Owner Problems: My Honda CR-V's Honda Sensing® system has a major flaw - It does not work in the rain

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Model: 2017 Honda CR-V 1.5TC-P

Issue(s): Honda Sensing concern

Hi!

I have never considered wanting to own/use a HONDA as I have always known that this brand in this part of the world (Malaysia as we speak) is OVER-RATED and OVER-SENSUALIZED. The money paid is not that worth the value or returns expected as there are better options and packages.

Wife has always pressured to get a HONDA as a family car as her main reason when I asked her why Honda and not the other brands. Her simple answer: the alphabet matches her name’s first alphabet, “H”. I have always cheekily answered that we can get a Hyundai which has an italic H and that car model range are cheaper than Honda while offering more tech. (My answered ended up with me being given the silent treatment for HALF a DAY!)

Anyway, back to the topic. When Honda introduced the Honda Sensing as a mass market feature and it being the 1st to be available for the general public (omitting those premium brands), this was the feature that drove me to pick the CRV over CX5 or Subaru XV or Tuscon or Tiguan. This seems to be the better ADAS available over the rest of the motley crew at that time.

Even since 2 years ownership and driving the car, not much complaint as it does what it does and nothing out of the world. It’s a good car, very spacious especially for the rear occupants, boot size is great, nice features of auto tailgate, auto lights, auto walk-away lock, and adequate turbo power with smooth CVT. Non complaints in those departments. Only 1 little BUG that made me “fear” using this car each time it rains!

Each time rains (and if its heavy rain, it is 100% failure mode), the “RADAR SWIPE” icon comes on and this will disable the LKAS, LDW, CMBS, ACC and LSF. Luckily the Traction controls still ok.

Wouldn’t rainy conditions be the CONDITION most required for the driver to be more alert, and with added safety assistance especially LANE KEEP ASSIST and LANE DEPARTURE WARNING and COLLISION MITIGATION BRAKING ASSIST, this combo would almost certainly reduced the statistics of accident rates on the roads right? To merely have such a low threshold in the software calculation to trigger an over-ride mode to return the controls back to user, this is not something to brag about. Back to my original presumption about Honda. Everything they put out, it is just over-rated and over-sensualized as big H and big T is THE 2 biggest names in Malaysia. Famous with the term…. Best RV!

Through some discussion and comparison, the “bug” is a norm for Honda Sensing and has nothing to do with the car I own. It is not about windscreen or tinted or polishing/waxing the car. I have sent to Honda Service Center, talked to the Tech Lead (that was trained in Honda Japan) as well as the service manager face-to-face. This error is a “normal code”.

Definition of the Honda Sensing stated in the snapshot above; “things I might miss”. So it’s fair to say that I do need help by the ADAS system to help me “alert things I might miss” during a downpour!

Anyway, I just could not comprehend this although it is clearly stated in the manuals or various YouTube explanations. It may be possible that this Honda Sensing is just under Level 2 autonomous detection and does not have better sensitivity for detection. I am just buggered that Mazda’s system is better with no issues during downpour.

Guess have to live with this until my budget allows for a change of car. Hope this little insight is commonly experienced by fellow Honda Sensing users….or its just me?

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