The Lemon Index
Transmission complaints owners filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) for each model year, per 100,000 cars sold. A complaint counts when it's filed under the transmission, or under the power train and the owner describes the transmission (shifting, slipping, gears, CVT). It's an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and older years have had longer to collect complaints.
What owners describe
Share of this model's transmission complaints that mention each symptom. One complaint can mention several.
In owners' words
Belt inside CVT transmission has failed. Numerous broken shards of metal in fluid and surrounding parts. Cost to replace $7,500 avg.
2016 Honda HR-V owner · NHTSA complaint
I press down on the gas pedal and it seems to not go. I have the transmission light, the parking light and brake lights on the dashboard
2016 Honda HR-V owner · NHTSA complaint
Quick answers
Which Honda HR-V years have transmission problems?
By transmission complaints filed with NHTSA per car sold, the worst Honda HR-V years are 2016, 2017, 2018.
What are common Honda HR-V transmission problems?
Owners most often describe lost power while driving, transmission replaced, stuck in gear or limp mode.
Which Honda HR-V years have the fewest transmission complaints?
Since 2010, the Honda HR-V years with the fewest transmission complaints per car sold are 2025, 2024, 2021.
See every problem, not just the transmission: Honda HR-V reliability by year. How we count