How the 2018 compares
About average for the HR-V
Owners filed about as many complaints as a typical HR-V year. The main thing to watch is the electrical system, which half of owners reported by about 33,000 miles.
Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other HR-V years from 2016 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
Owners have filed 160 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Honda HR-V. The most reported problem area is the electrical system (50, 31% of complaints), followed by the fuel system and the brakes and stability control. That ranks 4th of 9 HR-V years from 2016 to 2024 for complaints. It has 3 recalls.
Complaints160filed with NHTSA
Recalls3for this model year
Crashes115 injuries reported
Fires0reported in complaints
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Start my car searchMost reported problems
Problem areas ranked by how many complaints mention them. One complaint can name more than one area. Open an area to see what to check on a 2018 Honda HR-V before you buy.
Electrical system
50 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 33,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
- Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
- Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2018 Honda HR-V. The contact stated that the LCD display was intermittently distorted or inoperable at startup and while driving, preventing the driver from monitoring the safety features, including the fuel gauge. The dealer was contacted, and an appointment was scheduled for a diagnostic test. The manufacturer was…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 90,000 miles
When I started the vehicle ，LCD screen inside instrument cluster does not read cannot get fuel amount or mileage. It goes normal after driving 40 minutes.It happens every time since 9/20/2026Owner complaint, filed 2026
Fuel system
41 complaintsHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 43,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
- On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
- Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2018 Honda HR-V. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, a fuel odor was noticed inside the cabin. The dealer was notified of the failure, and the vehicle was towed to the dealer. The contact was informed that the fuel odor was normal following an unknown recall repair; however, a pool of fuel was discovered…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 100,000 miles
Fuel pump is failing and not properly propelling the fuel which is causing the car not to start correctly and failing during drivingOwner complaint, filed 2025
Brakes and stability control
18 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 10,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
- The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
- Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.
Tools that help
What owners said
Leak thru rooftop and water coming thru the passenger side. Affected sensor transmission and brake system red lights turn on. Need to replace sensor transmission and rooftopOwner complaint, filed 2021
Whenever I step on the brakes while driving on a bumpy road or any type of bump the brake pedal jitters heavily feeling like the brakes give out for that few seconds. Scares me to think that the brakes might give out or stop working.Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 38,600 miles
Transmission and drivetrain
16 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 97,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
- Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
- Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
- If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.
Tools that help
What owners said
We have a Honda 2018 HRV We purchased it new from Suburban Honda in April 2018 They have serviced the in our ownership The CVT Transmission was serviced and maintained by this dealership The fluid was changed at 29.063 miles and the transmission was updated by Honda at 31781 miles The fluid was changed at 54874 Now at 76081 miles the CVT…Owner complaint, filed 2026
We initially chose this Honda vehicle as we are Honda owners and valued their reliability. While driving with my six year old son in the car our HRV it started shaking anytime I accelerated. No check engine lights or other lights came on but I turned back home and drove my husbands car before taking my car into the shop where they…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Engine and cooling
13 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
- Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
- Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
- Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.
Tools that help
What owners said
my name is [XXX] . My address is [XXX] , phone number [XXX] . I purchased a 2018 Honda HR-V and on yesterday I was driving on the beltway when my engine stalled. The car slowed down n the dashboard became black. It happened at 415pm and I put hazard lights on. Traffic was moving fast and I had just a small area to pull over. I turned the…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Engine suddenly lost power on highway 5 times in last 6 months and would not restart for approximately 12 hours. To lose power at 75 mph on a busy highway risks accidents and injury to driver, passengers, and potentially other drivers on the road. Tow truck drivers and passengers are witnesses to this happening. We have had it towed to…Owner complaint, filed 2022
Body, doors and structure
11 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy
Parts named most: Body (11).
What to check before you buy
- Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
- Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
- Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.
Tools that help
What owners said
The white paint on this vehicle is peeling off. It may come off in a large amount driving down the highway which could cause a safety issue for any vehicle nearby. Honda is aware of this defective paint and should be made to repaint this vehicle no matter when the grace period ranout.Owner complaint, filed 2026
Car paint is White Orchid Pearl and had been issued NHTSA complaint about it. The manufacturer lately issued warranty for the paint limited to 7 years (Mar/2025). Car paint started to chip off firstly on the driver side door as a small spot in 2022 and when notified the dealer, they did not pay much attention. Later on it was peeling off…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Cruise control and acceleration
10 complaintsHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
- Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.
Tools that help
What owners said
The car after a while drives sluggish & brakes very badly even after replacing the brake pads & the roater. I have replacement everything that could affect any of these issues.Owner complaint, filed 2026
While driving my Honda HR-V under normal conditions around noon on Saturday on NC Highway 54, the vehicle suddenly illuminated multiple dashboard lights and began to decelerate despite pressing the accelerator. The steering became extremely hard to maneuver, the brakes did not respond, and I was unable to activate the hazard lights due…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Lights, wipers and visibility
10 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
- Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.
Tools that help
What owners said
The rear glass/rear windshield of my parked car unexpectedly broke after using the rear defrost on XXX I am concerned about a possible defect involving the rear glass and/or rear defroster. Curry Honda, a Honda-authorized dealer, inspected the vehicle and confirmed the glass failure, but the underlying cause was never determined. Curry…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Every honda I have had, civic, accord, Hrv, have had issues with the driver side sun visor. It will not stay up and it makes seeing out the windshield an issue. Also the rearview mirror developed black marks going across a big one portion of the bottom part of the mirror. Making it difficult to see everything.Owner complaint, filed 2025
Air bags
7 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
- Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.
