Brake, engine, and vehicle speed control issues are among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
The 2022 Honda HR-V is a fun SUV that’s designed to provide a nimble ride with all of the top tech features. The automaker suggests that it provides “relentless excitement,” but the thrills are causing some owners to visit the service center instead. Many people are complaining about glitchy electrical systems, lack of acceleration issues, and brakes that fail.
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There are lots of complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about the engine and powertrain, brakes, vehicle speed control, and the electrical system. But more specifically, lack of acceleration/deceleration issues top the list. Brakes must also be highlighted because there have been several reported crashes, some with injuries. Electrical system issues are very varied. They range from problems with the electrical braking system to multiple complaints that cite all the system failure messages they have received.
Other components and systems that have attracted complaints include airbags, forward avoidance clearance, the fuel/propulsion system, latches/locks/linkages, steering, structure, and visibility/wiper. Many complaints highlight more than one component or system, some of which appear to be related – others not.
Additionally, there is one recall and an open investigation that relates to the 2022 HR-V.
The recall potentially affects 114,686 Honda Fit and HR-V manufactured between 2018 and 2022. The problem is that the rearview camera image doesn’t always display when drivers start the engine with a key. This is a design error in the audio display power circuit and may increase the risk of a crash.
The investigation is the result of several early warning field reports that allege a loss of motive power for 2018-2022 Honda CR-V and HR-V vehicles. These allege that the vehicles lose power at highway speeds without any warning. According to the field reports, differential seal leaks result in rear differential lock-up as the cause of the loss of motive power. Some of the field reports allege that the rear differential lock-up caused driveshafts to fracture while vehicles were in motion, resulting in vehicles being towed from the scene.
The NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened the investigation on November 28, 2022. By the end of August 2023, it was still open. This means they were (presumably) still determining the scope and severity of the problem. Their mandate was also to “Fully assess the potential safety related issues.”
Meanwhile, issues relating to a loss of motive power continue to be reported to the NHTSA by 2022 Honda HR-V owners. Clearly, it’s impossible for us to gauge whether these consumer issues are related to the ODI in question.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | |
| Electrical System | |
| Engine | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Power Train | |
| Air Bags | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | |
| Steering |
While brake complaints were top of the NHTSA list in September 2023, some of these seem to be more electrical in nature. Here we’re going to look at those that report brake failures, including those that specify problems with the electrical braking system.
An owner from Illinois states that the braking system failed and the 2022 HR-V crashed into a building. The police inspected the SUV, but it was totalled, so there was no way to assess the cause. Fortunately, no-one was injured in the crash.
In another crash that destroyed an HR-V, the airbags didn’t deploy and the driver was injured. The complaint states that this was a recurring problem. On the first occasion, the owner was driving at 60 mph when she depressed the brake. The SUV didn’t stop, but “slid on the road.” A few weeks later, while driving at 35 mph, the brakes failed completely, and she rear-ended another vehicle. This is when she was injured.
An owner from Pennsylvania states that there were issues with error lights and the reverse function a week after purchase. Eventually the problem appeared to be related to the electrical braking system. “I was driving with an infant in the car. Someone needs to investigate why this happened and how to fix it before people end up in an accident.”
An owner from Virginia states in an NHTSA complaint that the check engine light came on while driving at 65 mph. It also displayed that the electric emergency brake was unavailable. Then the “vehicle stalled and lost power steering and braking functionality.”
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We’ve mentioned the recall that relates to a loss of motive power. Whether the issues are the same or not, there are several complaints to the NHTSA that talk about deceleration as well as a lack of acceleration. There is also a complaint that blames “unintended acceleration” for an accident! All are listed as either engine or electrical system problems.
An owner from California describes how the “SUV decelerated rapidly while driving uphill on the grapevine in Los Angeles. I was driving 70 mph and then the SUV’s speed just started to drop and I was pressing down hard on the accelerator. This may have been an issue with the engine or the transmission. My daughter and I could have been seriously injured or killed since we were surrounded by cars going 70+ mph and no one could have expected our SUV to decelerate so quickly on this stretch of highway.” The dealer was unable to replicate the problem.
An owner from Vermont states that while driving at about 40 mph and “attempting to accelerate the vehicle failed to respond.” It stalled before he could shift into gear. At the time, “the brakes, check engine, and several unknown warning lights were illuminated.” According to the complaint, this was the fourth time this had happened!
In contrast, an owner from Texas crashed because of unintended acceleration. This was 10 days after taking possession of a new 2022 Honda HR-V Sport.
“The vehicle suddenly accelerated without warning at high speed. The hard-hitting impact resulted in damage to the front of my vehicle. The building supplies on the driveway took the full impact of the accident. Otherwise, the vehicle could have crashed through the garage door and hit another vehicle.” The complaint adds that while this could have resulted in serious injury or even death, “American Honda denied my claim to replace ECU and repair body damage to the vehicle after examination.”
