There are 2 owner-reported visibility & wipers complaints for the 2017 Honda HR-Vin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2017 Honda HR-V. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 - 40 MPH with the windshield wipers activated during the rain, the windshield wipers seized. The windshield wipers regained proper function after the vehicle was parked for a while. The contact stated that while attempting to replicate the failure while the vehicle was parked, and while driving approximately 30 - 40 MPH while it was not raining, the contact was unable to recreate the failure. The contact stated that the attempt to replicate the failure made it evident the failure only occurred while it was raining. The vehicle had been taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure because the failure could not be replicated. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 25,000.
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT DURING MY VERY FIRST HEAVY RAIN STORM AFTER PURCHASING THE HONDA HRV. I HAD ZERO VISIBILITY, EVEN AFTER INCREASING THE WIPER BLADE SPEED TO IT'S MAXIMUM SPEED I STILL HAD ZERO VISIBILITY. I FELT EXTREMELY UNSAFE IN MY NEW VEHICLE AND HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD MY WIPER BLADES MIGHT BE DRY ROTTED FROM SITTING ON THE CAR LOT. I DIDN'T BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE ISSUE BUT PURCHASED NEW BLADE INSERTS IN ORDER TO RULE IT OUT. THE VERY NEXT HEAVY RAIN, THE RESULT WERE THE SAME. THERE IS NOT EVEN A SECOND OF VISIBILITY IN HEAVY RAIN REGARDLESS OF HOW FAST THE WIPER BLADES ARE MOVING ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE WINDSHIELD IS DESIGNED POORLY.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026