2016 HONDA HR-V — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
5/5
Safety Rating
309
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
50
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2016 HONDA HR-V
The 2016 HONDA HR-V has received a total of 309 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER, EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS, TIRES. 50 technical service bulletins have been issued by Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Power Train (71 complaints), Electrical System (55 complaints), and Unknown Or Other (41 complaints).
Recalls for the 2016 HONDA HR-V
NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 2016 HONDA HR-V, potentially affecting up to 87,807 vehicles.
Recall 18V777000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
| 64,785 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
Consequence: 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.
View full details →Recall 15V472000 — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
| 11,511 vehicles affected
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 HR-V vehicles manufactured January 12, 2015, to May 20, 2015. The affected vehicles may be missing the required tire placard indicating "Tire and Loading Information." These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 110, "Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation Vehicle...
Consequence: If the tire placard is missing the driver or owner may not know at what pressure to inflate the tires, resulting in over or under tire inflation which potentially increases the risk of a tire failure and crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle, and apply a new label, free of charge. The recall began on September 18, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is JT2,...
View full details →Recall 15V472000 — TIRES
| 11,511 vehicles affected
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 HR-V vehicles manufactured January 12, 2015, to May 20, 2015. The affected vehicles may be missing the required tire placard indicating "Tire and Loading Information." These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 110, "Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation Vehicle...
Consequence: If the tire placard is missing the driver or owner may not know at what pressure to inflate the tires, resulting in over or under tire inflation which potentially increases the risk of a tire failure and crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle, and apply a new label, free of charge. The recall began on September 18, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is JT2,...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2016 HONDA HR-V
309 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2016 HONDA HR-V. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 71 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 55 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 41 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 23 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Engine | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebody | 20 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 13 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Wheels | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibilitywiper | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance Automatic Emergency Braking | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuelpropulsion System | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control Esc | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical System Instrument Clusterpanel | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lightingtail Lights | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebodyhatchbackliftgate | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tirespressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Controlaccelerator Pedal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
My vehicle suddenly developed electrical problems and would not start. Before it completely failed, I began seeing warning lights on the dashboard, including a PARK warning and an engine oil light. The vehicle had been operating normally earlier that day, but later became totally unresponsive. The doors would not unlock electronically and the car would not start. This happened after a period of heavy rain. When the vehicle was inspected by a Honda dealership, they found signs of long-term water intrusion and corrosion affecting electrical components and wiring. I later learned that the vehicle had previously been repaired for water intrusion through the rear hatch/tailgate area, which may have allowed moisture into the vehicle over time. The car is now inoperable. This raises safety concerns because electrical failures like this can lead to sudden loss of reliability, inability to start the vehicle when needed, or potential failure while driving. The issue has been confirmed by a dealership service department, and the vehicle remains unusable. I am concerned that water may be entering through the tailgate or rear hatch area and damaging electrical systems. I have also seen similar complaints involving water intrusion and electrical failures in this model.
My vehicle suddenly developed electrical problems and would not start. Before it completely failed, I began seeing warning lights on the dashboard, including a PARK warning and an engine oil light. The vehicle had been operating normally earlier that day, but later became totally unresponsive. The doors would not unlock electronically and the car would not start. This happened after a period of heavy rain. When the vehicle was inspected by a Honda dealership, they found signs of long-term water intrusion and corrosion affecting electrical components and wiring. I later learned that the vehicle had previously been repaired for water intrusion through the rear hatch/tailgate area, which may have allowed moisture into the vehicle over time. The car is now inoperable. This raises safety concerns because electrical failures like this can lead to sudden loss of reliability, inability to start the vehicle when needed, or potential failure while driving. The issue has been confirmed by a dealership service department, and the vehicle remains unusable. I am concerned that water may be entering through the tailgate or rear hatch area and damaging electrical systems. I have also seen similar complaints involving water intrusion and electrical failures in this model.
As the vehicle begins to pull away via creeping the user places foot on accelerator pedal and gently pushes it to accelerate the vehicle from a stop. The car loses power intermittently and jerks aggressively trying to accelerate but somehow unable to, if you’re really careful you can avoid this danger by accelerating slower than a Walmart electric mobility scooter. A clear danger on the road. It’s exponentially worse at high speeds trying to merge onto highway.
The transmission seized while driving no lights no warnings. I could have been killed so could other people! when no lights no check engine light or service lights are on. And your car is properly maintained there should be no reason the transmission should just seize while Driving with no warning shame on Honda shame on everyone who lets them get away with putting peoples life’s endanger. CVT transmission are not safe or the engineers have failed my lights all work too and still have no check engine light on. Car is totally underivable no lights nothing.
