Honda HR-V Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Honda HR-V model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2021 drew the fewest (63) and the 2016 the most (239).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Still collecting reports |
3 | 0 | Engine | — | 27–28 |
| 2026 Still collecting reports |
17 | 0 | Unknown or other | 5★ | 27–28 |
| 2025 Still collecting reports |
45 | 1 | Steering | 5★ | 27–28 |
| 2021 Among the fewest complaints |
63 | 4 | Air bags | 5★ | 28–30 |
| 2020 Among the fewest complaints |
84 | 5 | Electrical system | 5★ | 28–30 |
| 2022 | 88 | 3 | Electrical system | 5★ | 28–30 |
| 2024 Still collecting reports |
109 | 4 | Steering | 5★ | 27–28 |
| 2017 Among the fewest complaints |
123 | 0 | Power train | 5★ | 28–31 |
| 2018 Among the most complaints |
158 | 3 | Electrical system | 5★ | 28–31 |
| 2019 Among the most complaints |
235 | 7 | Electrical system | 5★ | 28–30 |
| 2016 Among the most complaints |
239 | 2 | Power train | 5★ | 28–31 |
| 2023 | 686 | 3 | Visibility/wiper | 5★ | 27–28 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Honda HR-V years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2016 Honda HR-V: 239 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 74 (31%); Electrical system 56 (23%); Service brakes 25 (10%).
Reports mention 13 crashes, 1 fire, 11 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 53,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2019 Honda HR-V: 235 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 67 (29%); Fuel system 35 (15%); Forward collision avoidance 33 (14%).
Reports mention 19 crashes, 1 fire, 4 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 25,000 miles. 7 recall campaigns listed.
2018 Honda HR-V: 158 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 49 (31%); Fuel system 27 (17%); Power train 15 (9%).
Reports mention 11 crashes, 5 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 28,000 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
The Honda HR-V years with the fewest complaints
2021 Honda HR-V: 63 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 21 (33%); Electrical system 15 (24%); Forward collision avoidance 7 (11%).
Reports mention 5 crashes, 5 injuries. 4 recall campaigns listed.
2020 Honda HR-V: 84 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 20 (24%); Fuel system 14 (17%); Power train 13 (15%).
Reports mention 8 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 37,000 miles. 5 recall campaigns listed.
2017 Honda HR-V: 123 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 32 (26%); Electrical system 28 (23%); Structure 16 (13%).
Reports mention 13 crashes, 7 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 20,000 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Honda HR-V owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2026 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 45 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 109 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 12,979 |
| 2023 | 686 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 13,500 |
| 2022 | 88 | 10 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 14,000 |
| 2021 | 63 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 84 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 37,000 |
| 2019 | 235 | 19 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 25,000 |
| 2018 | 158 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 28,000 |
| 2017 | 123 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 20,000 |
| 2016 | 239 | 13 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 53,000 |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Honda HR-V recalls
- Fuel Pump May Fail (2018–2023 model years; 2,490,460 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 2023; 23V858000)
- Difficulty Steering from Steering Gearbox Damage (2023–2025 model years; 1,693,199 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 2024; 24V744000)
- Air Bag May Deploy Unintentionally During a Crash (2020–2022 model years; 750,114 vehicles across all models; filed Feb 2024; 24V064000)
- Fuel Pump May Fail (2019 model year; 624,552 vehicles across all models; filed Mar 2021; 21V215000)
- Unsecured Seat Belt Pretensioners/FMVSS 208-210 (2023–2024 model years; 303,770 vehicles across all models; filed Nov 2023; 23V782000)
All 13 Honda HR-V recall campaigns · Honda HR-V problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Honda HR-V years FAQ
Which Honda HR-V year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2021 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (63). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Honda HR-V years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2016, 2019 and 2018 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the visibility/wiper. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Honda HR-V problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the visibility/wiper (354 of 1,850 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Honda HR-V have?
NHTSA lists 13 recall campaigns covering the Honda HR-V. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Honda HR-V recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.