If you think you have a 2022 Honda HR-V lemon, you don’t have to live with it. If your vehicle problems continue to affect your use of the vehicle and/or its value, rather let Lemberg Law help you get lemon justice. The law makes Honda pay legal fees. And every year they are forced to buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners like you.
If you want us to assess your problems free of charge, just call our Helpline or fill out a contact form to let us know.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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My name is Marty. Long time Honda owner. While I must admit that most of the complaints I’ve read in this article are troubling and need to be addressed by American Honda, not Japanese Honda. All late model Hondas are designed or built in Japan and this makes a monumental difference in vehicle quality. While some systems may come from Japan, most are assembled and organized by American Honda which is not the same entity. Japan is currently undergoing a massive rebuild effort due the tsunami years ago that destroyed their nuclear power plant and automobile manufacturers in the area. I know for a fact that America CANNOT build a Japan quality Honda and never will. Our America is mired in cheap and ignorant manufacturing Technics and so at the cost of our hard working citizens. Personally, I desperately want my Japanese designed, built and exported Honda that I’ve grown to love over the last forty years. I’m a veteran mechanic with 41 years experience and I stand by what I’ve witnessed.
I’ve had my 2022 Honda hrv for a year and a half, worst car purchase ever! I’ve replaced the battery twice, many dash lights are on: road mitigation problem, adaptive cruise control problem, auto high beam problem, lane keeping assist problem, collision mitigation system problem. They have been on for 6-7 months now. I’ve taken back to the dealer four times, now it’s not under warranty so the last two times I’ve taken it I’ve had to pay for a diagnosis fee twice, and a special part cost 280! And nothing has been fixed. So I can’t use my auto high beams, my cruise control, or any of the mitigation system features. I’ve had the steer box replaced and tie rod assemblies, when I had it for less than 6 months and they tried to get me to pay for that saying that my car was in a flood! Which it never was unless it was before I purchased it, which I purchased brand new. Also many times when I press the accelerator the car does nothing! I have to take my foot off it and press it again in order for it to accelerate. Never ever will I get another Honda!
Hello I leased my 2022 Honda hrv sport in late Oct 2021 on sept.27th 2023 I was driving to go see my son graduate army (we never made it) at the time I thought it was a tire blowout but the tow truck driver said different. All of a sudden I heard a loud boom and the car jerked hard to the left which sent us smashing into a cement barriers that divided the lanes of traffic as we slid down the barrier I prayed to God no one would hit us. To my surprise not one of the airbags deployed, and we hit hard so they should of! I’m waiting for the crash report to find out exactly what happened because I still don’t know. All I know is what tow truck driver told me and that it wasn’t a blowout that something broke. No how in the the double hockey sticks does this happen on a car that is not even 2years old? I will update once I get crash report. I am so lucky that my 7yr old and I weren’t killed, we are both still in a lot of pain but at least we are alive.
HONDA HR-V SPORT. Car stalls w/o warning as if it’s in neutral, then accelerates rapidly on its own! So disappointing.
I financed the Honda H-RV on Aug 16th, 2022. On Oct 3rd, 2022, I was going down a hill as I tried to apply the brakes the brake pedal became soft. Mind you, I’m going down a hill catching speed and pedal to the metal foot on the break. As I start to panic and trying to think fast, the car stalled and comes to a stop. I shut the engine off and remove the keys from the starter. I then tow it to the Honda dealer I purchased it from. Just to tell me there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the car. Now I’m stuck with a painful lower back and a dangerous vehicle. (I went to the hospital and my disc from my spine are inflamed.) Feel free to email me some advice
I agree with everyone about the electrical system on the 2022 Honda HRV. I want legal representation for this. Since I got the car in april or march of this year 2022, there’s already 2 big major electrical issues, the odometer and the bluetooth system and the screen keeps resetting itself multiple times weekly. I am disappointed as this was one of my dream car.
Bought my 2022 Honda HR-V LX last March 2022. The engine is noisy and feels like the power is not enough upon acceleration. HELP!
Honda HRV’s electrical system sucks.. Bluetooth doesn’t connect to the car, so u have to use phone’s loudspeaker or use ear pods.
Though it’s 2022 model I feel, I am in black and white Era. Big failure from Honda.
They Need to recall them , I am tired using this defective system . The problem become worse day by day.
Totally agree. Honda HRV’s electrical system sucks.. Bluetooth doesn’t connect to the car, so u have to use phone’s loudspeaker or use ear pods.
Though it’s 2022 model I feel, I am in black and white Era. Big failure from honda.
Never expected this.