2021 Honda CR-V Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2021 Honda CR-V. Part of Generation 5 — 2017–2022.

20202022
Complaints
388
per 10K Sold
10.7
US Sales
361,271
Crashes
18
Fires
1
Injuries
13
Fatalities
Recalls
3

Worst 2021 Honda CR-V Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#174 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:42,825 mi
Crash-related:3
#262 complaints

Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking

Avg mileage:28,400 mi
Crash-related:1
#327 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:23,069 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2021 Honda CR-V.

Steering Defects
74
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
42,825
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
62
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
28,400
Electrical Faults
27
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
23,069
Engine Problems
27
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
51,540
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
25
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Brakes
23
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
6,537
Fuel System
16
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
233
Airbags
13
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
7,333
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
35,050
Transmission / Drivetrain
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
10,511
Wipers & Visibility
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Lane Departure: Assist
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
48,000
Wheel Issues
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
18,000
Lane Departure: Warning
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Headlight/Taillight Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Dynamic Brake Support/Brake Assist
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Instrument Cluster
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2021 Honda CR-V. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2021 Honda CR-V

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~3,244,920 vehicles.

24V064000Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger
~750,114 affected

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.

23V858000Fuel Pump
~2,490,460 affected

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.

21V900000Seat Belts:rear/other:retractor
~4,346 affected

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."

Other Honda CR-V Years

2021 Honda CR-V — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2021 Honda CR-V reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2021 Honda CR-V has 388 NHTSA complaints, 18 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Steering Defects with 74 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2021 Honda CR-V?
Top reported problems: Steering Defects (74 complaints, avg 42,825 mi); Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking (62 complaints, avg 28,400 mi); Electrical Faults (27 complaints, avg 23,069 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2021 Honda CR-V?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 29,404 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2021 Honda CR-V?
NHTSA complaints for the 2021 Honda CR-V include 18 crash-related reports, 1 fire reports, 13 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2021 Honda CR-V have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,244,920 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2021 Honda CR-V?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Honda CR-V reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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