2021 Honda Accord
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 234 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 23rd highest complaint count among 25 Accord model years with reports.
Of the 2021 reports, 14 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 8 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, sensor, occupant classification, front passengerMay 21, 2026
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.
Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 26V332000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, sensor, occupant classification, front passengerFeb 1, 2024
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.
An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 24V064000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpDec 18, 2023
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.
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 23V858000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, rear/other, retractorNov 18, 2021
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."
An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Campaign 21V900000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: other or unspecified
53 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Sep 15, 2026
COMPONENT: Visibility--Exterior Rearview Mirror, Passenger Side. While driving normally, the passenger-side exterior rearview mirror glass/holder assembly suddenly shattered and completely detached from the mirror housing. There had been no known collision or contact with another vehicle or object. The passenger window was open. The detached mirror glass/holder assembly entered through the open passenger window and landed on the passenger seat. Numerous small fragments of mirror glass were also deposited inside the passenger compartment, including on the passenger seat and dashboard. After the incident, the passenger-side mirror housing remained attached to the vehicle and remained in its normal extended operating position. The housing did not fold from the event and does not exhibit obvious significant collision damage. The detached mirror assembly and photographs have been preserved. Photographs show the exterior mirror housing,m the exposed internal adjustment mechanism, the shattered mirror assembly on the passenger seat, the shattered glass and the rear of the detached mirror holder/adjustment assembly. I am concerned that this may represent a failure of the mirror glass/holder or its attachment mechanism rather than ordinary collision damage. Because the mirror assembly and glass fragments entered the occupied passenger compartment, I believe the event presents a potential safety hazard to vehicle occupants. I am requesting that NHTSA retain this complaint for comparison with similar reports involving Honda Accord exterior mirror glass shattering or detachment.
Other or unspecified, Aug 18, 2026
Infotainment system recieving phantom / ghost touches. Screen selects menu items on its own, plays, pauses music, causes major distraction and disruption. Screen flashes when changing menus and can pull attention from the road. Safety issue!
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 23, 2026
My car stalled stopped and takes a While to turn on , all lights turned on .. coded came back and showed it was fuel pressure regulator / fuel pump. I believe it is part of the recalls put in place for other Honda accord lx as well since I’m having same problem
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 14, 2026
The infotainment touchscreen in my 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid intermittently registers inputs that I am not making. The screen experiences repeated “ghost touches,” accompanied by random beeping and clicking sounds. During these episodes, the system changes GPS screens or navigation directions, changes music or audio settings, turns the audio on or off, closes applications, and opens other applications without any input from the driver. During these "ghost" episodes, the touch capability seems to also be intermittent preventing from leaving the current screen or app that the "ghost" clicks on. This problem occurs while the vehicle is being driven and creates a serious distraction. The unexpected sounds, screen changes, and navigation changes draw the driver’s attention away from the road and may require the driver to attempt to stop or correct the malfunctioning system. This increases the risk of a collision and could result in serious injury or death. I contacted a Honda dealership regarding the issue. The dealership indicated that it was aware of this behavior and had received similar reports from multiple other vehicle owners. The malfunction is intermittent, but it has occurred repeatedly. There were no warning lamps or dashboard warning messages before the touchscreen began malfunctioning. The vehicle and infotainment system are available for inspection upon request. I also have video evidence showing an example of the touchscreen malfunctioning and producing inputs without being touched. See Google Drive link to Movie: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Jul 7, 2026
Had to repleace the electrical parking brake sensor. Now all my lights on the dash board are lighted up and have to go get a diagnostic test done
Other or unspecified, Jul 5, 2026
I’m not sure what it’s called, but the entertainment system where the touch screen is for radio, has ghost touches when the weather gets warm. Over the winter, this never happens. But during the summer, the screen starts glitching out and if I have gps going, this is a real safety issue because the ghost touches change the screen and I don’t know where I’m going. And it’s very distracting , the ghost touches continue every couple seconds.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Forward collision avoidance, Jul 4, 2026
