The best HR-V years to buy are 2021 and 2022. Avoid the 2016 and 2019: CVT and push-button start complaints on the first year, and a fuel pump recall and instrument cluster faults on the 2019, give them the most complaints.
Best years: 20212022 Years to avoid: 20162019
Every HR-V year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Per 100k sold | Recalls | Top issue | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 110 | - | 4 | Steering | Too new to judge |
| 2023 | 688 | - | 3 | Visibility and wipers | Too new to judge |
| 2022 | 89 | 77 | 3 | Electrical | Good buy |
| 2021 | 66 | 48 | 4 | Air bags | Good buy |
| 2020 | 86 | 102 | 5 | Fuel System | Good year |
| 2019 | 242 | 244 | 7 | Electrical | Skip this year |
| 2018 | 160 | 187 | 3 | Electrical | Average |
| 2017 | 124 | 132 | 0 | Transmission and drivetrain | Average |
| 2016 | 243 | 296 | 2 | Transmission and drivetrain | Skip this year |
About the HR-V
The HR-V is Honda's smallest SUV, sold in the U.S. from 2016 with a 1.8-liter engine and a CVT. Its complaint rate is low overall. The 2016 had CVT and starting complaints, the 2019 a fuel pump recall and cluster faults, and the 2021-2022 are among the cleanest. The 2023 redesign drew many complaints in its first year, though it is still too new to judge fully.
- 2016-2022: First generation, 1.8-liter with CVT. Refreshed in 2019.
- 2023 on: Second generation with a 2.0-liter. Early complaints are high.
HR-V warranty extensions and special coverage
Carmakers sometimes extend the warranty on a part that fails too often, or pay for a fix outside a recall. These notices come from the dealer bulletins Honda files with NHTSA. 238 HR-V bulletins are on file in total.
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 original date of purchase or 150,...
Today, April 27, 2021, American Honda is announcing a product update and warranty extension for certain 2016-2020 HR-V vehicles to address incorrect CVT operation which may cause vehicle noise, illumination of the MIL, and/or l...
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 original date ...
The exterior paint on the vehicle may peel off.
Today, June 5, 2019, American Honda is announcing a warranty extension for certain 2015-18 Fit and 2016-18 HR-V vehicles with White Orchid Pearl paint to address customer concerns with peeling paint.
This warranty extension only applies to 2015-18 Fit and 2016-18 HR-V vehicles that are painted NH-788P.
In the last few weeks, American Honda has issued several paint warranty extension service bulletins on the Pilot, Odyssey, HR-V and Fit models due to paint defects under S/B# 19-055, 19-056, 19 057, 19-058 and 19-064.
Owner Notification Letter - On some 2015-18 Fit and 2016-18 HR-V models, the exterior paint on the vehicle may peel off.
On August 29, 2019, American Honda launched five revised and one new Warranty Extension paint bulletins.
The vehicle may not start upon first press of the ENGINE START/STOP button.
Ask a dealer to check a specific car by VIN. Extensions usually have a time or mileage limit.
Government investigations into the HR-V
NHTSA opens an investigation when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Some end in a recall and some close without one.
Recall query RQ24006 · 2023, 2024 · opened Apr 2024, closed Mar 2025
On April 4, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened RQ24006 to investigate American Honda Motor Co.’s (Honda’s) proposed remedy for recall 23V-782 as well as scope of the vehicles involved.
Preliminary evaluation PE22011 · 2018–2022 · opened Nov 2022, closed Jul 2024
On November 29, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE 22-011 after reviewing field reports alleging rear differential seizure in 2018-2022MY Honda CR-V and HR-V vehicles equipped with all wheel drive.
HR-V vs rivals
Which years drew fewer problems per car soldHonda HR-V vs Mazda CX-30
Which years drew fewer problems per car soldHonda HR-V vs Subaru Crosstrek
Which years drew fewer problems per car soldHyundai Kona vs Honda HR-V
Which years drew fewer problems per car soldNissan Kicks vs Honda HR-V
Which years drew fewer problems per car soldBuick Encore vs Honda HR-V
Which years drew fewer problems per car sold
Questions
What is the best year for the Honda HR-V?
2021 and 2022. The best HR-V years to buy are 2021 and 2022. Avoid the 2016 and 2019: CVT and push-button start complaints on the first year, and a fuel pump recall and instrument cluster faults on the 2019, give them the most complaints.
Which Honda HR-V years should I avoid?
2016, 2019. These drew far more owner complaints per car sold than the Honda HR-V average.
Is the Honda HR-V reliable?
Mostly, yes. Its average complaint rate is low. The 2021 and 2022 have very few complaints; on a 2019, make sure the fuel pump recall is done.
Based on 1,808 complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators for model years 2016 to 2024, and U.S. sales by calendar year. How we score.