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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2016 Honda HR-V Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
76about this part
Share
31%of 243 total for the year
Median mileage
78,000miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 76 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2016 Honda HR-V, 31% of the 243 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 78,000 miles.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I was driving on the highway and my dash lights all lit and my car stopped working. I checked under the hood and a plug had been blown off my transmission and spilled fluid all on the inside of the car. Got a tow to the closer Honda dealer and they said my transmission was destroyed with bits of metal all inside and my start/stop switch went out.”

NHTSA complaint #11407608, filed 2021-04, 85,000 miles

“I was leaving work and driving down a busy, high speed road when the car experienced a total transmission failure. There were no warning lights or change in performance prior to the incident. Car has been dealer maintained and up until that moment had performed well. Police had to stop traffic and assist me out of busy intersection.”

NHTSA complaint #11383502, filed 2020-12, 76,000 miles

“I bought the car brand new in april of 2016, it has 70k miles on it, and I've never had an issue with it. Last week I was going about 40-50 MPH and my dash said the gear was in neutral, and all the warning lights came on. Took it to a few places and it was determined that the transmission was totally shot.”

NHTSA complaint #11170205, filed 2019-01, 70,400 miles

“While driving 80 MPH with the cruise set I noticed the vehicle start to heavily accelerate. I immediately turned the cruise off and applied the brake. The brake did no stop the car from accelerating. I managed to slow down enough to shut the vehicle off. All dash board lights came on. I started the car up again and it started jerking as if the brake and gas were being pressed at the same time. The car was towed via Honda care.”

NHTSA complaint #11076481, filed 2018-03, 46,000 miles

“The car has just passed the 80 000 miles mark, as I use the car to travel between portland and san francisco. I missed 60 000 miles service and instead had it done at the 80 000 miles mark. Two weeks after the service the transmission has fallen apart.”

NHTSA complaint #11097207, filed 2018-05, 82,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2026210%
202512%
202433%
202310%
20221921%
202158%
20201416%
2019167%
20181610%
20173226%
20167631%

Other parts of the 2016 Honda HR-V

Electrical system
57 complaintsOther or unknown
45 complaintsBrakes
25 complaintsEngine
23 complaintsBody and structure
22 complaintsVehicle speed control
14 complaintsAir bags
13 complaintsExterior lighting
10 complaintsSeats
8 complaintsSuspension
6 complaintsWheels
5 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2016 Honda HR-V

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology