2022 Honda HR-V

On November 29, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE 22-011 after reviewing field reports alleging rear differential seizure in 2018-2022MY Honda CR-V and HR-V vehicles equipped with all wheel drive. To date, ODI has not received any consumer complaints. Some of the field reports received alleged the vehicle’s wheels locked up with no warning while the vehicle was in motion. These vehicles were towed to a dealership. Examination of these vehicles showed the driveshaft had broken and the differential unit was completely damaged. The field reports cited a lack of oil due to damaged oil seals as the cause. Honda provided data including consumer complaints, field reports, and warranty claims they received relating to the loss of oil retention and resulting differential damage. Honda’s data cited 1201 incidents with unique vehicle identification numbers (VINs). The rear differential oil seals  prevent the oil from leaking out and protect internal components from contaminants. A loss of oil lubrication results in failure of the vehicle differential.  Honda stated that the oil seal’s lip contact with the driveshaft may become unstable due to intermittent changes in internal pressure. Their review of field report and warranty data indicated that these failures occurred early in the vehicle’s life thus the failures were covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. Honda stated that in November 2021 they changed the seal specifications and improved the packaging process of the parts for transport.  Honda also enacted an enhanced visual inspection process both before and after the oil seal installation on the assembly line. Honda stated that in the event of differential failure, the operator can control the vehicle without stability loss. After the drive shafts break due to differential failure, the operator will hear noises and the vehicle will still function as a 2WD vehicle preventing complete loss of motive power. Based on the following factors, ODI is closing this investigation: ·       Information regarding field failures does not indicate hazardous outcomes ·       The failures are occurring early in the life of the vehicle ·       Repairs are covered under the manufacturer’s warranty ·       The vehicle can continue functioning as a 2WD without loss of stability control in the event of failure The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist, and the agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.

On Thursday, July 30, 2026, while driving my 2022 Honda HR-V at approximately 70 mph in the fast lane of the highway, my vehicle suddenly, without warning lost all power. The speedometer immediately dropped to 0 mph, and the vehicle would not accelerate despite pressing the accelerator. There were no warning lights illuminated before the incident, and the vehicle had shown no previous signs of transmission problems or drivability issues. This created an extremely dangerous situation because I was traveling at highway speed in the passing lane with surrounding traffic. I feared I would be rear-ended or involved in a serious crash. Thankfully, I was able to safely maneuver the vehicle across traffic and into a nearby auto parts store. The auto parts store scanned the vehicle and found a transmission-related safety sensor code. Because the vehicle was no longer drivable, it had to be towed to the Honda dealership where I purchased it. After their inspection, the dealership informed me that the transmission had suffered an internal failure because the transmission belt had broken and that the entire transmission must be replaced. I purchased an extended warranty when I bought the vehicle, but it expired at 110,000 miles. My vehicle currently only has 115,000 miles. As a result, I now have no transportation to get to my full-time job or transport my children. I am submitting this complaint because this was a sudden, catastrophic loss of propulsion at highway speed with no warning, creating a significant risk of a serious or fatal accident. I am also aware that previous model years of the Honda HR-V equipped with the same continuously variable transmission (CVT), including model years 2016 through 2021, have experienced similar failures involving the internal transmission belt. Given the similarity of these failures, I believe this issue warrants investigation to determine whether the 2022 Honda HR-V is affected by the same safety-related defect.

NHTSA ID

11754134

Incident

Jul 30, 2026

My front windshield broke from a heat stress crack from the top seal above the ADAS camera/driver assist module and runs down alongside the camera housing and then cracked all the way in front of driver's side above my steering wheel. The car was not moving and was just sitting in my carport. I have had problems with the ADAD system not functioning properly since I bought the car in 2022 from heat related issues.

NHTSA ID

11749118

Incident

Jun 30, 2026

The entire ADAS system fails when the temperature is over 100°. It has applied the emergency braking system with no cars in front of me. All the warning lights go off and the entire system just fails. Also, my windshield just (2 days ago) randomly cracked while sitting in my carport. The crack begins at the top front windshield seal on goes down right alongside the ADAS camera housing and then goes to the left and down right in front of my driver's side view above the steering wheel. This is a heat stress crack and was not from an impact. There is definitely a current and ongoing issue with the ADAS since I bought the car with 14 miles on it. There is something seriously wrong with the system itself and how it was installed at the factory and is really dangerous.

NHTSA ID

11749110

Incident

May 13, 2022

While driving my 2022 Honda HR-V, multiple Honda Sensing warning messages appeared simultaneously, including front camera system errors. Features such as Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane Keeping Assist, Road Departure Mitigation, and Adaptive Cruise Control became unavailable. The warnings affect important safety systems and also create a distraction while driving. This appears to be the same front camera defect that many other Honda owners have reported.

