Automatic Emergency Braking Problems of Honda CR-V - part 1

Car automatically hit the brakes for no apparent reason while going at 45 mph. There was no vehicle or any kind of obstacle ahead of behind. Also resulted in tightening of driver seat belt. No injuries. Vehicle was being operated by an authorized and licensed driver.

See all problems of the 2019 Honda CR-V 🔎.

While driving my 2019 Honda Cr-v across railroad tracks, the vehicle displayed a brake warning and automatically applied the brakes even though there was no vehicle, person, train, or other obstruction in front of me. The braking occurred while I was crossing the railroad tracks and caused the vehicle to slow unexpectedly. I did not intentionally apply the brakes. I am concerned that the collision mitigation braking system/automatic emergency braking activated falsely and could create a safety hazard, especially at a railroad crossing.

Car automatically applies brakes for no reason. Happens at least once a month. Beside the startle factor, I am going to cause an accident by someone rear ending me because brakes are being applied for no reason.

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I was driving 35 mph and my car automatically braked suddenly despite no object in the road. Afterwards I checked the front of my vehicle and there was no obvious dirt/bugs/etc on the front radar or camera. I now turn off the collision mitigating braking system each time I start the car as I'm afraid it will brake again without cause.

See all problems of the 2018 Honda CR-V 🔎.

I am writing to formally log a product quality and safety complaint regarding my 2026 Honda Cr-v hybrid. The low-speed braking control system frequently triggers severe, abrupt false-positive braking events in common driving environments, such as steep driveways, when recreational bike rack is attached and areas with minor vegetation. While the software allows the driver to disable this feature within the driver information interface, the vehicle overrides driver autonomy by automatically resetting the system to "on" every time the ignition is cycled. Forcing a driver to navigate multiple digital menus before every single trip to disable a system prone to false-positives is an ergonomic hazard. Unexpected, automated slam-braking while trying to merge or back into live traffic creates a distinct risk of a rear-end collision. Other major manufacturers (such as Toyota with pksb) successfully balance safety compliance and driver utility by allowing user settings to persist after a restart, using a standard dashboard warning light instead. I request that Honda release a future software update to allow the low-speed braking control system configuration to remain in the user's last selected state (on or off) between drive cycles. Please log this issue under my VIN in your corporate quality tracking database. This has reached a level of safety concern for me to consider trading in for a vehicle that allows safe functionality in a practical manner. This is not a feature for outdoor user on a vehicle marketed as a sport model. Previous models of Honda had the option to switch this feature off and on as needed instead of the automatic reset during the start cycle.

The cmbs, auto braking system is engaging and braking my car for no reason. For example, driving 70mph on turnpike, it engaged on a dry road, clear day with no other cars or items in front of me. Very dangerous. Vehicles behind me could have crashed into me. Happened at least 2 more times on 35/40mph with nothing on road. The only thing I can do is disengage it every single time I start the engine. Took to my moon township dealer who said it can happen and sent me home. This is unacceptable.

See all problems of the 2025 Honda CR-V 🔎.

Second time in the last two months, while traveling on a 55mph roadway, vehicle started auto braking with no vehicles ahead of me or any obstacles. Scared the daylights out of me, I cant imagine what the outcome would have been if this happened on a highway.

The contact owns a 2022 Honda Cr-v. The contact stated that while driving at a very slow speed in heavy traffic, the vehicle suddenly experienced "phantom braking" causing the vehicle to abruptly stop in the middle of the road, causing a second vehicle to almost crash into the rear end of the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 18,540.

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Multiple lights and warnings on dashboard of 2019 Honda crv. Warnings were sudden and all at once and included, emissions system problem, braking problem, power steering problem, collision mitigation system problem, electric parking brake problem and many others. Honda service centers stated this is a very known problem with 2019 crv and it’s the fuel injectors and head gasket.

