YearToAvoid

2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#4 most-complained of 6 CR-V Hybrid years

The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid has a Complaint Index of 40 and ranks 4th worst out of 6 model years, earning a 'Good' rating relative to other CR-V Hybrid years. NHTSA lists 103 complaints, 3 recalls, and 5 crashes with no fires or deaths reported.

Complaints
103
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
5 / 0
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
38
40 city / 35 hwy

Top 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid problems

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

  1. Engine41 (40%)
  2. Electrical System24 (23%)
  3. Collision Avoidance & Cameras22 (21%)
  4. Fuel System17 (17%)
  5. Other13 (13%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain12 (12%)
  7. Brakes8 (8%)
  8. Steering6 (6%)
  9. Structure & Body3 (3%)
  10. Airbags2 (2%)

What owners report

  • Owners describe the vehicle suddenly losing power or shutting off at highway speed, including one case where steering and control were lost and the vehicle rolled over.
  • Multiple owners report brakes failing to respond while slowing down or parking, sometimes accompanied by unexpected acceleration.
  • Some drivers say the battery indicator drops to zero and the engine loses power while driving on two-lane roads with few safe pullover spots.
  • One owner reported the check engine light coming on along with the car powering down into limp mode on a highway, a repeated issue over time.
  • A driver reported the forward collision system braking on its own with no object present while traveling at 40 mph on city streets.
  • One owner reported engine overheating on short trips despite full coolant and oil, suspecting a head gasket problem.
2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid complaints: complaints filed per month11Apr 2021Mar 2022Nov 2022Jun 2023Feb 2024Aug 2024Feb 2025Sep 2025
151 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2021 to Sep 2026; peak Feb 2025 (11).

2021 Honda CR-V 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 23V844000Dec 13, 2023Electrical System106,030 vehicles

    Electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery:cables

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The 12-Volt battery cable routed outside of the body frame is missing a fuse on the power circuit, which can allow the battery cable to short circuit or overheat during a crash.

    Risk: An overheated battery cable or short circuit can increase the risk of a fire or injury in a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the battery cable, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 29, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is FGB.

2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost

City
40 MPG
Highway
35 MPG
Combined
38 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,700
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 CR-V Hybrid years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100202020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2020Best082538
2021Good40103338
2022Best2075438
2023Caution60116538.5

All Honda CR-V Hybrid years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2021 CR-V Hybrid a Complaint Index of 40 and a 'Good' verdict, ranking 4th worst among 6 model years of the CR-V Hybrid. It has fewer complaints and recalls than the 2023 and 2024 model years.
What problems does the 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid have?
The top problem area is the Engine, accounting for 40% of complaints (41 of 103), followed by Electrical System issues at 23% (24 complaints) and Collision Avoidance & Camera issues at 21% (22 complaints).
Does the 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid have a recall?
Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2021 CR-V Hybrid, covering airbag seat weight sensors (two separate campaigns) and a 12-Volt battery cable missing a fuse, which could allow the cable to be damaged.
Should I avoid the 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid?
The 2021 model is not one of the years flagged as 'Avoid' for this model; it carries a 'Good' verdict with a Complaint Index of 40, well below the 2024 model's index of 100.
What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid?
EPA rates the 2021 CR-V Hybrid at 38 mpg combined (40 city / 35 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,700.

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.