2019 Honda HR-V Powertrain (other) Problems

The CVT transmission on my 2019 HR-V (VIN: [XXX] ) failed, causing a sudden loss of motive power in traffic. This is a known manufacturing defect (TSB 21-047). Honda is currently denying repairs for low-mileage vehicles (75,600 miles) based on arbitrary time-limits and illegal 'dealer-only' service requirements. This defect causes an immediate safety hazard (Loss of Motive Power). This 'Warranty Extension' is insufficient; it must be elevated to a Full Safety Recall to protect owners regardless of their maintenance history INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11737836

Incident

May 5, 2026

I own a 2019 Honda HR-V that has been consistently maintained at Honda dealerships, including proactive transmission fluid changes every 30,000–40,000 miles. At approximately 104,700 miles, during a routine maintenance visit, the dealer diagnosed a failing CVT transmission. Technicians identified metal debris in the transmission, indicating internal deterioration. This condition is consistent with Honda Technical Service Bulletin 21-047, which acknowledges CVT-related issues in 2016–2019 HR-V models and provides extended coverage for affected vehicles. However, my vehicle was deemed ineligible for coverage because the failure was identified 27 days after the 7-year in-service deadline. Given that transmission deterioration is progressive, it is likely the issue began within the coverage period. Despite this, Honda declined to provide any goodwill assistance. I was quoted approximately $11,000 for the repair. This issue also raises safety concerns. A failing transmission can result in loss of power, hesitation, or inability to accelerate, particularly when merging into traffic or crossing intersections. These conditions increase the risk of an accident, especially if failure occurs unexpectedly while driving. This failure occurred despite proper and proactive maintenance and at a mileage where a transmission failure would not typically be expected.

NHTSA ID

11735624

Incident

Apr 11, 2026

My car randomly lost power on the road and I rear ended some one, my car lost power 3 times on the road.

NHTSA ID

11720835

Incident

Feb 10, 2026

My 2019 Honda HR-v CVT failed due to premature belt deterioration exactly as described in Honda Service Bulletin 21-047. The failure happened only two months after the 7-year extended warranty period. Honda has denied a goodwill assistance despite this being a known safety-related defect. The belt failed while my elderly mother drove. They refuse to provide any assistance in the matter.

NHTSA ID

11700411

Incident

Nov 5, 2025

When pushing on the gas pedal, the vehicle often pushes forward aggressively and shifts very hard. Other times it does nothing when pushing on the gas and several seconds later there is throttling and intermittent shaking back and forth. It does not happen all the time, but happens quite often. I fear the vehicle could propel forward when I am driving and hit someone or something or it could slow suddenly with lack of gas putting other drivers in harm's way. I know there is a similar recall on fuel pumps with this vehicles and my vehicle is within the years and types so I do not understand why my vehicle has not been recalled. No warning lights come on and I cannot have someone look at it without having to pay a large fee. I had an appointment in the past, but it does not do it al the time and they tell me they can't help me if it doesn't do it all the time. Thank you.

NHTSA ID

11591215

Incident

May 28, 2024

Transmission needs to be replaced, I was driving on the highway then pulled off to exit, when I got to the end of the exit ramp the car crunched and clunked when I tried to step on the gas. I rolled into a parking lot across the street. Had it happened a minute earlier I would have crashed on the highway due to the transmission failure. Honda service says it’s metal shavings in the transmission. It’s related to the recent software issue but because my car is over the extended warranty of 7 years or 150,000 miles they do t want to cover the cost, or help me with getting into a new car. I still owe over $6,000 on it.

NHTSA ID

11589179

Incident

May 12, 2024

Driving on interstate all dashlights came on and then dimmed, car would not accelerate. Stepped on brakes and then car engaged. Also have vibration under gas pedal that can also be felt on floorboard on passenger side. Recently had transmission flushed and shavings were found, technician indicated transmission failure HOWEVER, car gives me no warning lights - this could cause a very bad accident. Incident with dash lights and no accelation was early Jan 24, transmission service was completed on 2/27/24.

NHTSA ID

11574837

Incident

Jan 9, 2024

The contact owned a 2019 Honda HR-V. The contact stated while driving 70 mph on cruise control, the contact heard a weird noise and the vehicle decelerated to 0 mph without warning. The vehicle lost power and the contact could not restart the vehicle while sitting in the middle lane of the highway. The check engine and several other warning lights illuminated. While stuck in the middle lane, the contact was rear-ended on the right side by an 18-wheeler and tossed to the left side of the highway crashing into a barricade on the left front side of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the collar bone, left leg, and upper front teeth and had a blood clot. The contact also suffered emotional distress. The contact was taken to the hospital by ambulance and was treated for the injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed and deemed destroyed. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.

NHTSA ID

11567513

Incident

Jan 4, 2024

Mileage

49,000 mi

The contact owns a 2019 Honda HR-V. The contact stated that while attempting to park her vehicle, the vehicle independently accelerated into a tree without warning. The air bags did not deploy upon impact; the contact did not sustain any injuries. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer body shop where it remained in their possession. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was also informed that a diagnostic was performed but no defects were found. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.

