The braking system failed. As I was attempting to park my car, with my foot on the brake, the vehicle suddenly lurched forward unexpectedly, hitting the parked car in front of me. Both my vehicle and the parked vehicle were damaged. If anyone had been in the car's path, they would have been injured. My vehicle bounced off the parked car and continued lurching forward while I actively tried to…
2025 Honda CR-V brakes problems
severe 19 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
9crashes
2injuries
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2025 CR-Vs describe brake system failures across several distinct patterns. The most common complaint involves unexpected forward lurching or acceleration while the brake pedal is depressed, typically during parking or low-speed maneuvers. Multiple owners report the vehicle colliding with parked cars, trees, walls, or curbs despite firm brake application and no accelerator pedal input. Several describe the motion as uncontrolled bucking that continues even as they apply brakes harder.
A second serious issue is brake pedal depression to the floorboard without stopping effect. One owner's brake pedal was soft for two weeks before failing completely while parking on an incline, resulting in a crash. Another experienced complete loss of the Brake Pedal Simulator Control Unit at under 5,000 miles, eliminating all braking and parking brake function while on the road.
The Collision Mitigation Braking System activates false braking on clear roads with no traffic or obstacles, slamming the vehicle to a stop at highway speeds (45 mph) and during normal driving. Warning messages accompany these incidents, and dealers attributed one case to dirty sensors—but the false braking persisted even after sensor cleaning.
Other complaints include brake hold system over-braking in stop-and-go traffic (so hard it caused neck and shoulder injury in one case), loud grinding noises at startup with no dealer remedy, and a stiff intermittently unresponsive brake pedal on startup. Across these cases, multiple dealership service visits have failed to diagnose or repair the underlying problems.
Same Honda CR-V brakes reports on nearby years: 2022 · 2023 · 2024
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended forward lurch or acceleration while braking
Vehicle suddenly lurches or accelerates forward despite driver having firm pressure on brake pedal and not pressing accelerator. Multiple owners describe this occurring during parking or low-speed maneuvers, resulting in collisions with parked vehicles, trees, walls, and curbs. The vehicle often continues moving forward or in bucking motions even as driver applies brake pedal. No accelerator pedal involved.
When: Mostly low-speed parking situations; one case at highway speeds; occurs unpredictably
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle lurches forward unexpectedly while brake pedal is depressed; Continued uncontrolled forward motion despite active braking attempt; Bucking or jerking motion described as 'like a bucking bronco'; Vehicle collides with parked vehicles, trees, walls, and curbs; No warning lights or messages before incident (in most cases); Brake lights remain illuminated during the incident
Codes mentioned: Collision Mitigation Braking System problem, Brake Performance May Be Reduced, Brake Hold System Problem, Low Speed Braking Control Problem
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to reproduce or diagnose in multiple cases; no repairs completed. One vehicle with damage inspected by dealer and manufacturer without resolution
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers unable to replicate issue on multiple service visits; owners report being told 'car was fine' despite persistent problems
Brake pedal goes to floor with no stopping effect
Brake pedal depresses fully to floorboard without providing braking response, resulting in loss of braking ability. One case occurred while shifting into park on an incline; another during emergency stop attempt. Vehicle continues moving despite full pedal depression.
When: One case at approximately 10,123 miles; one case at 3,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal depresses to floorboard without resistance; No braking response from vehicle; Soft brake pedal weeks before failure (noted in one case); Vehicle continues moving despite full pedal application
Codes mentioned: Low-Speed Impact warning displayed (in one case post-incident)
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle crashed into another vehicle (daughter's Ford Expedition); dealer unable to replicate failure and did not repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer unable to replicate; vehicle not diagnosed or repaired; manufacturer not notified by one owner
Stiff or hard brake pedal on startup
Brake pedal becomes stiff or difficult to depress when starting vehicle, occurring intermittently. Owner reports this issue repeatedly since purchase but dealership ignored complaints and performed no inspection. Issue persists despite multiple service visits.
When: Intermittent issue present from purchase (6-4-25) through time of complaint; one recent attempt to service (6-30-25)
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal stiffness when attempting to start vehicle; Intermittent occurrence; Issue persists across multiple service visits without resolution
Repairs/costs cited: No inspection performed; no repairs completed despite multiple complaint attempts
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership repeatedly ignored complaints and performed no inspection or service
Grinding noise on braking, especially at startup or low speed
Loud grinding or cutting sound from braking system, described as rotor or brake grinding. Occurs at startup when backing out of garage or during low-speed braking. Dealer claims this is standard behavior for 2025 CR-V, but owner with seven prior CR-Vs states this is abnormal. In one case, grinding sound preceded uncontrolled forward lurch.
When: At startup backing out of garage; during low-speed parking maneuvers; vehicle less than one year old
Symptoms owners cite: Loud grinding sound from brakes; Sound described as very loud and hard, as if cutting into rotors; Occurs at startup or during low-speed braking; In one case preceded uncontrolled forward motion during parking
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs performed; dealer claims grinding is standard for model
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer told owner this is standard behavior for 2025 CR-V
Collision Mitigation Braking System false activation
Collision mitigation system activates and applies brakes when no collision threat is present. Occurs on multiple drives. Warning messages appear telling driver to go to dealer. System has caused unexpected hard braking on clear roads with no traffic or obstacles, creating false-brake situations.
When: Multiple occurrences within first 5,000 miles; happens on 4 separate drives in one case; twice in another case on recent drives
Symptoms owners cite: Warning light illuminates for Collision Mitigation Braking System; Dashboard message tells driver to go to dealer; Vehicle makes false brake application with no vehicle or obstacle ahead; Unexpected hard braking on clear road at 45 mph; System randomly applies brakes twice in one night
Codes mentioned: Collision Mitigation Braking System problem
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer inspected twice; first visit found nothing wrong; second visit attributed issue to dirty sensors; issue persists after sensor cleaning
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer attributed to dirty sensors on second visit; no permanent repair; sensors clean at subsequent activations
Brake Hold or automatic brake system over-braking in stop-and-go traffic
Vehicle's automatic braking or brake hold system applies sudden hard braking during stop-and-go traffic, slamming vehicle to a complete stop without driver initiation. Vehicle refuses to move again until driver presses accelerator. Caused injury in one case where hard braking caused neck and shoulder injury from seatbelt contact.
When: During stop-and-go traffic conditions; occurred 4 times for one owner
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle suddenly slams on brakes while driver is nursing the brakes; Automatic over-application of braking force; Vehicle stops completely and will not move until accelerator is pressed; Caused following vehicles to swerve into next lane or onto shoulder; One owner sustained neck and shoulder injury from seatbelt impact
Codes mentioned: Brake Hold System Problem
Repairs/costs cited: Owner asked if sensors could be disabled; dealer said no. Owner traded in vehicle after injury incident, losing $5,000 down payment plus several thousand in depreciation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer told owner 'that's just how the sensors are' and refused to disable or modify system
Engine revving and lurching on brake application at speed
Engine revs to 500-800 RPM after applying emergency brake stop at 30 MPH, then vehicle lurches forward when brake pedal is released. RPMs remain higher than normal. Failure recurred on multiple brake applications; resolved only after turning off and restarting vehicle.
When: Approximately 3,000 miles; incident resolved after restart and one-hour rest
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs to 500-800 RPM after hard brake application; Vehicle lurches forward upon brake pedal release; Elevated RPMs persist across multiple brake applications; Issue resolves after turning off vehicle and restarting
Repairs/costs cited: Not diagnosed or repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer and manufacturer not notified
Complete brake system failure - Brake Pedal Simulator Control Unit failure
Complete loss of braking and parking brake function due to Brake Pedal Simulator Control Unit failure while vehicle is on road. Vehicle less than 3 months old with under 5,000 miles. Owner fortunately on back road going uphill and able to stop vehicle. Manufacturer unable to provide explanation for failure or guidance on what to do if replacement unit fails.
When: Approximately 3 months old vehicle with less than 5,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Immediate complete loss of brake pedal function; Complete loss of parking brake function; No warning before failure; Vehicle stranded on road
Codes mentioned: Brake Pedal Simulator Control Unit failure
Repairs/costs cited: Unit replaced; owner states Honda would not explain reason for failure or provide guidance on future failures
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda provided no explanation for failure cause and could not advise on how to respond if replacement unit fails
Multiple brake and stability system warning messages, loss of braking response at highway speeds
Cluster of dashboard warning messages appears related to brake system and vehicle control systems, accompanied by reduced braking response. Owner experienced brake response so poor at highway speed that vehicle continued for 10-15 meters after applying brakes and could not stop at stop sign. Multiple service visits did not resolve issue; dealer claimed car was fine despite documented dashboard warnings.
When: First occurrence at red light (traffic stop); highway incident in November; repeated in September, October, and early November
Symptoms owners cite: Multiple dashboard warning messages displayed simultaneously; Brake performance appears reduced; Loss of braking response at highway speeds; Vehicle continues 10-15 meters past brake application before stopping; Vehicle fails to stop at stop sign and traffic light; Emergency maneuvers required to avoid collision; Extended stopping distance at highway speeds
Codes mentioned: Depress Brake Pedal Apply Parking Brake, Brake System Problem Brake Performance May Be Reduced, Brake Hold System Problem Apply Brake When Stopped, Vehicle Stability Assist System Problem Reduce Traction And Handling, Hill Descent Control System Problem Apply Brake When Descending, Adaptive Cruise Control System Problem, Collision Mitigation Braking System Problem, Low Speed Braking Control Problem
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple service center visits (September, October, November); vehicle kept for 2 days per visit; no repairs completed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer claimed vehicle was fine at time of service visits despite owner having photographic evidence of warning messages
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
On [XXX] I was stopped in the red light behind a car in the New York City suddenly my car moved I applied the brake hard but almost hit the car in front. The message in the dashboard were -Depress brake pedal apply parking brake,brake system problem brake performance may be reduced,brake hold system problem apply brake when stopped,vechile stability assist system problem reduce traction and…
Had brakes trouble with your 2025 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 2025 Honda CR-V?
It's a meaningful issue. 19 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 19 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 6,562 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/2025/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.