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

The automatic braking system provides warning and brakes the car automatically with no trigger to do so. Has happened several times. My safety is at risk due to the vehicle braking for no reason while in traffic disrupting my own controlling the vehicle. The car is at dealer currently however they saying something "had" to trigger it and that I just wasn't aware. Not able to recreate at current moment.

Brake lights did not turn on while stopping using automatic braking until the vehicle was completely stopped, leading to a rear-end collision.

I have had my crv suddenly brake on me on multiple occasions when absolutely no one is around to cause it. It’s created many of close calls and given me mild whip lash in the past. But yesterday it happened in a way much worse than ever bc I was on the interstate and it abruptly stopped (again no one in front of me or to the side) which jolted me and gave me some brutal whiplash and then it was locked up & wouldn’t go faster than 20mph!! I was in the left lane & I almost got hit by multiple people behind me & almost died! I had to drive like this for 3-5 minute (hazards on of course) until I could ‘safely’ pull over. Once I turned it off and turned it back on, it went back to accelerating normally. I have taken my car to the Honda dealership for every oil change I’ve gotten & this issue has never come up on their full vehicle inspection. I cannot emphasize enough how close I came to dying bc of this. I really hope a resolution or recall happens sooner than later bc I’m now learning there’s 1000’s of people online saying they’ve had similar experiences. It should not take years to address this when there are so many lives at stake. Please help. Sincerely, terrified to drive my car now (& that’s not good considering I drive for work).

See all problems of the 2017 Honda CR-V 🔎.

The contact owns a 2019 Honda Cr-v. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the automatic emergency braking system erroneously activated, causing the vehicle to abruptly stop in the middle of the road. During the failure, there were no other vehicles or objects nearby the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact stated that the failure had previously occurred, and the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact was made aware of NHTSA action number: ea24002 (forward collision avoidance) and related the failure to the NHTSA action number. The failure mileage was 25,000. The VIN was not available.

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

Collision mitigation braking system (cmbs) is automatically warning and has engaged when no object is ahead. Seems to be picking up overhead/over roadway traffic signals and signage.

The cmbs activated when driving when no other vehicle was in front of my vehicle. The car came to a stop.

The car slammed to a complete stop when there was no reason to. I was approaching an intersection slowly and already was applying the brakes. A pedestrian was on my left but not in front of the car. There was a large metal plate on the road. There was construction happening on the road. This is the second time in six months that the car slammed to a stop because of a metal plate on the road.

I am writing to formally express my extreme dissatisfaction with the randomly vanishing dashboard, all sorts of warning lights and its recurring issues. I see a recall for 2017 crv for fuel injector. I don't see my VIN for fuel injector recalls and most likely my crv issue with fuel injector. Fuel injector replacement is a major repair. I. I scheduled an appointment with autonation Honda chandler,az,to troubleshoot an issue. I believe these issues may stem from a design or manufacturing flaw. I am requesting that Honda cover the full cost of the necessary repairs.

While driving on a straight road at 35 mph the car suddenly and aggressively applied the brakes without driver input and without another car or obstacle in front of the car. Had there been a car behind me a rear collision would have been likely. The weather was sunny and there were deep shadows of trees cast on the road. This is the fourth time this has happened the past year. This is my first report to NHTSA.

See all problems of the 2022 Honda CR-V 🔎.

Driving down an in town road going approximately 35 mph with no cars within 5 car lengths front side and back when I hear three beeps and my car brakes hard on its own and then continues. It was scary and I pulled off the road to a parking lot to turn the car off and on. While today I didn’t have anyone tailgating me, this could have easily been a bad accident in town traffic. I plan to contact my dealer tomorrow to report and have safetysystem checked and adjusted. I see that others have experiences like this and online was advised to report this.

On three separate occasions my automatic brakes designed to avoid a collision have engaged while I was driving highway speed with no vehicle or obstruction I'm front of my car.

Driving in mild foggy conditions, going 44 mph. My crv dash had the brake warning flashing and locked up my brakes. There was nothing in front of me do cause this. There was a car behind me that could of hit me. Everything in my car flew off the seats and it jarred my neck and back. My lowered back has been hurting and I am seriously concerned for my safety in this vehcle.

