Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2019-2020 HR-Vs with a customer complaint of the brake pedal not returning fully. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2020 Honda HR-V brakes problems
severe Owners of the 2020 Honda HR-V have filed 3 NHTSA complaints about the brakes at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
3
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 HR-V | 10 |
| 2017 HR-V | 7 |
| 2018 HR-V | 10 |
| 2019 HR-V | 7 |
| 2020 HR-V (this page) | 3 |
| 2021 HR-V | 3 |
| 2022 HR-V | 7 |
| 2024 HR-V | 3 |
2crashes
What stands out
Of the 9 model years of Honda HR-V we track for brakes problems, this one has the fewest owner complaints on file (3).
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.
Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2019-2020 HR-Vs with a customer complaint of the brake pedal not returning fully. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2019-2020 HR-Vs with a customer complaint of the brake pedal not returning fully. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2019-2020 HR-Vs with a customer complaint of the brake pedal not returning fully. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2019-2020 HR-Vs with a customer complaint of the brake pedal not returning fully. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Brakes failed Yes it is available for inspection (Until Tues Nov 5th as it may be towed from body shop) Car would not stop while trying to park in a parking space and kept moving forward while having foot on break pedal. Therefore the car hit a building wall which is approx. 36ft from the raises parking space curb. The problem has not been reproduced as it was inspected by the insuranced and was…
Had brakes trouble with your 2020 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 brakes problem on the 2020 Honda HR-V?
It's a meaningful issue. 3 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 3 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 11,000 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/2020/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.