We were pulling into a parking space and were almost completely stopped. Suddenly the gas engine revved and we jumped the curb and crashed through the glass front of the restaurant we had ordered food from. As it lurched forward my wife was pressing on the brake yelling it won't stop! the engined revved without any pedal usage. The automatic braking system did not function. Called the dealer and of course they have never heard of such a thing. I talked with the dealer adn they recommended going ahead with the body repairs and then take it to a Honda dealer to run a diagnostic to see if any abnormalities show up. There were no warning signals at all. It happened so quickly. The car ended up going completely through the glass fron and when it stopped it had hit the cashier counter and was completely inside the restuarant. We are so thankful there were no patrons eating in the restaurant at the time.

I was exiting the freeway driving south about 110-115pm in [xxx] when suddenly my car seemed to stall or stop and brake orange light came on. It all happened very quickly and without any warning. The nearest vehicle ahead of me was very far away, at the stop turning left and I was entering the exit. Initially I thought the engine cut out but it didn't it was that the car had braked. It was very jarring and thankful no one was tailgaiting me because it could have caused an accident. I don't believe the car came to a complete stop but it reduced speed considerably. Later that day I went to an auto shop to use their digital check to see if there were any error codes etc. Nothing came up as flagged. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2020 Honda CR-V 🔎.

On the morning on 7/10/26 I was driving 30mph around a gentle turn and the brakes activated briefly. I also received a dashboard notification to brake. The weather conditions were sunny and probably around 80 degrees. There was no one in front of me and the closest car, in oncoming traffic was around 40 feet away. The safety risk was my car temporarily applied the brakes but did not stop completely. Luckily, the closet car behind me was ~30 feet behind me. Over the past 2 years I have received occasional dashboard notifications to brake, but the situation/driving conditions did not warrant the need to brake. This was the first time that the braking system actually applied the brake and slowed the car down.

See all problems of the 2021 Honda CR-V 🔎.

While driving at about the speed of 45 miles/hr. The car abruptly braked in the middle of the road without any vehicle or object in front of me. It was a scary situation because if there had been a car behind me, my car would have been rear-ended. This problem has neither been reproduced nor investigated by anyone. I have, in the past, noticed that occasionally the brake light on the dashboard would flash for a second and go off but did not affect motion or speed. I have not received any warning messages regarding the vehicle's brakes.

See attached document for complaint.

I am a senior citizen who bought a brand new 2021 Honda crv hybrid in 2022. I used the vehicle mainly for driving around town in city driving. I ensured that my vehicle received all the necessary scheduled maintenance at either the dealership I bought the vehicle,(pacific Honda, [xxx];phone [xxx]) or a certified Honda dealership. I have complete maintenance records at the Honda dealership for the entire life onf the vehicle. In early xxx I received a warning light on my dash concerning the engine and immediately took the vehicle into the Honda dealership to have it looked at. I was told I had a blown headgasket and the repairs would be approximately $7,000. 00 dollars. The mechanic then told me that this was a common problem with this vehicle due to the engine Honda put in the car. The mechanic advised me to contacthonda to see if they would assist me with the cost due to the fact that this was a manufacturing problem and I did nothing to cause the issue and there is nothing I could have done differently to have avoided this issue. I called and Honda told me there was nothing they could do for me since the car was out of warranty. I bought the vehicle in August of 2021 and repair was done xxx. I was treated very poorly at the Honda dealership and lost trust in their tech team. On xxx I received another warning light on my dash. I took my vehicle to mossy Honda in [xxx] to have it looked at due to the fact I did not trust pacific Honda. They did a multi point inspection and told me that my rear differential was bad and had to be replaced for approximately $5,500. 00 dollars. I had the work done. When I picked up the vehicle after the repair the tech told me that the rear differential was completely bad and that there were metal flakes throughout the rear differential. He told me that if I had not brought it in when I did the car could have had a catastrophic lockup or seizure! information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Vehicle information: 2026 Honda Cr-v sport hybridcomponent: power train / hydraulic brakes / electronic stability controldescription of incident:on [date], my 2026 Honda Cr-v sport hybrid was parked facing uphill on a steep incline. I started the vehicle, depressed the brake pedal, released the electronic parking brake, and shifted into drive. Upon transitioning to the accelerator, the vehicle failed to hold its position. It immediately and rapidly rolled backward down the incline, completely overriding the hill start assist (hsa) mechanism. Despite accelerator input, the hybrid powertrain failed to deliver the instantaneous forward torque required to counter gravity. The vehicle gained rearward momentum and collided with a closed gate. Safety justification:this un-commanded rollback presents a severe, systemic safety hazard. Research into hybrid consumer data reveals a documented pattern of drivers being blindsided by the lack of traditional automatic transmission "idle-creep" torque on inclines, combined with counter-intuitive electronic hsa deactivation thresholds. The vehicle’s software logic fails to safely manage dual-pedal inputs during hill starts, creating an unreasonable risk of rollback collisions.

