YearToAvoid

2018 Honda HR-V Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

33/100

#7 most-complained of 10 HR-V years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2018 Honda HR-V has a complaint index of 33 and ranks 7th of 10 model years, earning a Good verdict relative to other HR-V years. It has 156 complaints, 3 recalls, and no fires or deaths reported.

Complaints
156
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
11 / 0
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
29
27 city / 33 hwy

Top 2018 Honda HR-V problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System48 (31%)
  2. Fuel System40 (26%)
  3. Other22 (14%)
  4. Engine21 (13%)
  5. Brakes18 (12%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain15 (10%)
  7. Structure & Body12 (8%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers8 (5%)
  9. Airbags7 (4%)
  10. Steering3 (2%)

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy in low-to-moderate speed frontal crashes, including one at 30 mph and another at 27 mph.
  • Brake pedal reportedly traveled to the floor or failed to stop the vehicle, leading to crashes into a house, a post, and other vehicles.
  • One owner reported total brake failure in winter conditions that resulted in a crash at 30 mph.
  • A gear shifter issue was described where the vehicle moved independently while being shifted into park, leading to a crash into a pole.
  • Dashboard warning lights for brakes, engine, oil, and tires reportedly lit up simultaneously shortly after purchase, recurring after a dealer reset.
  • One owner reported the engine RPMs kept climbing even with the brake pedal depressed, requiring a shift to neutral to regain control.
2018 Honda HR-V complaints: complaints filed per quarter182018 Q12019 Q22020 Q32021 Q42023 Q22024 Q32025 Q4
198 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2026 Q1 (18).

2018 Honda HR-V recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V858000Dec 18, 2023Fuel System2,490,460 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

  2. NHTSA 20V314000May 28, 2020Fuel System135,995 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura NSX, 2019 Acura RDX, RLX and RLX Sport Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R and HR-V, 2019-2020 Insight and 2019 Fit vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 22, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

  3. NHTSA 18V777000Nov 1, 2018Brakes64,785 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper

    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."

    Risk: 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.

2018 Honda HR-V fuel economy and fuel cost

City
27 MPG
Highway
33 MPG
Combined
29 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,250
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2018 compared with other HR-V years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Caution67239229
2017Best11122029
2018Good33156329
2019Avoid78235729.5
2020Best2283529.5

All Honda HR-V years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Honda HR-V reliable?
Relative to other HR-V model years, the 2018 has a complaint index of 33 and ranks 7th out of 10 years tracked, earning a Good verdict. It has fewer complaints than several other HR-V years, including 2016, 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
What problems does the 2018 Honda HR-V have?
NHTSA complaints for the 2018 HR-V are concentrated in the Electrical System (48 complaints, 31% share) and Fuel System (40 complaints, 26% share), followed by Engine, Brakes, and Transmission & Powertrain issues.
Does the 2018 Honda HR-V have a fuel pump recall?
Yes. NHTSA recall 20V314000, reported in May 2020, covers a fuel pump assembly replacement for the 2018-2019 HR-V, and a broader 2023 recall (23V858000) also covers fuel pump module replacement on the 2018 HR-V.
Are there brake recalls on the 2018 Honda HR-V?
Yes. NHTSA recall 18V777000, reported in November 2018, addresses rear brake caliper pistons on the 2018-2019 HR-V, with dealers bleeding the brakes free of charge.
How does the 2018 HR-V compare to other HR-V years?
The 2018 HR-V's complaint index of 33 is lower than 2016 (67), 2019 (78), 2022 (56), 2023 (100), and 2024 (89), but higher than 2017 (11), 2020 (22), and 2021 (0).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.