HondaHR-V2016Overview/honda/hr-v/2016/base/

2016 Honda HR-V

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 HR-V.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (AV-S7)

Classified as a passenger car, the 2016 Honda HR-V pairs an Automatic (AV-S7) transmission with an EPA-rated fuel economy of 28 city, 34 highway, and 31 combined mpg. Although the vehicle has generated 237 total owner complaints and 2 recalls centered primarily on the Power Train, this model year sits far closer to the lowest historical complaint count of 11 recorded in 2026 than the peak of 681 reached in 2023. As a result, the 2016 model occupies a comparatively stable and favorable position within the HR-V's broader reliability history, avoiding the highest complaint thresholds the lineup would eventually face.

Model year202620242023202220212020201920182016

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy28/34/31 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI NS · NS CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI NS · NS CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP215/55R17OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AV-S7)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length168.9 in
Overall width70.1 in
Overall height63 in
Wheelbase102.8 in
Curb weight3062 lb
Track (front / rear)60.6 / 60.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)60/40

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined28 / 34 / 31 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the HR-V of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.4–9.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.40 sec — 2016 EX
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2016EX 1.8L I-48.40 sec16.50 sec141 hpFWD
2016EX 1.8L I-48.50 sec16.40 sec141 hpFWD
2016EX 1.8L I-48.50 sec16.50 sec141 hpFWD
2016EX-L Navi 1.8L I-48.60 sec16.80 sec141 hpFWD
2016EX-L Navi 1.8L I-49.30 sec17.40 sec141 hpAWD
2016EX-L Navi 1.8L I-49.50 sec17.40 sec141 hpAWD
2016EX-L Navi 1.8L I-49.50 sec17.30 sec141 hpAWD
2019Sport 1.8L I-49.60 sec17.40 sec141 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine ATF in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 15.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidHonda HCF-2 transmission fluid
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3.7
Automatic Transmission FluidHonda HCF-2 transmission fluid
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity4.2
Brake FluidDOT 3
Clutch FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilATF
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.5 qt

Engine torques

Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug15.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts40.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel HubInstall a new nut and torque to 242.0 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel HubInstall a new nut and torque to 133.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK, DENSO
Spark Plug Gap.039 - .043 in
Spark Plug Torque13 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing1 degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance2 degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a

Service checks

Engine Compression128 min, Max Variation 29 psi
Intake Valve Lash0.007-0.009 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.009-0.011 in

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 37; Rear: 26
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque80
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.039 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: .906; Rear: .315
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation.0006
Maximum Rotor Runout.0016

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

At 160,000 miUniversal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2016 HR-V, as the first model year of this generation, logged 237 complaints and 2 recalls, placing it among the higher-complaint years in the federal record—exceeded only by 2019 (217) and the outlier 2023 (681). The complaint trend across the generation shows a sawtooth pattern: a drop to 120 in 2017, a rise to 151 in 2018, another peak in 2019, then a general decline through 2021-2022 before the 2023 spike. With 109 TSBs—the highest of any year in the dataset—the 2016 required frequent dealer intervention, particularly for powertrain issues (61 complaints) and electrical system problems (30). While it avoids the massive 2023 complaint count, the 2016's first-year status and high TSB volume indicate it is a riskier choice than the lower-complaint, zero-recall 2017 or the more settled 2020-2022 models. **Unless you can verify that all TSB-related repairs were performed, this is not a recommended year to buy.**

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
109
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
237
Owner complaints
13 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 237 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train61
Unknown Or Other30
Electrical System30
Structure12
Service Brakes8
Engine7
Air Bags5
Exterior Lighting4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

18V777000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:CaliperReported 01/11/2018

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Acura MDX, 2017-2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda HR-V and Honda Odyssey, and 2016 Honda HR-V vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have… Remedy: Owners will be notified, and Honda or Acura dealers will bleed the brakes, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at…

15V472000Equipment:Other:LabelsReported 28/07/2015

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 HR-V vehicles manufactured January 12, 2015, to May 20, 2015. The affected vehicles may be missing the required tire placard indicating "Tire and… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle, and apply a new label, free of charge. The recall began on September 18, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 109 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
A21-0472025-02-20Power TrainService Bulletin - Due to the possibility of early deterioration of the Continuous…
A21-0472023-05-03Power TrainService Bulletin - Due to the possibility of early deterioration of the Continuous…
A22080B2022-08-25VisibilityServicenews article - If you are inspecting an HR-V and notice oil residue on the A/C…
ATI&071120229022022-07-11VisibilityDealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2021…
ATI&060320229012022-06-03EquipmentDealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2021…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific HR-V. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2016 HR-V have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the HR-V get?

EPA figures are 28 city / 34 highway / 31 combined mpg.