I experienced an dangerous incident yesterday while driving my 2017 Honda crv at highway speed in minneapolis, mn area. The collision mitigation braking system activated suddenly and without warning. An extremely abrupt/harsh employment of the braking system was experienced without any warning. The unexpected and extremely sudden activation of the braking system caused myself and the car’s contents to be thrown forward into the front of the vehicle, and causing me to nearly loose control of the vehicle. It felt like this 'safety' system took control of the vehicle for an eternity, but likely was no more than a few seconds before power returned to the accelerator and I was safely able to navigate to the far right lane. The onset and braking was so abrupt and extreme, that I could have been easily rear-ended if someone was directly behind me. There was nothing immediately in front of me that should have caused this system to activate. I had no idea at the time as to what was going on, thinking my car was having some sort of mechanical issues. I drove home on ‘pins and needles’ hoping I would make it to baxter, mn where I live. I later learned that this was likely the cmbs, as other consumers had described exactly what I experienced. Even though I now intend to disable the system, I am now extremely apprehensive to drive the vehicle for fear this will activate unexpectedly again, causing an abrupt and dangerous (potentially life-threatening) while in traffic. This is a shame as I’ve really enjoyed the crv, but now feel like it is a ‘deathtrap’ and have lost all confidence in driving it for fear of my safety. I brought this to the attention of the dealership in burnsville, mn where the car was purchased (walser). I was told they’d make a note of it, but that I needed to call Honda directly with any reports. I informed them that I would be filing a report with nhstb. I have not had the vehicle evaluated, but can make available for inspection if helpful.

Automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning malfunctioned. I started to drive after sitting at a red light and was driving at approximately 35 mph. The automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning engaged, and the car suddenly braked. Luckily there wasn’t anyone directly behind me, or else I would have been rear-ended. This malfunction has happened on three separate occasions in the past 4 years. There were no warnings prior to the malfunction. The car has not been inspected yet for this malfunction.

All the safety lights came on on the dashboard suddenly the brake assist did not work. Honda tells me the brake servo is bad. This is a known defect as other 2020 crv hybrids were recalled for the same reason. It is a dangerous safety hazard.

This is the third time this vehicle has experienced wheel lock-up during braking. The first occurrence was over three months ago, while one driver was driving alone. The second occurrence was about one month ago, with a different driver, and a passenger was present who also witnessed the wheels locking; no collision resulted those two times. Both involved the wheels locking during braking and a loss of steering control. On the third occurrence, on June 25, while driving on the freeway, the vehicle ahead braked suddenly. The driver applied the brakes and they initially responded, allowing the driver to slow and avoid hitting the vehicle in front. Immediately afterward, the wheels locked up and the driver lost the ability to steer or maneuver. The anti-lock braking system did not prevent the wheels from locking. Because the vehicle could not be controlled, it was struck from behind by a following vehicle. This defect has now occurred three times over approximately three months, with two different drivers, and has resulted in a collision. It is a recurring, dangerous loss of vehicle control.

