[Kat]

What say the ChooseFI community? 2015 Honda HRV with 130k miles. No issues ever. Remote work and use our other car for long distance travel.

Worth replacing transmission for $5k if necessary? I worry the next thing will go wrong soon after.

( We’re getting a second opinion at our regular mechanic.

Error code shows possible transmission issue at the place we could get into after allll the error codes appeared and car wouldn’t drive over 40mph.)

We wanted to drive these cars forever.

[Dave]

Honda didn’t produce an HRV until 2016
It has a cvt transmission which require more frequent fluid changes than an automatic – every 30-50k miles.

Honda wasn’t good at making transmissions before it started introducing cvts, so the failure makes sense.

Your vehicle is worth $11k in working condition. If you can get someone to take it off your hands for $6k, then do it.

Most likely scenario is fixing transmission then selling. Since it’s not a primary vehicle, you could take your time scouting out a used Toyota.

[Scott]

I have 5 Hondas/Acuras.
4 of them with over 200,000 miles.
2 of them with over 300,000 miles.

Going off the info you posted, yes, IF necessary to replace the transmission.

Of course, this is dependent on how good the other parts are.
If it’s a north/northwest vehicle, it might be rusted away

[Randall]

Unhook the battery for 20 minutes and see if it pops back up.

[Bridget]

I would! But we rarely buy new cars. We have put transmissions in two cars and continued to drive them.

I would still be driving my 2011 Sienna if it hadn’t been totaled in an accident

[Mark]

I’m not sure what the code is and what it takes to repair it. Most automatic transmission issues on a car that young are not mechanical they are electrical.

Ie you have a bad shift solenoid or something like that.

I recently fixed my minivan that had a bad shift solenoid for $400 plus fluids but I did the work myself.

If you aren’t trying to DIY you may want to shop around as a lot of shops only do the most expensive repairs with transmissions for warranty/liability reasons.

[Sam]

Used Transmission and pay a guy to swap it. 1500 bucks tops. 5k is a quote from someone why scams people for a living.

[Kim]

Make sure there’s no recalls with Honda dealer! We have a 2014 crv with 117k miles our kids drive and the timing chain (not timing belt) is possibly going bad.

It’s A $1800 repair. We will likely do it if it comes to it.

[David]

I would replace the transmission.
Find a transmission shop that will stand by their work. I got a good recommendation from my normal shop.

Ours was $4000. (In a Ram Promaster campervan)
We have a CR-V and I’m planning on 250k plus.

[Matt]

If it’s been yours the whole time, or most all of the time, you know it’s history, and if you love it, definitely keep it. $5k – even if it only buys you another year, is still hella cheaper $/year than buying any new-to-you car (new will depreciate that much within a couple months/weeks, another used will be more of a mystery of condition).

Easily worth spending $5k/year on multiple new systems (even pay $500 for a new radio receiver with Android Auto and a rearview camera, maybe a bit more for better speakers), and end up with still the car you like – only in refreshed condition.

[John]

I’d definitely get a second opinion but probably fix it even if it was that price.

One thing some folks don’t know is that you can buy a Bluetooth OBD2 scanner for about 30 bucks and pull your own codes to an app on your phone.

That info and Google has saved me a lot of money over the years.

[Rick]

What is the value of your near 10 year sinking fund for repairs for this car?

After many years of not needing all the money?

[Kendal]

I have a 2010 RAV4 with 92k miles and in the last 3 weeks I’ve done rear trailing arms, toe bars, control arms ball joints and now CV axles.

Thankfully I do all my own work or I would have paid close to what I paid for it for the repairs.

[John]

Honda has a reputation for making reliable vehicles, but your particular model has serious transmission design flaws, which the company refuses to acknowledge.

Honda HR-V models equipped with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) have faced notorious levels of issues over the years. Here are the most common problems associated with the CVT in Honda HR-Vs:

1. Jerking or Shuddering
• Cause: The CVT belt or pulley system can wear over time, causing irregular power delivery.

• Symptoms: Drivers may feel a shudder or jerk, especially during acceleration or at lower speeds.

• Solution: Changing the transmission fluid often resolves the issue. In more severe cases, parts of the CVT may need repair or replacement.

2. Overheating
• Cause: Prolonged use, particularly in stop-and-go traffic or under heavy loads, can cause the transmission to overheat.

• Symptoms: Warning lights on the dashboard or reduced performance.
• Solution: Installing a CVT cooler can help, and ensuring regular maintenance prevents overheating.

3. Delayed or Hesitant Acceleration
• Cause: Software issues or mechanical wear in the CVT.
• Symptoms: A delay between pressing the accelerator and the vehicle responding.

• Solution: A software update from Honda or transmission servicing may resolve this.

4. Premature Wear and Failure
• Cause: CVTs rely on precise mechanics and may wear faster than traditional automatic transmissions, especially if not properly maintained.

• Symptoms: Whining noises, slipping, or complete loss of power.
• Solution: Regular fluid changes and using Honda-specified CVT fluid can help extend the life of the transmission.

5. High Maintenance Costs
• CVTs are more complex and can be expensive to repair or replace compared to conventional transmissions.

Prevention Tips:
• Fluid Changes: Regularly change the CVT fluid as specified in the owner’s manual (usually every 25,000-30,000 miles).

• Avoid Aggressive Driving: Rapid acceleration and heavy loads can strain the transmission.

• Stay Up-to-Date on Recalls: Honda has issued recalls and technical service bulletins (TSBs) related to CVT issues in some models.

[Author]

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