Honda · HR-V · 2016
2
Recalls
231
Complaints
5/5
Safety Rating
The 2016 Honda HR-V has 2 recalls and 231 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: power train (59 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
Frontal Crash Test

Side Crash Test

Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
15.3% rollover risk in single-vehicle crash
Safety Features
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."
Remedy Status
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.
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."
Remedy Status
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.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda HR-V. The contact stated that while stopped, the ABS, Brake, traction control, and several other warning lights flashed on the instrument panel. The contact called the dealer and was informed that the vehicle was safe to drive to the residence, but not for regular daily use. Once the contact was at the residence, the contact repeatedly restarted the vehicle after the warning lights turned off; however, the warning light returned after additional restarts. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the mechanic discovered DTC: 3211, which was related to the ABS solenoid valve malfunction. The contact was informed that the failure did not need immediate service, and the vehicle could be driven for short-range trips; the vehicle was reset, and the warning lights were cleared. The contact stated that upon driving to the residence, the warning lights flashed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was driven back to the dealer where a reset was attempted but failed. The contact was informed that the solenoid valve needed to be replaced; however, the part for the repair was on backorder. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 195,000.
Hello, I am reaching out with extreme dissatisfaction of my recently purchased 2016 Honda HR-V. This car was part of the extended warranty via service bulletin 21-046 Warranty Extension: 2016-20 HR-V CVT Premature Belt Deterioration. My car has been cared for extremely closely, and we planned to be a Honda customer for life up until this past week. On [XXX], my wife and I were driving on the highway when all of a sudden the entire dashboard lit up with warning signals and went into "Limp" mode. We were able to get off the highway, although it induced GREAT stress as we did so. Upon taking it to the Honda Dealership (Fred Beans of Abington), we were told the CVT has failed and would cost an estimated $8,400 to repair. The car is 9 years and 3 months old, with 117,000 miles. We submitted a goodwill request through Honda Americas where the Honda team came back and stated that the car is outside of the timeline and denied our claim. I spoke to Jocelyn and she was pleasant while delivering extremely upsetting news. I am not disputing the fact that the extended warranty clearly states 7 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first. I am disputing the fact that Honda has basically admitted that the CVT will fail early, and if you don't drive as much as Honda deems "average", then you are [XXX]. The extended warranty should be up to 150,000 miles, period. We are a one car household and are now basically stuck between a rock and a hard place trying to decide what to do. This car is effectively totaled even though we conducted regular maintenance. I am appealing to your better judgement to re-open our case and get somebody else to re-evaluate the circumstances. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The transmission seized while driving no lights no warnings. I could have been killed so could other people! when no lights no check engine light or service lights are on. And your car is properly maintained there should be no reason the transmission should just seize while Driving with no warning shame on Honda shame on everyone who lets them get away with putting peoples life’s endanger. CVT transmission are not safe or the engineers have failed my lights all work too and still have no check engine light on. Car is totally underivable no lights nothing.
The CVT transmission, which is part of the vehicle’s powertrain system, experienced a premature failure. The vehicle became inoperable and was in an unsafe location, so the police had to tow it. I am not sure if a police report was issued. The tow resulted in extensive impound fees. The transmission is available for inspection upon request. The failure caused loss of power and unpredictable operation, making the vehicle unsafe to drive, especially in traffic. This created a risk of collision to myself, my passengers, and other motorists. The problem has been diagnosed and confirmed by a Honda dealership, which determined the transmission has failed and that the vehicle is not safe to operate. The vehicle has been inspected by a Honda dealership, and the manufacturer has been notified through Honda Customer Relations. There were no warning lights or messages prior to the failure. The transmission failed suddenly and without warning. The exact date of the failure is 01/15/2026 and it happened at 105,000. I’ve only had the car 10 months and started with 93,853.
