2023 Honda CR-V · symptom sheet
Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking)
- 28owner reports
- 5involved a crash
Newest report Sep 19, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
64 of the 515 complaints on this car are about collision avoidance. 28 of those describe phantom braking.
Tick what matches of 28 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 (7 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on collision avoidance covers the 2023 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.
None of these investigations covers the 2023 model year.
When it happens
Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.
What owners wrote
“While driving (no other vehicles present) it will display warning on dash. It will slam on brakes and swerve outside of lane. This causes the vehicle go off road or in another lane. The warnings will then disappear. It also advises to see dealership. It has been to the dealerships within first two weeks of purchase. They have not been able fix issues.”
Filed Jun 29, 2024
“While driving on a two lane road with no other vehicles and no objects on the road, the "Brake" warning light came on. Thankfully, the Collision Avoidance system didn't come on this time but if the warning had activated the Collision Avoidance in traffic, a rear end crash could have happened.”
Filed Apr 8, 2024
“The Automatic Emergency Braking abruptly stopped while traveling 50 mph without any obstructions in front of me almost causing a rear end collision from the car behind me. In addition the stop caused minor whiplash.”
Filed Mar 25, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 5 of 28 reports involved a crash and 11 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
- Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks 238 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 63 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 29 reports
- Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves 28 reports