2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe a loss of power or limp-mode episode while accelerating or at highway speed, with the check engine light coming on and then clearing after a restart. Alongside that, many complaints concern the forward collision braking system activating when nothing is in the path, and a steering wheel that sticks or resists returning to center on gentle curves. A large share of the electrical complaints are about waiting for parts for a 12-volt battery cable recall rather than a new failure.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   12-volt battery drains and no-start

   • 18 complaints (23%)
   • typically at 2.4 yrs old
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe the vehicle going completely dead with no start and requiring a jump, sometimes within the first year and at low mileage, with the battery testing fine afterward. Some reports mention repeated battery replacements and, in one case, a dead body control module that left the car inoperable and was replaced under warranty. A number of complaints are about the 12-volt battery cable recall rather than a new fault, with owners saying dealers had no parts and long waitlists. Both low-mileage no-start events and recall-related complaints span the first few years of ownership.

   Recall 23V844000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 23V844000 (12-volt battery cable with fuse) has been completed, and check the service record for battery replacements or parasitic-drain diagnosis.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I arranged a service appointment with my dealer Honda of Gainesville to perform the necessary service on my recalled 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid for the 12-volt battery cable harness that does not contain a fuse on the positive power circuit and to perform a 20k miles service. During the service I was informed that dealer does not have the recall item in stock because Honda has a difficult time to keep up with the demand for the item in question. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11571844, filed 2024-02

   “Power system problem light started coming on soon after we bought the car new. It has been towed to Barber Honda in Bakersfield many times- it dies, won’t start. It is on the 3rd battery within 1st year. The last incident was 10/23/23 the car suddenly lost all power in an area of mountains- I was stranded without cell phone service, it was dangerous. Finally had it towed again- this time they replaced the fuel pump. We have had a lawyer since 4/4/23 and Honda has refused to do anything to about this car! I am scared to drive it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11554156, filed 2023-11
2. 2
   Engine

   Sudden loss of power / limp mode with check engine light

   • 12 complaints (15%)
   • median 94,500 mi at 4.0 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners describe the vehicle suddenly losing acceleration, sometimes with a flashing check engine light, often while merging onto a highway or driving between 45 and 70 mph. Restarting the car typically returns it to normal driving with no warning lights, and several owners say dealers could not reproduce the problem or find stored codes. Some dealers performed a valve adjustment as a possible fix; owners also report misfire codes and, in a few cases, a failed head gasket with coolant loss or overheating. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 30,000 miles to around 100,000 miles, often during acceleration onto highways.

   6 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the vehicle has ever stored misfire codes (P0300–P0304) and whether any valve adjustment or software update was done. On a test drive, note any hesitation under hard acceleration and check coolant level and condition for signs of head gasket trouble.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I am getting increasing frequency of cylinder misfire, so far cylinder 1 and 2, and the car goes to a limb mode and loose power. It happens during acceleration to a highway ramp. Engine lights and other many warning lights come on, the car goes into limb mode, I pull over and when I turn the engine off and turns back on the warning lights clear and the car drives normally until next time, to start all over again. I took it two Honda dealers at three occasions. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11731924, filed 2026-04

   “I was driving on the highway and suddenly the gas engine turned off. I was only able to drive on battery power. Pushing the gas pedal only let me go 30 mph. The check engine light was flashing. I pulled over and shut off the car. When I restarted it worked fine. Check engine light was not on anymore. I took the car to the dealership and they could not find any stored codes or replicate the event. Looking online I see many cases of similar problems and Honda can never duplicate it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11604882, filed 2024-07
3. 3
   Forward collision avoidance

   Forward collision braking activates with nothing ahead

   • 9 complaints (11%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 3.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2025

   Complaints describe the collision mitigation and automatic emergency braking systems braking hard on their own on open roads with no vehicle nearby, sometimes while using adaptive cruise control. A few owners report the system engaging while they were steering around an obstacle, which they say made the wheel harder to turn. Dealers generally did not find stored codes, and some owners were told the issue could not be reproduced. Reported at various mileages from low miles up to about 60,000 miles, in clear, dry daylight conditions as well as at night.

