On 10/30/2026, I drove over a metal roadway plate at 30 mph and the car automatically activated the collision mitigation braking system and skidded to a complete stop in the middle of the road.
2018 Honda CR-V: false forward collision warnings
119 of the 2,169 complaints about the 2018 Honda CR-V describe false forward collision warnings.
- owner complaints
- 119
- of this car's complaints
- 5%
- typical mileage
- 21,000
- recalls
- 0
False forward collision warnings by model year
What owners say
My car will stop when at red lights or stop signs. It’s like it dies. It also flashed 6 different problems at me: Emissions system problem, AWD system problem, adaptive cruise control problem, collision mitigation system problem, road departure mitigation system problem, auto high beam problem. This is so frustrating considering I just got this car, and there’s no recall, but I believe it’s the fuel pump. Please recall this. I can’t put so much money into this car.
I took my Honda in to a dealership for a trade-in value assessment. The dealership used automatic start with my key fob. Once they got in, they began to drive it in immediately it would not go past 10 mph, began jerking, and steering became an issue. It begin throwing the following check engine light codes: Tire pressure monitor problem. Electric Parking Brake problem. Road Departure Mitigation system problem. Collision mitigation system problem. Adaptive cruise control problem. Hill start assist problem. Vehicle stability, assist problem. Power steering system problem. Brake hold system problem. Brake system problem. Emissions system problem. Trade-in became impossible and it was not safe to even drive off the lot. It remains sitting in the car dealerships parking lot, leaving me without a vehicle.
Automatic Emergency Braking and Forward Collision Warning malfunctioned. I started to drive after sitting at a red light and was driving at approximately 35 MPH. The Automatic Emergency Braking and Forward Collision Warning engaged, and the car suddenly braked. Luckily there wasn’t anyone directly behind me, or else I would have been rear-ended. This malfunction has happened on three separate occasions in the past 4 years. There were no warnings prior to the malfunction. The car has not been inspected yet for this malfunction.
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.
2018 Honda CR-V had another phantom braking event this morning. While traveling on a local 4-lane road with 45-mph speed limit, the collision mitigation braking system activated with an actual hazard present and brought the vehicle to a complete stop, nearly resulting in a series read-end collision from the traffic behind the car. This created an immediate safety hazard and could have easily resulted in injuries or fatalities. The vehicle has experienced recurring phantom braking events and false activations of the emergency braking system. Because this has happened multiple times, we no longer have confidence that the system will behave predictably in normal driving conditions.
The systems affected with failure notifications were Electric Parking Brake, TPMS, Emissions, Brake, Brake Hold, Power Steering, Vehicle Stability Assist, Hill Start Assist, Adaptive Cruise (including regular cruise), Collision Mitigation/Avoidance, Road Departure Mitigation. The stored codes in the vehicle that I was able to read were P0300, P0303, P0304. This failure bears a striking resemblance to that of TSB 21-010, directed at Keihin manufactured fuel injectors, PN: 16010-RLV-315, which was later replaced with updated ...-305 after the failure was determined, and the vehicles were given a 10 year 150,000 mile warranty. The CRV had injector PN: 16010-5PA-305, also manufactured by Keihin, which was also later revised to 06160-..., but the CRV was not given the same warranty extension, suggesting Honda acknowledged the same defect pattern across both injector families but chose not to extend equivalent coverage to the CRV. 21-010 also details that debris from the high pressure pump may contribute, and the CRV experienced the same fuel pump recall for low density impellers that these vehicles did. Honda is also obligated under TSB 98-081 to perform emissions services due to OBD inadequacy, which this vehicle experienced. Misfires were felt for months with no CEL. The Norm Reeves Honda parts catalog classifies injectors as emissions components, implying they should be covered. However, a Honda dealer in CA, mandated by CARB and EPA, refused to do the repairs or make any goodwill attempt on my behalf. I then reached out to American Honda, who delayed assigning a case manager as long as possible, then required phone contact after initially accepting alternate communication methods, then assigned a case manager whose hours conflicted with my stated availability, then assigned a second who has not answered the phone. I am still awaiting a callback. The vehicle has been immobile and in limp mode for the past two weeks while Honda's callback process remains unresolved.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Forward Collision Avoidance”, “Brakes", and several other unknown safety features were displayed. The failure caused the cruise control to become inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
While driving My CRV it jolted to an unexpected stop with the Forward Collision Warning flashing ! No vehicles in sight to cause this incident !
