Honda HR-V: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Honda HR-V problems by model year, from 1,675 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2022 (45%, 36 drivetrain complaints), 2016 (43%, 93 drivetrain complaints) and 2017 (40%, 46 drivetrain complaints). 4 of the 8 Honda HR-V years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2023 (2%), 2021 (20%) and 2019 (25%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2022 (45%) to 2023 (2%), down 43 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2016 drew the most drivetrain complaints (93 of 318 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Honda HR-V year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 HR-V | high | 43% | 93 | 239 | 2/8 | 2 |
| 2017 HR-V | high | 40% | 46 | 123 | 3/8 | 0 |
| 2018 HR-V | no elevated signal | 27% | 39 | 157 | 5/8 | 3 |
| 2019 HR-V | no elevated signal | 25% | 55 | 235 | 6/8 | 7 |
| 2020 HR-V | elevated | 38% | 29 | 84 | 4/8 | 5 |
| 2021 HR-V | no elevated signal | 20% | 8 | 63 | 7/8 | 4 |
| 2022 HR-V | high | 45% | 36 | 88 | 1/8 | 3 |
| 2023 HR-V | no elevated signal | 2% | 12 | 686 | 8/8 | 3 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Honda HR-V years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Honda HR-V fuel system recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the Honda HR-V involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 11 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2020 | 20V314000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2018–2019 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V215000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2019 |
| Dec 2023 | 23V858000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023 |
8 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2015 | 15V472000 | equipment: other: labels | 2016 |
| Nov 2018 | 18V777000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper | 2016, 2018, 2019 |
| Feb 2023 | 23V046000 | back over prevention: display function | 2019–2022 |
| Nov 2023 | 23V782000 | seat belts: front | 2023 |
| Feb 2024 | 24V064000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger | 2020–2022 |
| May 2024 | 24V384000 | back over prevention: display function | 2019–2022 |
| Oct 2024 | 24V744000 | steering | 2023 |
| May 2026 | 26V332000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger | 2019–2021 |
What the free pages leave out on the Honda HR-V
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Honda HR-V
What are the worst years for the Honda HR-V?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Honda HR-V years are the 2022 (45% of relevant complaints, high), the 2016 (43% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2017 (40% of relevant complaints, high). 4 of 8 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Honda HR-V?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Honda HR-V years are the 2023 (2%), the 2021 (20%) and the 2019 (25%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Honda HR-V have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 8 scored years, 318 of 1,605 relevant NHTSA complaints (20%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2022.
Is the Honda HR-V reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 4 of 8 Honda HR-V years we score have an elevated complaint share and 4 do not. Pooled across those years, 20% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Honda HR-V?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Honda HR-V years we track, out of 11 in total: 20V314000 (May 2020, 2018–2019), 21V215000 (Mar 2021, 2019), 23V858000 (Dec 2023, 2018–2023). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.