2020 Honda HR-V Complaints

AIR BAGS — Filed 09/01/2026

The contact owns a 2020 Honda HR-V. The contact stated that while entering the vehicle, there was abnormal white smoke inside the cabin of the vehicle, and the contact stated that a white cakey substance was in the smoke, which the contact inhaled. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact was concerned that the air bag might deploy unintendedly. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 53,000.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 07/22/2026

While on the highway vehicles warning light illuminated and the vehicle immediately slowed down and would not go over 20 miles per hour. Prior to the warning lights illuminating there were no warning lights already illuminated and no drivability issues. You could hear a griding noise when driving at low speeds and the vehicle would not go above 20 miles per hour. Ended up pulling over and towing the vehicle to the dealership. The dealership mentioned after diagnosis the transmission internally failed and needed to be replaced. They did find metal debris from the transmission belt when draining the fluid and found the fluid to be clean. Found the TSB - Warranty extension from NHSTA website showing all 2016-2020 model year Honda HR-V's with 2WD and AWD included in this warranty extension but when reaching out to Honda Customer Service they denied the warranty extension and called it a goodwill denial and were careful to not mention the warranty extension submitted to NHTSA. The cost would be over $10,000 to replace the transmission with a remanufactured one quote by the dealership. The TSB - Warranty Extension number is 21-047.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 06/12/2026

AMENDMENT TO SAFETY COMPLAINT: FAILURE OF RECALL REMEDY / USE OF LEGACY PART Vehicle: 2020 Honda HR-V NHTSA Recall Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Low-Pressure Fuel Pump) [The 2020 Honda HR-V is under an active, massive federal safety recall for low-pressure fuel pump failure.] Chronological Safety History: •January 2025: Mandatory fuel pump safety recall performed at an authorized Honda franchise. •September 2025: Catastrophic engine stall occurred at highway speeds. •June 12, 2026: Second catastrophic engine stall occurred at highway speeds. Critical Update: Following these severe stalling events, I presented the vehicle to franchised dealer Zeigler Honda. The dealership service department engaged in fraudulent diagnostic practices to evade liability. They falsely claimed the stalling was due to "bad gas," refused to perform a secondary repair, and released a hazardous vehicle back onto public roads. Due to the immediate threat to public safety, I brought the vehicle to a certified independent mechanic. Upon replacement of the system, a component breakdown revealed that the recall part installed in January 2025 was actually an identical, low-density defective legacy component subject to the original recall. The independent mechanic's invoice factually confirms a total mechanical failure of this fuel pump component [The 2020 Honda HR-V is under an active, massive federal safety recall for low-pressure fuel pump failure.]. The system breakdown confirms the plastic impeller deformed and jammed, completely disproving Zeigler Honda's fabricated "bad gas" diagnosis [Honda’s official recall documentation states that the low-pressure fuel pump fails because the plastic impeller absorbs fuel, deforms, and jams against the pump housing, causing the vehicle to stall.]. Regulatory Request: I request that the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) audit this dealership immediately. Zeigler Honda is actively falsifying safety diagnoses to cover up the defective fuel pump

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 07/22/2026

LKAS lights all came on and ACC warnings. Brake system and auto high beams. Mechanic seems to think it’s the camera, car only has 84,000 miles on it and very well taken care of. This seems to be a big common issue with a lot of HRVs and it’s expensive to fix.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 01/01/2025

Instrument Cluster Failure Complaint – 2020 Honda HR-V VIN [XXX] I am reporting an intermittent instrument cluster failure affecting a 2020 Honda HR-V. The digital display that contains the fuel gauge, odometer, and mileage information intermittently becomes heavily pixelated or goes completely blank. I have been dealing with this issue for over a year. The car has 83K + miles. The problem occurs most often during cold weather but has also occurred during warmer temperatures. More rececntly it is happening daily. The display begins functioning again after the vehicle has warmed up, although the failure remains intermittent and unpredictable. Because the display fails without warning, the driver cannot reliably determine the vehicle's fuel level or view odometer and trip information while operating the vehicle. This creates unnecessary distraction and could present a safety concern, particularly during longer trips or in unfamiliar areas where accurate fuel level information is important. After researching this issue, I found numerous reports from other Honda HR-V owners describing nearly identical symptoms involving the instrument cluster on vehicles of the same generation. The consistency of these reports suggests that this may not be an isolated incident but rather a common manufacturing defect. I respectfully request that this matter be investigated to determine whether the instrument cluster failure is widespread enough to warrant corrective action, including the possibility of a Technical Service Bulletin or safety recall. Thank you for your consideration of this matter. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

POWER TRAIN — Filed 03/15/2026

On 3/15/26 the CVT transmission on my 2020 HRV EX-L failed while driving on I-95 near Fairfield, CT. My dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree and the car decelerated and would not go past 20 miles per hour. My safety was put at risk because this happened suddenly doing 60 mph highway. There was no indication of an issue with the transmission when I visited the Honda Service center on Friday, 3/13 to repair a lose panel. They saw no issues. There were two Service Bulletins 21-046 dated 4/27/21 and o6/1/21, respectively that listed certain HRV VIN numbers that had the warranty extended to cover the full replacement cost of the CVT transmission. My VIN is not included. Many of the steps taken by the dealer to determine the transmission failure came from those service bulletins. I would like the NHTSA to look into this issue and contact Honda in order to extend the warranty in order to have the full replacement cost of the transmission covered.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 03/09/2026