We were driving on the freeway in nice weather when the cars automatic emergency brake engaged at 75mph. No warning light came on the dash it was without any warning very scary thankfully no other cars where around us.

While driving my 2025 Honda Cr-v ex-l on October 3, 2025, at approximately 8:00 am pst, the automatic emergency braking system (collision mitigation braking system) activated unexpectedly. There were no vehicles in front or behind me, and road conditions were normal. The sudden braking could have caused a rear-end collision if another vehicle had been nearby. This incident raises serious safety concerns. I have learned that similar issues have been reported by other Honda owners. I am requesting an investigation into this malfunction and whether a recall or software update is necessary.

The automatic braking system is repeatedly braking inappropriately, with nothing in front of us or in the road. We have not gotten into an accident yet but have come close twice. The Honda dealership in elk grove, CA acted like this was normal and it “could be a leaf or pebble” and there’s nothing they can fix because it’s normal. This is not normal. It’s dangerous.

I was going through an intersection on a city street at approximately 35 mph. There were no vehicles or obstacles in front of my car. My emergency braking feature engaged, bringing me to a sudden stop in the middle of the intersection. Had a car been behind me, I certainly would have been rear ended. I have not taken my car in yet. I regularly maintain my car and did not have any error/warning messages prior to or after the incident.

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

While driving on a clear day, I went under a bridge on a downhill slope and the car flashed the brake warning and applied the breaks automatically almost causing the car behind me to hit me. Dealer has not been able to reproduce the issue. This has happened a few times. Once on the highway and another time slowly going through a construction site where there was a dip in the road. The last issue happened on 9/27/2025. The first issue was in March of 2024.

On 9/25/25, while exiting the freeway with no cars in front of mine for as far as I could see, the "brake” indicator light flashed once and. The car came to a jolting stop. As soon as I pressed on the accelerator the car engaged and I was able to drive normally. A new light was on my dashboard with two white lines beneath the “acc” and “lkas” lights. A similar incident occurred to while driving the car on 12/15/24 and a NHTSA complaint was filed (#11632264). Honda followed up and the car was assessed by a technician who could not recreate the same response and determined that the radar was "misaligned". To the best of my knowledge the issue was addressed by Honda.

The car just comes to a screeching halt because it detects a collision, even when there is no threat. Happens most often at night when passing a road signage above you.

Vehicle repeatedly brakes on its own when there are no vehicles in front to avoid. Very dangerous for vehicles behind and me and passengers. Dealer "cannot" reproduce, denies there is a problem despite 1000s of online complaints and NHTSA safety investigation. Incidents occurred within weeks of purchase in December 2023.

See all problems of the 2024 Honda CR-V 🔎.

I love my 2024 Honda crv which I purchased in may of 2025. But I need to report this for safety reasons. On September 9, 2025 I was driving south on sare road near davis road in bloomington in at about 30 mph when the collision mitigation braking system (cmbs), activated and stopped the car in an instant. It was a rapid, unintended deceleration. The “brake” message flashed on the dash. This occurred at approximately 7:30 pm, and there was no other traffic around me. No oncoming traffic, no other cars in front of me and thankfully no one following closely behind. There was no collision - however if another car had been behind me they likely would have rear-ended my vehicle. There were no people or animals in the vicinity to cause the cmbs to activate. And I did not inadvertently touch the brake prior to the incident. I was just driving along and suddenly thrown forward and restrained by my seatbelt. I could smell what seemed to be the brakes or tires. I was confused as to why the vehicle stopped. I turned the engine off and checked for traffic, then started the car and continued driving home without further incident. Within a day or two, I stopped in at my dealership ( andy mohr Honda) and reported the incident. Today (9/19/25) I was having a transmission fluid service and mentioned the cmbs issue to the technician and he chanced the settings for cmbs from “far” to “near” and said that should solve the issue and to let them know if it occurs again. My concern is that if it happens again it could result in an accident and cause damage and injury. Especially if I am on the interstate driving at 60 mph.

I was driving on the highway, 65 mph using cruise control, in the right lane. There was one car in my relative vicinity, already halfway through it's exit off the freeway, with my car still about 6 or 7 car lengths away. The automatic braking system suddenly engaged hard. I quickly disengaged cruise control, which mitigated the problem. In the moment of unexpected braking, I was thankful there was no one around me, because my hard, sharp braking could have caused me a rear end accident and someone else, a front end accident. No one has confirmed my experience. The car is currently being inspected by my local mechanic. There were no warning messages or lamps prior to the 'short stop'. Unknown if warning message came on in the midst of the short stop.

The vehicle is a 2024 Honda Cr-v ex-l with approximately 13,000 miles, purchased at gillman Honda in houston, TX on may 29, 2024. The issue involves the collision mitigation braking system (cmbs) activating without any obstacle present. The first incident occurred in February 2025 at around 11,000 miles while driving on a feeder road at ~25 mph. The vehicle suddenly braked to a complete stop even though the road was clear. There were cars behind me, and although they stopped in time, it created a serious risk of rear-end collision. Had I been traveling at a higher speed and the car braked completely, this could have caused the vehicle to flip or lose control. The second incident occurred on September 4, 2025 at ~13,000 miles while driving on a busy street at approximately 40 mph. The vehicle suddenly braked very hard for no reason, but did not fully stop — instead, it resumed immediately. It felt as if the car “took a screenshot,” braking sharply then continuing. This was especially dangerous since I was traveling at a higher speed, and vehicles behind me could have easily collided with mine. Both incidents put my safety and the safety of other drivers at risk. The vehicle was brought to gillman Honda on September 16, 2025. The dealer acknowledged the safety concern and kept the car for inspection. On September 19, 2025, the service representative confirmed they had contacted Honda corporate and opened a case because of the seriousness of the issue. The car is still being held at the dealership pending corporate guidance. No warning lights, error messages, or prior alerts appeared before either incident. This appears consistent with a known problem that has been reported by many Honda owners in recent years involving unintended braking by the cmbs system. The defect makes the vehicle unsafe to operate, and at this point we no longer feel safe driving it.

Facing the sun, driving through an intersection with a green light. No cars ahead or behind me, and no pedestrians in sight. As I passed under the light, the car slammed on the brakes once, let up a little, and then slammed on the brakes again. It flashed the brake indicator on the dash. Then driving resumed as normal. If there had been a vehicle behind me, it would have rear ended me, no question.

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

Car has, on more then one occasion, applied the emergency stopping breaks at times that may have caused an accident by themselves. Most often in heavier city traffic that can be unpredictable. Ie cars merging in quickly where they generally shouldn't.

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

Occasionally, for no reason, automatically brakes and issues the brake warning notification despite no traffic in front of the vehicle. When a vehicle brakes for no reason in traffic, the risk is that you will be hit from behind.

To whom it may concern: ?I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding a serious and recurring safety defect in my 2018 Honda Cr-v ex, VIN# [xxx] . I have experienced at least four incidents within the last two months involving both sudden, unintended braking and intermittent steering lock-ups. These are not isolated events and pose a significant risk to the safety of myself and other motorists. ?the sudden braking issue, often referred to as "phantom braking," occurs when the vehicle's collision mitigation braking system (cmbs) activates without any obstacle or danger present. The car abruptly comes to a full stop, without warning, on a clear road. This is extremely dangerous and has nearly caused multiple rear-end collisions. ?in addition to the braking problem, the steering has also become intermittently stuck. This happens without warning and makes it difficult to turn the wheel, which could lead to a loss of control, especially at higher speeds or on curves. ?I have already reported these issues to two authorized Honda dealerships: ?curry Honda in atlanta, georgia ?Honda autonation in columbus, georgia ?on each occasion, the dealerships have been unable to replicate the problem and have told me they cannot find anything wrong. Despite their inability to diagnose the issue, the problems are very real and continue to happen. ?these defects are not just an inconvenience; they are serious safety hazards that could lead to a crash. I am concerned that if this problem is happening to my vehicle, it may be affecting other 2018 Honda Cr-v owners as well. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this matter thoroughly to prevent potential accidents and injuries. ?please contact me if you require any additional information. ?thank you for your attention to this critical matter. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Driving at 60mph. No car in front, behind or to the side. Out of the blue slammed on brake fully. My foot was on the gas the whole time. Slowed rapidly to 20mph before I could continue on. If someone had been behind me they would have hit me. I'm now frightened of my own car. Took it to the dealer service department and they said that it's very sensitive and that even an empty plastic grocery bag blowing around could set it off.

