New Honda CR-V Sport Hybrid Owner Seeks Answers
A new owner of a 2025 Honda CR-V Sport Hybrid is experiencing some unexpected issues with their vehicle and has reached out to the online community for assistance. The owner, Doug Finney Jr., posted on the Honda CR-V Community Facebook page, seeking insights from fellow CR-V owners. Their experiences could help resolve Doug’s concerns.
Doug, who traded in a 2021 CR-V hybrid for the new model, is facing two primary issues:
Paddle Shifter Behavior
Doug describes an issue with the steering wheel paddle shifters. In his 2021 model, using the paddles to “brake” would engage the electric motor and charge the battery at any speed. However, in the 2025 model, the behavior is different.
“In my 2025 Sport Hybrid, if I’m going over 25 to 30 mph and I do the same thing, instead of the electric motors slowing me down, the actual combustion engine revs up really loud like an engine brake, even though the instrument Panel lights up and says that it’s in EV mode,” Doug explained. “It’s even louder when I do it at higher speeds, like 50-70 mph.” This occurs regardless of the drive mode selected (Normal, Sport, or Eco).
Doug consulted with a service department representative who stated it “doesn’t sound normal,” but an appointment isn’t available until mid-March. He is concerned since he has a 1200-mile round trip drive planned the following week.
Rear Air Vent Issue
Doug also noted an issue with the rear air vent. During a recent trip, he heard a sound of rushing air coming from the backseat area, which sounded like static from a speaker. After investigating, he found that a vent under the passenger rear seat blows a significant amount of outside air into the cabin, and the amount increases with speed. At 70 mph, the airflow is substantial. The manual describes the vent as an air intake, but Doug questions why it blows air into the cabin.
Community Input
As a reminder, here is how to slow down your Honda CR-V Hybrid using the steering wheel paddle shifters:
To slow down a 2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid using the steering wheel paddle shifters, pull the left paddle (marked with a “-“) to increase the level of regenerative braking, effectively slowing the vehicle down; the right paddle (marked with a “+”) decreases the level of regenerative braking, allowing for less deceleration.
Key points to remember:
- Paddle function: The left paddle is typically used for downshifting (slowing down), while the right paddle is for upshifting (speeding up).
- Regenerative braking: In a hybrid car like the CR-V Hybrid, paddle shifters primarily control the amount of regenerative braking, which recharges the battery when you decelerate.
- Adjusting deceleration: Pulling the left paddle multiple times increases the level of regenerative braking, allowing for more controlled slowing down.
A Possible Solution
One Reddit user suggested a possible solution for the air vent problem. They propose that the system may allow air to flow into the cabin without the system being turned on. The user suggests turning the system off and using the button that dictates where the air flows from. This opens the vent and allows air to flow into the cabin without being turned on.
If you have any experience with these issues, please leave a comment below with your experiences, and let the community know!