On July 4th 2026, I was leaving from a restaurant that evening and within 5-10 seconds of me turning my car on, all of the lights on my dashboard turned on. I was slightly confused because there were multiple at once and my car was rumbling a bit from under the engine hood. Within a few weeks prior, I’ve been having with my digital car screen switching back and forth between tabs (from the radio, to my CarPlay, to the settings). It will be intermittent but fairly consistent. I plan to take my car to an auto parts store for a code test and battery/alternator test to see if there’s any further issues. I just purchased a new battery for this car within the 3 years of me getting it, 2 years ago and there shouldn’t be any issues. I’m not sure how to proceed and I really don’t have it in me to spend large amounts of money and time with repairs for a supposedly heavily reliable car. My current mileage is at 120,000.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 26, 2026
Infotainment Center
Other or unspecified, Jun 23, 2026
My infotainment system is not working properly. It switches between screens, radio stations, etc., and sometimes turns off. It is very dangerous when I am driving using my map and the map either moves, stops working, or switches to a different screen. I have had to pull over in the middle of nowhere while traveling because the map quit working properly. It also cuts me off in the middle of phone conversations. I just put a random date below because this has been going on for almost a year now.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jun 21, 2026
The vehicle suffered an unexpected loss of engine compression and dropped into a dangerous Limp Mode while driving due to a Cylinder 3 Misfire code (P0303). The manufacturer dealership misdiagnosed the mechanical issue using an unrelated 2.0L engine service bulletin (SB23-026) to clear the error. Six months later, the dashboard completely illuminated again with code P0299 (Turbocharger Underboost) caused by progressive pressure and compression loss across the 1.5L turbo engineering components. Upon post-visit inspection, engine fluids were found severely depleted. This ongoing engineering failure causes a sudden loss of vehicle motive power on public highways, creating a severe, recurring safety hazard that mirrors the active federal engine defect class-action litigation against American Honda Motor Co. This has happened 4 times with all the lights on my dash coming on Dec 2025, May 2026, June 2026 (2x)
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 15, 2026
While driving to work, the radio seem to have a ghost inside the radio. The screen has a mind of its on. The radio turns itself off and on by itself. It’s a safe hazard to driving with all that is happening. The radio will beep constantly while driving down the road and my teenager will not driving my car, due to being scared
Other or unspecified, May 26, 2026
Infotainment is malfunctioning and it is available for inspection. The screen clicks on its own, and leads to GPS errors, makes incorrect phone calls and does not respond to my inputs. It has not been reproduced by the dealer, but I have videos and have shown the dealer. It has not been inspected by others. There were no messages or warning lamps.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, May 23, 2026
The touch screen display malfunctions and is often either unresponsive or it has ghost touches and moves across various screens while you are driving and during navigation. The system will make calls, activate voice assistance, move the map when navigation is active to where you can no longer see your route, switch between audio sources, open random apps, etc while driving leading to distraction. The touch screen will not respond to your touch but continue to do its own thing. This is dangerous while driving because it is hard to end calls, get back to your navigation, or focus on the road when voice assistants are activated randomly and difficult to turn off. There is not a reset button for this issue so it may continue the duration of your drive. The issue has been confirmed by a dealer with the suggestion to replace but online forums suggest this is a widespread issue and replacement does alleviate the problem. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance. There were not any warning lamps, messages, or systems prior to the issue.
Other or unspecified, Forward collision avoidance, May 1, 2026
Infotainment Center: I am submitting this complaint regarding my 2021 Honda Accord Sport and the ongoing issues I’ve experienced with its infotainment system. This problem has been persistent, unpredictable, and increasingly concerning from both a usability and safety standpoint. Since purchasing the vehicle, the infotainment center has repeatedly malfunctioned without any warning. The screen will freeze, switch from setting to setting, or become unresponsive to touch input. At times, it will randomly reboot while I am driving. These issues occur regardless of whether I am using navigation, Bluetooth audio, or even when the system is idle. This also affects the ADAS, periodically, warnings will be displayed, and then not show up. What makes this especially troubling is how it affects my ability to safely operate the vehicle. For example, when the system freezes, I lose access to navigation directions mid-route, which forces me to either drive without guidance or attempt to troubleshoot the issue while on the road. Similarly, when using hands-free calling or music controls, the glitches can be distracting and require repeated attempts to regain control, taking my attention away from driving. I rely on my vehicle daily, and this ongoing issue has caused a great deal of frustration and concern. A modern vehicle’s infotainment system is not just a convenience—it is integrated into essential driving functions. When it fails, it directly impacts driver awareness and safety. I am requesting that this issue be investigated further, as it appears to be a systemic problem rather than an isolated defect. I hope that by reporting this, it may help lead to a resolution for myself and other drivers experiencing similar problems.
