Honda HR-V years to avoid (and the best years)
1,834 NHTSA owner complaints and 13 recalls across 11 model years, 2016 to 2026. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.
Compared with: Honda CR-V
- 1,834complaints
- 13recalls
- 95reported crashes
- 7reported fires
- 57reported injuries
Which Honda HR-V years should you avoid?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the Honda HR-V years to avoid are 2023, 2016 and 2019. The typical Honda HR-V year has 108 complaints on file.
- 2023: 686 complaints, 6.4 times the typical year. Most complaints name the wipers and visibility (58% of complaints) and the steering (11% of complaints).
- 2016: 239 complaints, 2.2 times the typical year. Most complaints name the transmission and drivetrain (31% of complaints) and the electrical system (23% of complaints).
- 2019: 234 complaints, 2.2 times the typical year. Most complaints name the electrical system (28% of complaints) and the fuel system (28% of complaints).
What are the best Honda HR-V years?
The Honda HR-V years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2021 (63), 2020 (83) and 2018 (156). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.
NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.
Every model year
| Year | Complaints | vs typical year | Recalls | Crashes | Injuries | Our read | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 14 | 0.1× | 0 | 0 | 1 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2025 | 43 | 0.4× | 1 | 2 | 2 | Few red flags | Steering |
| 2024 | 108 | 1.0× | 4 | 8 | 8 | Few red flags | Steering |
| 2023 | 686 | 6.4× | 3 | 7 | 4 | Approach with caution | Wipers and visibility |
| 2022 | 86 | 0.8× | 3 | 10 | 8 | Some concerns to check | Electrical system |
| 2021 | 63 | 0.6× | 4 | 5 | 5 | Few red flags | Airbags |
| 2020 | 83 | 0.8× | 5 | 8 | 2 | Few red flags | Fuel system |
| 2019 | 234 | 2.2× | 7 | 18 | 4 | Approach with caution | Electrical system |
| 2018 | 156 | 1.4× | 3 | 11 | 5 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2017 | 122 | 1.1× | 0 | 13 | 7 | Some concerns to check | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2016 | 239 | 2.2× | 2 | 13 | 11 | Approach with caution | Transmission and drivetrain |
Most reported problem areas
Share of the 1,085 complaints sorted by system, all years together.
- Structure & body606 (56%)
- Steering, suspension & tires149 (14%)
- Engine & powertrain111 (10%)
- Electrical & infotainment84 (8%)
- Other systems47 (4%)
Recalls (13)
Airbags · 26V332000 · May 2026 · model years 2019, 2020, 2021
Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Safety · 26V054000 · Jan 2026 · model year 2024
A loose driver's seat may not adequately restrain the driver during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Safety · 24V859000 · Nov 2024 · model year 2024
An unsecured driver's seat may not adequately restrain the driver during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Steering · 24V744000 · Oct 2024 · model years 2023, 2024, 2025
Difficulty steering can increase the risk of a crash.
Safety · 24V384000 · May 2024 · model years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
An inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 24V064000 · Feb 2024 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022
An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fuel system · 23V858000 · Dec 2023 · model years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Seat belts · 23V782000 · Nov 2023 · model years 2023, 2024
A seat belt pretensioner missing a rivet will not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Safety · 23V046000 · Feb 2023 · model years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
An inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fuel system · 21V215000 · Mar 2021 · model year 2019
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fuel system · 20V314000 · May 2020 · model years 2018, 2019
If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Brakes · 18V777000 · Nov 2018 · model years 2016, 2018, 2019
A reduction of braking performance increases the risk of a crash.
Safety · 15V472000 · Jul 2015 · model year 2016
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.