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
234 reports, newest first.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 7, 2026
All lights on dash. Fuel injectors need replacing at 35000 miles.
Service brakes, Lane departure, Forward collision avoidance, Dec 21, 2025
It makes false things there is no car but it brakes by self for nothing
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Dec 18, 2025
The contact's girlfriend owns a 2021 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while his girlfriend was driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light and several other unknown warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the engine was slightly misfiring while driving. An independent mechanic replaced the spark plugs and the ignition coils at the residence; however, the failure recurred 3 weeks later. The mechanic inspected the vehicle but could not determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with head gasket and fuel injector failure. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 21, 2025, crash
Vehicle accelerated on its own and propelled the vehicle over a curb and into a building. This occured even though the gear shift was in the Park position. My grandchild and I were thrown forward as vehicle hit the building. Vehicle has not been inspected since incident occurred just yesterday, 11/20/2025. No warnings preceded the incident,
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
Power train, Engine, Oct 25, 2025
The head gaskets are known to fail on the 10 generation accord. It failed on my 2021 Honda accord ex-l. I left work and while I was driving the dashboard lit up with every possible light. This was quickly followed by the vehicle losing power on the highway. I ultimately got it repaired by a Honda certified mechanic. The mechanic took it to a Honda dealer to confirm it was the gasket, in which it was. There were no warning lamps message or other symptoms prior to the failure. At the time of power loss I was on an 8 lane highway at 70mph. Luckily no accidents occurred, but the failure definitely put my safety at risk along with others. The mechanic I took my vehicle to has all available information if needed upon request.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Oct 22, 2025
I hereby state that my 2021 Honda Accord has experienced major mechanical failures involving the transmission and head gasket. The vehicle began exhibiting mechanical issues including rough shifting, loss of power, and engine overheating. Upon inspection by a qualified automotive technician, it was determined that both the transmission and head gasket have failed prematurely. These failures have rendered the vehicle unsafe and inoperable, resulting in significant repair costs, loss of use, and financial hardship. The nature and timing of these failures suggest a possible manufacturing or design defect. This statement is submitted in support of a formal claim and potential legal action against the responsible parties for the defective condition of the vehicle.
Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Oct 21, 2025, crash
I was driving northbound in on I15 in Salt Lake City when a Home Depot Bucket blew into my lane. I slowed down to change lanes when the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) deployed without warning, bringing my car to an almost stop causing a semi tractor trailer to hit me from behind.
Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Oct 19, 2025
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The vehicle’s collision avoidance automatic braking system is malfunctioning. It engages unexpectedly while the vehicle is moving with normal traffic flow. The system is still installed and fully available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The automatic braking system activates suddenly and without cause while I am driving at typical speeds (approximately 40–60 mph) with the flow of traffic. This unexpected braking creates a serious risk of rear-end collisions, both endangering me and putting other drivers at risk of crashing into my vehicle from behind. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? I have reported the issue to the dealer, but they have been unable to replicate the problem during their inspections. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? No, the vehicle and its braking system have not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, law enforcement, insurance representatives, or any other third parties. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning lights, messages, or other indicators were present before the issue occurred. I purchased the vehicle last month, and the problem with the collision avoidance braking system has been present consistently since then.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 19, 2025
Car will drive fine , then all of a sudden it shuts completely OFF on the highway which is a MAJOR safety concern. ALL the lights will pop on in the dash board without any warning. Car will act as if it doesn’t want to pick up speed then after about 10-15 mins starts driving fine . This is my second time contacting you all regarding the same issues . Honda needs to definitely do a RECALL ASAP this is NOT SAFE at all to be driving around like this . ALOT of customers driving 2018-2022 Honda Accords have been having the same EXACT issues ..
Electrical system, Oct 13, 2025
infotainment system glitching
Lane departure, Oct 9, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Accord. The contact’s spouse stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the Lane Keep Assistance feature became inoperable. The contact’s spouse stated that the feature was erroneously activated and deactivated. The contact stated that while the LKAS was activated, the vehicle jerked abnormally. The contact expressed concerns about the failure. The contact stated that the safety feature was very hazardous and could pose a risk to the driver and other vehicle operators. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
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
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Oct 5, 2025
Radio/ car play jumping screens cuts in and out just randomly. Sometimes goes completely black screen
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Oct 3, 2025
While driving, all of my dashboard warning lights turn on at the same time. On several occasions, the vehicle has also completely shut off while I was driving, creating a dangerous situation where I lost power steering & braking assistance. I request that your safety/ recall department investigate this issue immediately to determine whether it falls under an active recall or should be added as a new recall. I know several people who has the same issue in my city with the same model car as mines. plus I seen on social media where people who has the model as mines have the same issue.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Sep 28, 2025, crash
This vehicles have a engineering flaw in the design of the head gasket failing prematurely disabling all components of vehicle at any given time wether it’s in the highway or local the car will basically shut itself down causing a major risk for the driver and civilians even death. This is a safety hazard, tragedy waiting to happen y’all should act now theirs multiple and quiet frankly the Corporation should be taking care of it since they are still allowing them out on the road even with knowledge of this issue the customer should not loose their life nor money to a mass production engineering flaw that’s is over seen by NHTSA, HONDA. I got in to an accident due to my vehicle not being at 100% because of the head gasket issue the cars availability to detect or use its components, mechanically or electrical.
