2018 Honda CR-V · symptom sheet
Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking)
- 244owner reports
- 25,000median miles
- $4,000median quote
- 5involved a crash
Newest report Aug 23, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
560 of the 2,145 complaints on this car are about collision avoidance. 244 of those describe phantom braking, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2018 CR-V.
Tick what matches of 244 reports
Phantom braking on other CR-V years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Phantom braking is a car that brakes hard on its own, often at highway speed, with nothing in the road ahead. About one owner in five mentions a near miss with the car behind.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the radar or camera sensor (22 reports), the software (9 reports) and the windshield (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on collision avoidance covers the 2018 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into collision avoidance on the CR-V
Inadvertent automatic emergency braking. Open.
Inadvertent automatic emergency braking. Closed apr 18, 2024.
What owners paid
7 of the 244 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $470 to $8,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 14,000 and 42,000 miles, from the 77 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2018 Honda CR-V that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
American Honda has identified a condition that may affect Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) operation. Due to software programming issues of the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), unexpected vehicle deceleration may occur.
What owners wrote
“While traveling on Rt 29 in Maryland at normal highway speed, heard a beeping sound and then saw that the emergency brake warning was flashing on the instrument cluster. Beeping and light were active for several seconds. There were no cars within several hundred feet of my vehicle. This is the second time this has happened in the last 60 days.”
Filed Mar 22, 2022
“Driving down road at approximately 30mph, no obstructions in road or vehicles in front of me and the car suddenly slowed down to approximately 10mph due to automatic braking system engaging.”
Filed Mar 16, 2022
“The automatic braking system engaged without warning and without reason as I was not within close proximity to any other vehicles or obstructions.”
Filed Mar 13, 2022
“Driving on parkway at 50 mph, our vehicle began braking on its own. There was no vehicle in front of our vehicle. This occurred twice in past month.”
Filed Mar 4, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 5 of 244 reports involved a crash and 6 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 219 reports
- Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks 212 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 196 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 130 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 128 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 126 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 109 reports
- Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out 96 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 94 reports
- Fuel pump failure 89 reports
- Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves 84 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 80 reports
- Fuel smells, leaks, or the gauge reads wrong 77 reports
- Turbo failure or loss of boost 73 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 70 reports
- A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 58 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 51 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 46 reports
- Steering wheel clicks, clunks or grinds when I turn 44 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 32 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 30 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 29 reports