY PLASTIC MOLDING. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP, NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT AND NEVER HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY STOCK AS FAR AS THE AFFECTED PARTS GO.

NHTSA ODI #11145302

1,012,100 miles · Sep 16, 2018
EngineUnknown Or Other

HONDA REFUSED TO HONOR MY WARRANTY AT 99000 TO GET MY TRANSMISSION FIXED AND IT BROKE DOWN AT 100,000 AND 121 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #11129786

82,000 miles · May 22, 2018
Power Train

THE CAR HAS JUST PASSED THE 80 000 MILES MARK, AS I USE THE CAR TO TRAVEL BETWEEN PORTLAND AND SAN FRANCISCO. I MISSED 60 000 MILES SERVICE AND INSTEAD HAD IT DONE AT THE 80 000 MILES MARK. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE SERVICE THE TRANSMISSION HAS FALLEN APART.

NHTSA ODI #11097207

46,000 miles · Mar 6, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainService Brakes

WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH WITH THE CRUISE SET I NOTICED THE VEHICLE START TO HEAVILY ACCELERATE. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE CRUISE OFF AND APPLIED THE BRAKE. THE BRAKE DID NO STOP THE CAR FROM ACCELERATING. I MANAGED TO SLOW DOWN ENOUGH TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. ALL DASH BOARD LIGHTS CAME ON. I STARTED THE CAR UP AGAIN AND IT STARTED JE…

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WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH WITH THE CRUISE SET I NOTICED THE VEHICLE START TO HEAVILY ACCELERATE. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE CRUISE OFF AND APPLIED THE BRAKE. THE BRAKE DID NO STOP THE CAR FROM ACCELERATING. I MANAGED TO SLOW DOWN ENOUGH TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. ALL DASH BOARD LIGHTS CAME ON. I STARTED THE CAR UP AGAIN AND IT STARTED JERKING AS IF THE BRAKE AND GAS WERE BEING PRESSED AT THE SAME TIME. THE CAR WAS TOWED VIA HONDA CARE.

NHTSA ODI #11076481

6,780 miles · Feb 21, 2018
Electrical SystemService Brakes

FOOT BRAKE BECOMES FROZEN SOLID AT START UP. UNABLE TO START CAR. I WAS TOLD TO PRESS VERY HARD AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO START CAR. HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TOO. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 9 TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF 2 YEARS. (NEW ISSUE) 2 DAYS AGO I HAD ISSUES TRYING TO START THE CAR UP(THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE BATTERY RELATED) ALL T…

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FOOT BRAKE BECOMES FROZEN SOLID AT START UP. UNABLE TO START CAR. I WAS TOLD TO PRESS VERY HARD AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO START CAR. HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TOO. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 9 TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF 2 YEARS. (NEW ISSUE) 2 DAYS AGO I HAD ISSUES TRYING TO START THE CAR UP(THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE BATTERY RELATED) ALL THESE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON (BRAKE, TIRE PRESSURE, ENGINE LIGHT (TOTAL OF 6 LIGHTS) I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE SO I WENT DIRECTLY TO DEALER. I WAS TOLD I HAD RODENT DAMAGE AND THE COST WAS $424. I STILL HAVE NOT PICKED THE CAR UP AS INSURANCE NEEDS TO SEE REPAIRS. I LEARNED THAT HONDA IS NOW INVOLVED W A LAWSUIT DUE TO THE CHANGE FROM PLASTIC WIRE COATING TO SOY BASED PRODUCT WHICH IS DRAWING RODENTS TO FEAST ON WIRING. I CONTACTED CORPORATE AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THIS UNDER WARRANTY. I.M STILL PAYING OFF A HEFTY LOAN (2 YEARS LEFT) AND I HAVE NO GUARANTEE THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. WHAT A NIGHTMARE. SEEMS TO ME IF COMPANY CREATED THIS ISSUE THEY NEED TO COME UP WITH SOLUTION TO ASSIST CUSTOMERS BECAUSE THIS IS A FINANCIAL NIGHTMARE AS WELL AS A SAFETY NIGHTMARE. HOW DO YOU KNOW YOUR WIRES ARE PARTIALLY EATEN OR IN THE PROCESS OF BEING EATEN WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING. YOU DONT!

NHTSA ODI #11074003

Official recalls

2

18V777000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper

Nov 1, 2018

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Acura MDX, 2017-2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda HR-V and Honda Odyssey, and 2016 Honda HR-V vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating, causing gas pockets to form, reducing brake performance. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A reduction of braking performance increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Owners will be notified, and Honda or Acura dealers will bleed the brakes, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are C31 and L30.

15V472000 · Equipment:other:labels; Tires

Jul 28, 2015

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 HR-V vehicles manufactured January 12, 2015, to May 20, 2015. The affected vehicles may be missing the required tire placard indicating "Tire and Loading Information." These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 110, "Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the tire placard is missing the driver or owner may not know at what pressure to inflate the tires, resulting in over or under tire inflation which potentially increases the risk of a tire failure and crash.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle, and apply a new label, free of charge. The recall began on September 18, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is JT2, or JT4.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Equipment:other:labels

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 HR-V vehicles manufactured January 12, 2015, to May 20, 2015. The affected vehicles may be missing the required tire placard indicating "Tire and Loading Information." These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 110, "Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less."

Consequence: If the tire placard is missing the driver or owner may not know at what pressure to inflate the tires, resulting in over or under tire inflation which potentially increases the risk of a tire failure and crash.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle, and apply a new label, free of charge. The recall began on September 18, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is JT2, or JT4.

Tires

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 HR-V vehicles manufactured January 12, 2015, to May 20, 2015. The affected vehicles may be missing the required tire placard indicating "Tire and Loading Information." These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 110, "Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less."

Consequence: If the tire placard is missing the driver or owner may not know at what pressure to inflate the tires, resulting in over or under tire inflation which potentially increases the risk of a tire failure and crash.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle, and apply a new label, free of charge. The recall began on September 18, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is JT2, or JT4.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.