I am submitting this complaint regarding a sudden and unsafe CVT transmission failure on my Honda vehicle. While driving, the vehicle began shaking violently, lost the ability to accelerate, and multiple warning indicators illuminated, including the check engine light. The vehicle was unable to be driven safely and had to be towed. A diagnostic inspection performed by an authorized Honda dealership confirmed CVT failure consistent with Honda Service Bulletin #21-047, including the presence of transmission belt material in the fluid. This failure mode is documented by Honda as a known manufacturing defect that can cause loss of power and drivability. I contacted Honda Corporate Customer Relations and opened a case on 12/3. Despite multiple communications, Honda has denied goodwill or warranty assistance solely based on warranty expiration, without addressing the documented defect or the safety implications. I specifically requested that Honda provide a written explanation detailing the technical basis for denying coverage on this safety-related failure. Honda has not provided any written denial or defect analysis. I am submitting this complaint to ensure the incident and defect are formally documented for safety review. Case #: 16018708
My vehicle suddenly developed electrical problems and would not start. Before it completely failed, I began seeing warning lights on the dashboard, including a PARK warning and an engine oil light. The vehicle had been operating normally earlier that day, but later became totally unresponsive. The doors would not unlock electronically and the car would not start. This happened after a period of heavy rain. When the vehicle was inspected by a Honda dealership, they found signs of long-term water intrusion and corrosion affecting electrical components and wiring. I later learned that the vehicle had previously been repaired for water intrusion through the rear hatch/tailgate area, which may have allowed moisture into the vehicle over time. The car is now inoperable. This raises safety concerns because electrical failures like this can lead to sudden loss of reliability, inability to start the vehicle when needed, or potential failure while driving. The issue has been confirmed by a dealership service department, and the vehicle remains unusable. I am concerned that water may be entering through the tailgate or rear hatch area and damaging electrical systems. I have also seen similar complaints involving water intrusion and electrical failures in this model.
Transmission belt failure at 100k miles. This incident occurred after the recall repair for the software update related to the transmission. Most hazard indicators switched on, vehicle could not go over 50 miles per hour. Took vehicle into honda service center. They determined it to be a transmission failure.
Belt inside CVT transmission has failed. Numerous broken shards of metal in fluid and surrounding parts. Cost to replace $7,500 avg.
Extensive and widespread peeling and de-lamination of paint across entire vehicle beginning in 2025 (two years after extended warranty expired). About $6000 to repair and Honda refusing to assist/contribute to repairs.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda HR-V. The contact stated that water had accumulated in the tail lights, causing the lights to become inoperable. The contact stated that he had noticed an abnormal water sound while driving the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
While driving on a highway the vehicle with no warning seemed to lose all power and multiple warning dashboard lights came on. We were able to pull to the side of the highway which did not have a full size break down lane. The vehicle was towed to a nearby dealer who reported that the transmission had failed completely. There were no noticeable signs or warnings of transmission failure or any other problem prior to this incident with the vehicle. We were on a single lane highway at the time and we were able to pull to the side but on the same trip had been on multiple lane highways and it would have been difficult to navigate multiple lanes to pull to the side of the road with the loss of power.
I am writing to formally file a complaint regarding a serious safety issue affecting Honda vehicles — specifically the widespread failure of the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) module — and Honda's failure to issue a recall despite extensive evidence and customer reports. A recent YouTube video titled "Why Honda Hasn’t Recalled This Dangerous Problem" [XXX] ) highlights that many Honda owners are experiencing identical issues: ABS warning lights appearing on the dashboard, inconsistent braking behavior, and in some cases, total brake failure. This is a major safety hazard, especially in emergency braking scenarios or on wet or slippery roads. I personally experienced this issue with my own Honda vehicle. After taking it to a Honda dealership, I was quoted $3,000 to replace the defective ABS module — a steep and unfair out-of-pocket expense for what clearly appears to be a design or manufacturing defect. The dealership acknowledged that this is a common problem, yet I was told there is no recall, leaving me with the financial burden and a compromised vehicle. From numerous reports, it's evident that this issue spans across different Honda models and production years. Yet, Honda continues to ignore the risk, even though a faulty ABS system directly compromises vehicle control and passenger safety. I respectfully urge the NHTSA to conduct a formal investigation into these ABS module failures and compel Honda to issue a recall and reimburse affected owners. Allowing these vehicles to remain on the road in unsafe condition poses a danger not only to Honda drivers but to everyone sharing the road with them. Thank you for your attention to this urgent safety matter. Please feel free to contact me if any additional information is needed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I press down on the gas pedal and it seems to not go. I have the transmission light, the parking light and brake lights on the dashboard
The information display panel on the instrument cluster goes blank or gibberish when it is cooler outside. The car does this when it is cold. After the car warms up it gets better. This looks to be a common problem
Transmission failure. It is available for inspection upon request. While driving on major highways, I could have been at risk of a crash. I took the vehicle to Honda to confirm the transmission belt stretched. The insurance refused to inspect it. No warning lamps, messages, or other. I went over a railroad crossing and suddenly heard the transmission grinding gears.
