Honda HR-V Best and Worst Years (2016–2025)
Avoid the 2019, 2023, and 2024 Honda HR-V based on NHTSA complaints and recalls. The 2023 model year tops the complaint index at 100 with 686 complaints, driven largely by visibility and wiper issues, while 2019 and 2024 had elevated electrical and steering complaints along with multiple recalls. The 2017, 2020, and 2021 model years rate Best.
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.
- Model years
- 10
- 2016–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,823
- Recall campaigns
- 13
- Crashes reported
- 96
- Fires reported
- 6
- Top problem area
- Visibility & Wipers
HR-V Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Honda HR-V problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Caution | 67 | 239 | 13 | 1 | 2 | Transmission & Powertrain | 29 | 5★ |
| 2017 | Best | 11 | 122 | 13 | 0 | 0 | Transmission & Powertrain | 29 | 5★ |
| 2018 | Good | 33 | 156 | 11 | 0 | 3 | Electrical System | 29 | 5★ |
| 2019 | Avoid | 78 | 235 | 19 | 1 | 7 | Electrical System | 29.5 | 5★ |
| 2020 | Best | 22 | 83 | 8 | 2 | 5 | Fuel System | 29.5 | 5★ |
| 2021 | Best | 0 | 63 | 5 | 0 | 4 | Airbags | 29.5 | 5★ |
| 2022 | Caution | 56 | 88 | 10 | 1 | 3 | Engine | 29.5 | 5★ |
| 2023 | Avoid | 100 | 686 | 7 | 0 | 3 | Visibility & Wipers | 27.5 | 5★ |
| 2024 | Avoid | 89 | 108 | 8 | 1 | 4 | Steering | 27.5 | 5★ |
| 2025 | Good | 44 | 43 | 2 | 0 | 1 | Steering | 27.5 | 5★ |
HR-V years to avoid: what went wrong
2023 Honda HR-V Index 100 · 686 complaints · 3 recalls
The 2023 HR-V had 686 complaints, the highest of any model year, producing a complaint index of 100. Visibility and wiper problems dominated at 54 percent of complaints with a median failure mileage of 13,000. Steering issues followed at 11 percent, median 23,000 miles. Owners described sudden unintended acceleration or lunging while parking, brake pedals that traveled to the floor with reduced stopping power, and airbags that deployed only partially in crashes. Three recalls affected this year, covering steering worm gear grease, fuel pump modules, and seat belt pretensioner rivets.
2023 visibility & wipers problems →2023 steering problems →2023 structure & body problems →
2024 Honda HR-V Index 89 · 108 complaints · 4 recalls
The 2024 HR-V had 108 complaints and a complaint index of 89, with four recall campaigns. Steering complaints led at 47 percent of the total, median failure mileage 9,608. Electrical, collision avoidance, and visibility issues each made up 12 percent, with median mileages between 10,000 and 35,500. Owners reported steering wheels pulling or seizing during highway driving, sometimes resulting in loss of control or rollover crashes. Recalls addressed driver's seat cushion frame tightening and steering worm gear grease.
2019 Honda HR-V Index 78 · 235 complaints · 7 recalls
The 2019 HR-V logged 235 complaints and a complaint index of 78, with seven recall campaigns. Electrical system problems made up 29 percent of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 42,000. Fuel system issues followed at 28 percent, median mileage 28,000, and collision avoidance and camera complaints accounted for 16 percent at a median of 32,000 miles. Owners reported unintended forward movement while parking at low speeds, sometimes resulting in crashes into parked vehicles. Recalls covered airbag seat weight sensors, rearview camera display failures, and fuel pump module replacement.
2019 electrical system problems →2019 fuel system problems →2019 collision avoidance & cameras problems →
Most common Honda HR-V problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.
- Visibility & Wipers413 (23%)
- Other409 (22%)
- Electrical System321 (18%)
- Transmission & Powertrain177 (10%)
- Steering173 (9%)
- Engine163 (9%)
- Fuel System161 (9%)
- Brakes125 (7%)
- Structure & Body124 (7%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras95 (5%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- What year Honda HR-V should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA data, avoid the 2019, 2023, and 2024 Honda HR-V. The 2023 model has the highest complaint index at 100 with 686 complaints, mostly tied to visibility and wiper problems.
- What are the best Honda HR-V model years?
- The 2017, 2020, and 2021 HR-V rate Best based on NHTSA complaints and recalls. The 2021 model has a complaint index of 0, the lowest of any year covered.
- Does the Honda HR-V have recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 13 recall campaigns across the 2016-2025 HR-V, including fuel pump module replacement, steering worm gear grease, seat belt pretensioner rivets, and driver's seat cushion frame issues.
- Is the 2023 Honda HR-V reliable?
- The 2023 HR-V has the highest complaint index (100) and complaint count (686) of any HR-V model year in NHTSA data, driven mainly by visibility and wiper complaints, so it's rated Avoid relative to other HR-V years.
- What problems does the 2019 Honda HR-V have?
- NHTSA complaints for the 2019 HR-V center on the electrical system (29 percent of complaints, median 42,000 miles) and fuel system (28 percent, median 28,000 miles), with seven recall campaigns issued for that model year.