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2017 Honda HR-V problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
40%
46 of 114 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

40% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2017 Honda HR-V are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Better than 53% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 9 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 37%).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2017 Honda HR-V have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 46 of 114 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Honda HR-V concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (40%), and the largest group is filed under power train (32). For comparison, the 2016 scores 43% and the 2018 scores 27%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
46
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
123
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
0
13 crashes · 7 injuries

Complaints by component

POWER TRAIN32 · 26%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER28 · 23%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM28 · 23%
STRUCTURE16 · 13%
SERVICE BRAKES13 · 11%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM11 · 9%

The years either side

2010
no data
2011
no data
2012
no data
2013
no data
2014
no data
2015
no data
2016
43%
93 of 239
2017
40%
46 of 123
2018
27%
39 of 157
2019
25%
55 of 235
2020
38%
29 of 84
2021
20%
8 of 63
2022
45%
36 of 88
2023
2%
12 of 686

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2017 Honda HR-V

What one owner reported

POWER TRAIN09/08/2026
In 2020/2021 Honda did a * Honda Service Bulletin 21-046 Honda Service Bulletin 21-047. They knew the CVT on models 2016/2021 had early CVT failure. They had us come in to add a program that was supposed to give us warning if the belt was going to break so we had time to get to a mechanic or the dealer before complete…

One of 46 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Checking one particular 2017 Honda HR-V? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2017 Honda HR-V

Does the 2017 Honda HR-V have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 46 of 114 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Honda HR-V concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (40%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2017 Honda HR-V?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2017 Honda HR-V.

Which Honda HR-V years are better?

Among the Honda HR-V years we track, the 2023 (2%), the 2021 (20%) and the 2019 (25%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2017 (40%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2017 Honda HR-V?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2017 Honda HR-V has an elevated transmission complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing transmission work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the transmission. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.