Honda CR-V brake problems, 2016–2027
685 of the 8,155 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Honda CR-V 2016–2027 name the brakes (NHTSA’s “Service Brakes” heading — the hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist). The loudest years: 2018 (196), 2017 (177), 2019 (100). Filed under the same heading across these years: no document yet. 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 brake 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 brakes | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2026 | 14 | 10% | — | — | the year → |
| 2025 | 35 | 12% | — | — | the year → |
| 2024 | 6 | 1% | — | — | the year → |
| 2023 | 34 | 5% | — | — | the year → |
| 2022 | 22 | 7% | — | — | the year → |
| 2021 | 35 | 8% | — | — | the year → |
| 2020 | 47 | 11% | 23k | 43 TSBs | the year → |
| 2019 in depth | 100 | 9% | 7k | 43 TSBs | the record → |
| 2018 in depth | 196 | 9% | 16k | 45 TSBs | the record → |
| 2017 in depth | 177 | 10% | 18k | 49 TSBs | the record → |
| 2016 | 19 | 5% | 19k | — | 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 brakes. Nothing here is a rate.
When the brake complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 4 · 2017: 12 · 2018: 52 · 2019: 97 · 2020: 63 · 2021: 33 · 2022: 121 · 2023: 50 · 2024: 52 · 2025: 117 · 2026: 84
Across the model years, half of the 300 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the brake problem between 6,000 and 30,000 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 brakes, 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.
The brakes failed when in reverse. The reverse sensors do not detect movement, the car does at intersections. A blue vertical line appears when the car is in reverse. The panel freezes...all this happened when the car was in motion
On two different occasions while driving on the freeway, with no vehicles in the vicinity, my car abruptly applied the brake system. I didn't think to make note of the speed or date when it happened the first time, but I did make note of the second occurrence. During both occurrences, econ mode was turned off.
Honda Cr-V 2017 collision system failed, LED to brake fail and accident, feel unsafe driving now- on dec 28th 2017, while driving my 2017 Cr-V, I had to stop at stop sign, I tried to apply brakes but they failed completely as in no response by pressing the brake pedal.
On november 17, 2017 at 1105am on i70w approximately 3 miles west of the fruita colorado exit. Driving on active cruise control at 78mhp in left lane no car ahead in left lane but passing old VW bus light in color Cr-V suddenly braked from 78 to about 50 MPH kicked cruise off, we did not get pass VW.
1;42 PM, 40 MPH, on a road I frequently travel, sunny day no traffic ahead of me and for no reason vehicle braked hard and the words "brakes" showed on the dash. After a few seconds and before I could pull over it returned to normal. System designed to prevent accidents almost caused one. Very dangerous
What is on file about the brakes, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsNothing filed under this heading on these model years.
Other systems with a record on the Honda CR-V
Source: the same files- steering problems
- automatic emergency braking problems
- fuel system problems
- visibility and wiper problems
- lane-keeping problems
- engine problems
- electrical problems
- airbag 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 brake complaints?
2018, 196; 2017, 177; 2019, 100. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2025 (12%).
Is there a recall for the brakes 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 brake problems show up on the Honda CR-V?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 15,715 miles across the model years; half of them between 6,000 and 30,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Service Brakes" heading cover?
The hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.