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Power and began running rough. The check engine light illuminated, and the vehicle did not perform normally. I previously had the vehicle diagnosed and repaired at a Honda dealership for this same issue. The repair was completed less than two months ago. After only a few thousand miles since the repair, the exact same symptoms returned, including the check engine light, rough engine operation, and loss of power while driving. The recurrence of this issue raises concerns about the reliability and safety of the vehicle, particularly when operating in traffic or at highway speeds, as sudden loss of power could increase the risk of a crash. The problem appears to be the same issue that was previously repaired, but it reoccurred shortly after the repair was completed.

2023 Honda Cr-v, purchased new in Mar 2023 from friendly Honda, poughkeepsie, NY. All regular service completed at lia Honda, brewster, NY. On [xxx], car was driven without incident and parked inside a garage. On [xxx] upon ignition, car immediately displayed a “christmas tree” of warnings for every major system, including but not limited electric power steering, awd, adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation, hill descent, automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assistance. Behavior has continued every time the car is started. Car remains drivable, but all safety and driver assistance systems are disabled. In addition, on [xxx] and [xxx], after stopping at a stop sign, car had very limited power and could only accelerate to 30 mph on a flat road and 20 mph on an incline. Problem was resolved only by coming to a complete stop then accelerating again. This is a significant safety concern, as if this were to happen in stop-and-go traffic on a highway, the car would be unable to accelerate to highway speeds. On 6/20/26, I took the car to lia Honda in brewster, NY for diagnosis. They reported a failed electric power steering control unit/steering rack (trouble code u0420-68). They explained that this single electrical component failure also caused all other components to report failures because they are connected in a ring. Estimated repair cost $4,595. 98. I have filed a complaint with Honda to request out-of-warranty coverage. Car is ?3 years old, 3 months out of warranty, and only lightly used at 17,484 miles. Note that this car falls under NHTSA recall 24v-744, which pertains to a manufacturing defect in the worm gear of the electric power steering. We had the recall service completed on 12/26/24, but it seems possible that continued friction in the worm gear may result in overloading of the eps control unit. Other Honda Cr-v owners have reported similar issues online, so this does not appear to be an isolated incident. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.

See all problems of the 2023 Honda CR-V 🔎.

In the past two weeks, the automatic brake light came on when there was nothing in front of me. Then this past Thursday, I was in the middle lane approaching a stoplight that was about 500 ft. Ahead of me, nothing was in front of me and the brake light came on and the car made a quick and hard stop. If anyone was behind me, they would not have been able to stop. Now I am very leery of driving my car, and I disable this feature so I feel safe transporting myself and my family.

While driving on a straight, flat road with no other vehicles close in the front or to my rear the brakes came on without warning. I pulled over to the side of the road because it was really scary. Once I calmed down I continued driving without further incident. When I got to my grandsons school parking lot I called the Honda dealership that I purchased the car from and asked the service person if they had any issues like this. She stated that "the phantom breaking happened at times" and that it "was not a big deal". After looking on line one suggestion was to clean around the sensor in the Honda emblem and the windshield around the rear view mirror. I've owned the car since 2019 (original owner) and have 72k miles on the vehicle. The only recent problem was I had to replace the original battery on 05/31/26 which was done by a aaa representative. I've had no other issues to date, but this breaking issue if it persists seems like it could be very dangerous.

I have experienced four instances of my vehicle braking (two very extreme) when nothing was nearby or in front of my vehicle. Two of these happened when passing through an intersection, but no other vehicles were nearby. Fortunately, no one was following close behind during two occasions, or I would have been rear ended. I mentioned this today while having my car serviced at the dealership(white’s auto mall in hopkinsville, ky) but they wanted to charge me 207. 00 for an inspection, which I didn’t think I should be responsible for paying. I have researched and found “phantom braking” to be a problem in my vehicle make and model.

