NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 243 owner complaints for the 2016 Honda HR-V. Most complaints involve power train (76) and electrical system (57). The EPA rates it 28–31 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.
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."
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."
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
“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 of a high-speed collision to myself, my child, and other motorists. This dangerous event has occurred twice, both times on high-speed roadways, presenting an immediate and severe risk of a high-speed collision to myself, my child, and other motorists. A diagnostic scan of the vehicle's OBD-II system revealed error code P271E, which indicates Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) steel belt deterioration. This is a known, documented engineering defect with the metal drive belt fracturing inside the transmission, as outlined in Honda's official Technical Service Bulletin…”
“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.”
“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, recycled 2016 Honda HR-V base-model LX engine assembly (Engine VIN: [XXX]) for a raw cost of only $276.00. They forced this base LX block into my premium EX vehicle trim model (Vehicle VIN: [XXX]). The 8th character '5' on my vehicle's authentic VIN confirms an EX trim, while the 8th character '3' on the installed engine block confirms an incompatible LX trim. This intentional component mismatch caused severe, ongoing communication conflicts with the main vehicle computer modules while driving, causing total critical system failure that ultimately destroyed the transmission.…”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HR-V 2WD Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 1.8 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 28 | 34 | 31 | $2,050 | 290 |
| HR-V 2WD Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.8 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 28 | 34 | 31 | $2,050 | 290 |
| HR-V 4WD Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 1.8 L · All-Wheel Drive | 27 | 32 | 29 | $2,200 | 313 |
| HR-V 4WD Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.8 L · All-Wheel Drive | 27 | 32 | 29 | $2,200 | 313 |
| HR-V 2WD Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 33 | 28 | $2,300 | 314 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
2 safety recalls as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 243 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (76), electrical system (57), engine (23). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2016 Honda HR-V at 28–31 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (5 versions rated).
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2016 Honda HR-V 5 out of 5 stars overall.