Tools that help
What owners said
SRS / airbag light permanently remain on which indicates a fault with the system. Technician said it’s most likely due to a faulty sensor in the passenger seat.Owner complaint, filed 2026
A 27 mph head on collision. Drivers side door does not open. Approximately 6,500.00 worth of damage. Not 1 airbag deployed. 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…Owner complaint, filed 2022
Steering
3 complaintsLoss of power steering assist, wandering, play in the wheel and noises when turning.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
- On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
- A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
While driving my Honda HR-V under normal conditions around noon on Saturday on NC Highway 54, the vehicle suddenly illuminated multiple dashboard lights and began to decelerate despite pressing the accelerator. The steering became extremely hard to maneuver, the brakes did not respond, and I was unable to activate the hazard lights due…Owner complaint, filed 2025
The contact owns a 2018 honda hr-v. The contact stated that there were several failures with the vehicle. The driver's side door window kept going up and down, the electric power steering (eps) failed, the eps warning indicator flashed, and the steering wheel seized while reversing the vehicle. The vehicle was turned off, restarted, and…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 5 miles
Seats and seat belts
2 complaintsBelts that will not latch or retract, seat adjusters and passenger occupancy sensors.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
- Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.
Tools that help
What owners said
Back seat buckle in the middle seat since buying brand new will only so often actually click and stay clicked. It has (while my child has been buckled in) unbuckle itself while drive down the highway. Wd-40 will fix for a couple daysOwner complaint, filed 2019, at 200 miles
About a month and a half after purchasing this vehicle I took my family (wife and kids) on a weekend trip. It was about an 8-hour drive there and 8 hours back. About 3 hours into the trip my left leg started aching where it meets the seat cushion. I made mention of it to my wife and decided to push on with our journey. About 20 minutes…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 1,000 miles
Wheels and tires
2 complaintsTire failures, wheels and lug nuts, and tire pressure sensor faults.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
- Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
- The tire pressure light should go out after startup.
Tools that help
What owners said
The tires on this car are 215-55-R17 94 V, they were purchased through priority tire in September 2024 they were mounted by Mavis Tire in Lockport Illinois on April 28, 2026 while driving on the Illinois Tollway system at 7:30 in the morning the right rear tire started making a loud noise and then a pop sound. Where I proceeded to get…Owner complaint, filed 2026
I purchased the car with 4,500 miles in it in march 2019. I started driving it in mid april on highway I 71, since I have to commute to my work everyday from mile 169 to 119. The current mileage is 14,000 and had to get it serviced and the tires were rotated two days before the incident. The day of the incident was july 26th 2019. I was…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 14,400 miles
Suspension
1 complaintClunks over bumps, broken springs, worn struts and uneven tire wear.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
- Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
- Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.
Tools that help
What owners said
While driving I noticed a loud noise coming from the rear. Took it in and honda changed out my shocks. I went in a few months later and the equipment they put on is now leaking and the loud noise is back. Honda now refuses to do anything with this part being a 50-60,000 mile part and I have not driven that far.Owner complaint, filed 2021
Honda HR-V complaints by year
Compare the 2018 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2018 small SUVs
Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.
| Car | Vs. its other years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 Honda HR-V | About average | 3 |
| 2018 Subaru Crosstrek | Worse than most years | 5 |
| 2018 Kia Soul | One of the better years | 1 |
| 2018 Jeep Compass | Among the worst years | 6 |
2018 Honda HR-V recalls
This is every recall issued for the 2018 Honda HR-V, not what is still open on one car. A recall that was fixed does not show up any differently here. Check a VIN at NHTSA to see what is still open on the car you are looking at, and ask the seller for proof any recall work was done.
Fuel system Fuel pump
- Risk
- Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Fuel system Fuel pump
- Risk
- If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Honda will notify owners and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura NSX, 2019 Acura RDX, RLX and RLX Sport Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R and HR-V, 2019-2020 Insight and 2019 Fit vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Brakes Caliper
- 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.
Full recall summary
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."
2018 Honda HR-V questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Honda HR-V?
The most reported problem areas on the 2018 Honda HR-V are the electrical system (50 complaints), the fuel system (41 complaints) and the brakes and stability control (18 complaints).
Is the 2018 Honda HR-V a good year to buy?
About average for the HR-V. Owners filed about as many complaints as a typical HR-V year. The main thing to watch is the electrical system, which half of owners reported by about 33,000 miles. Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other HR-V years from 2016 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
How many recalls does the 2018 Honda HR-V have?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2018 Honda HR-V. The most recent, from Dec 2023, covers the fuel pump. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.
At what mileage do 2018 Honda HR-V problems start?
Half of the owners who reported a problem with the electrical system gave a mileage of about 33,000 miles or less. Half of the owners who reported a problem with the fuel system gave a mileage of about 43,000 miles or less. Plenty of cars have these problems later or never, so ask for service records.
Which Honda HR-V years should I avoid?
The HR-V years with the most complaints compared with the rest are 2016. Years with clearly fewer complaints are 2020 and 2021. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly yet.
Check the exact car
These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.
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Where these numbers come from. Complaints are reports that owners filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), counted from NHTSA’s complaint database as of November 5, 2026. Owners do not have to prove a problem to file one, so a complaint is a report, not a confirmed defect. Models that sell in big numbers get more complaints, and newer model years have had less time on the road, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Recalls come from NHTSA’s recall database and cover every vehicle of that model year, not one particular car. Quotes are trimmed, and anything that looks like a VIN is hidden.
- Check a specific car for open recalls at NHTSA
- Decode a VIN to see recalls, safety ratings and complaints for that exact year, make and model