The CVT transmission, which is part of the vehicle’s powertrain system, experienced a premature failure. The vehicle became inoperable and was in an unsafe location, so the police had to tow it. I am not sure if a police report was issued. The tow resulted in extensive impound fees. The transmission is available for inspection upon request. The failure caused loss of power and unpredictable operation, making the vehicle unsafe to drive, especially in traffic. This created a risk of collision to myself, my passengers, and other motorists. The problem has been diagnosed and confirmed by a Honda dealership, which determined the transmission has failed and that the vehicle is not safe to operate. The vehicle has been inspected by a Honda dealership, and the manufacturer has been notified through Honda Customer Relations. There were no warning lights or messages prior to the failure. The transmission failed suddenly and without warning. The exact date of the failure is 01/15/2026 and it happened at 105,000. I’ve only had the car 10 months and started with 93,853.
Safety Rating for the 2016 HONDA HR-V
The 2016 HONDA HR-V received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
| Test Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Frontal Crash | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Side Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rollover | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2016 HONDA HR-V
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) has issued 50 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2016 HONDA HR-V. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
A22080B — VISIBILITY
Servicenews article - If you are inspecting an HR-V and notice oil residue on the A/C condenser, it's not always an indication that the condenser is leaking refrigerant. The source of oil residue can potentially come from other components.
ATI&04122022902 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Dealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2021 HR-V AWDs with a customer complaint of inaccurate fuel gauge reading; less fuel remains in the fuel tank than indicated on the fuel gauge. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to...
ATI&11292021908 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:FUEL GAUGE
Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2021 HR-V AWDs with a customer complaint of inaccurate fuel gauge reading; less fuel remains in the fuel tank than indicated on the fuel gauge. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to...
ATI&10252021902 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2021 HR-V AWDs with a customer complaint of inaccurate fuel gauge reading; less fuel remains in the fuel tank than indicated on the fuel gauge. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to...
ATI&10052021903 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2021 HR-V AWDs with a customer complaint of inaccurate fuel gauge reading; less fuel remains in the fuel tank than indicated on the fuel gauge. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to...
ONL6MT6M9061721 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Owner Notification Letter - Honda is conducting a product update to your 2016-20 HR-V. The current continuously variable transmission (CVT) software does not properly monitor internal fluid pressure and detect early CVT belt failure. This can possibly cause the vehicle not to move when accelerating. Honda is providing a product...
ABOM04272021 — POWER TRAIN
Dealer Message - Today, April 27, 2021, American Honda is announcing a product update and warranty extension for certain 2016-2020 HR-V vehicles to address incorrect CVT operation which may cause vehicle noise, illumination of the MIL, and/or loss of motive force in extremely rare situations. American Honda is extending the...
APaS03302021908 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2021 HR-V AWDs with a customer complaint of inaccurate fuel gauge reading; less fuel remains in the fuel tank than indicated on the fuel gauge. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to...
A20-116 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Service Bulletin - The vehicle may not start upon first press of the ENGINE START/STOP button. Also, MID displays the error message KEYLESS START SYSTEM ERROR, and DTC B12C5 (Engine Start/Stop Switch Failure) is stored. American Honda is extending the warranty for the keyless start system on these vehicles to...
A20-116 — EQUIPMENT
Service Bulletin - The vehicle may not start upon first press of the ENGINE START/STOP button. Also, MID displays the error message KEYLESS START SYSTEM ERROR, and DTC B12C5 (Engine Start/Stop Switch Failure) is stored. American Honda is extending the warranty for the keyless start system on these vehicles to...
Showing 10 of 50 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2016 HONDA HR-V
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the HONDA HR-V
- 2016 HONDA HR-V (current)
- 2017 HONDA HR-V — 155 complaints
- 2018 HONDA HR-V — 179 complaints
- 2019 HONDA HR-V — 281 complaints
- 2020 HONDA HR-V — 97 complaints
- 2021 HONDA HR-V — 65 complaints
Other HONDA Models
- HONDA ACCORD — 30,831 total complaints
- HONDA CR-V — 20,109 total complaints
- HONDA CIVIC — 19,776 total complaints
- HONDA ODYSSEY — 15,588 total complaints
- HONDA PILOT — 12,071 total complaints
- HONDA FIT — 2,686 total complaints
- HONDA RIDGELINE — 2,527 total complaints
- HONDA PASSPORT — 2,079 total complaints