Used Car Checklists

2025 Honda HR-V: What to check before buying

Owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the steering and brakes. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.

Honda HR-V2025
Owner complaints
26
Recalls
1
Crashes reported
1
1 injury
Reliability
Excellent
88/100 on Auto Reliability Index

Run the VIN before you go

A history report shows accidents, title brands, odometer readings, and open recalls for this 2025 Honda HR-V. Ask the seller for the VIN; it is also on the dash at the base of the windshield.

Your inspection sheet

Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.

0/9 checked

1

Paperwork and questions

Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3

2

Walk-around and cabin

Engine off, key in hand0/1

3

Cold start, engine bay, and underside

Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/3

4

Test drive

At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/2

These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.

Reported on neighboring HR-V years

Nearby years usually share most parts, so their problems are worth checking on this car too.

2026 HR-V

5 owner complaints
  • Electrical 2

Worth adding to your 2025 checks

  • Connect an iPhone through CarPlay, have someone text you, and confirm the message appears and Siri reads it aloud.
  • Reply to a text by voice through CarPlay and confirm the message actually sends.
  • Use Siri several times during the test drive and listen for audio that cuts out or sounds inconsistent.
Open the 2026 checklist

2024 HR-V

94 owner complaints
  • Steering 46
  • Electrical 7
  • Wipers and visibility 6

Worth adding to your 2025 checks

  • Check the VIN for steering recall 24V744000 and the seat belt recall, and get written proof both were completed.
  • Drive through curves and roundabouts, and turn fully while reversing; reject any wheel that sticks, notches, jerks, or pulls.
  • Pull each front seat belt sharply and slowly; confirm it extends, retracts, and releases without locking up.
Open the 2024 checklist

2023 HR-V

673 owner complaints
  • Wipers and visibility 332
  • Steering 75
  • Body and structure 32

Worth adding to your 2025 checks

  • Run the VIN through federal recall records and confirm the rear window recall repair is documented as completed.
  • Inspect the rear hatch glass for chips or cracks, and ask whether it has been replaced and by whom.
  • Run the rear defroster for 10 minutes, then check for a burning smell or one spot that feels hotter than the rest.
Open the 2023 checklist

Which HR-V is it?

EPA figures for each version of the 2025 Honda HR-V. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.

VersionDriveEPA rating
2.0L 4-cylAWD, FWD27–28 mpg
  • Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A HR-V that averages well under the EPA 27 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.

Why these checks: what owners reported

NHTSA complaints for the 2025 Honda HR-V, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.

  • Steering71 crash

    Turning the wheel can fail outright. One crash report says the wheel would not respond during an evasive turn, and the other driver was injured. Most complaints concern recall 24V744000 for the gearbox worm wheel. Dealers say parts are not available and put owners on back-order lists, with one wait passing 60 days. Some describe a rough, shaky feel before any repair. One reports an abnormal noise and a stall at about 4,000 miles. Several owners have had no failure but still cannot get the fix.

  • Brakes2No crashes

    Automatic emergency braking slams on with nothing ahead. Reports describe hard braking plus a downshift at highway speed, around 75 mph, on a dry, empty interstate, then again hours later. The car had fewer than 10k miles. This creates a rear-end crash risk from any traffic behind. A separate complaint says the accelerator and brake pedals sit so close that a foot got wedged between them, leaving the driver unable to use either pedal at about 10 miles.

How the 2025 compares with other HR-V years

Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.

The 2025 ranks eighth for owner complaints among 9 HR-V years, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.

2025 Average of other years
  • Steering716
  • Brakes24

Recalls to confirm (1)

Recall repairs are free at any Honda dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.

  1. 24V744000SteeringOct 2024

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Acura Integra, Civic Type R, CR-V Hybrid, CR-V, HR-V, 2022-2025 Civic, Civic Hatchback, 2024-2025 Acura Integra Type S, 2025 CR-V Fuel Cell EV, Civic Hybrid, and Civic Hatchback Hybrid vehicles. The steering gearbox assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause excessive internal friction and lead to difficulty steering the vehicle.

    Risk: Difficulty steering can increase the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the worm gear spring and redistribute or add grease as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2024. Owners may contact Honda Customer Service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are SJS, MJU, QJT and VJV.

Also looking at these instead of a HR-V?

Cars shoppers compare with the Honda HR-V, with their own 2025 checklists.

2025 owner complaints, side by side