Driving along a city road, and the cmbs (collision mitigation braking system) engaged. The brakes were slammed on, out of nowhere for no good reason. The closest car in front was several car lengths away, but there was a car closely following behind. That car (and the car behind it) had to brake hard to avoid collision. No injuries occurred in our vehicle. We were, however, pretty fucking scared and pissed.

High pressure fuel pump failed , could smell gas in air vents. Honda claims it’s separate from its other recall for a fuel pump. Car had been working fine, sudden issue, all lights came on , car started to stutter on acceleration. Had to be towed. No issues prior.

In the past 2 weeks my 2025 Honda crv has automatically braked four times while driving on the road at about 45 miles an hour. Nothing else was around me - no vehicles, no animals, etc.

I was driving at 10am today on a local road, about 35mph, with no car in front of me, nor behind me. I was the only car in the area. Suddenly both the automatic emergency braking (aeb) system and the collision mitigation braking system (cmbs) were activated. I was concerned when it happened, not knowing if the car would come to a stop. I called my local Honda dealer service department, asking if they could check it out. He said they could take it for a test drive to see if it would happen again. Since this was the only time it happened we agreed to wait to see if it happens again before bringing it in. Once home I searched the NHTSA database and discovered similar instances, and an open investigation, ea24002. I wanted to be sure to add my incident to the others to help in finding a resolution.

About a year ago, I was driving at speeds of approximately 10-15 mph when my car braked and immediately brought me to a dead stop despite no obstacles being present in the roadway. It appears the automatic emergency braking system malfunctioned. Had there been a car behind me, it likely would have caused an accident. On August 15, 2025, I was driving on the freeway using the adaptive cruise control when traffic in front of me slowed, engaging the automatic emergency braking. Traffic in front of me cleared almost immediately but my car was still very rapidly decelerating. I pressed the gas pedal, but the vehicle continued to bring me to almost a complete, immediate stop on the freeway (I had been traveling at 70-80 mph prior to the stop). I feel incredibly fortunate that I did not end up in an accident due to the traffic behind me and that no one was injured or killed. I pulled off onto the shoulder when it became clear that I was not going to be able to quickly regain control of my vehicle. Driving a vehicle without being able to properly control it was an absolutely terrifying experience. I was bracing myself for impact from behind as I desperately tried to regain control and accelerate back up to the flow of traffic. I am certain that this malfunction will result in deaths if not addressed. On August 23rd, 2025, I was driving on a highway at approximately 60 mph when the car in front of me slowed in preparation for a right turn off the road. I had disabled the cmbs feature at the beginning of my drive, yet the car still braked without me hitting the brake pedal. It was not an immediate, abrupt brake as I had experienced in the other two previously described incidents, but it was still highly unnerving to feel another loss of control of the vehicle, especially since the system was supposedly disabled.

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

On 8/14, as I was pulling away from a gas pump and into a parking space (going 5 mph or less), the automatic braking system alarms went off, and the brakes applied, causing the car to seize up completely. My foot was already on the brake and I was at least 5 feet away from the barrier at the end of the parking spot. In addition to this experience, the emergency braking alarms tend to go off in unexpected/unneeded situations, such as when I'm coasting to a red light with my foot already on the brake. And it does not go off in other situations where I would expect it, such as when a car stops short in front of me. These situations happen approximately once every two months or so. The automatic/emergency braking is unreliable, unpredictable and when it engages unnecessarily, could be dangerous.

See all problems of the 2015 Honda CR-V 🔎.

Unintended acceleration. On August 8, 2025, Honda c-RV hybrid 2025 (sport touring) accelerated into a wall without the driver touching the gas pedal. The vehicle is deemed a constructive total loss by the insurance carrier. Since it can’t be driven, we are unable to reproduce the problem. A case is open with Honda since the date of the accident; however, there is no urgency to move the case forward.