NHTSA ID

11748106

Incident

Sep 3, 2025

I purchased a used 2022 Honda HR-V with approximately 32,000 miles. Upon experiencing severe steering anomalies, a professional mechanical inspection revealed that a non-compliant, off-market/aftermarket steering rack had been installed on the vehicle. This was done without my knowledge or disclosure at the time of sale.This unapproved component presents an immediate safety risk of sudden steering loss, binding, or unexpected mechanical failure at highway speeds. This generation of the Honda HR-V is currently subject to a massive 1.7-million-vehicle NHTSA steering recall (Campaign 24V744) for "sticky steering" and gear defects. While the recall officially targets 2023–2025 models, my 2022 model is experiencing identical low-mileage steering failures. It appears the previous owner installed a cheap, undocumented aftermarket rack to bypass these exact steering defects before trading it in, which the selling dealership failed to detect during their safety inspection.I am filing this report to document an immediate vehicle safety hazard and to urge the NHTSA to expand its current steering defect investigation to include the 2022 model year, as these vehicles are suffering from the same core steering system vulnerabilities.

NHTSA ID

11746166

Incident

Jun 4, 2026

NHTSA Safety Defect Complaint Vehicle Information: 2022 Honda HR-V Current Mileage: 11,000 miles VIN: [XXX] Description of Safety Defect: I am filing an urgent safety complaint regarding a life-threatening steering failure on my 2022 Honda HR-V, which currently has only 11,000 miles. While driving, the electronic steering wheel intermittently catches, binds, and momentarily locks up. This requires sudden physical force to break it free, causing the vehicle to jerk and creating an immediate crash hazard. An authorized Honda dealership inspected the vehicle and pulled diagnostic code C1420-29 (Main Torque Sensor and Sub Torque Sensor Incorrect Correlation). This exact diagnostic code, physical binding symptom, and component failure mechanism match the identical factory defect outlined in Honda's active 1.7-million vehicle steering safety recall (NHTSA Recall #24V744000). My vehicle carries a rebuilt title due strictly to documented cosmetic rear tailgate damage. The front suspension, front impact zones, and the steering gearbox assembly were completely untouched in the prior incident and remain in original factory condition. American Honda Corporate has formally refused to repair this hazardous defect because the VIN is not explicitly covered under the current production batch parameters of Recall #24V744000, and they are using the branded title to deny out-of-warranty safety liability. I am requesting that the NHTSA investigate this failure and push for an expansion of the recall population to include 2022 models experiencing identical torque sensor correlation failures. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11745222

Incident

Jun 10, 2026

Vehicle Information: •Year/Make/Model: [2022, Honda HR-V •VIN (17 digits): [[XXX] •Current Mileage: 22000 Miles Description of Safety Defect: The electronic power steering system suffers from a severe defect causing the steering wheel to seize, bind, and freeze completely locked while the vehicle is in motion. This binding defect causes a sudden, unpredictable loss of steering control, forcing the driver to struggle with the wheel or wait for the system to loosen, presenting an extreme, imminent risk of a motor vehicle crash, injury, or death. Chronological Incident Summary: Over the last six months, the steering wheel on this vehicle has frozen completely while driving on four separate occasions. The incidents occurred under normal driving conditions at varying speeds. During each occurrence, the steering wheel momentarily locked tight, resisting all manual steering input. The vehicle did not provide any electronic warning lights or dashboard errors prior to or during the failures. Control was only regained after forcefully wrestling with the wheel or, in some cases, safely pulling over to restart the vehicle engine. Manufacturer/Dealer Action: The vehicle was taken to an authorized Honda dealership to address this catastrophic safety failure. However, the service department refused to acknowledge the issue, stating they could not replicate the malfunction and declined to perform any diagnostic repairs. Public Context & Recall Relevance: This defect perfectly replicates the failure mode thoroughly documented under NHTSA Recall Campaign 24V744000 for "sticky steering" and binding gearboxes in 2023–2025 Honda HR-V models. Despite widespread online consumer reports and thousands of matching manufacturer warranty claims for the exact same steering gearbox swelling issue, the dealer has failed to provide the necessary remedy. I am filing this complaint because the manufacturer's denial of this known defect leaves an inherently dangerous vehicle on public INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AC

NHTSA ID

11743012

Incident

Jun 8, 2026

The vehicle has a recurring safety defect where it suddenly shuts off / stalls while driving. This has happened multiple times, including immediately after the dealership performed repairs and issued "clean" diagnostic reports stating no issues were found. Key details: PCU codes were present on the first visit but were not properly addressed. Repair orders contain clear inconsistencies, including claims of test drives and mileage that do not match the actual odometer readings. On the most recent visit, I did not authorize any further repairs, yet the dealership now claims the vehicle is "resolved" and ready for pickup. The vehicle has been at Honda dealerships for a total of 57 days across multiple failed repair attempts. I have refused to take possession of the vehicle due to the ongoing safety risk of it shutting off while driving.

NHTSA ID

11741009

Incident

Mar 20, 2026

Service Bulletin - During engine start in cold conditions, a miscalculation in the PCM causes the air-fuel ratio to exceed DTC P2DE1 rich criteria.

Service Bulletin - During engine start in cold conditions, it is possible for air-fuel ratio to exceed DTC P2DE1 rich criteria.

Service News - Some customers have complained of fluid leaking from the rear differential after it has been serviced due to over-torqueing of the drain plugs during servicing.

Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2022 Accords and 2022 HR-V Sports with a customer complaint of a front damper noise. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

Dealer Message Request for Visit: 2018-2022 Accord & HR-V Front Damper Noise (ACTION REQUIRED)

Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2022 Accords and 2022 HR-V Sports with a customer complaint of a front damper noise. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.