2023 Honda HR-V Visibility Problems

Rear windshield exploded

NHTSA ID

11749918

Incident

Jul 11, 2026

Had my car parked in my house garage. Drove out of garage to go to work. While waiting on garage to close, heard an explosion and realized my back windshield shattered. When I got out to inspect and take pictures, it shattered even more. Took to dealership. Waiting to hear back from Honda corporate. Tired of issues with this car.

NHTSA ID

11713776

Incident

Jan 27, 2026

Drove to work on Friday morning 12/12/25. Parked my car in my work parking lot. At 5pm when I returned to my car, when I entered my car and closed the door, I heard a shattering noise, I looked around and in my rearview mirror I saw a hole right through the middle of my rear window. I exited my car and when I closed the door, the rest of the window finished shattering and fell in. I found out there was a soft recall regarding the rear window and the adhesive used. I went to the Yonkers service center on 50 Yonkers Ave here in Westchester County on Saturday 12/13/25,spoke with a rep who was very courteous, explained the recall I found on-line regarding rear window recall and set up an appointment for that Monday 12/15/25. Dropped off car to service center, received a call the next day from the rep saying they cannot do anything about it because the Technician found nothing wrong. I explained it was a manufacturers defect and it should be covered. Then called the dealer and I explained the situation, called me back and gave me the same explanation. I then reached out to the corporate offices and they said I would have to pay out of pocket. I find this very unacceptable.

NHTSA ID

11706105

Incident

Dec 12, 2025

The rear window glass suddenly broke with a huge sound. The glass brokes to pieces completely. No warning light was activated. It happened 10 minutes ago. I haven't reported to my insurance or dealer. I used defrost function. Before this accident happened, I smelled a burning flavor a little. Also, the range dropped almost 10 miles over a 2 mile distance. I am not sure if those phenomena relate or not.

NHTSA ID

11700477

Incident

Nov 19, 2025

The back rearview windshield shattered. I got into my parked car in the morning, turned it on and heard a pop sound. I looked back and saw a hole in the windshield, the glass fell inside the truck in pieces. I looked around to see if something dropped to crack it, but there was nothing. The pieces of the windshield kept falling in the trunk and the hole got bigger as time went on.

NHTSA ID

11694389

Incident

Oct 19, 2025

The rear windshield exploded while driving. I briefly turned on our defrosters and then the air before that. It is available for inspection upon request. Our safety was put at risk as the glass exploded into the car. The problem is one of the first things that pops up if you search honda hrv windshield explode. My vehicle was last inspected on June 14,2025. There were no warning signs.

NHTSA ID

11676435

Incident

Jul 26, 2025

In November 2022, before I even drove off the lot, when I noticed and asked about a rattling noise coming from the passenger-side front window, I was told it was normal because it’s a brand-new car. Within a few hundred miles, I began to experience issues with the car, felt the electrical problems and car felt shaky and unstable. As this continued, I’ve received a reminder from Honda about the three years of service and to schedule an appointment with a certified dealer. And I did, this is also when brought up the fact that I feel and experiences issues with the car, but it remained ignored. Fast-forward to Spring 2023, issues worsen, while driving with a minor in a rear-facing car seat, I heard a loud noise that sounded like gunfire. It took a moment to realize that the rear windshield had suddenly shattered without a warning. This incident caused severe emotional distress, especially given the presence of a minor child in the vehicle. Since May 2023, the certified dealer failed to resolve the ongoing and swishing wind noise coming from the rear. This left us and our child with no safe, no reliable transportation on forward. Then, the vehicle began to turn off its monitors and exhibit more electrical malfunctions, along with engine problems. I continued bringing the vehicle in and its complimentary services and routine maintenance, reporting the problems each time, but nothing was ever resolved. Throughout the years the issues continue to worsen. Most recently, the front windshield cracked spontaneously, and within a few weeks again heard the gunfire, at that time around the sunroof, exploded suddenly and shattered without any external impact or warning. That day I’ve re-routed from and to the local dealer, slowly with the hazard lights as the shattered glass began to spread. Same day the dealer accepted the vehicle, for warranty repairs, service, further complimentary inspection that revealed even more issues. But soon after this dealer refused... [see attached]

NHTSA ID

11661669

Incident

May 6, 2023

Severe windshield cracking (without a clear impact). I have had my windshield replaced 2x and it continues to crack. Glass seems to be thinner and cracks.

NHTSA ID

11649354

Incident

Mar 19, 2025

I was driving my [XXX] son to daycare and my back window of the hatch shattered. I was completely shocked and had no idea what happened, so I googled to see if there have been issues with my specific car and found the following: "The rear windows of some 2023 Honda HR-Vs are shattering due to a manufacturing defect with the rear defroster. Honda is replacing the windows through a voluntary product update campaign, but has not issued a safety recall. Honda says the problem is due to a manufacturing defect that allows the sealer used to secure the rear glass on some HR-Vs to come in contact with the defroster’s heating elements. Over time, this weakens the glass as the defroster creates a “hot spot.” But the automaker advises owners to continue using the rear defroster as needed." This is a major issue to mine and my sons risk. My son was in his car seat facing the window as it shattered. There was glass everywhere. I called Honda at Honda Costa Mesa in Costa Mesa, CA and they said that my VIN does not have that recall and that I could come in "to receive a quote for the repair" and that it typically takes 2-3 weeks for the window to come in and they will not provide a rental car. They were extremely unhappy and not sympathetic to the situation. I called my insurance (Geico) and filed a claim for Safelite to make the repair. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11646824

Incident

Mar 5, 2025

The contact owns a 2023 Honda HR-V. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked outside in a nearby community parking lot and turned off, the following morning the contact discovered that the rear hatch door glass window had shattered. The contact stated that there was no impact on the window to have caused the window to become shattered. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 18,000.

