YearToAvoid

2021 Honda CR-V Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2021 Honda CR-V ranks 12th out of 21 model years with a complaint index of 45 and a Good verdict. NHTSA logged 330 complaints, 14 crashes, 1 fire and 4 recalls, with steering the top problem area at 34% of complaints.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
45/100
#12 of 21 CR-V years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
330
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
4
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
14
reported in complaints
Fires
1
Injuries
13
Top issue
Steering
Best nearby year
2022
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
29.5
27.5 city / 33 hwy
Injuries / deaths
13 / 0

Top 2021 Honda CR-V problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Steering111 (34%)
  2. Collision Avoidance & Cameras89 (27%)
  3. Engine38 (12%)
  4. Other38 (12%)
  5. Electrical System36 (11%)
  6. Brakes27 (8%)
  7. Fuel System27 (8%)
  8. Lane Departure17 (5%)
  9. Airbags14 (4%)
  10. Transmission & Powertrain12 (4%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners report the lane-keeping assist suddenly grabbing the wheel and steering the vehicle off course, in one case during wet roads and another while swerving around road debris.
  • Some describe the forward collision system failing to brake or warn before a crash, including a case where the vehicle struck a stopped car ahead.
  • Several complaints describe airbags not deploying in moderate-speed rear-end or single-vehicle crashes, sometimes along with a seatbelt that failed to lock.
  • One owner reported the vehicle accelerating on its own while parking with the brake pedal depressed, striking an obstacle.
  • Another owner reported difficulty starting the ignition followed by the brakes failing to stop the vehicle during a low-speed drive.
2021 Honda CR-V complaints: complaints filed per quarter452021 Q12021 Q42022 Q32023 Q22024 Q12024 Q42025 Q32026 Q2
330 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2021 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2026 Q2 (45).

2021 Honda CR-V recalls

4 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 23V858000Dec 18, 2023Fuel System2,490,460 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

See all 4 recalls for the 2021 Honda CR-V →

2021 Honda CR-V fuel economy and fuel cost

City
27.5 MPG
Highway
33 MPG
Combined
29.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,200
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 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2019Avoid851,099828.5
2020Caution60353729.5
2021Good45330429.5
2022Best15259329.5
2023Avoid80515329.5

All Honda CR-V years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Honda CR-V reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2021 CR-V has a complaint index of 45 and ranks 12th out of 21 model years, earning a Good verdict relative to other CR-V years.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Honda CR-V?
NHTSA data shows steering issues make up 34% of complaints, followed by collision avoidance and camera problems at 27%, and engine issues at 12%.
Does the 2021 Honda CR-V have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls affecting the 2021 CR-V, covering airbags, fuel system, and seat belts, none of which are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2021 CR-V compare to other CR-V years to avoid?
The 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024, and 2025 CR-V model years carry Avoid verdicts with complaint indexes between 75 and 100, all higher than the 2021 model's index of 45.
What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Honda CR-V?
The EPA rates the 2021 CR-V at 29.5 mpg combined (27.5 city / 33 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,200.

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.