2016 Honda HR-V recalls and problems

The 2016 Honda HR-V has 2 safety recalls and 244 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Honda dealer.

Recalls
2
Complaints
244
Crashes / fires
13 / 1
Injuries / deaths
11 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2016 Honda HR-V vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2016 Honda HR-V recalls

Recall 18V-777: Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Reported Nov 1, 2018 · 64,785 vehicles affected · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Problem: 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

Risk: A reduction of braking performance increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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. Honda's numbers for this recall are C31 and L30.

Recall 15V-472: Equipment, Tires

Reported Jul 28, 2015 · 11,511 vehicles affected · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Problem: 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 Standard (FMVSS) 110, "Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less."

Risk: If the tire placard is missing the driver or owner may not know at what pressure to inflate the tires, resulting in over or under tire inflation which potentially increases the risk of a tire failure and crash.

Fix: 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. Honda's number for this recall is JT2, or JT4.

2016 Honda HR-V problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Power Train77
Electrical System57
Unknown or Other45
Engine23
Service Brakes23
Structure22
Vehicle Speed Control14
Air Bags13
Exterior Lighting10
Seats8
Suspension6
Wheels5

Most reported parts

  • Structure › Body — 21
  • Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking — 3
  • Tires › Pressure Monitoring and Regulating Systems — 1
  • Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal — 1
  • Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate — 1
  • Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel — 1
  • Exterior Lighting › Tail Lights — 1
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist › Electric › Solenoid/Actuator — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 54,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2016 Honda HR-V complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Power Train · at 132,972 miles · reported Nov 6, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Honda HR-V. The contact stated that there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer, but the dealer was unable to duplicate or diagnose the failure. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle shut off without warning. The driver safely maneuvered the vehicle to the shoulder of the highway with the assistance of another motorist, and the vehicle was towed to the residence. Upon further research, the owner discovered Technical Service Bulletin: 21-047. The vehicle was then…
Electrical System · at 194,000 miles · reported Oct 16, 2026
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.
Power Train · reported Oct 12, 2026
Vehicle: 2016 Honda HR-V Approximate Mileage: 114,400 miles Incident Description: While driving at highway speeds on the freeway, the vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic loss of motive power and dropped into an emergency "limp mode." The vehicle suddenly refused to accelerate and could not maintain highway speeds, forcing me to navigate across active lanes of traffic to the shoulder to avoid being rear-ended. My minor child was present in the vehicle during these instances. This dangerous event has occurred twice, both times on high-speed roadways, presenting an immediate and severe risk…
Engine · reported Oct 6, 2026
Description of Safety Defect: This vehicle represents an immediate public safety hazard and total safety certification invalidation due to an unauthorized, mismatched engine model swap executed by Camelback Toyota Collision Center under Workfile ID: XXX. The facility utilized official manufacturer network credentials under a certified status to secure a premium repair contract, but secretly outsourced the vehicle. According to the shop's Final Bill (RO Number: XXX) and the corresponding parts supplier records (LKQ of Arizona Invoice No. XXX), the facility purchased a cheap, unserviced…
Unknown or Other · reported Sep 1, 2026
The factory white paint on my 2016 Honda HR-V is severely peeling, and delaminating from the vehicle body panels. The paint failure has exposed bare metal beneath, resulting in rapid corrosion and rust formation. Large flakes of paint have detached while driving at highway speeds, creating a dangerous flying debris hazard for vehicles behind me and distracting other drivers.My local authorized Honda dealership has inspected the damage but refused to repair or address the factory defect, citing the age of the vehicle. American Honda has denied my case 165-37949 saying the age of the car…

Other Honda HR-V years

Compare all Honda HR-V years · All Honda models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Honda HR-V have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2016 Honda HR-V: 18V-777 (service brakes, hydraulic), 15V-472 (equipment, tires). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

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

Owners report power train problems most often (77 reports), followed by electrical system (57). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 54,000 miles.

Are Honda recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Honda dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.