2018 Honda HR-V Power Train

We initially chose this Honda vehicle as we are Honda owners and valued their reliability. While driving with my six year old son in the car our HRV it started shaking anytime I accelerated. No check engine lights or other lights came on but I turned back home and drove my husbands car before taking my car into the shop where they diagnosed it as a CVT transmission failure. There was a recall issued for this vehicle due to transmission issues tied to the CVT and in 2022 we did have the software update that was supposed to resolve this issue. It did not and this transmission failed, our case for good will assistance was denied and we are left with a $9,000.00 problem in addition to the nearly $7,000.00 still owed on this vehicle that we purchased in 2021 (we are second . Any Honda owners looking to purchase the 2018 HRV should consider their probability of failure due to the CVT transmission that no longer falls under their extended recall warranty. It really is a disappointment to know that Honda does not standby their product seeing as their customers invest thousands of dollars into these purchases. In summary Honda acknowledged this CVT defect, extended coverage, and even performed their product update on my vehicle. Despite that, my CVT failed prematurely from the same issue, only months outside the time window but far under the mileage limit. Honda denied assistance for reasons unrelated to the defect itself (service history and number of Hondas in their system), refused to provide a written denial, and blocked escalation to higher review. My case number is 15868599.

2018 Honda HRV EX AWD premature CVT transmission failure at 68,314 miles. Problem diagnosed and confirmed by an independent mechanic on July 10th and by a Honda Dealership on July15th. I had to pay the Honda dealership to replace the transmission. I do not know where the old transmission was sent or if it was inspected, could contact Honda Dealership for further information. Safety of myself, passengers and other vehicles were at risk due to sluggish excelaration, jerky movements and at times unable to get the vehicle to move at all. These actions could have caused a rear end crash, front end crash or side crashes due to other vehicles not knowing what was happening. I did not have the control or the ability to move the vehicle off the road. July 3, 2025 dash lights unexpedtedly came on with no prior warning. Dashboard lights were a yellow P(parking) with an exclamation point, Red PARK light, yellow brake system light and a yellow check engine light. All lights led me to believe there was a problem with the braking system or the emergency brake was engaged. No lights indicating a transmission problem.

The contact purchased a 2018 Honda HR-V for his daughter. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The driver became aware of several unknown warning lights illuminated before the vehicle unintendedly decelerated to 15 MPH. The driver was able to pull over and stop the vehicle. The vehicle was then towed to a mechanic. The contact stated that the mechanic advised that there was a known issue with the CVT transmission and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where the vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that there were metal shavings found inside the transmission fluid. The contact called the manufacturer about a warranty coverage program for the CVT transmission. The contact was advised that his daughter's vehicle was not covered under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified about the failure and filed a case for the contact. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.

I was driving on the highway and suddenly my 2018 Honda HRV had a power failure, with the dash flashing and loss of acceleration. Luckily, I was able to coast off the highway with hazards on. After numerous power cycles, I was able to get the car into limp mode but could not go over 30mph. I took it to the dealer and was diagnosed to be the known Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) issue. My car is in great condition, with only 97k miles. I was at the dealership only a week before for the fuel injector recall, and this transmission issue was not mentioned. According to Service Bulletin 21-0467, the extended warranty to cover the CVT defect covers 7 years and 150k miles -- unfortunately, my car was is an 7 years and 1 month old according to the "delivery date" in Honda's system. I am still trying to verify this claim. I was denied all warranty and goodwill from Honda and quoted over $10,000 for the repair. I called the corporate contact (America Honda Motor Co.) to no avail. Both the dealer and corporate offices deny any liability for a known defect, after having brought the car to their service center just days before the warranty allegedly ended.

The contact owns a 2018 Honda HR-V. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle inadvertently decelerated to 20 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened; however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 95,861.

DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE CAR LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT DRIVE OVER 40 MPH. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION HAD METAL SHAVING IN THE FLUID AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED.

