Is the 2023 Honda HR-V a bad year?
687 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other HR-V years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2023 Honda HR-V are in line with other HR-V years. Visibility and wipers stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2023 HR-V owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 13,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 396 (58%) | 10k–19k miles · around this mileage | — |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 78 (11%) | too few with a mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Body structure | 33 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 30 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Lane assist | 13 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Engine | 8 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 13,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 687 complaints: 7 mention a crash · 4 report an injury · 10 say the car was towed.
24 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2023 Honda HR-V: 3
The steering gearbox assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause excessive internal friction and lead to difficulty steering the vehicle. Difficulty steering can increase the risk of a crash.
The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The front seat belt pretensioners may be missing the rivet that secures the quick connector and wire plate. A seat belt pretensioner missing a rivet will not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Honda: 25
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2023 Honda HR-V. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some customers have complained of fluid leaking from the rear differential after it has been serviced due to over-torqueing of the drain plugs during servicing
When the vehicle is put into reverse, the rear camera may display a black and white image
Driver's side heater vent temperature not as hot as passenger's side vent temperature
SRS light on with one or more of the DTC listed below (in Qualifiers) stored
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Front Seat Belt Assemblies may be Missing the Rivet that Secures the Quick Connector and Wire Plate
Neighbouring years
2022 HR-V: 89 complaints, keep it · 2024 HR-V: 110 complaints, keep it.
Every Honda HR-V year
2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All HR-V years side by side
Other Honda models: Honda Accord · Honda Accord Hybrid · Honda CR-V · Honda CR-V Hybrid · Honda Civic · Honda Civic Hybrid · Honda Civic Si · Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid · Honda Crosstour · Honda Element · Honda Fit · Honda GL1800 · Honda Insight · Honda Odyssey · Honda Passport · Honda Pilot · Honda Prologue · Honda Ridgeline · Honda VTX1300. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2023 Honda HR-V a bad year?
687 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other HR-V years. At 13,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Honda HR-V?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: visibility and wipers (396), steering (78), body structure (33), electrical system (30), lane assist (13).
How many recalls does the 2023 Honda HR-V have?
3 recall campaigns list this model year: Steering (NHTSA 24V-744), Fuel system (NHTSA 23V-858), Seat belts (NHTSA 23V-782). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.