2020 Honda HR-V Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Best The 2020 Honda HR-V ranks 8th out of 10 model years with a complaint index of 22, earning a Best verdict relative to other HR-V years. It has 83 complaints and 5 recalls, with Fuel System issues topping the list at 31% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 22/100
- #8 of 10 HR-V years
- Verdict
- Best
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 83
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 8
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 2
- Top issue
- Fuel System
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 29.5
- 27.5 city / 32.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
Top 2020 Honda HR-V problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Fuel System26 (31%)
- Electrical System21 (25%)
- Engine15 (18%)
- Transmission & Powertrain13 (16%)
- Other8 (10%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras7 (8%)
- Airbags6 (7%)
- Lane Departure6 (7%)
- Brakes5 (6%)
- Steering1 (1%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in a front-end crash, with no warning indicator beforehand.
- Brakes reportedly failed suddenly while backing out of a driveway or trying to park, with no dashboard warning light.
- Owners describe unintended acceleration at low speed while attempting to park, causing the vehicle to jump a curb.
- The vehicle reportedly stalled at speed on multiple occasions, in one case leading to a rear-end collision.
- Transmission reportedly threw diagnostic codes P0171 and P0793 and would not engage Drive or Reverse after stalling.
- One owner reported the passenger airbag physically protruding through the instrument panel with no crash event.
2020 Honda HR-V recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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.
- 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.
- NHTSA 24V064000Feb 1, 2024Airbags750,114 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
Risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
2020 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.
2020 compared with other HR-V years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Honda HR-V reliable?
- Relative to other HR-V model years, the 2020 is one of the better ones. It has a complaint index of 22 and ranks 8th out of 10 years for reported problems, earning a Best verdict.
- What problems does the 2020 Honda HR-V have?
- NHTSA complaints show Fuel System issues lead at 31% of complaints, followed by Electrical System at 25% and Engine at 18%. The 2020 has 83 total complaints and 5 recall campaigns.
- Does the 2020 Honda HR-V have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2020 HR-V, covering airbags, the rearview camera display, and the fuel pump module. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2020 HR-V compare to other years like 2019 or 2023?
- The 2020 HR-V (complaint index 22, Best) fares much better than the 2019 (complaint index 78, Avoid) and 2023 (complaint index 100, Avoid) model years.
- What is the median mileage for reported failures on the 2020 HR-V?
- Across all complaints, the median mileage at failure is 33,500 miles, though this varies by system, for example fuel system issues show a median of 27,662.5 miles.