Honda e Mk1

The Honda e shares its brake-by-wire system with the Jazz Hybrid and CR-V Hybrid. Lubricating oil introduced during manufacturing can contaminate the brake pressure sensors inside the combined master cylinder, servo, and pedal feel simulator module. When this happens, the brake pedal becomes hard and unresponsive, requiring significantly more force to stop the car. Honda issued a product update in some European countries (Finland, Poland treated it as a recall with free repair), but in others only offered partial goodwill coverage. The complete master cylinder assembly costs around €2,000-3,500 including labor, and parts were back-ordered for extended periods. Early 2020 production cars are most commonly affected. A DIY sensor repair is possible with diagnostic equipment but requires disassembly of the brake module.

The Honda e only charges its 12V battery from the high-voltage pack when the state of charge is below approximately 90% and the car is in ready mode. If the car is parked with the main battery above 90%, or if accessories are used without activating ready mode, the 12V battery drains quickly. Owners report flat 12V batteries after 5-10 days of non-use. The original battery often needs replacement within 2-3 years. A replacement 12V battery costs €100-200, and a CTEK trickle charger (recommended) costs another €50-80. Software updates have partially improved charging behavior but not fully resolved the issue.

The Honda e uses flush-fitting front door handles that pop out electrically. These mechanisms can fail to extend (locking you out) or fail to retract (handles stick out while driving). Cold weather and debris buildup accelerate the problem. Some owners have fixed this with cleaning and re-greasing the mechanism, while others needed full handle replacement at approximately €350 per side at a Honda dealer. The rear doors use conventional handles and are unaffected.

The Honda e features two side-by-side 12.3-inch touchscreens that serve as the primary interface for almost all vehicle functions. Owners report screens going blank, freezing mid-use, or repeatedly rebooting. A soft reset (holding the power button for 10 seconds) temporarily fixes most occurrences, but persistent issues may require a full unit replacement. Software updates have addressed some stability problems, but the fundamental hardware can fail. A complete infotainment unit replacement at a Honda dealer costs €1,000-1,500. This issue is intermittent and not all cars are affected.

Instead of conventional side mirrors, the Honda e uses two camera stalks with interior display screens. While less likely to be knocked off than traditional mirrors, when damage does occur the replacement cost is significantly higher. Each camera unit costs approximately €400-600 for the part alone, plus the interior display screen if also damaged. These are Honda-specific components with no aftermarket alternatives. Parking damage or vandalism can result in a repair bill well above what a conventional mirror replacement would cost.

Honda e owners reported frequent charging failures at certain public DC charging stations, sometimes triggering a persistent error requiring a dealer visit. A mid-2024 software update resolved most compatibility problems. Before this update, some owners experienced what was called the red light of doom when attempting to use certain fast chargers. In rare cases, using incompatible charging infrastructure reportedly caused charge control unit damage costing up to €1,000 to repair. Verify that the latest software update has been applied to any car you are considering.