YearToAvoid

2021 Honda CR-V Fuel System Problems

NHTSA lists 27 Fuel System complaints for the 2021 Honda CR-V, 8% of its 330 total complaints that year, with a median failure mileage of 21,116. A related fuel pump recall (23V858000) covers this model year, with no reported crashes, fires, or injuries.

Fuel System complaints
27
8% of 330
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
21,117 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical fuel system symptoms owners report

  • Vehicle suddenly loses power on the highway while the check engine light comes on and flashes, sometimes with engine noise or misfire.
  • Speed drops on its own from around 60 mph down to about 30 mph, forcing drivers to pull onto the shoulder and shut the engine off before it will restart.
  • A high-pressure fuel pump failure triggers a P0087 fuel rail pressure code along with erratic power loss.
  • Owners report a fuel smell coming from the vents when the heater is running, especially in wet or cold conditions.
  • Fuel injectors fail or become carbon-fouled, requiring full replacement at high mileage.
  • Gasoline odor and rising oil level appear even when the vehicle has been parked and off for hours.

When 2021 Honda CR-V fuel system complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 22, 2021, latest Sep 20, 2026.

2021 Honda CR-V fuel system complaints: complaints filed per month3Feb 2021Dec 2023Nov 2024Sep 2025Feb 2026May 2026Sep 2026
27 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2021 to Sep 2026; peak Sep 2026 (3).

Fuel System recalls for the 2021 Honda CR-V

  1. 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.

Fuel System complaints by CR-V model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20107 (1%)
  2. 20118 (1%)
  3. 20128 (2%)
  4. 201315 (4%)
  5. 201420 (3%)
  6. 201535 (5%)
  7. 201672 (18%)
  8. 2017378 (21%)
  9. 2018599 (28%)
  10. 2019260 (24%)
  11. 202048 (14%)
  12. 202127 (8%)
  13. 202211 (4%)
  14. 202324 (5%)
  15. 202438 (10%)
  16. 202529 (12%)

Frequently asked questions

How many fuel system complaints does the 2021 Honda CR-V have?
NHTSA lists 27 Fuel System complaints for the 2021 CR-V, which is 8% of the 330 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a fuel system recall for the 2021 Honda CR-V?
Yes. Recall campaign 23V858000, reported December 18, 2023, covers the fuel system, and Honda dealers will replace the fuel pump module free of charge.
At what mileage do 2021 CR-V fuel system problems typically show up?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 21,116 at the time of failure for fuel system complaints on the 2021 CR-V.
Were there any crashes, fires, or injuries linked to these fuel system complaints?
No. NHTSA data shows 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries among the reported 2021 CR-V fuel system complaints.
How does the 2021 CR-V compare to other years for fuel system complaints?
The 2021 CR-V's 27 fuel system complaints (8% share) are far lower than the 2018 CR-V's 599 complaints (28% share), the highest among the years listed.

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.