Other or unspecified, Apr 8, 2026
The USB port in the center console of my 2022 Honda Accord (VIN: [XXX] ) is physically loose and wobbly, causing intermittent disconnection of Apple CarPlay. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. When CarPlay disconnects while driving, I lose access to my navigation (GPS), requiring me to manually interact with my phone or the infotainment screen to restore the connection. This creates a significant distracted driving hazard. The disconnection occurs unpredictably with minor road vibrations or bumps, meaning it frequently happens at highway speeds. Not yet. The vehicle has not yet been brought in for this specific issue. The problem is consistently reproducible — any slight movement of the USB cable causes disconnection. This is a known and widely reported issue No. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by any of these parties regarding this specific defect. No warning lamps illuminate. The only symptom is the CarPlay interface disconnecting on the screen when the vehicle hits a bump or the cable is slightly moved, indicating the USB port itself is physically loose and failing to maintain a stable connection. The issue began and has persisted since I first noticed it. No prior warning was given before the port became loose. The USB port used for wired Apple CarPlay is physically loose and wobbly, causing the connection to drop with the slightest vibration or road bump. I have tried multiple cables and positions without improvement. Losing CarPlay while driving means losing active navigation, forcing dangerous driver distraction to reconnect. This is a known defect reported by numerous 2021 Accord owners. I am requesting this be investigated for a potential recall or technical service bulletin. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Apr 1, 2026
4 out of 5 times driving the car the infotainment screen with get random touches guiding you to unknown menus or system setting or maybe just to a different radio station. Where I think this becomes a legitimate safety concern (asside from changing vehicle settings like security) is when trying to use maps function the random touches will direct the map away from where you are or where your next turn might be. So you basically need to keep hitting re-center just to get you back on course. However most of the time there is an uncomanded touch that is stuck on the screen or possibly a number of touches that prevent a real finger print touch to be sensed ultimately preventing you from re-centering. This causes extended moments where attention is taken away from the road or late/last minute route correction causing unsafe road/driving conditions. The manufacturer only recommends doing a system restart of your infotainment screen which does nothing or complete replacement of the screen which in many cases including my own is not covered by warranty.... the alternative is to disconnect your phone from android auto or apple car play and use it in your hand which again causes distracted driving. If this was something as simple as a volume knob or temperature control not responding I wouldn't even be here but since it always touching different placed and navigating you places you dont want to be i see it as a clear safety issue that should be corrected. Thanks
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Mar 20, 2026
ssue: Water intrusion into tail light assembly causing electrical and safety system malfunctions Status: Repaired at owner expense (~$800) Concern: Safety‑related defect and potential pattern across vehicles Description of the Issue: My 2021 Honda Accord experienced a failure where water entered the tail light assembly and caused electrical shorts. This resulted in multiple safety‑critical system warnings, including brake system alerts, ABS/VSA warnings, and Honda Sensing failures. The vehicle also lost acceleration and entered a reduced‑power “limp mode,” creating a hazardous driving situation. The dealership diagnosed the issue as water intrusion into the tail light assembly. The entire assembly had to be replaced at a cost of over $800. After replacement, all warnings and drivability issues resolved immediately.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 12, 2026
I am writing to file a complaint on the service that was provided at Vann York Honda. On February 17, 2026, I was returning home from work and my car had a hard idle at start up. I was able to drive it home without issue. The next day, February 18, I got in my car and I had another hard idle start with many check engine codes appearing on the dashboard. I drove it to Vann York Honda in High Point, North Carolina for service. I was told it was a faulty fuel injector causing the problem and that it needed to be replaced. I left the car there over night and paid for the service; approximately 3,000. I got the car back on February 19. On February 20, I again had a rough idle on start up. I brought the car back to Vann York Honda and advised them that I was experiencing the same issue as before. The mechanic brought it to the back and advised me that he could not find anything wrong with the vehicle and that it is running fine. I expressed my concerns with the vehicle and he stated that without a error code or check engine light being on, it would be difficult to diagnose. The technician and the advisor said to keep driving it until a light comes on saying there is a problem since they could not find an issue. in the following 2 weeks, I had regular rough idles on start up and the fuel efficiency dropped approximately 6 miles per gallon. When I filled the car with gas, the fuel range dropped from 540 to 370. When I called about that issue, they said they reset the computer when performing the previous service on the vehicle and it is taking time for the computer to "learn" the car again. On March 6, I brought the vehicle back to Vann York Honda due to many check engine codes appearing on the dashboard. On the way to Vann York, the service advisor called me and stated that she would be reaching out to Honda Corporate to see about Honda paying for some of the cost of this service. My wife and I drove into the service bay and I spoke with the service adviso
Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 9, 2026
I am reporting a serious safety concern involving my 2021 Honda Accord Sport SE. The issue began at approximately 78,000 miles when multiple warning lights suddenly appeared on the dashboard while driving. At the same time, the vehicle began shaking and had difficulty accelerating. The engine felt unstable and the car struggled to gain speed. I immediately took the vehicle to a mechanic where it was diagnosed with an engine misfire on cylinder 3. The spark plug and ignition coil were replaced. After this repair the vehicle appeared to run normally for a short time, but the exact same symptoms returned shortly afterward. The vehicle again began shaking while driving and experienced loss of power and poor acceleration. This creates a serious safety concern, especially when merging onto highways or driving in traffic where sudden loss of power could lead to an accident. After researching this issue, I discovered numerous complaints from other owners of 2021 Honda Accords describing the same symptoms that ultimately resulted in blown head gasket failures. These complaints appear in the NHTSA database and other consumer forums. The pattern of engine misfires, shaking, and loss of acceleration appears to be consistent across many vehicles with similar mileage. Despite the number of similar complaints, there are currently no recalls associated with my VIN. I believe this may indicate a broader manufacturing defect affecting these vehicles. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this issue further to determine whether a safety defect exists that could require a recall or other corrective action.