2018 Honda Cr-v had another phantom braking event this morning. While traveling on a local 4-lane road with 45-mph speed limit, the collision mitigation braking system activated with an actual hazard present and brought the vehicle to a complete stop, nearly resulting in a series read-end collision from the traffic behind the car. This created an immediate safety hazard and could have easily resulted in injuries or fatalities. The vehicle has experienced recurring phantom braking events and false activations of the emergency braking system. Because this has happened multiple times, we no longer have confidence that the system will behave predictably in normal driving conditions.

There doesn't have to be a vehicle or obstacle in front of the vehicle and the brake system will automatically apply. This is extremely dangerous as vehicles behind the crv have no warning the brakes are being instantly applied on the highway and/or street roads. Practically slams on the brakes.

On several occasions, while driving down the road at 55 mph, the car will flash the "brake" indicator on the dash for a brief second and immediately slam on the brakes either to a stop or for a shorter amount of time. This is the third event that happened today just before reporting this problem. Our safety was at risk because there could've been someone behind us that may not have reacted fast enough and could've hit us. After the issue, there were no warning lights of any kind. There was no hazard in the road and no other obscure conditions. Middle of the day, clear skies. It is not possible to reproduce the problem in a timely manner because this has happened randomly three times over the course of two years.

I purchased this 2017 Honda crv touring edition in February 2026. A couple months after that, I was driving slowly (but slightly faster than usual) in the large parking lot of a local grocery story. The grocery store has movable speed bumps placed in the parking lot. As I was approaching one of the speed bumps, the car suddenly slammed on the brakes. To the best of my recollection, I do not believe I was given a warning first. When this happened, I of course felt a jolt. I was worried that I had hit something, but I concluded that I had not hit something and that jolt had just been an automatic braking incident caused by the speed bump up ahead. I was not previously aware that the car had an automatic braking feature. Later, I tried to recreate the incident by again approaching the speedbump from the same direction and at a similar speed, but I was not able to recreate it. I have now owned the car for about six months, and this is the only incident I am aware of in which the automatic emergency braking was used. (the various brake warnings -- the dashboard light and the beep -- have functioned acceptably. ) I am concerned that this issue could lead to a crash, especially if it occurs in heavy traffic or while I am traveling at freeway speeds. If the car is going to be spooked by a speedbump, what else could cause it to be spooked?.

While driving at speed of 50mph automatic braking system activated causing car to stop suddenly there was no car or object in front of my vehicle.

The steering wheel is slightly sticking while driving/steering on interstates and highways where mostly noticed, but also noticing on curved backroads. When navigating a curve the steering wheel has slightly stuck and the automatic brake light flashes on very briefly. This has happened several times now and both main drivers of the car have noticed the issue. We are reporting now out of fear that it may become a bigger issue if not addressed, that affects both steering and braking that puts occupants at risk. We are reporting this as of today, which is the most recent incident on may 25, 2026, but this has happens about 4 or 5 times in the last month. We checked to see if this was a known recall issue, but the recall only applies to 2023 - 2025 crvs for some reason. This sounds like the exact issue/recall that our 2021 crv is having. Thank you!.

I was driving on the freeway on Saturday 5/23/26 when a helium balloon flew into my lane. The vehicle suddenly applied maximum braking on its own without any dashboard warning, alert sound, or driver notification. It was so severe the tires were screeching. The accelerator was unresponsive for several seconds before I was able to accelerate again. This created a dangerous situation because I could have been rear-ended by another car.

Multiple times when driving on the freeway, there will be no obstruction whatsoever on a clear road, with a clean car — it will emergency break, or attempt to. I have had it diagnosed and nothing related to break system etc was ever found. This happens often and has almost caused a couple crashes.

Automatic braking system engaged without any warning and without any impending danger in front of me at night on pulaski skyway, bringing the vehicle to a complete halt.

I was driving at 33 mph on 5/17 at 11:33 and the cars automatic brakes suddenly when on full blast out of no where with nothing around me on a clear day!.