•What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The transmission failed and yes it’s available upon request. •How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? My car stop in the middle of the street. No warning or anything. •Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes •Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Manufacturer •Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No, everything happened on 03-09-26. L

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE — Filed 11/01/2025

The whole radar that controls collision mitigation, steering, lane departure, etc. quit working. The car is only a few years old. All these lights go off in the car often times causing the car not to work properly. When we went to the dealership, the maintenance man said that this is a common issue due to the fact that they put the radar system in a location that gets overheated. We filed a claim, but they only will pay for a small portion of it to be repaired. Many of these cars have the same issue.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 02/17/2026

The contact owns a 2020 Honda HR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle bucked, and several warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with CVT failure. The contact was informed that the CVT needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 122,700.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 03/14/2026

2020 Honda HR-V — OBD Monitors Fail to Reset After Battery Replacement. Dealer Refused Help. Cannot Pass MA State Inspection. Following a routine battery replacement, my 2020 Honda HR-V OBD monitors will not reset, making it impossible to pass Massachusetts state inspection. I have followed Honda’s recommended drive cycle exactly — driven 562 miles, completed 142 warm-up cycles — and the system still shows “not ready.” I have made multiple trips to inspection stations, waited in long lines each time, and been turned away every single time. I have lost significant time, wasted fuel, and face real risk of registration penalties — for a car that runs perfectly. When I contacted Honda of Newton Corner — my exclusive service dealership — they told me they could not help me. No escalation. No fix. No support. I am not a mechanic. I am a customer who followed every instruction, trusted the brand, trusted the dealer, and has been left completely alone to deal with this! This is a safety concern. If Honda’s OBD system cannot confirm its own monitors are functioning after 562 miles and 142 cycles, there is no assurance the vehicle’s emissions and safety systems are working properly. This issue is not isolated — multiple HR-V owners across 2019–2022 model years report identical problems. Honda has issued no software fix and no dealer protocol to resolve it. I am requesting NHTSA investigate Honda’s OBD monitor reset failure across HR-V models and require Honda to issue a remedy — including dealer-authorized in-shop resets and a software update. Honda created this problem and has abandoned its customers entirely.I should not have to choose between driving an uninspected vehicle and being stranded. This is a defect in Honda’s drive cycle reset logic. Honda needs to issue a software update and instruct dealers to perform monitor resets!A dealership that exclusively services your vehicle should have all the necessary tools and the obligation to help. Deeply disappointed.

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE — Filed 02/20/2026

While stopped at a traffic signal, the vehicle failed to restart when the light turned green. On another occasion, the vehicle stalled during operation and would not start. The engine would crank but there was no ignition. This created a safety risk because the vehicle was disabled in traffic and unable to move out of the roadway, increasing the risk of a rear-end collision or other crash. The vehicle was towed to a dealership for inspection. The dealer diagnosed a failed Powertrain Control Module (PCM). The diagnosis indicated no spark and that the ignition coils were not receiving signal, although the crank sensor signal was present. The PCM was replaced, and the vehicle started and operated normally after replacement. No additional wiring, fuse, or grounding issues were identified. There were no prior warning lights, dashboard messages, or drivability symptoms before the failure occurred. The failure happened unexpectedly at approximately 52,889 miles. The replaced PCM is available through the servicing dealership if inspection is requested.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,WHEELS — Filed 01/31/2026

I have a 2020 Honda HRV and the gas gauge flickers on and off. I have overheard technicians say this is a common problem with the HRV. The dealer wants to charge 177 to hook it up on the computer to diagnose the HRV. This HRV has only 20,000 miles on it. It has struts that are going bad and this HRV has had all the services done. My wife drives it 2.6 miles a day. I think these issues need to be looked into further.

ENGINE — Filed 02/01/2026

The contact owns a 2020 Honda HR-V. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH or faster, and while driving uphill, the vehicle suddenly stalled. During the first failure, the message “Emergency – Stop Driving Vehicle” was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was turned off and restarted, and the message was no longer displayed. The vehicle was then driven to the residence. The vehicle had stalled three times on three separate occasions. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000.

