YearToAvoid

2021 Honda Accord Hybrid Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

36/100

#8 most-complained of 12 Accord Hybrid years

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid ranks 8th worst out of 12 model years, with a Complaint Index of 36 and a "Good" verdict relative to other Accord Hybrid years. NHTSA lists 48 complaints, 3 recalls, and 2 crashes with no fires or deaths.

Complaints
48
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
45.5
46 city / 44.5 hwy

Top 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Collision Avoidance & Cameras12 (25%)
  2. Engine11 (23%)
  3. Other10 (21%)
  4. Electrical System8 (17%)
  5. Airbags5 (10%)
  6. Brakes4 (8%)
  7. Fuel System4 (8%)
  8. Structure & Body3 (6%)
  9. Lane Departure1 (2%)
  10. Seat Belts1 (2%)

What owners report

  • Collision mitigation braking engages inadvertently at 50-55 MPH with no vehicles nearby, abruptly slowing the car to 20-25 MPH.
  • The vehicle stalled at 75 MPH with warning lights illuminated, later diagnosed as needing fuel injector replacement.
  • Owners report brief acceleration hesitation of 2-3 seconds when turning from a stop or moving slowly, described as a safety risk when crossing oncoming traffic.
  • The check engine light flashed on during highway driving in heavy traffic, prompting an immediate dealer visit.
  • The passenger front seat shifts laterally under weight during turns and makes an audible knocking sound.
  • Seat belt warning indicator activates unexpectedly while driving, suggesting a seat belt system fault.
2021 Honda Accord Hybrid complaints: complaints filed per month4Aug 2021Mar 2022Jan 2023Jan 2024Nov 2024May 2025Oct 2025
61 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2021 to Aug 2026; peak Dec 2022 (4).

2021 Honda Accord Hybrid recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V332000May 21, 2026Airbags98,892 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

    Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.

  2. NHTSA 24V064000Feb 1, 2024Airbags750,114 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.

    Risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.

  3. NHTSA 21V900000Nov 18, 2021Seat Belts4,346 vehicles

    Seat belts:rear/other:retractor

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

    Risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

2021 Honda Accord Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost

City
46 MPG
Highway
44.5 MPG
Combined
45.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,425
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2021 compared with other Accord Hybrid years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2019Caution5594548
2020Good4539548
2021Good3648345.5
2022Avoid8254145
2023Avoid100140646

All Honda Accord Hybrid years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2021 Accord Hybrid has a Complaint Index of 36 and ranks 8th worst of 12 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other Accord Hybrid years.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid?
NHTSA data shows the top problem areas are Collision Avoidance & Cameras (12 complaints, 25% share) and Engine (11 complaints, 23% share), followed by Electrical System issues (8 complaints).
Does the 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2021 Accord Hybrid, covering Airbags (two separate campaigns) and Seat Belts, none of which are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2021 Accord Hybrid compare to other years?
The 2021 model's Complaint Index of 36 is much lower than the 2023 (100), 2022 (82), and 2024 (91) model years, which are rated "Avoid," making 2021 a comparatively better choice.
What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid?
EPA rates the 2021 Accord Hybrid at 45.5 MPG combined (46 city/44.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,425.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.