NHTSA ID

11640282

Incident

Feb 3, 2025

Mileage

18,000 mi

The contact owns a 2023 Honda HR-V. The contact stated while her husband was driving approximately 25 MPH downhill, the driver heard an explosive sound and noticed that the rear window had exploded. The contact stated that upon pulling to the side of the road, the driver noticed that a significant amount of shattered glass had fallen inside the vehicle. The driver drove to the residence. The vehicle was later taken to the dealer, where the rear window was being replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000.

NHTSA ID

11634378

Incident

Jan 4, 2025

Mileage

8,000 mi

The rear window of my Honda HRV exploded/shattered all on its own into a thousand small pieces of glass while the car was parked outside in cold weather while I was visiting my son.

NHTSA ID

11634115

Incident

Jan 3, 2025

In the morning of December 31, 2024, I got into my 2023 Honda HRV and as I turned on the ignition, I was shocked by the shattering sound of glass at the rear of the vehicle. To my horror, it was the rear windshield that had shattered to smithereens. I was terribly upset by this incident and while thinking of my next action, I learned through Google that it was due to a manufacturing defect with the 2023 Honda HRV model. Yet, I had not been notified by the Honda of any recall in regard to this defect. I took the car to the nearest Honda dealership where they plastered the rear of my car with a thin plastic and promised to call me as soon as they got the necessary parts. The incident could have caused serious physical and emotional injuries if I had passengers in the rear seats of the car. Even, all alone, I was emotionally traumatized by the incident.

NHTSA ID

11633329

Incident

Dec 31, 2024

My rearview window just exploded and broke while parked.

NHTSA ID

11630679

Incident

Dec 14, 2024

The rear windshield spontaneously shattered while the vehicle was parked

NHTSA ID

11625745

Incident

Nov 16, 2024

Rear windshield shattered while driving. Defrosters were not on and the car had been warmed up with remote start before driving.

NHTSA ID

11624780

Incident

Nov 12, 2024

Was driving and turned on my defroster to the back windshield and while I was on the freeway the back window shattered there was no cars near me and no objects that hit my vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11624399

Incident

Nov 9, 2024

The contact owns a 2023 Honda HR-V. The contact stated while driving approximately 19 MPH leaving a tunnel, there was an abnormal popping sound and the front windshield shattered without impact. The contact was able to continue driving. There were no injuries sustained. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that there were no open recalls. The dealer referred the contact to the dealer where the vehicle was purchased. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 22,897.

NHTSA ID

11623376

Incident

Nov 3, 2024

Mileage

22,897 mi

I was driving normally in traffic when my rear windshield exploded. I did have the rear windshield defroster on as I needed to reduce frost from the windshield.

NHTSA ID

11622387

Incident

Oct 28, 2024

I was driving normally in traffic when my rear windshield exploded. I did have the rear windshield defroster on as I needed to reduce frost from the windshield.

NHTSA ID

11622384

Incident

Oct 28, 2024

The contact owns a 2023 Honda HR-V. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic signal, he heard an abnormal popping sound from the rear of the vehicle. The contact turned and looked and observed that the entire rear windshield had shattered. The contact stated that there were only a few small pieces of the windshield left in the frame. The contact stated that he had engaged the rear window defroster to clear condensation on it and that the rear defroster was still engaged when the windshield shattered. The contact was on his way to work and stated that there was no other driver at the traffic signal near his vehicle. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or glass repair shop. The vehicle was not diagnosed and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

NHTSA ID

11620315

Incident

Oct 17, 2024

Mileage

40,000 mi

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - Rearview windshield defroster How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? - Glass shattered everywhere, dog was in back seat, could have been very dangerous Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? - No Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? - Inspected by Honda Dealership Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? - No

NHTSA ID

11618011

Incident

Oct 4, 2024

I was driving on the highway and heard a thump at the back of my car. My rear window had spiderwebbed, with no warning and nothing hitting it. I had turned on my rear defrost shortly before that. By the time I got where I was headed, almost my entire price of glass had fallen into ky car, in tiny pieces.

NHTSA ID

11615627

Incident

Sep 10, 2024

While driving on the highway, the rear windshield shattered with no warning. There was no lights, no sound, no crack, nothing that would indicate a problem. The car has been in use for 2 years with no problems. Once the car had been turned on, the rear defroster was turned on for about 3 minutes. Once the window was clear, it was turned off and about 10 minutes later, it shattered. No injuries but it was startling and could have caused additional accidents on the road, especially a highway that has such high traffic as this one. For once, it's a good thing that traffic was going so slow at 7am so there was more control to stop any potential collisions. It has been taken to the dealership for an inspection and to replace the window. They said that it has happened to several people, they have seen it at least 10 times in our area. I've always looked out for my car and take it to the dealership for oil changes or any recalls in a timely manner and never heard of this beforehand. Thankfully, no one else was in the car with me. But this should be more well known if it's such a common problem.

NHTSA ID

11614213

Incident

Sep 11, 2024

I bought a 2023 Honda HR-V on Monday, 9/2/2024. and then on Wednesday, 9/4/2024, while driving to work my read windshield shatters out of nowhere. The glass remained in tact while I continued to drive and then completely shatter when I opened my car door. It sounded like an explosion and it startled me. I called the dealer that sold me the car and he proceeded to tell me that this is a known issue specific to 2023 model of HR-V and manufacture error caused when the defroster it causes the glass to shatter. He added the issue can be fixed by simply replacing the window. I did not know this was an issue and it was not disclosed during the car purchase. I am so disappointed in Honda and even more disappointed to learn there is not an active recall to address this issue. Now there is glass all over my trunk space and I having to figure out how to get this fixed with the dealer.

NHTSA ID

11612599

Incident

Sep 4, 2024