Honda customers report the automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems on their Model Year 2020 and 2021 Accord and CR-V vehicles engage while driving. Honda Accord and Honda CR-V owners report braking system engagement at speeds as slow as 10-15 MPH and up to speeds reaching highway speeds. This defect has caused accidents due to the sudden breaking. 

This is a known issue with prior model years of the vehicles. Owners report that an issue affecting prior year vehicles also affects Model Year 2020 and 2021 vehicles. 

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), a federal investigation is underway into Honda braking issues for the Model Year 2018-2019 Honda Accords and 2017-2019 Honda CR-Vs. 

Sample Complaints:

2020 and 2021 Honda Accord: 

“Not sure exactly the date but it was around 2-15-22 when the incidences happened several times last month while driving eastbound on the I-10. All of a sudden my vehicle was coming to a complete stop but I didn’t allow it to so I pressed the accelerator pedal to keep moving forward. One of the first times it happened there was a vehicle behind me but not close enough to have caused an disruptions in both vehicles. The second incident occurred but with no vehicles behind on the highway. The only warning indicator popped up on my dash was a flashing “Brake” indicator with an audio chime.” NHTSA ID Number: 11455249 

“The automatic breaking system has almost caused 2 accidents. As I am easing into a stop with a car in front of me, my car has applied the automatic breaking system while I am breaking. The car In front was a car length ahead of me, thus it should not have been activated because I was not in danger. This almost caused an accident because the person behind me was basically getting a break check from me. Although it is trying to prevent an accident from happening it is actually causing one.” NHTSA ID Number: 11456284

“Several times my car has slammed the brakes on its own when I have not touched the brakes and also when there is no car in front of me for it to detect the need to brake. The most recent time on 4/8 on the freeway” NHTSA ID Number: 11460268

“I was driving at a slow speed (10-15mph) when my brakes automatically engaged. After the car stopped I began to accelerate and the brakes engaged again. There wasn’t any reason for the brakes to engage” NHTSA ID Number: 11458550

2020 and 2021 Honda CRV: 

“As my wife and I were driving downtown at about 20 mph on a regular city street with no cars in front of us, the automatic breaking system suddenly beeped and slammed on the breaks, giving us whiplash. There was clearly some kind of failure in the collision mitigation breaking system.” NHTSA ID Number: 11459720

“My 2021 Honda CRV is activating the brakes at inappropriate times. I’ve had 5 total instances that could have resulted in a rear-end collision both on the street driving 5-35 mph and freeway at 30-50 mph. The system on the dash board flashed “brake.” However, there is more than a car space between the car in front of the car. The braking system activates and I am unable to counteract the brakes locking up on the car. I am very concerned that if I were to continue to drive my car , it may result in an accident with a car crashing into the back of my car. At this time I am waiting for the vehicle to be inspected.” NHTSA ID Number: 11456635

“The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced unintended braking. The contact then deactivated the collision mitigation braking system. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 7,000.” NHTSA ID Number: 11454660

“While driving the Automatic Braking System engaged even though there was nobody in front of me. The first time was on a freeway, it suddenly engaged even though there wasn’t a vehicle anywhere close to the front of my vehicle. This could have been bad and I could have been hit from behind if a driver behind me wasn’t paying attention and my vehicle stopped all of a sudden without warning. The second time it happened I was driving on a city road. My lane was empty ahead of me. The system automatically engaged and stopped my vehicle.” NHTSA ID Number: 11455399

“I have a 2020 Honda CR-V that is having a Phantom Braking issue. It has happened several times, 3 of which were while on the expressway and a tractor trailer was behind me. The CR-V warning system would flash “BRAKE” and then stop suddenly, there was nothing in front of me, nothing to either side of me.” NHTSA ID Number: 11454579

“On multiple occasions during highway or other driving, the automatic emergency braking has engaged causing the car to either slow quickly or attempt to come to a stop which required immediate intervention to avoid potentially being rear ended. Driving was occurring during daylight hours and not in traffic.” NHTSA ID Number: 11454350

Prior Cases/Investigations: 

In February 2019, a Gibbs Law Group filed a class action alleging defective automatic braking systems in the Model Year 2016-2019 Honda Accords.  

In March 2021, a separate lawsuit was filed alleging that the Model Year 2017–2018 Honda Accord vehicles have defective autonomous braking systems.

In March 2022, a separate class-action investigation alleging automatic emergency braking problems in the Model Years 2017–2019 Honda CR-V and 2018–2019 Honda Accord.