2016 Honda HR-V: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Oct 12, 2026 · Transmission · OR

Vehicle: 2016 Honda HR-V Approximate Mileage: 114,400 miles Incident Description: While driving at highway speeds on the freeway, the vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic loss of motive power and dropped into an emergency "limp mode." The vehicle suddenly refused to accelerate and could not maintain highway speeds, forcing me to navigate across active lanes of traffic to the shoulder to avoid being rear-ended. My minor child was present in the vehicle during these instances. This dangerous event has occurred twice, both times on high-speed roadways, presenting an immediate and severe risk of a high-speed collision to myself, my child, and other motorists. This dangerous event has occurred twice, both times on high-speed roadways, presenting an immediate and severe risk of a high-speed collision to myself, my child, and other motorists. A diagnostic scan of the vehicle's OBD-II system revealed error code P271E, which indicates Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) steel belt deterioration. This is a known, documented engineering defect with the metal drive belt fracturing inside the transmission, as outlined in Honda's official Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 21-047. Because the vehicle completely loses propulsion without warning in live traffic due to a known manufacturing flaw, this constitutes an extreme, life-threatening safety hazard. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate this component failure, as the current time-limited warranty extension does not adequately protect owners from sudden, dangerous highway failures of this defective drivetrain.

Filed Jul 17, 2026 · Transmission · TX

CVT has gone into safety/limp mode. June 7 2026 First sign was the EPB not releasing. Became drivable after warm up period. Replaced EPB switch and vehicle drove normally. There was still a parking brake caution light. On July 12, 2026 the issue repeated. This time the check engine light and transmission light have come on. Had it diagnosed at a mechanic and they found transmission codes: P0717 – Input/Turbine Speed Sensor "A" Circuit No Signal P0843 – Transmission Fluid Pressure Sensor/Switch "A" Circuit High P0796 – Pressure Control Solenoid "C" Performance or Stuck OFF P0717 – CVT Input Shaft (Drive Pulley) Speed Sensor "A" Circuit No Signal ABS Module Codes: 83-16 – Malfunction of Shift Position Signal 83-14 – Malfunction of Electric Parking Brake System Electric Parking Brake Module Codes: U0401-68 – Invalid Data Received from Powertrain Control Module (PCM) U0402-68 – Invalid Data Received from Transmission Control Module (TCM) CVT and rear diff fluid appear dirty and burned. Apparently there was a TSB issued that extended the CVT warranty to 7 years or 150,000 miles. We did not receive that notice. We purchased the vehicle used from Honda in 2019. Currently has a total of 39,831 miles. Mechanic is recommending replacement of CVT system for approximately $11,000. The value of the vehicle with repairs is only about $14,000 We were lucky that this occurred parked at our house. Had it occurred while driving, it would have caused immediate stop in traffic with no brake lights lit. Honda knew there was an issue with the CVT drive belt and the PCM. Honda really should have made the effort to communicate this issue to customers and extend the warranty based on mileage rather than years of service. Needing a new CVT at less than 40K miles of light driving is not reasonable wear and tear. Unfortunately, this has likely ended our 40 year history of purchasing Honda autos.

Filed May 21, 2026 · Transmission · CA

Car went into limp mode far from home. Lots of lights on the dash lit up. I scanned the OBD and it came back with code P271E to replace the automatic transmission assembly. This was confirmed by a transmission repair shop. This is a known issue by Honda and they have issued service bulletins 21-046 and 21-047. However, my vehicle is outside of the warranty extension and they will not provide assistance with the repair.

Filed Apr 18, 2025 · Transmission · NC

On or about June of 2024 my vehicle just lost power and was in limp mode. Took it to the dealership. Said there was a recall on a computer program for the cvt transmission that needed updating so the transmission wouldn't break. They did the recall but transmission was already broke. I bought the car July 2023 and was unaware of any issues or recalls and didn't receive nothing in the mail to advise if a recall to prevent the cvt transmission from breaking. I'm still paying on the car and can't drive it because the cvt transmission is broke from a recall that was not fixed and I didn't get anything letting me know to get it fixed. Said the recall would fix a broke transmission under 7 years or 150000 miles. Well the car was 1 year over but I was never aware of a recall and didn't receive any notice of a recall.

Filed Nov 21, 2023 · Transmission · TX

Driving 80 mph on the freeway and the car entered limp mode, decelerated to 40 mph with all lights illuminated on the dash. All signs pointed to the CVT belt deterioration that is plaguing this make and model vehicle. Towed 100 miles to the same Honda Service department that performed the recall earlier this year and they were supposed to have inspected for metal fragments in the engine. I informed the mechanic of the service bulletin and warranty extension, as they were entirely oblivious to it. Told them to check for metal shavings. They run diagnostics, and recommend a transmission flush. I say, ok, but send me a picture if you find the metal shavings in the plug. They perform flush- reboots the computer and yet again, all the lights come back on the dash. Finally they pull the transmission oil plug to find…….metal shavings. Car is at 112,000 miles and nearing the end of the 7 year extended warranty. Not at all what I was expecting from a Honda.