Other or unspecified, Forward collision avoidance, Feb 27, 2026, crash
This Honda Accord Sport SE has had electrical problems from the day I received the vehicle. Every time I went for an oil change at Bommarito Honda I mentioned it to them and they said “yeah the new Hondas do tend to hand a lot of those electrical problems” so with this the problems continued to get worse. Sometimes the buttons do not work, sometimes they do, sometimes the lights don’t work and sometimes they do and sometimes the safety features and break system automated itself. I have slammed my head on the steering wheel on multiple occasions. I believe this needs to be looked into because the malfunction of the car falsely reports danger and caused an accident. Yes every time it malfunctions it flashes briefly and so quickly on the screen .
Other or unspecified, Jan 27, 2026
Honda head unit touch screen is glitching while driving. This causes my navigation system to shut down or freeze and then I am unable to use the touch screen entirely. The dealership has confirmed this as an issue that other people are experiencing as well.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jan 14, 2026
This problem is seemingly widespread from one google search! The infotainment system screen will randomly start doing “ghost touches,” tapping random areas of the screen which is distracting but also clicking on things that shouldn’t be casually clicked like emergency calling or calling a random number! The screen would end my navigation, mute the speaker, go back, switch to a different app, etc. There is no warning lights or anything. The honda dealerships seem to realize that this is a know issue but will not replace it. They stated that replacing it is doesn’t always work as the problem returns. My car is perfect besides this issue and has never been in a crash.
Other or unspecified, Nov 20, 2025
I am reporting a safety-related issue on my 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid involving a failure of the heating and climate control system. The vehicle is unable to produce heat or properly defrost the windshield, which significantly reduces visibility in cold weather. This directly impacts safe operation during winter conditions and should be considered a safety concern rather than a comfort issue. A Honda dealership diagnosed the problem as a heater core failure. The heater core itself is approximately 150, but the repair requires extensive disassembly and is estimated at nearly 2,000 due to labor. This type of failure should not occur on a vehicle this new. I recently purchased the car and do not believe this is normal wear or maintenance. Honda was contacted and denied goodwill assistance, stating they have no record of other complaints. I have since found similar reports from other Accord owners experiencing heating failures, particularly on hybrid models. This failure prevents windshield defogging and makes the vehicle unsafe for winter driving. I am documenting this issue with NHTSA so that the safety implications of heater failure on this model can be formally reviewed. I can provide the dealer diagnostic report, repair estimate, and Honda case number upon request. Vehicle Details: 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid EX VIN: [XXX] Mileage at failure: 47000 Date diagnosed: 11/13/25 Location: Salinas, CA Please advise if additional documentation is needed. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Other or unspecified, Nov 13, 2025
The infotainment screen repeatedly overheats and runs through ghost commands (commands not initiated by the user). This includes repeated, unsolicitated phone calls, texts, radio changes, GPS commands, system tones, etc. This is dangerously distracting and takes the drivers attention off the road ahead. Honda 39710-TVA-A23 DISPLAY, CTR (8INCH) 2018-2022 Honda 39710TVAA23
Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 7, 2025
Head Gasket Blown i had a diagnosis ran at the honda dealership and it came back as a blown gasket its Preventing me to accelerate whole on the highway im going at high speeds and it slows down like im slmming on brakes