2021 Honda CR-V problems
What owners report to NHTSA, grouped by component, with the recalls that cover them.
NHTSA has 433 owner complaints on file for the 2021 Honda CR-V, filed between 2021-02-20 and 2026-09-20. The most common problem areas are the steering (117, 27%), forward collision avoidance (109, 25%) and engine (67, 15%). Owners reported 19 crashes, 1 fire and 18 injuries in these complaints. NHTSA lists 5 recalls for this model year.
Last updated: · Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases
2021 Honda CR-V complaints by component
| Component | Complaints | Share | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 117 | 27% | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 109 | 25% | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Engine | 67 | 15% | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 58 | 13% | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Unknown or other | 50 | 12% | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 40 | 9% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 33 | 8% | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| Power train | 24 | 6% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 20 | 5% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Lane departure | 17 | 4% | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Air bags | 16 | 4% | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Visibility/wiper | 12 | 3% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 7 | 2% | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Wheels | 5 | 1% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 1% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint can name several components, so shares can add up to more than 100%. Crashes, fires and injuries are as reported by owners.
The top problem areas, in plain English
Each summary is built from the complaint counts and NHTSA recall notices, not from individual owner stories.
Steering: 117 complaints
- 117 complaints of 433 (27%) name the steering — the steering wheel, column, gear and power-steering assist.
- 7 of them also name the lane departure; owners reported 4 crashes and 4 injuries in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2021 Honda CR-V covers this system.
Forward collision avoidance: 109 complaints
- 109 complaints of 433 (25%) name the forward collision avoidance — forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking.
- 16 of them also name the service brakes; owners reported 3 crashes and 2 injuries in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2021 Honda CR-V covers this system.
Engine: 67 complaints
- 67 complaints of 433 (15%) name the engine.
- 22 of them also name the fuel/propulsion system; owners reported 3 crashes and 3 injuries in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2021 Honda CR-V covers this system.
Electrical system: 58 complaints
- 58 complaints of 433 (13%) name the electrical system — wiring, battery and charging, fuses, control modules and in-car electronics.
- 16 of them also name the engine; owners reported 2 crashes and 5 injuries in these complaints.
- One NHTSA recall covers this system on the 2021 Honda CR-V; the recall, campaign 23V844000, says: “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.”
Fuel/propulsion system: 40 complaints
- 40 complaints of 433 (9%) name the fuel/propulsion system — the fuel tank, pump, lines, injectors and fuel-system controls.
- 22 of them also name the engine; owners reported 1 crash in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2021 Honda CR-V covers this system.
Service brakes: 33 complaints
- 33 complaints of 433 (8%) name the service brakes — the foot-brake system: pads, rotors, calipers, lines and ABS.
- 16 of them also name the forward collision avoidance; owners reported 5 crashes and 2 injuries in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2021 Honda CR-V covers this system.
When the complaints were filed
| Year filed | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 26 |
| 2022 | 54 |
| 2023 | 40 |
| 2024 | 104 |
| 2025 | 113 |
| 2026 | 96 |
What is counted
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the model names CR-V, CR-V HYBRID, model year 2021. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is NHTSA's confirmed safety defect. See the 2021 Honda CR-V recalls.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Honda CR-V?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the 2021 Honda CR-V's most common problem areas are the steering (117 of 433 complaints), forward collision avoidance (109 of 433 complaints) and engine (67 of 433 complaints).
How many complaints does the 2021 Honda CR-V have?
NHTSA has 433 owner complaints on file for the 2021 Honda CR-V, including 19 reported crashes and 1 reported fire.
Is there a recall for the 2021 Honda CR-V's problems?
NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2021 Honda CR-V; 1 of the top 6 complaint areas have a matching recall. Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN for open recalls.