2019 Honda CR-V · symptom sheet
Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking)
- 186owner reports
- 18,000median miles
- $400median quote
- 4involved a crash
Newest report Sep 11, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
351 of the 1,101 complaints on this car are about collision avoidance. 186 of those describe phantom braking, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2019 CR-V.
Tick what matches of 186 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 (8 reports) and the windshield (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on collision avoidance covers the 2019 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
5 of the 186 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $300 to $1,730.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 9,500 and 35,000 miles, from the 49 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2019 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
“The vehicleâs automatic braking system flashes the warning and slams on the brakes when there is nothing in front of the car. It is an intermittent problem that happens mostly when the weather is clear and dry. This has nearly caused an accident on occasion since itâs happened when traveling at both lower and higher speeds.”
Filed Feb 25, 2022
“The Automatic Emergency Braking System engaged while I was driving, causing my vehicle to slow down with a jolt. I felt my safety was put at risk. I have not yet confirmed this with my dealer, nor has it been inspected by anyone else. There were no warning lights or messages. indicating there was a problem.”
Filed Feb 24, 2022
“On three occasions the emergency automatic braking system activated. The first time it was hard braking; but, not to a full stop. The other two were minor. Only the first was a safety issue as it resulted in a quick slow down in traffic. I have not reported this to dealer and it has not been inspected. The word "BRAKE" illuminated on the instrument panel but not prior to the action.”
Filed Feb 24, 2022
“I was exiting I-490 east to I-390 north at 45 mph and suddenly my Honda CRV forcefully applied the brakes. There was no vehicle in front of me and fortunately there was no vehicle in back of me. But I remember this because it really scared me. This is the only time this has happened. I am reporting this now because of an article I read on AOL titled "Over 1.7M Hondas probed for unexpected automatic braking".”
Filed Feb 24, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 4 of 186 reports involved a crash and 8 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
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 100 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 95 reports
- Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks 90 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 79 reports
- Fuel pump failure 70 reports
- Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out 60 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 57 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 55 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 49 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 46 reports
- Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves 41 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 33 reports