AI Damage2018 Honda HR-V: common problems
Owners of the 2018 Honda HR-V filed 160 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and fuel system. The maker issued 78 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 160
- involving a crash
- 11
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 78
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 31% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel system 17% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 10% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 9% of all complaints
- 6 Engine 8% of all complaints
- 7 Structure 7% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 6% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 50 complaints (31% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
- Fuel system: 27 complaints (17% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 24.
- Powertrain: 16 complaints (10% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 13.
- Service brakes: 15 complaints (9% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 14 complaints (9% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.8 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- CVTnamed in 10 complaints
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 160 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 50 | 3 | 5 |
| Fuel system | 27 | 0 | 24 |
| Powertrain | 16 | 0 | 13 |
| Service brakes | 15 | 5 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 11 | 2 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 10 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility | 8 | 0 | 5 |
| Air bags | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Electronic stability control | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
2025 I was at a red light on Normandie Avenue and Exposition Blvd the light turned green and as I was entering the intersection going southbound my doors on the vehicle started locking and un locking, my dashboard went black and the car shut off, The Braking system malfunction, the airbag did not deploy, my knees hit…
On March 11, 2025 I took my car to Gardena Honda for a fuel pump recall for my 2018 Honda HR-v ex. On September 17, 2025 I had a system malfunction where the doors were locking and unlocking the dashboard went black and a car symbol with doors opened appear on the dash, the car shut off and I tried to brake but they…
*How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? -YES. [XXX] Burbank, CA, intersection [XXX] and [XXX] [XXX] ) There was a huge rainfall this evening. I was heading east on [XXX] and was about to make a "U" going back opposite direction.
Prior to this incident, we experienced some minor incidents such as : - Car would not start at the first try and we had to try multiple times. We took the car to the dealer we purchased the vehicle and they replaced battery. Even after the replacement of the battery, it occurred couple more times.
Driver was wearing seat belt. The car is approx. 4 yrs old. well maintained. Inspected not long before the accident. I am very concerned at 27mph head on collision the air bags do not deploy, At what speed will they?? Or will they deploy at all? The HR-V has a 5 star rating.
The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that there was no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to billion auto - honda in iowa city ([address], iowa city, [ZIP]) where they informed the contact of the body repair of the vehicle however, was unable top diagnose the defect failure.
Total brake failure in winter weather. Breaks completely fail to stop the vehicle at a speed of 30 miles in winter. Breaks completely fail to stop the vehicle causing a serious crash. When I applied breaks to stop the car at a stop sign the vehicle failed to come to stop as expected and cause a dangerous accident.
The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained bruises from the seat belt, which did not require medical attention. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The vehicle was ruled out as a complete loss.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 404 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 19% most complained about).
On average one model year of the HR-V has 168 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 160, about average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Service Bulletin - Due to the possibility of early deterioration of the Continuous Variable Transmission…
Service Bulletin - Due to the possibility of early deterioration of the Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) drive belt, American Honda is extending the warranty coverage on these CVT models to 7 years from the…
- Service News - Some customers have complained of fluid leaking from the rear differential after it has…
Service News - Some customers have complained of fluid leaking from the rear differential after it has been serviced due to over-torqueing of the drain plugs during servicing.
- Dealer Message Request for Visit
2018-2022 Accord & HR-V Front Damper Noise (ACTION REQUIRED)
- Service Bulletin - (Repair Procedure Revision) Due to swelling of the fuel pump motor impeller, the fuel…
Service Bulletin - (Repair Procedure Revision) Due to swelling of the fuel pump motor impeller, the fuel pump may seize and stop working. If this occurs, the engine may not start, or the engine could stall while…
- Servicenews article - If you are inspecting an HR-V and notice oil residue on the A/C condenser, it's not…
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…
- Dealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2021 HR-V that exhibits a leak at the A/C Condenser. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any…
- Dealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2021 HR-VS that exhibit a leak at the A/C Condenser. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any…
- 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…
- "Customer letter - Our records indicate that a PRODUCT UPDATE has not been completed on this vehicle
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…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2020 HR-Vs with a customer complaint of a rattling noise coming from the rear damper when going over bumps. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to…
- Service Bulletin - Due to the possibility of early deterioration of the Continuous Variable Transmission…
Service Bulletin - Due to the possibility of early deterioration of the Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) drive belt, American Honda is extending the warranty coverage on these CVT models to 7 years from the…
- "Service Bulletin - Due to the possibility of early deterioration of the Continuous Variable Transmission…
"Service Bulletin - Due to the possibility of early deterioration of the Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) drive belt, American Honda is extending the warranty coverage on these CVT models to 7 years from the…
NHTSA lists 78 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Honda HR-V?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, fuel system, powertrain. Total complaints: 160. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (16%), warning lights, check engine (14%), stalls while driving (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2018 Honda HR-V?
NHTSA lists 78 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2018 Honda HR-V from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2018 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.