   What to check: Ask whether the radar/camera module has been inspected or recalibrated and whether any false-alert codes were stored. During a test drive with adaptive cruise control on, watch for unnecessary braking or warning chimes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was going south bound up a hill. Less then 20 mph and was blinded by the sun. The old folks in front of me were also blinded by the sun and stopped in the middle of the hill. My automatic emergency braking system did not kick in and I ran right into them. We could have been hurt. My car is being fixed in a collision repair shop now.”

   NHTSA complaint #11459049, filed 2022-03

   “There have been several times where my forward collision warning goes off when I am just driving along an open highway with no other vehicles nearby and no precipitation. In broad daylight. Another time, a car in front of me slammed on their brakes. There wasn't enough time for me to come to a complete stop, so I navigated my car to the shoulder (I was only going about 30 mph to begin with). …”

   NHTSA complaint #11654590, filed 2025-04
4. 4
   Steering

   Steering wheel sticks on gentle turns

   • 5 complaints (6%)
   • typically at 2.8 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2025

   Owners report the steering wheel feeling stuck or notchy during gradual turns, especially on highway curves, and requiring extra force to pull back toward center, which can cause a slight swerve. Some complaints mention a creaking or rubbing noise when turning, and one owner says the dealer confirmed the problem and replaced driveshaft components. The complaints describe a gradual onset that worsens over time rather than a single sudden failure. Reported across a broad mileage range, most commonly during highway driving at steady speeds.

   Recall 21V9390002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the electric power steering product update or torque sensor service was performed. On a test drive, hold a steady curve at highway speed and feel for any notch or resistance returning the wheel to center.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car quickly became unable to be driven safely when the steering started to fail. It started with a feeling of the tires sticking to the road when trying to make small adjustments to position with the steering wheel. I was not able to maintain a straight line drive without the constant small jerks associated with the sticky feeling. The steering quickly deteriorated to the point of barely being able to keep the car on the road because of the inability to steer. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11678979, filed 2025-08

   “UNKNOWN issue with steering. When steering along long curves on the highway and then trying to straighten the steering wheel, the steering wheel will feel stuck and take a bit more force to overcome the position it gets stuck at before being able to be straightened out. Adding this amount of force to overcome the stuck steering wheel causes the car to swerve slightly.”

   NHTSA complaint #11561922, filed 2023-12
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission fluid leaks and shudder

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe axle seal leaks that lose transmission fluid, and one owner reports multiple transmission fluid changes starting at very low mileage with later warnings for transmission and emission system problems traced to internal damage. Another owner describes the car losing power and shutting down while driving with no prior warning. Dealers in these reports either replaced parts or could not duplicate the concern. Reported from a few hundred miles up through the warranty period and beyond.

   Recall 21V939000

   What to check: Look for fluid weeping at the front axle seals and ask for transmission fluid service records. Check that the fluid listed matches the specified type and that no warning messages appear during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Transmission failure without any warning while driving. Vehicle engine immediately shut down resulting in no power and loss of power steering. Vehicle came to a complete stop within seconds. Fortunately I was on a country road with no traffic. Had I been traveling on a highway I could have been rear ended and suffered major injuries! I had to push the vehicle to the side of the road since there was no power.There was a recall of the 2023 model for the exact same transmission issue that I experienced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11736405, filed 2026-05

   “The front passenger side axle seal leaking transmission fluid. This leak caused a loss of transmission fluid which, if not discovered, could have caused sudden power loss and lockup of transmission. This would no doubt have caused a collision resulting in serious injury or death. I believe Honda is aware of this defect and has yet to issue a recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #11518676, filed 2023-04

Buying note. Check that open recalls for this model year have actually been completed, since owners frequently report parts shortages. A pre-purchase inspection focusing on stored engine misfire codes, steering feel on the highway, and transmission fluid condition would cover the most commonly reported concerns.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.