Already more complaints than most HR-V years
After only 3 years on the road, owners have already filed 4.8 times as many complaints as a typical HR-V year. The main thing to watch is the lights, wipers and visibility, which half of owners reported by about 13,000 miles. Years with fewer complaints: 2020 and 2021.
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 688 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Honda HR-V. The most reported problem area is the lights, wipers and visibility (400, 58% of complaints), followed by the steering and the body, doors and structure. That is the most complaints of any HR-V year from 2016 to 2024. It has 3 recalls.
5 of these complaints came from Utah owners.
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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 2023 Honda HR-V before you buy.
Lights, wipers and visibility
400 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 13,000 miles.
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
I purchased a brand new 2023 Honda HR-V. Recently, the passenger-side LED headlight assembly suddenly stopped working, and I had to pay $1,500 out of pocket to replace it at a Honda dealer. Shockingly, just one month later, the driver-side LED headlight also completely failed. Having both major LED headlights fail within a single month…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Had my car parked in my house garage. Drove out of garage to go to work. While waiting on garage to close, heard an explosion and realized my back windshield shattered. When I got out to inspect and take pictures, it shattered even more. Took to dealership. Waiting to hear back from Honda corporate. Tired of issues with this car.Owner complaint, filed 2026
Steering
78 complaintsLoss of power steering assist, wandering, play in the wheel and noises when turning.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 23,000 miles.
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
The steering started sticking on sept. 1st. I was driving on croatan highway in obx nc I was surprised because it never did that before. My son in law is. Honda certified mechanic. He said it was sticking. But he could not fix it because Honda needed to fix it. I took it to Honda in va. For my oil and filter change and to check steering.…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Honda HR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. Additionally, the steering wheel was sticking and was firm. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with steering rack…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 23,000 miles
Body, doors and structure
33 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy
Parts named most: Body (33).
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
Rear Hatch glass has shattered while the vehicle is unoccupied two times now. Honda said it was inspected and was fine after the first rear glass was replaced and then the same thing happened again. They state they have no recall, just a safety inspection. Service bulletin 24-012. First Date of damage: 12/15/2023 Second Date of Damage…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The rear windshield of my 2023 Honda HRV shattered and broke randomly. There was no collision, tampering with, or theft attempts. No one was around the car. The rear windshield simply shattered - less than 48 hours after I purchased the car.Owner complaint, filed 2025
Electrical system
30 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 28,000 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 2023 Honda HR-V. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly shut off. The contact stated that the battery was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the alternator and battery were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 36,000 miles
Back window blew out due to faulty defrost system. I had to have it replaced , took 2 weeks because there are no inventory of those windows. Cost me $500 plus rental car fees and timeOwner complaint, filed 2024
Driver assist systems
17 complaintsPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy
Parts named most: Warning (7), Assist (6), Warnings (5).
What to check before you buy
- Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
- Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
- Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owned a 2023 Honda HR-V. The contact stated that while was driving at 20 MPH, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the brakes engaged independently, and while attempting to depress the accelerator pedal again, a bystander collided with the rear driver side corner of the vehicle. The air bag did deploy. The vehicle was…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 34,000 miles
Almost all advanced safety features have stopped working including the ones selected and still others more such as lane keep assist, parking collision warning etc.Owner complaint, filed 2024
Engine and cooling
8 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
slowly pulling into head in parking in front of town homes and engine suddenly had sudden unintended acceleration . Car jumped curb, tried to brake but couldn't get car stopped and ran into end of group town home. Car is now in shop with about $8,000 to $9,000 dollars of damage. No knowledge of damage to home as Geico Insurance hasn't…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The car is making a rotting sound when I start accelerating and it didn’t make that sound before. It feels like it is the catalytic converter. I bought this car brand new, so it is a bit annoying that I am having this issue with a new car that I been having it for less than 3 yearsOwner complaint, filed 2025
Seats and seat belts
8 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
My driver's seat when I raise the height lowers in 1 week whereby I cannot safely drive the car because the seat is to low and cannot see above the dashboard.Owner complaint, filed 2026
I got a "supplemental restraint problem. See your dealer." message on my car's dashboard. My car is available for inspection upon request. The air bags may not deploy in a crash, and this poses a critical safety problem. I haven't taken it to a dealer or independent center yet. It hasn't been inspected by anyone yet. There weren't any…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Wheels and tires
6 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 contact owns a 2023 Honda HR-V equipped with Firestone Tires, Tire Line: Destination LE3, Tire Size: 225/55/R18, DOT Number: 17X5LDLE3. The contact stated that all four tires were inflated for several days before the rear passenger’s side tire had a blowout. While driving 70 MPH, the TPMS warning light illuminated. The rear…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 37,000 miles
I am writing to report a serious tire failure incident involving a Hankook tire that came with my brand-new 2023 Honda HR-V. While driving recently, with approximately 16,500 miles on the vehicle, the rear tire suddenly blew out without any prior warning. Fortunately, I was able to maintain control and safely stop the vehicle without…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Brakes and stability control
5 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy
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
The contact owns a 2023 Honda HR-V. The contact stated that all the warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle stalled upon starting. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the fuse was replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. While depressing the start button, the look in the rear mirror was…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 28,000 miles
The contact owned a 2023 Honda HR-V. The contact stated while driving at approximately 45 MPH and decreasing in speed to exit the highway, a vehicle in front stopped abruptly. The contact depressed the brake pedal with force, however, the brake pedal was soft and traveled to the floorboard. The contact stated she turned the steering…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 13,000 miles
Fuel system
4 complaintsHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy
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
Fuel pump not holding enough pressure causing issues with car starting. No warning lights were displayed. Dealership checked and confirmed and replaced defective partsOwner complaint, filed 2026
The car stalls randomly while driving. Has stalled 5 times in less than a year. 3 times while accelerating and 2 times while coming to a stop at a stop sign. Car was dropped off to dealer for a couple days and testing and evaluated. Dealer service could not determine an issues with any systems. Car being dropped off again to the dealer…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Air bags
3 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
The contact owned a 2023 Honda HR-V. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, a deer abruptly attempted to cross the roadway, causing the contact to veer off the roadway in an attempt to avoid a collision. As a result, the contact collided head-on with a tree. The air bags did deploy but were only partially inflated. No warning…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 7,500 miles
The contact owned a 2023 Honda HR-V. The contact stated while driving at approximately 45 MPH and decreasing in speed to exit the highway, a vehicle in front stopped abruptly. The contact depressed the brake pedal with force, however, the brake pedal was soft and traveled to the floorboard. The contact stated she turned the steering…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 13,000 miles
Transmission and drivetrain
1 complaintHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy
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
While driving, the vehicle experienced a serious steering malfunction. The right front wheel does not respond properly to steering input, while the left wheel responds normally, resulting in uneven steering and loss of directional control. The issue occurred without warning and created an immediate safety risk, especially during turns…Owner complaint, filed 2025
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
Steering wheel gets loose and loud clonking noise from rear of vehicle, back window shattered while car was parked with no one around. Brakes have been grinding since day of purchase.Owner complaint, filed 2023
Cruise control and acceleration
1 complaintHesitation, 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
My Car Loosing Power The screen is black there is nothing showing on the dashboard this has been happening since August 2025 The SUV accelerate while I am driving or braking even when all of the lane changing and braking systems are turn off this happens often whenever I am driving the vehicle. It feels like someone else is in control of…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Honda HR-V complaints by year
Compare the 2023 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2023 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Honda HR-V | Worse than most years | 3 |
| 2023 Subaru Crosstrek | Too new to judge | 0 |
| 2023 Kia Soul | Too new to judge | 4 |
| 2023 Jeep Compass | Too new to judge | 2 |
2023 Honda HR-V recalls
Steering
- Risk
- Difficulty steering can increase the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the worm gear spring and redistribute or add grease as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Acura Integra, Civic Type R, CR-V Hybrid, CR-V, HR-V, 2022-2025 Civic, Civic Hatchback, 2024-2025 Acura Integra Type S, 2025 CR-V Fuel Cell EV, Civic Hybrid, and Civic Hatchback Hybrid vehicles. The steering gearbox assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause excessive internal friction and lead to difficulty steering the vehicle.
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.
Seat belts Front
- Risk
- A seat belt pretensioner missing a rivet will not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt pretensioner assemblies as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Accord and HR-V vehicles. The front seat belt pretensioners may be missing the rivet that secures the quick connector and wire plate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," 209, "Seat Belt Assembles," and 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."
2023 Honda HR-V questions
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Honda HR-V?
The most reported problem areas on the 2023 Honda HR-V are the lights, wipers and visibility (400 complaints), the steering (78 complaints) and the body, doors and structure (33 complaints).
Is the 2023 Honda HR-V a good year to buy?
Already more complaints than most HR-V years. After only 3 years on the road, owners have already filed 4.8 times as many complaints as a typical HR-V year. The main thing to watch is the lights, wipers and visibility, which half of owners reported by about 13,000 miles. Years with fewer complaints: 2020 and 2021. 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 2023 Honda HR-V have?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2023 Honda HR-V. The most recent, from Oct 2024, covers the steering. 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 2023 Honda HR-V problems start?
Half of the owners who reported a problem with the lights, wipers and visibility gave a mileage of about 13,000 miles or less. Half of the owners who reported a problem with the steering gave a mileage of about 23,000 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.
Looking at a 2023 Honda HR-V?
We inspect the car with a scan tool and paint gauge, read the history report and tell you whether it is worth the asking price, before you hand over any money.
- 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