YearToAvoid

2019 Honda HR-V Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

78/100

#3 most-complained of 10 HR-V years

The 2019 Honda HR-V ranks 3rd worst out of 10 model years, with a complaint index of 78, 235 NHTSA complaints, and 7 recalls. Owners most often reported Electrical System issues, followed by Fuel System and Collision Avoidance & Camera problems.

Complaints
235
Recalls
7
Crashes / fires
19 / 1
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
29.5
27.5 city / 32.5 hwy

Top 2019 Honda HR-V problems

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

  1. Electrical System67 (29%)
  2. Fuel System65 (28%)
  3. Collision Avoidance & Cameras37 (16%)
  4. Other37 (16%)
  5. Engine26 (11%)
  6. Brakes19 (8%)
  7. Lane Departure18 (8%)
  8. Structure & Body15 (6%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain14 (6%)
  10. Airbags12 (5%)

What owners report

  • Some drivers report sudden, unexpected acceleration when releasing brake hold or moving off from a stop, leading to collisions with vehicles or fixed objects ahead.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in low-speed frontal or rear-end collisions on multiple occasions.
  • One owner described the multipurpose camera that controls driver-assist functions intermittently failing, causing the vehicle to brake unexpectedly or fail to brake at all.
  • An owner reported the engine losing power and stalling to a complete stop on the highway at 70 mph while using cruise control, with the vehicle unable to restart.
  • A separate case described a vehicle catching fire after smoke appeared from the hood and the dashboard screens shut off, with popping sounds heard before flames broke out.
  • Some owners said pressing the brakes in emergency situations did not slow the vehicle as expected, resulting in collisions with objects or other vehicles.
2019 Honda HR-V complaints: complaints filed per quarter342019 Q12020 Q22021 Q22022 Q32023 Q32024 Q32025 Q32026 Q3
325 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2019 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q4 (34).

2019 Honda HR-V recalls

7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V332000May 21, 2026Airbags98,892 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

    Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.

  2. NHTSA 24V384000May 31, 2024Collision Avoidance & Cameras114,686 vehicles

    Back over prevention:software

    Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Fit and 2019-2022 HR-V vehicles that were previously recalled under NHTSA recall number 23V-046. The rearview camera image may not display when the engine is started with a key, due to a design error in the audio display power circuit. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    Risk: An inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the display audio unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2024. Owners may contact Honda service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are TIQ and DIR. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 23V-046 will need to have the new remedy completed.

  3. 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.

See all 7 recalls for the 2019 Honda HR-V →

2019 Honda HR-V fuel economy and fuel cost

City
27.5 MPG
Highway
32.5 MPG
Combined
29.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,200
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.

2019 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
2017Best22122029
2018Good33156329
2019Avoid78235729.5
2020Best1183529.5
2021Best063429.5

All Honda HR-V years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Honda HR-V reliable?
Compared to other HR-V model years, 2019 ranks 3rd worst out of 10, with a complaint index of 78 and 235 NHTSA complaints, giving it an 'Avoid' verdict relative to other years.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Honda HR-V?
NHTSA data shows Electrical System complaints lead at 29% of reports, followed by Fuel System at 28% and Collision Avoidance & Cameras at 16%.
Does the 2019 Honda HR-V have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2019 HR-V, covering airbags, the rearview camera display, the fuel pump module, and rear brake caliper pistons.
What year Honda HR-V should I avoid instead of 2019?
Based on complaint index, 2023 (100) and 2024 (89) rank worse than 2019 (78), while 2017, 2020, 2021, and 2025 are rated 'Best' or 'Good' among HR-V years.
How does the 2019 HR-V compare to other years for fuel economy?
The 2019 HR-V is EPA-rated at 29.5 mpg combined (27.5 city / 32.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,200.

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.