Other or unspecified, Sep 23, 2025
I am writing to formally report a safety concern regarding the infotainment system in my 2021 Honda Accord. The infotainment system in my vehicle is faulty and exhibits consistent glitches that I believe pose a serious safety risk while operating the vehicle. The system frequently malfunctions by freezing, restarting unexpectedly, lagging during operation, or becoming entirely unresponsive. These issues affect critical functions such as navigation, backup camera display, audio controls, and in some cases, the touchscreen completely locks up, forcing me to divert my attention from the road. The system has even placed my iPhone into reset mode. This is not an isolated incident. The problem occurs on a regular basis and seems to worsen over time. I have attempted to address this issue with the dealership, but no permanent fix has been offered, and the system continues to behave erratically. This is highly distracting and potentially dangerous, especially when quick access to vehicle features is needed during driving. I believe this issue warrants investigation, as it undermines driver focus and could lead to an accident. I urge the NHTSA to look into this matter and consider whether a recall or manufacturer fix is necessary to ensure driver and passenger safety. Toyota is recalling 591,377 automobiles because the instrument panel display can fail and not show the driver critical information including vehicle speed, brake system and tire pressure warning lights, which could lead to a crash and injury. This issue has been going on for years with Honda vehicles but it's never been recalled. Vehicle details: Make/Model: 2021 Honda Accord VIN: [XXX] Mileage: 77,628 Date of Purchase: November 2021 Problem Frequency: Ongoing and frequent (daily ) I am happy to provide any additional documentation or video evidence if needed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 21, 2025
My car ran hot for the first time and I was told my head gaskets were blown and I needed a new radiator. Once I got that repaired I was then told my transmission cooler went bad on my car which caused my engine to run hot and blow my gaskets in addition to cracking my radiator. I keep my car serviced as required with the Honda dealership and they had advised seeing this same issue in several other vehicles like mine. My car has less than 100k miles and I am the only owner. It has never given me ANY warning lights. The techs feel this is a manufacturer defect as my car should not be having this type of issue this soon. That’s the benefit of a Honda as I have owned several new Hondas and have never had any issues. I have done research and there are several forms with this same issue reported. I am attaching the initial work order. I was just advised of the transmission issue on Monday.
Steering, Lane departure, Sep 13, 2025
This Honda continues to have fantom alerts and false warnings that triggers the car to jerk the steering wheel and try to steer you into another lane. I have narrowly avoided crashes more than 50 times. No "safety" system should be able to jerk the wheel out of your hands. You have know for more than 5 years about this defect, why no action? Shameful mismanagement that now needs to sued to get a reaction.
Other or unspecified, Sep 9, 2025
Info entertainment screen will glitch out. It starts with not responding to touch. Then it will eventually connect to car play, once navigation is entered it will work for a moment before changing screens to stopping navigation. It will also randomly mute call when using hands free. Even when not connect with Bluetooth or WiFi it will start changing screens and audio options. **have video of glitching, if there is a way to upload Tried resetting to factory settings; didn’t fix issues. Delete phones and reconnected; didn’t fix issues, hard reset phones; didn’t fix issues.
Other or unspecified, Sep 3, 2025
I would like to report an ongoing issue with my infotainment system. I reported to Honda, but was told there was nothing that they could do about it since I had not had the issue diagnosed in the shop. I did not want to go this route because I knew it would cost an enormous amount of money, especially after reading several reviews online of others having the same issue. I reported to the shop once and later discovered that there was no documentation when I took the vehicle to Fred Anderson in Greenville SC. The Tech stated he would reset to factory defaults. This did not fix the issue. As I have done more research, I have discovered that there was a recall on models between 2017-2020, but not 2021. I feel this is a safety issue because the GPS would go out at any minute as well as drop calls that have could be emergency calls. A glitching infotainment system in your 2021 Honda Accord can absolutely become a safety issue for several reasons: Driver Distraction – If the screen freezes, reboots, or doesn’t respond, I may be tempted to look at it or keep pressing buttons instead of focusing on the road. Even a few seconds of distraction can increase crash risk. Loss of Critical Features – Modern infotainment systems often control or display important functions such as: Backup camera, Navigation / maps, Hands-free calling and texting (via Bluetooth). Vehicle settings (like driver-assist features). If the system glitches, I could temporarily lose access to these safety aids. Impaired Communication – If Bluetooth cuts out or the system won’t connect, you may be more likely to handle your phone directly, which is unsafe and often illegal. In SC there is a new law for hands free use while driving. Malfunctioning Alerts – Some infotainment systems integrate with driver-assist warnings (lane departure, collision alerts, etc.). If the system glitches, those warnings may not display or may lag. Unexpected Resets -Sudden reboots frozen screens can startle you while driving,
Electrical system, Aug 31, 2025
Blend door actuator is making a loud clicking noise which indicates the blend door actuator is either broken or going out. This problem will cause the heat and air to not function correctly. This seems to be an issue on several makes and models of Hondas 2019-2021(possibly other years). My Honda has 46,000 miles on and always had scheduled maintenance completed.
Electrical system, Lane departure, Forward collision avoidance, Aug 20, 2025
The touch screen is malfunctioning. Its "ghost touching" as in the screen is pressing random buttons on the screen at random times while driving. It can change and has changed settings while driving (distance for breaking before a collision, etc). While its touching random things on the screen im unable to touch anything on the screen. As if its locking me from pressing anything.
Other or unspecified, Aug 19, 2025
Infotainment system is glitching, I have had my car for 1 year and it is a distraction and frustrating when the infotainment system changes on its own. It shows touches to the screen when I have not touched the screen. Changes pages, mutes calls, closes maps, changes songs, etc. I have seen many blogs about it being a persistant problem for many people. When I take it to the dealership they will do nothing about it except disconnect the battery, which is not a solution. I do not like paying for a car that I am not able to use fully. Actions need to be taken to correct this issue for me and many other owners.