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE — Filed 12/21/2025

The HRV is available for inspection upon request. It was taken to local Honda dealer for inspection based on the below: December 2025 - Highway driving slightly over speed limit posting 70mph when a majority of the lights on the dashboard came on (transmission, abs brake, awd, engine light, almost all lights) and the car immediately lost speed power and had to emergently pull over into safe lane off the highway. RPM revved irradically up to 6000. Tried to accelerate but it would sputter forward and did not want to shift transmission gears. Honda dealer has inspected the care and state that it needs transmission. The tech looked at it and did a magnet test which was positive information for him to tell me that it needed a transmission and AC belt. There is already a safety bulletin on this issue issued in 2021 covering all HRV models 2016-2000. The car has 112k and is 2020. It fits within the guidelines of the bulletin issued by Honda acknowledging that there is an issue with parts and manufacturing. It is bulletin #21-047: [XXX] Honda has stated my vin does not qualify. Online forums discuss that other people have the same problem in which honda corporate has told them the same thing. No notable warning signs. My safety was challenged and at risk when this happened without any warning at all. I was driving in high speed left lane and could have caused a severe accident with the immediate drop of speed by the car automatically. I have always taken great care of Honda cars that I have owned and this should have never happened. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 12/02/2025

Multi purpose camera warnings. All radar lights on and won’t go off

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 09/10/2025

I bought this car because of the Honda name and it’s been a disappointment. Not only does my display flicker in and out, my heater has completely gone out. The heater box and connecting wires need to be replaced, which to me is a factory default, but nope it’s coming out of pocket. And beaches of the location it’s going to be expensive. Don’t buy the 2020 HRV

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 10/03/2025

Car has 22,000 miles and has a bad fuel pump causing multiple cylinder misfire and loss of power. There was a recall on others in the same year but not this one giving the year and millage and the fact that it's the same issue as the recalled other units logically it should have been part of the recall, and the recall needs to be broadened to include these batches of fuel pumps as well. as is its and expensive repair for a defective part that could be a safety issue. Thanks

POWER TRAIN — Filed 01/19/2025

- The transmission had several problems that failed, leading to the car being unable to drive. The car starts, but does not drive in Drive or Reverse. The exact Honda vehicle codes affected are: P0171 and P0793. -My safety was put at risk because the car had previously stalled several times, leading to needing to pull over on the side of the road immediately, even on what is nearly a highway. -The exact problem was not confirmed by a dealer, but by an independent mechanic. Previous problems, such as the stalling, were confirmed by Caliber Collision in Cinnaminson, NJ. -The vehicle was last inspected by a mechanic in Massachusetts. -There were several of the dash cam lights and error sounds, off and on, since [XXX], upon an accident. The car was repaired after by said Caliber Collision in Cinnaminson, NJ, on more than one occasion between January 19th, 2025 and today, April 4th, 2025. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ENGINE — Filed 02/01/2024

The contact owns a 2020 Honda HR-V. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. On one occasion while approaching a light at approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled and crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The contact mentioned that the husband completed cosmetic repairs. No injuries were reported. No police report was filed. The vehicle would restart each time within 2-30 minutes. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent half a dozen times and the failure was not able to be replicated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 10/16/2024

Brakes failed Yes it is available for inspection (Until Tues Nov 5th as it may be towed from body shop) Car would not stop while trying to park in a parking space and kept moving forward while having foot on break pedal. Therefore the car hit a building wall which is approx. 36ft from the raises parking space curb. The problem has not been reproduced as it was inspected by the insuranced and was considered totaled. To my knowledge the car has been only beed inspected by the insurance company, not the manfacturer. To my knowledge there were no warning lamos or meesages prior to the failure.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 08/05/2023

I was turning left into a parking spot at work with my foot slightly on the break when my engine revvved and my car accelerated at face pace and my brakes were unresponsive causing me to hit a parked truck in front of me. Upon impact my vehicle kept trying to accelerate causing me to keep pushing the truck until my front right side of my car broke off. My car STILL kept accelerating and went across the concrete parking block and finally came to a complete stop. Once stopped I could not get the vehicle to turn off. Within minutes the engine finally died. I work inside a chemical plant right next to a highly explosive unit so this could have been catastrophic. Not to mention the people that work there were coming into work as well and could have been pinned between the two vehicles. The plant I work at has thousands of employees. Had I been leaving work and crossing the highway and this occurred I would have been killed and most likely so would have others. I exit my job onto an extremely busy highway. A police report was not filed because it was inside the plant but several people witnessed it. I had to have my vehicle towed as it was too damaged to drive. I have not contacted Honda because I have seen numerous unresolved complaints so I doubt it would help. Prior to this accident I had no problems with the vehicle. My vehicle is in this shop still as this incident just happened 2 days ago. I would like to get rid of the vehicle but then someone else may buy it and have the same issue.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — Filed 04/15/2022

The contact owns a 2020 Honda HR-V. The contact stated that while driving at a low speed attempting to park the vehicle at park, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated, jumped the curb and crashed into a fence. There were no warning lights illuminated. A police report was filed. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries sustained by the driver or the passenger. There was fire reported. The vehicle was towed to a body shop. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 3,000.

AIR BAGS — Filed 05/30/2021

The car went up in smoke, the airbags never deployed and there was no indicators. The front was all smashed in. I’m completely disabled.

AIR BAGS — Filed 05/30/2021

The car was inspected about 2 weeks prior to the accident. Airbags never deployed nor indicated and the car was smashed in. Electrical problem as I should have seen an indicator and airbags never deploy (wearing seat Belt, neck injury, shoulder and back and bilateral knee injuries)and I am as per dr. Order on medical leave as a result of this auto incident.

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 04/08/2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 HONDA HR-V. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE REVERSED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE THAT WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 11,000.