Driving on interstate when vehicle suddenly downshifted resulting in lurch slowdown and high engine rpms. Pulled to median. Shift indicator light flashes, dash Brake System warning light flashes, Parking system warning lights, check engine light on. Attempted to drive to nearby dealer for troubleshooting. Vehicle drives when put into gear, but must paddle shift into higher gears. After couple seconds automatically downshifts again. Paddle shifting will shift into higher gear, but returns to lower gears automatically. Shop says transmission test shows P271E, 83-16 warning error so transmission must have failed.
My daughters 2016 Honda HRV (59k) has continual electrical issues. First it's the battery sensor $617. Then the keyless access control module $1100 but given a discount. Something is also wrong with the heated seat it burned a hole in the seat. Honda says it's 10 years old it's gonna start falling apart. Numerous complaints online with all of the electrical issues mentioned and the service manager says Honda doesn't have to issue recalls until there's class action lawsuit filed for vehicles. All of this stuff has happened in the last 8 months.
I was entering the highway when without warning, my car stopped moving. I hurriedly shifted into Park so I would not drift into the highway, and thankfully I was able to safely drift into the exit lane. I tried to troubleshoot by turning the engine off and shifting into neutral to move the car out of the way, but it was completely undrivable. At 115,000 miles, this came as a shock to me, as I purchased my first Honda because of its reliable reputation. I had recently gotten my anti-theft system repaired, as well as a state inspection at a local Honda dealership, and there was no indication that there was a problem with the transmission. I researched the issue and accessed my service records, and I found that the problem was with the CVT transmission and that I was not alone. I pride myself on the regular maintenance of my vehicles and keep meticulous records, and while I waited on the diagnosis, I found the records on the steps taken to address this problem: -Notification from Honda about the extended warranty (10 years, 150k miles) in 2021 -Software update was performed on July 22nd, 2021 to update the PCM software to warn of premature CVT belt deterioration. From the Service Bulletin 21-046, “DTC P271E is added so at the early stages of a CVT primary belt failure, the D light will flash, the MIL will come on, and engine power output will be reduced. This will lessen the chances of an unexpected, sudden loss of acceleration and allow the customer an opportunity to get the vehicle to a Honda dealer”. The service tech told me the CVT belt had snapped, destroying the transmission, just as the service bulletin had forewarned. During this incident, there was NO indication that my transmission was going bad - no MIL light, no flashing D light, no slippage, no reduction of engine power, or verbal warning when my car was serviced last. The software update that was intended to warn me of this very occurrence failed miserably.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? -while driving (Honda HRV) the sunroof exploded and shattered glass sprayed all over our family. Nothing hit or caused trauma to the glass, it simply exploded by itself. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? -shattered glass sprayed all over 3 adults and an infant and could have caused facial injuries, abrasions, and more. Additionally the loud noise of the explosion and distraction of the event could have led to a car wreck on a busy highway. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? -Unsure. I did see a class action law suit with Honda. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? -in process Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? -No
I am writing to express my frustration and seek assistance regarding an ongoing issue with my 2016 Honda HR-V. I am the original owner of the vehicle, and I have been experiencing intermittent problems with the transmission for quite some time. Specifically, I have noticed erratic behavior with the dash lights and gear selector, showing various letters as we drive. While the issue would occasionally resolve on its own, it persisted over time, and I contacted the dealership multiple times to inquire about the problem. Unfortunately, every time I reached out to the dealer or visited in person; I was told that they could not analyze the issue unless the problem was occurring while the vehicle was at the dealership. Initially, I thought the issue was related to the brakes, as indicated by the warning light. I replaced the brakes and rotors, but the problem persisted. On December 29th, my family (two adults and two young children) were on a trip to the White Mountains in New Hampshire when the transmission problem became frequent and severe. With no Honda dealership within 60 miles, the vehicle stopped working while in the middle of an intersection. The engine was fine and all fluids were topped off, the vehicle would no longer engage any gear. We were stranded in an isolated area, had to arrange for a tow, and spent nearly $500 to return home that day. The next morning, a local mechanic, informed me that the 2016 Honda HR-V is known to have transmission issues. Honda had extended the warranty for this issue to 150,000 miles. As the original owner, I was never informed of this extended warranty, and upon calling Honda Customer Care, I was told a notice had been mailed to the registered address on file. I never received such a notice, and after researching in Honda owner forums, it appears many other owners have had the same experience. Honda has denied my claim. I feel the manufacture and dealers should have informed owners of this defect before jeopardizing my family
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2016 Honda HR-V has 2 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 231 owner-reported complaints for the 2016 Honda HR-V.
The 2016 Honda HR-V received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2016 Honda HR-V are power train (59 reports), electrical system (30 reports), unknown or other (28 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 2 recalls on record for the 2016 Honda HR-V. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.