2016 Honda HR-V Problems & Complaints

Not enough data

Owners have filed 243 complaints about the 2016 Honda HR-V with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. There isn't enough complaint history for the HR-V to compare model years reliably. The most reported problem area is the transmission & drivetrain (76 complaints, typically around 78,000 miles). 2 recalls cover this model year.

243complaints
2recalls
13crashes
1fires
11injuries
0deaths

Most common 2016 Honda HR-V problems

  • 7631%
  • Electrical system~46,000 miles
    5723%
  • Other / not specified~18,000 miles
    4519%
  • Brakes~52,000 miles
    2510%
  • Engine & cooling~66,000 miles
    239%
  • Body & structure~54,000 miles
    229%
  • Speed control & acceleration~69,000 miles
    146%
  • Air bags~30,000 miles
    135%
  • Lights~50,000 miles
    104%
  • Seats~34,000 miles
    83%
  • Wheels & tires~1,000 miles
    73%
  • Suspension~24,000 miles
    62%
  • Windows, wipers & sunroof~7,000 miles
    42%
  • Fuel & propulsion system~10,000 miles
    31%
  • Steering~14,000 miles
    31%
  • Driver assistance
    31%
  • Seat belts~1,000 miles
    21%
  • Stability & traction control~46,000 miles
    21%

Share of the 243 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Honda HR-V complaints by model year

20162017201820192020202120222023202420252026202724312315923685638968711047186
Owner complaints per model year, Honda HR-V. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best HR-V years: 2020. Years to avoid: 2023, 2024, 2025, 2019, 2022. Compare all years →

2016 Honda HR-V recalls (2)

Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Caliper

NHTSA recall 18V-777 · Nov 1, 2018 · 64,785 vehicles

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.

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.

Equipment › Other › Labels

NHTSA recall 15V-472 · Jul 28, 2015 · 11,511 vehicles

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…

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.

What 2016 Honda HR-V owners say

Transmission & drivetrain all 76 →

The contact owns a 2016 Honda HR-V. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the engine revved loudly, and the vehicle started shuddering and decelerated unintendedly. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that he continued driving; however, the vehicle failed to exceed 30 MPH. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond as needed while attempting to drive from a complete stop. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to TSB Number: 21-047. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle had exceeded the 7-year warranty period. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

110,000 miles · Oct 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Honda HR-V. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle would not accelerate past approximately 35MPH while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was towed to the same local dealer on several occasions, where it was diagnosed as needing a battery, an unknown belt, and torque converter replacement. The vehicle was repaired at the consumer's expense. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer (Performance Kings Honda|9131 Fields Ertel Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45249) where it was diagnosed with a Transmission failure related to NHTSA Campaign:10236086 (Power Train); however, the coverage had expired in 2023 or up to 150,000 miles. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000.

133,000 miles · Nov 2023

Electrical system all 57 →

Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 2016 Honda HR-V. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle advertised mileage was 92,340. However, after the purchase, the contact noticed that the mileage was approximately 83,000. While driving at a later date, the contact noticed an odometer malfunction and discovered that the current mileage was 194,000.

Instrument panel › Speedometer/odometer · 194,000 miles · Oct 2026

Push start/stop button was noting working properly (this had a recall and was replaced). However after it was repaired, I noticed the right-sided gas gauge with service repair numbers, milage etc is not working properly; the gas guage and service repair codes disappear and/or are scrambled. I took this to the Honda dealership in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, and was told by the service advisor (Drew Mechley) that their mechanic said he doesn't think it is related to the start/stop button repair but this is a common probelm seen with HR-Vs. I also found multiple forums with people experiencing the same issue. Here is one of the forums [redacted] . I am concerned this is a safety issue as I cannot see when my gas is out and cannot see when a service code displays for needed maintenance that could damage the vehicle if it is not completed. …

Apr 2024

Brakes all 25 →

The contact owned a 2016 Honda HR-V. The contact stated that while driving at 12 MPH, the vehicle experienced a brake failure, resulting in a frontal collision with a utility vehicle. The airbag deployed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a private salvage auto auction yard. The contact stated that the vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. There was no property damage. A police report was filed. The contact was transported by ambulance to the ER, and the contact was moved to a level 1 trauma unit, where she was treated for multiple injuries, including hematomas on the abdomen, fractured ribs, and several body bruises and lacerations. The failure mileage was approximately 64,612.

65,000 miles · May 2025 · crash · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2016 Honda HR-V. The contact stated that while stopped, the ABS, Brake, traction control, and several other warning lights flashed on the instrument panel. The contact called the dealer and was informed that the vehicle was safe to drive to the residence, but not for regular daily use. Once the contact was at the residence, the contact repeatedly restarted the vehicle after the warning lights turned off; however, the warning light returned after additional restarts. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the mechanic discovered DTC: 3211, which was related to the ABS solenoid valve malfunction. The contact was informed that the failure did not need immediate service, and the vehicle could be driven for short-range trips; the vehicle was reset, and the warning lights were cleared. …

195,000 miles · Mar 2026

2016 Honda HR-V engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
1.8L 4-cylCVTFWD28 / 34 / 31
1.8L 4-cylCVTAWD27 / 32 / 29
1.8L 4-cyl6-speed manualFWD25 / 33 / 28

EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Honda HR-V a good car?

There isn't enough complaint history for the HR-V to compare model years reliably. So far owners have filed 243 complaints with NHTSA.

What is the most common problem with the 2016 Honda HR-V?

The transmission & drivetrain — 76 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (57) and brakes (25).

How many recalls does the 2016 Honda HR-V have?

There are 2 recalls for the 2016 Honda HR-V, the most recent from November 1, 2018 (caliper). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the Honda HR-V?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2023, 2024, 2025, 2019 and 2022. See the full Honda HR-V years comparison.

At what mileage do 2016 Honda HR-V problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 53,000 miles; 46% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.