2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid: sudden loss of power

Filed Oct 23, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · CA

While freeway driving at flow of traffic, typically in the HOV lane, on three separate occasions, the vehicle without any warning lost power completely causing me to immediately manuever the vehicle under extremely dangerous conditions to the right shoulder, but in the process nearly becoming involved in collisions with other vehicles, then coasting off the off-ramp. Other drivers are not necessarily courteous when attempting quick lane changes to prevent a more dangerous situation of becoming stranded in the middle of a freeway. On each occasion, my passengers were elderly ([XXX] & [XXX]) and my wife, all with sensitive high anxiety, and completely in states of fear. Concurrent with the vehicle shutting down, the check engine warning appears on the instrument panel. On two other separate occasions, all vehicle dash electronics, again without any warning whatsoever, go completely dark preventing any telemetry displaying, including radio, navigation via Apple link, and remain completely dark for up to 6 mins time. I'm unaware if lane sensors, etc., fail also or if it limited to the dash components only. I have taken the vehicle to our dealership, Spreen Honda of Corona to have the problems addressed, but they were unable to replicate the incidents, nor discover any cause of the problems. I have suggested that these are extremely similar to conditions attributed to other years of this model, but the dealership insists the do not apply to our vehicle. This vehicle will cause us to be involved in a very bad accident! And with two elderly, disabled, and medically-impaired seniors typically as my passengers, including my extremely sensitive wife who can barely muster up enough courage due to her phobias to ride in a vehicle, on the freeway, The next occurrence may not fair so well. I'm a very skilled driver, but there is so much I can control under such helpless conditions. These issues must be investigated and corrected. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Oct 21, 2026 · Engine · TX

Since 2021, I have repeatedly taken my car in to Honda because of check engine light followed by loss of power and loud knocking. Each time the code isn't saved after car is turned off and they can't find any issues. In 2025 after leaving Honda getting few miles away car did same thing, without turning it off I drove right back they ended up keeping car for 45 days, changed spark plugs and few other things. Yet again on 19 Oct 2026, my car repeated same thing and Honda again says they can't see any code or error. Now I'm going to pick it up, without resolution hoping this doesn't happen when I'm not able to pull over in a safe place to restart. I have requested all records from Honda and will provide their reports. I've lost track of how many times I've had this issue, but honestly do not feel safe in this car.

Filed Sep 1, 2026 · Engine · WA

One four occasions our 2020 Honda CRV Hybrid has started after sitting overnight in the greater Seattle area in the spring and summer with a rough idle. Within two miles of leaving our home at speeds of no more than 35 miles per hour, the check engine light began to flash. All four times, the rough idle and check engine light were accompanied by degraded speed responsiveness and the error cleared with turning the car on and off again. We have taken the vehicle to a mechanic twice and each time they couldn’t find any stored codes or replicate the issue. The issue continues to occur and seems to be getting worse. I’m concerned this will happen at high speeds and result in a total loss of power which will be unsafe.

Filed Aug 25, 2026 · Fuel system · PA

2/19/26 My car lost power while accelerating up a hill at about 60mph and the car had been operating for an hour and a half or so. The car was shaking, running on reduced power and the check engine light was flashing so we had to pull over to safety on a busy road. The car was towed to the local Honda dealer. The dealer said the code was a misfire on cylinder #4 but once they restarted the car the error went away. They did perform multiple tests including a compression test on all four cylinders and a leak test, and the car passed them all. They were unable to reproduce the problem. They did swap the #4 coil so that if it happened again, we would have more diagnostic information. They recommended no further action at that time. On 5/11/26 we had the same experience, also while accelerating uphill, after about 30 minutes of driving, this time on the interstate which was very scary; reduced power, car shaking and check engine light flashing. We pulled over, turned off the engine, and sure enough, when we restarted the car, it started normally. When we went to the repair shop a few days later there were no engine codes showing. On 6/12/26 the same thing happened again. While going uphill, on the interstate, after a couple of hours of driving. This time, as soon as we got home, we used an engine code reader and saw code P0304 – Cylinder 4 misfire. On 8/13/26 Lehigh Valley Honda reproduced the problem on the interstate, going uphill and do not have a clear fix. They want me to spend $587 on a Valve Clearance Inspection and Adjustment that I think won't yield any result.

Filed Jul 16, 2026 · Engine · OR

On four separate occasions while driving anywhere from 35 to 55 mph the engine light begins to flash and I lose all power. I am given just enough time to pull to the side of the road. I turn off the engine, wait a few minutes, and turn the engine back on, which seems to remedy the problem. At that point, I am able to drive off like nothing happened. I am on a CRV forum and I’m seeing more and more people discuss the same issue! Because there’s no code that comes up, and I am not able to replicate the scenario at the mechanics… There is nothing that can be done. It’s quite scary to be going 55 miles an hour and have to pull over on the side of the freeway. One time there was not a shoulder of the road that I was on, luckily a gas station was just up ahead and I was able to pull in there to reset the engine.

Filed Apr 30, 2026 · Engine · WA

Description of event: I was driving approximately 35 mph when the check engine light began flashing, the engine began shuddering, and acceleration began decreasing. I was able to safely pull over and turn off the vehicle. After approx. 10 minutes, I turned on the car and plugged in a code reader but no codes were available to view. I restarted the car and it functioned normally and the check engine light has not returned. Safety: If there had been more traffic, if I had been on a highway, or some other circumstance, it could have been difficult to safely pull over with a loss of power. The car has not been inspected by a third party but there are numerous anecdotal accounts of this same issue on Reddit and Honda forums.

Filed Apr 4, 2025 · Engine · WA

Sudden engine failure while driving on highway with immediate loss of power. Engine failure was due to blown head gasket from failure in sealed coolant system. Engine failure occurred prematurely at 84k miles. Honda allegedly is aware of this failure in their system, and has not addressed it. Safety concern due to sudden loss of power while driving in areas with speeds at excess of 60 mph, no warning prior to failure.

Filed Aug 25, 2023 · Acceleration, Electrical · GA

On three separate occasions, I was driving on the highway and lost power to accelerate causing a safety issue as I was on a fast-moving highway and had to find an exit or pull over. The three times were September 22, 2022, March 23, 2023 and July 23, 2023. The first time I had it towed to Hennessy Honda in Woodstock, GA. They were unable to determine anything was wrong. The second time, I pulled off the highway, waited 5 minutes and then was able to start and continue to my neighborhood mechanic, Bridgemill Auto Repair in Canton, GA. Again they found nothing to explain the loss of drive power. The third time I was able to get off the highway at a nearby exit and, again, waited for 5-10 min before starting and resuming. When I saw the recall notice on 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid Recalls, I realized this must be the issue. I brought my car to Ed Voyles Honda in Marietta, GA near my job on August 21, 2023 to have it checked out. They said that this was not on the list of recalls, but if it happened again to bring it back to them to have it checked out. I do not want to wait for this to happen again as this is a safety issue and has obviously happened with other 2020 CR-V Hybrids such as mine. I drive 45 minutes on major highways to work daily and can never be sure when it will happen the next time if I will be able to manage to avoid a crash causing injury to me, occupants in my car, and other cars on the highway. Please advise.

Filed Dec 19, 2022 · Engine · NV

I lose power when driving on the freeway.