Honda HR-V Rear Glass Problems: A Closer Look
Opening rear glass is objectively cool. Think of the Toyota 4Runner with a surfboard poking out the back, and you’ll understand what we mean. However, spontaneously exploding rear glass is decidedly less appealing. That’s unfortunately what some owners have experienced with the current-generation of the Honda HR-V compact SUV.
Safety Ratings and User Complaints
Honda’s smallest and most affordable SUV boasts a near-perfect five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA. However, a closer look reveals 416 user-submitted complaints regarding this model. By comparison, the Subaru Crosstrek recorded only eight complaints in a similar context. Of the 416 complaints, a significant majority report issues of spontaneous shattering, exploding, and imploding of the HR-V’s rear glass.
User Experiences
Drivers reported that incidents occurred both while vehicles were parked and while they were in motion, often accompanied by a loud bang that could distract any driver. Furthermore, a class-action lawsuit is currently pending in Pennsylvania. Honda has acknowledged the issue, stating:
“American Honda has received a limited number of reports of rear-hatch glass breaking on 2023 Honda HR-V vehicles associated with rear defroster use. Our investigation has revealed that during the assembly process for some vehicles, the sealer used to secure the rear glass may come into contact with the heating elements of the defroster, leading to a hot spot and weakening of the glass over time as the defroster is used.”
A Significant Safety Concern
In essence, due to improper installation of the rear defroster, the glass heats up, expands, and may shatter unexpectedly. This critical problem can turn a standard feature like the defroster into a significant safety hazard. Surprisingly, Honda has yet to announce a recall for this issue, which raises questions considering their quick response to other lesser issues.
Honda has indicated it will initiate a voluntary product update campaign and is coordinating the required replacement parts. The campaign is estimated to start in April or May of 2024, marking a delay since Honda acknowledged the problem in communications as early as May 2023. For the time being, owners experiencing this issue are advised to reach out to their dealer or Honda customer service (800-999-1009) for coordination of a potential repair.
