Honda CR-V automatic emergency braking problems, 2016–2027
1,702 of the 8,155 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Honda CR-V 2016–2027 name the automatic emergency braking (NHTSA’s “Forward Collision Avoidance” heading — forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, including phantom braking). The loudest years: 2018 (474), 2019 (348), 2017 (343). Filed under the same heading across these years: 4 manufacturer bulletins, 2 NHTSA investigations. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Honda CR-V automatic emergency braking problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the automatic emergency braking | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2026 | 25 | 17% | — | 4 TSBs | the year → |
| 2025 in depth | 52 | 19% | — | 4 TSBs | the record → |
| 2024 in depth | 76 | 16% | — | 4 TSBs | the record → |
| 2023 | 64 | 10% | — | — | the year → |
| 2022 in depth | 71 | 21% | — | 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2021 in depth | 138 | 32% | 40k | 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2020 in depth | 111 | 26% | 25k | 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2019 in depth | 348 | 32% | 20k | 2 investigations | the record → |
| 2018 in depth | 474 | 22% | 36k | 2 investigations | the record → |
| 2017 in depth | 343 | 19% | 45k | 2 investigations | the record → |
| 2016 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the automatic emergency braking. Nothing here is a rate.
When the automatic emergency braking complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2019: 14 · 2020: 11 · 2021: 97 · 2022: 527 · 2023: 314 · 2024: 308 · 2025: 251 · 2026: 180
Across the model years, half of the 192 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the automatic emergency braking problem between 16,000 and 50,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the automatic emergency braking, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
When driving about 25 mph, the dashboard lit up with "Brake", gave a warning sound then the brakes applied automatically very hard. There was nothing in front of me that I needed to brake for. It was frightening for me and the front side passenger that this happened without warning, and we both lurched forward.
Driving on secondary road. Going approx 30 mph. No vehicle in front or behind. No oncoming traffic in other lane. Car on it's own engaged automatic collison braking system almost throwing me through window. Brought car to dealer. They claim they hooked up to computer and said system was good.
On 9/6 I turned left into a parking lot. I was not exceeding 20 mph. I slowed to go over a speed bump, took my foot off the gas to brake and before I actually pressed the brake petal the automatic braking feature activated. There were no cars in front of me or any road hazard.
The emergency braking engaged for no apparent reason while I was driving about 35 mph and at least a car length behind car in front of me. The car slammed on the brakes in moving traffic for no apparent reason. Fortunately the car behind me was able to stop but this could have easily caused a rear end collision
The car inappropriately braked, full stop, two times. The last event occurred on jan 9, 2021. We reported both incidents to the dealer. The car was inspected after the first incident in july 2019, and the technician could not replicate. We were informed the car is working as designed.
What is on file about the automatic emergency braking, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsNHTSA investigations
- EA24002 Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Brakingopened Apr 15, 2024 · open
- On February 21, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE22003) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), an automatic emergency braking (AEB) system, in model year 2017-2019 Honda CR-V and 2018-2019 Honda Accord vehicles. The reports allege that activation of the AEB system occurs while driving with no a…
- PE22003 Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Brakingopened Feb 21, 2022 · closed Apr 18, 2024
- On February 21, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE22003) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), an automatic emergency braking (AEB) system, in model year 2017-2019 Honda CR-V and 2018-2019 Honda Accord vehicles. The reports allege that activation of the AEB system occurs while driving with no a…
4 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year
- Sep 10, 2026
- Owner Notification Letter - Honda has developed software updates to the Honda Sensing system to enhance driver experience by modifying the circumstances when the advanced driver assist system (ADAS) decelerates the vehicle or the extent of deceleration. The software covers Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), and Road Departure Mitigation (RDM).
- Jul 31, 2026
- Service Bulletin - Honda has developed software updates to the Honda Sensing system to enhance driver experience by modifying the circumstances when the advanced driver assist system (ADAS) decelerates the vehicle or the extent of deceleration. The software covers Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), and Road Departure Mitigation (RDM).
- Jul 24, 2026
- Service Bulletin - American Honda has identified a condition that may affect Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) operation. Due to software programming issues of the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), unexpected vehicle deceleration may occur.
- Jul 24, 2026
- Dealer Message - Due to software programming issues of the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), unexpected vehicle deceleration may occur.
Every one filed under the heading is listed. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the Honda CR-V
Source: the same files- steering problems
- fuel system problems
- visibility and wiper problems
- lane-keeping problems
- engine problems
- electrical problems
- airbag problems
- brake problems
Every system, every model year: Honda CR-V problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Honda CR-V years have the most automatic emergency braking complaints?
2018, 474; 2019, 348; 2017, 343. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2021 (32%).
Is there a recall for the automatic emergency braking on the Honda CR-V?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading on any of these model years. A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do automatic emergency braking problems show up on the Honda CR-V?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 34,300 miles across the model years; half of them between 16,000 and 50,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Forward Collision Avoidance" heading cover?
Forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, including phantom braking. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.