NHTSA ID

11540245

Incident

Aug 21, 2023

Mileage

42,000 mi

The contact owns a 2019 Honda. HR-V. The contact stated while driving 40 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle loss motive power and power steering assist making it difficult to change lanes. The contact also stated that while driving and exceeding 40 mph, the vehicle started jerking. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 8,800.

NHTSA ID

11418473

Incident

May 21, 2021

Mileage

8,800 mi

MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS SEVERAL THAT ARE ALREADY LISTED ON YOUR WEBSITE. SOMETIMES WHEN I BRAKE THE CAR ACCELERATES AND TRIES TO TAKE OFF. I HAVE TO LET OFF THE BRAKE AND STOMP ON IT AGAIN AND I FEEL THAT THE ACCELERATOR LETS UP. SOMETIMES WHEN I LET OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR STARTS TO SPEED UP ON IT'S OWN. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THEY "CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM." I WAS TOLD BY ADRIAN FROM HONDA AMERICA " WE WILL DO NOTHING FOR YOU. WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR IT ONLY HAD 3400 MILES ON IT SO IT WAS LIKE BRAND NEW. IT DOES IT MOST OF THE TIME WHEN DECELERATING FROM A HIGHER SPEED, LIKE COMING OFF THE FREEWAY AND SLOWING TO STOP AT THE LIGHT.

NHTSA ID

11388692

Incident

Oct 16, 2020

Mileage

3,400 mi

WHEN PRESSING THE GAS TO BEGIN MOVING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, AT A LIGHT ON THE 76 HIGHWAY, THE CAR WILL NOT KICK INTO DRIVE. YOU CAN PRESS THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE ONLY GOES 10 MILES PER HOUR IN TRAFFIC! THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES WITHIN THE LAST YEAR!

NHTSA ID

11340520

Incident

Jul 5, 2020

Mileage

8,323 mi

WHILE OPERATING AN UNMODIFIED 2019 AWD HONDA HRV PER THE INCLUDED OWNER'S GUIDE (PAGE 86), THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS REQUIRED DURING 100% OF A 15 MILE DESCENT TO MAINTAIN THE VEHICLE"S SPEED WITHIN THE POSTED 35 MPH SPEED LIMIT. THE ENGINE BRAKING PROMISED, IN THE "L" GEAR SELECTOR, BY HONDA'S OWNER'S GUIDE WAS LACKING. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN VERBALLY BROUGHT BEFORE THE DISTRIBUTOR, IN ADDITION TO BEING FORMALLY LISTED AS A COMPLAINT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THIS VEHICLE, TO WHICH I AM CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED TO OWN FOR 36 MONTHS, HAS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS ENGINE BRAKING CAPACITY THAN THE PRECEDENT SET BY DECADES OF LIKE VEHICLES WHICH HAVE BEEN RELEASED TO CONSUMERS WITH ENGINE BRAKING ADEQUATE FOR SAFE MOUNTAIN DRIVING. MY OWN OPINION MAY BE IRRELEVANT IN MOTIVATING A MOTOR COMPANY TO IMPROVE OR REPAIR THEIR PRODUCT, BUT I REFER TO THE IDAHO CDL MANUAL AS AN AUTHORITY ON SAFE PRACTICES AND EQUIPMENT FOR MOUNTAIN DRIVING. PLEASE REFER TO THE IDAHO CDL MANUAL, SECTION 2.6.6 SPEED ON DOWNGRADES "YOU MUST USE THE BRAKING EFFECT OF THE ENGINE AS THE PRINCIPAL WAY OF CONTROLLING YOUR SPEED ON DOWNGRADES. " AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, THE ENGINE BRAKING PROVIDED WITH THE 2019 HONDA HRV IS NOT ADEQUATE AS A PRINCIPAL WAY OF CONTROLLING SPEED ON DOWNGRADES. I WOULD GUESS THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY BE RELATED TO A LACK OF PROPER TUNING IN THE PCM (POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE) REGARDING SHIFTING SET POINTS. THIS PRESUMPTION IS BASED UPON THE ADDED ELECTRICAL SHIFTING CONTROL EQUIPMENT FEATURED ON A PREMIUM MODEL, WITH A MECHANICALLY SIMILAR TRANSMISSION. THERE WAS NO DISCLAIMER PRESENTED REGARDING ENGINE BRAKING OR MOUNTAIN DRIVING BEFORE, DURING, OR SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAS LITTLE OR NO INDICATION THAT THIS WOULD BE A PROBLEM DURING AN URBAN TEST DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

11297210

Incident

Jun 22, 2019

Mileage

300 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 HONDA HR-V. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO EASE FORWARD BY LIGHTLY TAPPING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. UPON LIGHTLY TAPPING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE CONTACT WAS FINALLY ABLE TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BACK HOME. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11290845

Incident

Nov 25, 2019

Mileage

240 mi