I am submitting this complaint regarding a sudden and unsafe CVT transmission failure on my Honda vehicle. While driving, the vehicle began shaking violently, lost the ability to accelerate, and multiple warning indicators illuminated, including the check engine light. The vehicle was unable to be driven safely and had to be towed. A diagnostic inspection performed by an authorized Honda…
2016 Honda HR-V powertrain problems
moderate 72 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
72
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
When does it fail?
Of the 72 powertrain complaints filed for the 2016 Honda HR-V, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 7 model years of Honda HR-V we track for powertrain problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 72.
Powertrain accounts for 31% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 11 categories tracked.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
While driving the vehicle began to rev and acted as if it was no in gear, no power, it began to slow and when I stopped it would not change into any gear except park. The vehicle has 85,112 miles
I was leaving work and driving down a busy, high speed road when the car experienced a total transmission failure. There were no warning lights or change in performance prior to the incident. Car has been dealer maintained and up until that moment had performed well. Police had to stop traffic and assist me out of busy intersection.
I was driving my 2016 Honda hrv and started to lose power. Warning lights for brake system and engine, along with other lights came on. I was able to safely pull over. I was able to turn off and turn car on and warning lights on dashboard were still on, however I was not able to engage the car in either drive or reverse position. When tow truck driver arrived, he was able to engage car to drive.…
Driving on interstate when vehicle suddenly downshifted resulting in lurch slowdown and high engine rpms. Pulled to median. Shift indicator light flashes, dash Brake System warning light flashes, Parking system warning lights, check engine light on. Attempted to drive to nearby dealer for troubleshooting. Vehicle drives when put into gear, but must paddle shift into higher gears. After couple…
Check engine light came on, gear selector light was flashing and all dash board lights came on at 150,189 miles. The dealer attempted to repair the transmission by replacing the valve body. The car was driven 29 miles before all dash warning lights came back on. Dealer said the only repair was to replace the entire transmission, which includes a new valve body. Dealer said the codes recommended…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2016 Honda HR-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 powertrain problem on the 2016 Honda HR-V?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 72 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 32 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 70,000 and 101,800 miles, with the median around 79,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 70,000; a quarter make it past 101,800. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/2016/Honda/HR-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.