About this problem
Automatic emergency braking uses a camera, a radar sensor or both to watch the road ahead and brake hard if a crash looks likely. The problem owners report is "phantom braking": the system slams on the brakes for a shadow, an overpass, a parked car or nothing at all. That can startle the driver and risk a rear-end crash from the car behind. Software updates have reduced it on some models but not all.
Across all owner complaints filed about the Honda CR-V since 2012, 747 (7.6%) describe automatic emergency braking problems, the second most reported problem we track on the CR-V. The reports cluster on the 2017, 2018 and 2019 model years, and the 2018 drew the most, with 222. It tends to show up early in the car's life: half of the owners who gave a mileage were between 10,000 and 39,000 miles. 28 reports describe a crash or fire linked to it. No recall covers it, but Honda has sent dealers service bulletins about it, listed below.
What owners report
Owners describe the CR-V braking hard on its own, often at highway speed with nothing in the way: under bridges, past parked cars, in shadows or around curves. Some report the warning chime and a jolt; others report the car slowing sharply enough to risk being rear-ended. The complaints cluster in the 2017 to 2019 model years, the first years this system became standard on most trims.
How it gets fixed
Carmakers have released software updates for many of these systems, and some owners report the problem eased after a dealer update or a camera and radar recalibration. A dirty or misaligned windshield camera, or a replaced windshield that was not recalibrated, can also cause false alarms.
Typical cost: A software update is usually free under warranty. A camera or radar recalibration after windshield work typically costs $150 to $400 at a shop.
Complaints by model year
In owners' words
"The collision mitigation braking system was activated when I drove over large metal panels that were placed on a city street in chicago. I have attached documentation. It happened twice in same spot, jan. 8 and jan."
2018 Honda CR-V, 2,592 miles
"Vehicle has an issue with activating its collision mitigation braking system (cmbs) for no reason resulting in unnecessary slamming of the brakes. This has occurred at least five times over the last five months."
2017 Honda CR-V, 12,000 miles
"I have had my vehicle since march of 2019. On approximately 5 separate occasions since then, the automatic emergency braking system has hard braked at inappropriate times."
2019 Honda CR-V, 10,000 miles
Excerpts from public owner complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, lightly trimmed.
Service bulletins
Honda has sent dealers 13 bulletins that mention this problem on the CR-V. A bulletin tells technicians how to fix a known fault. It is not a recall, so the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty or covered by an extension.
The Adaptive Cruise Control stops working or cancels while driving, and the Collision Mitigation Braking System problem.
Honda has developed software updates to the Honda Sensing system to enhance driver experience by modifying the circumstances when the advanced driver assist system (ADAS) decelerates the vehicle or the extent of deceleration.
American Honda has identified a condition that may affect Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) operation.
Owner Notification Letter - Honda has developed software updates to the Honda Sensing system to enhance driver experience by modifying the circumstances when the advanced driver assist system (ADAS) decelerates the vehicle or t...
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
The ACC, LKAS, ROM, Collision Mitigation Brake System, and BRAKE Indicators come on with a OTC B2A60-49 (multipurpose camera unit internal electronic failure).
Government investigations
Engineering analysis EA24002 · 2017–2022 · opened Apr 2024
Preliminary evaluation PE22003 · 2017–2019 · opened Feb 2022, closed Apr 2024
Before you buy a CR-V
- Drive the car on a busy road with parked cars, overpasses and shadows, where false braking tends to happen.
- Ask whether the braking software has been updated, and check for open recalls by VIN.
- If the windshield was replaced, ask for proof the camera was recalibrated.
Questions
Which Honda CR-V years have automatic emergency braking problems?
Complaints are highest for the 2017, 2018, 2019 model years. The 2018 drew the most, with 222 reports.
At what mileage does it usually start?
Among owners who gave a mileage, the middle figure was about 20,000 miles, and half reported it between 10,000 and 39,000 miles.
How much does it cost to fix?
A software update is usually free under warranty. A camera or radar recalibration after windshield work typically costs $150 to $400 at a shop.