Filed Nov 13, 2023 · Transmission · MA

The CVT transmission was replaced under a recall at 114k miles. The replacement transmission failed at 150,180 miles, which is 180 miles outside of the extended warranty. Honda declined to repair/replace the transmission a second time. I took it in because the dashboard lights were flashing. The dealer replaced the valve body at my cost and the lights came back on just 29 miles into driving it. When stopped at a red light, the car gets stuck in neutral. A new transmission is now needed per the dealer’s diagnosis. The car is unsafe to drive and the replacement transmission was obviously not a reliable upgrade from the recalled transmission.

Filed Oct 17, 2023 · Transmission · TN

10-10-2023 car went into limp mode on intersate - took to shop - they thought it was alternator - happened a second time - on interstate. Took to the honda dealer and after a few days they diagnosed with CVT Transmission Failure. the car is a 2016 with 95,000 miles on it. I purchased a Honda for longevity, and this is unacceptable. I'm hoping the extension of warranty will include mine since i'm barely beyond the 7 year extension.

Filed Sep 25, 2021 · Transmission · NJ

My car suddenly stopped going into gear. When the hood was opened by a mechanic, he found that the transmission plug was sitting on top of the transmission. Honda issued a Service Alert in September of 2019 that the cap for the fill plug was known to dislodge from the transmission for Honda Civic, Honda Fit and Honda HR-V. For my vehicle, the issue was known to affect HR-V models 2016-2018. This is on top of the recent recall notice I recently received concerning the CVT Transmission. I now need a new transmission as my car will not go into gear despite having the transmission flushed and refilled. Honda knew about the defect and warned no one of this issue other than their internal people. My car had roughly 85k miles on it at the time of the incident.

Filed Oct 14, 2020 · Transmission · 77,000 miles · VA

I was driving a long 80 miles from my home with my two children, thankfully I had just exited a congested major highway south of dc. With zero warning I lost all power, lights on dash were on and flashing and could barely get from the left lane to the side of the road about 5 miles from any station as there was only commuter parking lots and sand dunes and a distant neighborhood. I had to wait for a tow truck as it got dark, luckily I was able to have it towed home. I had a mechanic I trust come take a look and he determined it was the alternator and the battery was leaking acid. He replaced it and took it for a drive and shortly it began to flash lights and show neutral and was in what he called, limp mode. I had it towed to honda where they ran the diagnosis, I was then told they would need to drain the transmission fluid and there they found chunks of metal and told me my transmission was shot. My vehicle had 77,000 miles on it. I was told maybe the previous owner did not take care of it, but the truth lies on this site where I have read now numerous accounts of the same exact chain of events. I was told I will need to replace it for $6200 from honda, I then contimplated a new purchase as I am already upside down on my car loan. This is a dispicable thing for honda to do to it's loyal customers and I declined a new car and have told the manager I will no longer do business with honda especially now seeing this issue has been reported numerous times to honda.

Filed Jan 17, 2020 · Transmission · 108,000 miles · NC

2016 hrv on the third transmission - first one failed in late nov 2018 at 108k miles, second one failed in april 2019 after only 11k miles. Both times it failed while driving on the interstate - very dangerous. Details: all dashboard lights came on suddenly and the hrv went into limp mode (wouldn't go above 35-40mph) and finally went into total transmission failure. I have photos and video of the dashboard lights from the second failure. The first time, in november 2018, I was driving through the mountains on the interstate with my cruise control on. The hrv was traveling up a large hill and trying to maintain a steady speed. That's when the transmission failed. The engine revved really hard (I assume because the transmission stopped working properly with the cruise control still on, so I tapped the break to release the cc) and then it would barely accelerate, so I pulled over, turned on my hazards, and coasted down the mountain trying to gain speed because I was only able to go 35 MPH. After a few minutes, I gave up realizing I could not drive like that as it was a danger to both myself and other drivers. Called a tow truck. I was able to drive it both onto and off of the tow truck. The next day when I tried to drive it to my mechanic, the hrv got to the stop sign at the end of my street and would go no further. Had it towed - again. The second failure began on the interstate as well. The dashboard lit up like before. I immediately went to an advance auto at a nearby exit and they pulled the code - it was for the transmission solenoid. It seemed to be driving fine but the dashboard lights were all blinking, so I took the hrv to my mechanic. They confirmed it was a solenoid that was not working properly, but had not "failed entirely", so that is why it kept on driving. Honda knows all about my transmission problems. They have it documented.