NHTSA data as of Oct 15, 2026Published Oct 23, 2026
According to our reliability score system, the best Honda HR-V years to buy are the 2017 and 2021. Both come from the 1st generation, model years 2016 to 2022.
No HR-V year rates Avoid, but the 2023 needs a careful look. Owners of the 2023 most often report the rear window glass, mostly shattering or cracking.
If you want a newer HR-V, look at the 2024, which rates Good. Be careful with the 2023. The 2025 to 2027 are too new for a final score.
For an older HR-V, made before 2023, the 2016 to 2022 rate Good or Excellent.
No HR-V year is rated Avoid.
Not rated yet: 2025, 2026, 2027, too new for a final score.
Two HR-V years rate Excellent, scoring 80 or higher. The 2021 leads with 84.
1st generation
Most reported problems
1st generation
Most reported problems
Also rated Good: 2016, 2018–2020, 2022, 2024.
No HR-V year rates Avoid. The 2023 is the only HR-V year rated Caution, with a score of 62.
2nd generation
Most reported problems
A final score needs 36 months of complaints. Until then we show what we know, and a provisional reading once there is enough data. All three are the same generation as the 2024, which scored 74 (Good).
Provisional score 81 (likely 77 to 84), in the better third of 2025 models so far. Final score at 36 months.
What we know so far →18 complaints and 0 recalls so far. First provisional score expected around July 2027.
What we know so far →3 complaints and 0 recalls so far. First provisional score expected around July 2028.
What we know so far →All model years, newest first. Tap a year for its full report, with the problems owners report, recalls, Honda programs and crash ratings.
| Year | Generation | Rating | Score | Vs average | Complaints | Per 10k cars | Recalls | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 2nd generation | Too new | – | – | 3 | – | 0 | Report |
| 2026 | 2nd generation | Too new | – | – | 18 | 1.4 | 0 | Report |
| 2025 | 2nd generation | Provisional 81 | – | – | 47 | 2.5 | 1 | Report |
| 2024 | 2nd generation | Good | 74 | 0.64× | 109 | 5.6 | 4 | Report |
| 2023 | 2nd generation(first year) | Caution | 62 | 4.4× | 687 | 67.6 | 3 | Report |
| 2022 | 1st generation | Good | 75 | 0.65× | 88 | 7.1 | 3 | Report |
| 2021 | 1st generation | Excellent | 84 | 0.31× | 63 | 5.1 | 4 | Report |
| 2020 | 1st generation | Good | 74 | 0.61× | 84 | 11.6 | 5 | Report |
| 2019 | 1st generation | Good | 76 | 0.59× | 236 | 16.2 | 7 | Report |
| 2018 | 1st generation | Good | 79 | 0.53× | 158 | 14.3 | 3 | Report |
| 2017 | 1st generation | Excellent | 80 | 0.57× | 123 | 14.4 | 0 | Report |
| 2016 | 1st generation | Good | 78 | 0.66× | 241 | 19.1 | 2 | Report |
Vs average: how this year's complaint rate compares with the average car of the same age. 1× is average, 2× is twice as many. Per 10k cars: complaints so far for every 10,000 cars Honda made for the U.S. that model year. The complaint count also includes owners who wrote in only about a recall notice, with no problem to report. The score leaves those out. Generations follow Honda's own model history.
Every complaint filed with NHTSA for the model year, plus its recalls. Recall-notice filings with no fault are left out.
A popular car gets more complaints just because there are more of them. We divide by the number Honda made for that model year and compare with the average car of the same age.
70 is average. Twice the average rate of complaints costs 10 points, half the rate adds 10. Serious problems count more than everyday ones.