I am filing this complaint regarding a serious safety issue with my 2018 Honda CR-V. The vehicle is experiencing repeated and unpredictable malfunctions involving the dashboard display, warning systems, and automatic braking features while the vehicle is in motion. While driving at normal speeds, the vehicle has braked on its own with no obstacle, vehicle, pedestrian, or hazard present in front of me. This sudden braking occurs without warning and creates a significant risk of being rear-ended or losing control of the vehicle. The braking feels as though the collision mitigation or safety system is activating incorrectly. At the same time or on separate occasions, the dashboard display begins glitching and flashing multiple warning indicators. These include:    â¢Â   Tire pressure warning lights appearing even though the tires are properly inflated    â¢Â   Sensor warning lights activating randomly    â¢Â   Alerts indicating systems such as collision warning, vehicle detection, or high-beam assist are malfunctioning    â¢Â   Messages stating safety features are not working when there is no apparent reason These warnings often appear simultaneously and disappear later without explanation. The infotainment or instrument display sometimes flickers or behaves erratically when this occurs. This issue is extremely concerning because it suggests a failure in the vehicleâs electrical system, sensors, or safety-assist technology. The unexpected braking alone poses a major safety hazard, particularly at highway speeds or in traffic, as it could cause a crash. In addition, the false warnings make it difficult to determine when the vehicle actually has a real problem that needs attention. The malfunction happens randomly and is not tied to weather conditions, road conditions, or driving behavior. It has occurred during normal driving with no obstacles present and no reason for the safety systems to activate. Because this issue involves unintended braking and malfunctioning driver
Lights appeared on dash associated with braking/sensors. Lights included: ACC, Collision Mitigation, Fuel Emissions, Traction Control, Electric Parking Brake, Brake Hold System, TPMS, Road Departure Mitigation, EPS, VSA, Hill Start Assist. Not running any different than normal, just lights suddenly appeared. Ran codes & codes said ECM Failure & Fuel Too Rich.
After vehicle was shut down for about 5 to 10 minutes while in a store, all lights on the dashboard came on with warnings that most all safety related systems had "problems" (Tire Monitoring System, Emissions System, Brake System, Brake Hold, Power steering , Variable Steering Assist Problem, Hill start assist, Adaptative Cruise Control, Collision Mitigation, Road Departure) Vehicle would otherwise run fine and could be driven home. Emergency brake still seems to operate. This has happened twice in the last six months and renders the vehicle less safe to operate without these systems fully functional.
Service bulletins that may apply
- Owner Notification Letter
- Honda has developed software updates to the Honda Sensing system to enhance driver experience by modifying...
- Dealer Message
- American Honda has identified a condition that may affect Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) operation
- ServiceNews Article
- Servicenews article
- Dealer message
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2018 Honda CR-V collision warning
Is false forward collision warnings a common problem on the 2018 Honda CR-V?
119 of 2,169 owner complaints about the 2018 Honda CR-V (5%) mention false forward collision warnings. The model year with the most reports is 2017.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2018 Honda CR-V?
There are 0 recalls and 8 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2018 Honda CR-V
Fuel smell 218Stalling 146Warning lights 121Adaptive cruise 104Fuel pump 98Check engine light 84Jerking 84Loss of power 69Lane assist 65Misfire 57Phantom braking 55Engine failure 41Hesitation 35Steering noise 25Sunroof shattered 24Fuel leak 21Battery drain 20Won't start 20Brake failure 19Door locks 17Overheating 17ABS 16Fire or smoke 16Power steering loss 16Screen failure 15Headlights 12Key fob 12Pulling 12Seat belt 11Won't shift 11Grinding brakes 10Oil consumption 10Windshield crack 10Harsh shifting 9Knocking 8Sudden acceleration 8No deployment 7Steering lock-up 6Wipers 6Backup camera 5Ball joint 5Premature wear 5
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