The front brake line from the master cylinder to the ABS hydraulic control valve has failed from what appears to be corrosion failure directly related to electrolyte fluid leaking from the battery. The failure caused brake fluid to drain from the master cylinder reservoir and resulted in brake failure while the vehicle was being driven. Multiple warning lamps and warning messages turned on after brake application failure was noted by the driver. The vehicle use was terminated at the time the warning messages appeared and towed into our repair facility.
2018 Honda CR-V brakes problems
200 complaints (9% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 15,185. 13 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 200
- of this car's complaints
- 9%
- typical mileage
- 15,185
- crashes
- 13
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Antilock: ABS warning light2
- Antilock: control unit/module1
- Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Honda CR-V brakes problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2018 Honda CR-V brakes
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Phantom braking 55Brake failure 19ABS 16Grinding brakes 10Premature wear 5
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
What 2018 Honda CR-V owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while reversing out of the garage, the ABS, traction control, braking system, and check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic and was diagnosed with fuel injector failure. The vehicle was scheduled to be repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the issue by the mechanic. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power and jolted to a complete stop. The vehicle independently restarted. There was no warning light illuminated; however, the message “BRAKE” was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed; however, the contact was informed that no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 78,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated and then turned off. In addition, the contact stated that two days later, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes independently activated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 109,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 65 MPH, the wheels locked up unintendedly. The BRAKE warning light was occasionally illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the failure reoccurred with several unknown warning lights flickering. The contact stated that a local independent mechanic arrived on scene, and the failure codes were cleared. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 19,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the brakes independently activated. In addition, the contact stated that the brake pedal was firm while depressed and the tires squealed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that the failure was a known failure with the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 99,565.
I was proceeding through a green light and the “BRAKE” warning engaged when I was going through the intersection - there was nothing in front of me. I had no control of the braking system. Thankfully, there were no other cars on the road. This has happened about 4 other times, including a couple of times on the freeway.
On February 26, 2026, at approximately 3:59 PM, the driver was traveling northbound on Yukon Territory Avenue in Manteca, CA at approximately 30 mph when the vehicle experienced a sudden brake failure. The driver attempted to pull over to the east curb of Yukon Territory Avenue but the vehicle inadvertently jumped the curb and collided with a city fire hydrant. Airbags deployed. The vehicle continued northbound and struck a city street light pole before stopping. No injuries were reported. The incident is consistent with the known the federal safety agency Engineering Analysis (opened February 2022, upgraded April 2024) covering 2017-2022 Honda CR-V vehicles for unexpected and unintended activation of the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) causing sudden rapid deceleration without warning. This complaint is being filed to add to the existing federal record of 1,294 complaints already documented under this investigation.
On several occasions, while driving down the road at 55 mph, the car will flash the "BRAKE" indicator on the dash for a brief second and immediately slam on the brakes either to a stop or for a shorter amount of time. This is the third event that happened today just before reporting this problem. Our safety was at risk because there could've been someone behind us that may not have reacted fast enough and could've hit us. After the issue, there were no warning lights of any kind. There was no hazard in the road and no other obscure conditions. Middle of the day, clear skies. It is not possible to reproduce the problem in a timely manner because this has happened randomly three times over the course of two years.
I was driving into the city and crossing an intersection with train tracks. There was no obstacle and the car warned me by flashing the sign to brake, beeped, and then it automatically slammed on the brake and stopped my car in the middle of the intersection on the tracks. I was goin probably 40 mph. It was terrifying. Thankfully no one else was around me. All of my items in the car flew off the seat and hit the ground. Will be calling Honda about taking it in to repair shop.
Questions about the 2018 Honda CR-V brakes
Does the 2018 Honda CR-V have brakes problems?
Owners have filed 200 complaints about the brakes of the 2018 Honda CR-V, 9% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2018 Honda CR-V brakes problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 15,185 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Honda CR-V brakes?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Honda CR-V have bad brakes?
The Honda CR-V model years with the most brakes complaints are 2018 (200 complaints), 2017 (177 complaints) and 2019 (100 complaints).
Other 2018 Honda CR-V problems
Fuel system 608Engine 545Driver assistance 448Steering 335Electrical 286Acceleration 65Transmission 64Visibility 43Body 27Seat belts 25Airbags 22Lights 12Wheels 11Tires 9Seats 7Suspension 7Locks 2
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