DEALER MESSAGE - THE FRONT BRAKES SHAKE OR JUDDER WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE BRAKE PAD, DISC, AND CALIPER ARE MISALIGNED WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Honda CR-V brakes problems
severe Owners of the 2014 Honda CR-V have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the brakes at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 CR-V | 12 |
| 2011 CR-V | 8 |
| 2012 CR-V | 18 |
| 2013 CR-V | 20 |
| 2014 CR-V (this page) | 10 |
| 2015 CR-V | 18 |
| 2016 CR-V | 9 |
| 2017 CR-V | 92 |
| 2018 CR-V | 123 |
1crash
1injury
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a cluster of brake system problems starting early in vehicle ownership. The most alarming are incidents where applying the brakes caused the vehicle to accelerate or lurch forward—one resulted in a collision and vehicle flip when brakes failed at a traffic light. Two separate owners cite repeated sudden acceleration when braking, suggesting a possible pattern rather than isolated driver error.
Rotor problems appear frequently. One owner experienced pulsating brakes at 12,000 miles that worsened to the point of nearly losing control downhill at 65 mph, with rotors warped despite minimal pad wear. Another reports rotors rusting at 24,500 miles in supposedly normal conditions; a third shows severe uneven wear at 17,412 miles—rear brakes worn through while fronts remain nearly new.
Several owners report a burning rubber smell from brakes recurring across multiple seasons, with symptoms clearing after 10–15 minutes of cooling. Dealers have blamed salt and weather removing protective coatings, but owners dispute this explanation given the problem's persistence and recurrence.
One owner mentions brake drag, where brakes continue applying pressure for several seconds after pedal release. Another raises concern that a faulty TPMS sensor and repeated ABS activation may indicate shared electronic system failures affecting braking responsiveness.
These complaints span different mileage points and driving conditions, with multiple owners stating Honda dealers dismissed their concerns as normal wear or driver behavior rather than manufacturing defects.
Same Honda CR-V brakes reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2015 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Brake rotor warping
Rotors warp prematurely, causing pulsation and loss of braking control. One owner nearly lost control going downhill at 65 mph after pulsation developed at 12,000 miles with minimal pad wear.
When: 12,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: pulsating sensation when braking; progressive worsening of pulsation; loss of vehicle control on downhill; minimal brake pad wear despite rotor failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced rotors; covered portion of cost at 12,000 miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer attributed to normal wear and told owner to change driving habits
Sudden acceleration when braking
Multiple instances where applying brakes caused the vehicle to accelerate or lurch forward instead of stopping. Two separate incidents reported in one narrative; another owner experienced sudden acceleration at a traffic light resulting in a crash and vehicle flip.
When: Various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: car lurches forward when brakes applied; vehicle accelerates instead of decelerating; repeated occurrences in same vehicle; loss of braking response
Burning rubber smell from brakes
Acrid burning rubber odor from braking system recurring across multiple driving seasons. First occurred at 6 months old; recurred at least three more times over vehicle ownership. Dealer blamed salt and water washing off protective brake coating, but owner reports problem persists regardless of winter conditions.
When: First at 6 months, recurred multiple times thereafter
Symptoms owners cite: burning rubber smell from brakes; odor dissipates after 10-15 minutes of cooling; recurs with or without harsh winter conditions
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer blamed salt and water removing protective brake coating and lubricant
Rotor rust formation
Rotors developed rust without warning in low-mileage vehicle. Dealer diagnosis attributed rust to wetness and high humidity.
When: Approximately 24,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: rotors rusted without warning
Repairs/costs cited: Rotors needed to be ground down
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer blamed wetness and high humidity; no recall issued
Uneven brake wear (rear pads/rotors vs. front)
Rear brake pads and rotors completely worn through with deep grooves in rotors while front brakes remained nearly new with thick pads and smooth rotors, at only 17,412 miles.
When: 17,412 miles
Symptoms owners cite: rear pads completely worn; rear rotors showing deep grooves; front pads nearly new; front rotors smooth
Brake drag and slow release
Brakes do not disengage normally after pedal release, causing vehicle to continue slowing for several seconds.
Symptoms owners cite: brakes do not disengage normally; continued braking force after pedal release; vehicle continues to slow for several seconds
ABS activation and electronic stability issues (potential sensor concern)
Owner reports ABS activated prematurely during snow driving incident. Separate complaint raises concern that TPMS, ABS, and electronic stability control may share common sensor inputs that could be failing simultaneously.
When: During snow/ice driving
Symptoms owners cite: ABS activated prematurely on snow-packed road; vehicle slid too easily in low-speed curve; concern about shared sensor failures affecting multiple systems
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2014 Honda CR-V?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2014 Honda CR-V?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 17,141 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Honda/CR-V.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.