On Thursday, July 30, 2026, while driving my 2022 Honda HR-V at approximately 70 mph in the fast lane of the highway, my vehicle suddenly, without warning lost all power. The speedometer immediately dropped to 0 mph, and the vehicle would not accelerate despite pressing the accelerator. There were no warning lights illuminated before the incident, and the vehicle had shown no previous signs of transmission problems or drivability issues. This created an extremely dangerous situation because I was traveling at highway speed in the passing lane with surrounding traffic. I feared I would be rear-ended or involved in a serious crash. Thankfully, I was able to safely maneuver the vehicle across traffic and into a nearby auto parts store. The auto parts store scanned the vehicle and found a transmission-related safety sensor code. Because the vehicle was no longer drivable, it had to be towed to the Honda dealership where I purchased it. After their inspection, the dealership informed me that the transmission had suffered an internal failure because the transmission belt had broken and that the entire transmission must be replaced. I purchased an extended warranty when I bought the vehicle, but it expired at 110,000 miles. My vehicle currently only has 115,000 miles. As a result, I now have no transportation to get to my full-time job or transport my children. I am submitting this complaint because this was a sudden, catastrophic loss of propulsion at highway speed with no warning, creating a significant risk of a serious or fatal accident. I am also aware that previous model years of the Honda HR-V equipped with the same continuously variable transmission (CVT), including model years 2016 through 2021, have experienced similar failures involving the internal transmission belt. Given the similarity of these failures, I believe this issue warrants investigation to determine whether the 2022 Honda HR-V is affected by the same safety-related defect.
Honda HR-V loss of power problems
38 of the 1,890 owner complaints about the Honda HR-V describe sudden loss of power, most of them for the 2022 model year.
- owner complaints
- 38
- worst model year
- 2022
- typical mileage
- 70,900
By model year
Often reported together
CVT failure 12Transmission failure 9Warning lights 5Check engine light 5Won't shift 2Hesitation 2Fuel pump 2
What owners say
The transmission belt deteriorated. I had noticed my gears slightly delayed over past couple months. On July 10th, i was on freeway during morning commute traffic and the car lost all power. All the dash warning lights came on and I luckily got to side of road. I towed to dealer and they confirmed that it was premature belt deterioration. I sent a claim to honda and they agreed that was the issue but they would not honor any warranty against it. I was never informed by either Honda America, nor my dealership that there could be any issue with my transmission. Apparently, honda issued bullitin 21-047 knowing that an issue exists but unfortunately my car is 2mos over in time.
CVT transmission failed and vehicle lost power while on Interstate I-88 65 MPH speed zone. f Momentum allowed me to reach an exit at which point I needed to push the vehicle by myself off the roadway. Vehicle mileage was slighlty over 60,000 miles and the $10,000 dollar repair was not covered by warranty. Dangerous and costly to consumers! Same CVT was recalled or warranty extended in earlier models.
I own a 2019 Honda HR-V that has been consistently maintained at Honda dealerships, including proactive transmission fluid changes every 30,000–40,000 miles. At approximately 104,700 miles, during a routine maintenance visit, the dealer diagnosed a failing CVT transmission. Technicians identified metal debris in the transmission, indicating internal deterioration. This condition is consistent with Honda Technical Service Bulletin 21-047, which acknowledges CVT-related issues in 2016–2019 HR-V models and provides extended coverage for affected vehicles. However, my vehicle was deemed ineligible for coverage because the failure was identified 27 days after the 7-year in-service deadline. Given that transmission deterioration is progressive, it is likely the issue began within the coverage period. Despite this, Honda declined to provide any goodwill assistance. I was quoted approximately $11,000 for the repair. This issue also raises safety concerns. A failing transmission can result in loss of power, hesitation, or inability to accelerate, particularly when merging into traffic or crossing intersections. These conditions increase the risk of an accident, especially if failure occurs unexpectedly while driving. This failure occurred despite proper and proactive maintenance and at a mileage where a transmission failure would not typically be expected.
I am reporting a transmission failure in my 2022 Honda HR-V at approximately 129,000 miles. While driving on the interstate highway at normal speed, the vehicle suddenly began revving excessively without accelerating. The engine RPM increased, but the vehicle failed to maintain proper speed or respond as expected. This occurred without any prior warning signs or indicators. Shortly after, the vehicle continued to have issues where it would shift into gear but not properly move or engage. All dashboard warning lights became illuminated following the incident. I took the vehicle to a dealership for diagnosis, and they confirmed that the transmission is failing. They reported finding metal shavings inside the transmission, indicating internal mechanical damage and premature wear. This sudden loss of power and inability to accelerate properly while driving at highway speeds created a serious safety hazard. The vehicle could have been rear-ended or caused an accident due to the unexpected loss of performance. A major component like the transmission should not fail in this manner, especially without warning, as it poses a significant safety risk to the driver and others on the road.
My car randomly lost power on the road and I rear ended some one, my car lost power 3 times on the road.
While driving, multiple warning lights suddenly illuminated and the vehicle immediately lost power and became undriveable with no prior warning signs. I had to pull over for safety and the vehicle was towed to the dealership. The dealership diagnosed CVT belt deterioration and advised the transmission requires replacement. This sudden loss of drivability created a safety hazard because the vehicle became disabled while on the road.
The CVT transmission, which is part of the vehicle’s powertrain system, experienced a premature failure. The vehicle became inoperable and was in an unsafe location, so the police had to tow it. I am not sure if a police report was issued. The tow resulted in extensive impound fees. The transmission is available for inspection upon request. The failure caused loss of power and unpredictable operation, making the vehicle unsafe to drive, especially in traffic. This created a risk of collision to myself, my passengers, and other motorists. The problem has been diagnosed and confirmed by a Honda dealership, which determined the transmission has failed and that the vehicle is not safe to operate. The vehicle has been inspected by a Honda dealership, and the manufacturer has been notified through Honda Customer Relations. There were no warning lights or messages prior to the failure. The transmission failed suddenly and without warning. The exact date of the failure is 01/15/2026 and it happened at 105,000. I’ve only had the car 10 months and started with 93,853.
I am submitting this complaint regarding a sudden and unsafe CVT transmission failure on my Honda vehicle. While driving, the vehicle began shaking violently, lost the ability to accelerate, and multiple warning indicators illuminated, including the check engine light. The vehicle was unable to be driven safely and had to be towed. A diagnostic inspection performed by an authorized Honda dealership confirmed CVT failure consistent with Honda Service Bulletin #21-047, including the presence of transmission belt material in the fluid. This failure mode is documented by Honda as a known manufacturing defect that can cause loss of power and drivability. I contacted Honda Corporate Customer Relations and opened a case on 12/3. Despite multiple communications, Honda has denied goodwill or warranty assistance solely based on warranty expiration, without addressing the documented defect or the safety implications. I specifically requested that Honda provide a written explanation detailing the technical basis for denying coverage on this safety-related failure. Honda has not provided any written denial or defect analysis. I am submitting this complaint to ensure the incident and defect are formally documented for safety review. Case #: 16018708
Vehicle lost power 3 times within a 3 month period, with inability to go above 40 mph on the freeway. Dates of loss of power are: 8/31/25, 9/14/25, 11/16/25 Safety is of grave concern due to loss of power and inability to drive over 40mph on freeway. Took into (2) dealerships three times and they were unable to diagnose issue. The vehicle has been inspected 3 times. This vehicle should be added to the recall listing as this is the same engine issue with losing power. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to the failures.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Honda HR-V loss of power
Which Honda HR-V years have sudden loss of power problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2022 (10 complaints), 2016 (9 complaints) and 2019 (7 complaints).
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