THE CV TRANSMISSION ON MY 2018 HR-V EXHIBITS AN OSCILLATORY INCREASING AND DECREASING SPEED BEHAVIOR AT AROUND 2500 ENGINE RPM WHEN UNDER MINIMAL LOAD, I.E.; GOING UP A SMALL HILL. THIS IS PROMINENT ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN GOING UP A VERY SLIGHT GRADE UNDER STEADY STATE THROTTLE, BUT ALSO NOTICEABLE AT LOW SPEED, LIKE 15 MPH, WHEN GOING UP A LITTLE BIT STEEPER HILL, LIKE MY DRIVEWAY. I HAD COMPLAINED REPEATEDLY TO HONDA DEALERS AND THE FACTORY ABOUT THIS, BUT THE TECHS WERE JUST DRIVING THE VEHICLE AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND DIDN'T NOTICE THE ISSUE BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T IN THE REGIME WHERE IT HAPPENS. THIS WILL CAUSE EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS DUE TO THE SLIDING OF THE CONNECTING CHAIN ACROSS THE VARIABLE DIAMETER DRUMS IT RIDES ON, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHICH CAN EASILY BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE FROM MULTIPLE CONSIDERATIONS. THE CASE NUMBER THAT AMERICAN HONDA GENERATED FOR THIS TRANSMISSION "HUNTING" ISSUE WAS 09398275 REPORTED TO HONDA ON 3/5/19 (I USED THAT DATE BELOW BECAUSE THE CONDITION HAS BEEN CONSTANT WITH NO SPECIFIC FAILURE POINT)

VIN: [XXX] YEAR: 2018 MAKE: HONDA MODEL: HR-V WHILE DRIVING THROUGH TOWN AT AROUND 35 MPH, THE CAR STARTED DOING A PULSATING SENSATION. AS WE GOT UP TO HIGHWAY SPEED AND DRIVING FROM (08/08/2020), BOISE, IDAHO TO BELLEVUE WASHINGTON THE "ORANGE LIGHT" CAME ON AND STARTED FLASHING AND LOST ALL POWER. PULLED OVER "SAFELY" ON THE SIDE OFF THE ROAD TO LET THE ENGINE COOL DOWN FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR. THERE WAS NO LIGHT THAT CAME ON INDICATING THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. (08/10/2020) HONDA OF KIRKLAND HAS HAD THE HRV FOR 1 WEEK NOW, AND THEY SAY THAT THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR "NO CODES". WE ASKED THE "SERVICE ADVISOR THAT WORKS FOR HONDA OF KIRKLAND" IF IT IS SAFE AND OKAY TO DRIVE THE CAR, HE TOLD US IT IS SAFE AND OKAY TO DRIVE THE HRV. WE PICKED UP THE CAR, AND AGAIN WE FILL THE SAME PULSATION/HESITATION ISSUE AS BEFORE. THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY CODES, EVEN THOUGH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS DARK IN COLOR, AND TO ONLY CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID ONLY WHEN THE CARS COMPUTER MAINTENANCE INDICATOR SAYS TO. (NOTE THE MAINTENANCE INDICATOR NEVER CAME ON INDICATING TO SERVICE THE TRANSMISSION, BASED OFF THE CODE THAT WOULD COME ON THE DASH). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

AT AROUND 55K MILES I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR BUCKED TWICE AND THEN SWITCHED INTO NEUTRAL, I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF THEN ON AGAIN AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH STAYED ON BUT I COULD SWITCH GEARS, I CALLED HONDA THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN AND THEY SAID IT WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE PARKING BRAKE SENSOR AND PULLEY SYSTEM, THEY REPLACED IT AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. NOW 4 MONTHS LATER AT AROUND 65K MILES I'M DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AGAIN AND MY CAR JUST STARTS REVVING LIKE CRAZY AND SWITCHES INTO NEUTRAL. I PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY AGAIN, TURN THE CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON AND ALL THE LIGHTS STAY LIT UP AGAIN. I CALL HONDA AND THEY SAY TO BRING IT IN AGAIN. THIS TIME THEY TELL ME METAL SHAVINGS GOT INTO THE TRANSMISSION (DUE TO THE SAME PARTS THAT WERE JUST REPLACED) BUT THAT I AM NOW NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND WILL HAVE TO PAY 40% OF THE COST TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON MY CAR THAT IS JUST OVER 2 YRS OLD. I LOOKED IT UP AND THIS IS SUCH A COMMON ISSUE THAT THEY HAVE EVEN CHANGED THE TRANSMISSIONS IN THE NEWER MODELS AND WHEN THEY REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION THEY WILL BE PUTTING THE NEWER VERSION IN. BUT THEY STILL DON'T WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR ITSELF AND WANT ME TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS.