2021 Honda CR-V
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 331 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 22nd highest complaint count among 26 CR-V model years with reports.
Of the 2021 reports, 14 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 13 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: steering
112 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Aug 25, 2025
On highway driving steering wheel seems to stick
Steering, Aug 21, 2025
Sticky steering/stiffness in steering. Steering sticks in place and then when forced the car jerks quickly to either side. This has put my family and others at risk as it is hard to control the steering and causes sudden movements from side to side. No warning lamps or messages appear on the dash. The Honda dealer inspected the vehicle and determined the vehicle has an internal failure to steering rack and will require replacement. Replacement cost is $4,204.17. The vehicle is one year out of warranty. The large Honda steering recall is for model years 2022 and newer. Honda would not cover this repair under the current recall and will only do so if the recall is extended. I called American Honda to see if they would offer any goodwill and after their internal review they decided against any goodwill unless the recall is expanded as the vehicle is out of warranty. This is our first and last Honda. We will share our experience with our friends and neighbors - Honda seems to not understand what customer service means but they do know how to lose current and future customers.
Steering, Aug 6, 2025
Sticky steering, clicking on turning and needed to hold on tight while driving. Changing lanes on highway felt unsafe like the car would lose control. Car was recently at Honda for a recall on passenger seat sensor for the airbags. During the repair, a tire bulge was noticed and Honda dealer recommended we get that tire replaced ASAP. (Manager at LEA HONDA said not necessary to replace all 4 on AWD. ?.? ) Shortly after, the steering problem began whether or not related. We had our reliable private mechanic replace the other 3 tires and found the steering gear box defective and had to replace it and quite an expense. We kept the old one. There have been recalls on the steering gear box and this should be added. 2021 SHOULD be on the recall with the others.
Steering, Aug 4, 2025
The power steering rack failed making it difficult to steer the vehicle. The problem steadily grew worse over several months and was verified by a dealer service center. Clearly, faulty steering is a safety risk and one that Honda is aware of, having previously recalled 1.7 million vehicles similar to mine. The dealer merely changed out the power steering rack rather than actually investigating to determine the specific problem (i.e. opening the power steering gear box). The following is a synopsis of my complaint: 1) Honda produced a defective part which clearly impacted the safety and performance of my vehicle after only 53,000 miles. 2) Honda refused to acknowledge the defect in this particular vehicle despite recalling 1.7 million others. 3) Honda advised that if the defect is acknowledged in the future, only vehicles repaired by a Honda dealership may be eligible for compensation. 4) Honda technicians, upon performing the necessary repair did NOT investigate whether the problem was caused specifically by the same gearbox issue that warranted recalling the other vehicles. The faulty power steering rack was not inspected by anyone. It is currently in my possession. There were no warning lamps or messages. There was difficulty steering the vehicle. There was a "sticking" sensation in the steering wheel which grew worse and eventually kept the vehicle from being able to be steered smoothly at speed.
Steering, Suspension, Wheels, Jul 28, 2025
Dear National Recall Team, I am writing to report a recurring and potentially hazardous issue with my vehicle that has not yet been addressed through a recall. Since July 2024, I have experienced a problem with the steering wheel intermittently getting stuck, accompanied by a rattling noise from the left side of the vehicle. During a routine oil change, I asked the service technician to inspect the issue, but I was told everything appeared normal. Despite this, the problem has continued. I followed up with several phone calls but was consistently told that no issues could be found. I brought the vehicle back in again on Friday, where they replaced the brake fluid, yet once again reported no findings. Unfortunately, the steering issue and rattling noise persist, and I am increasingly concerned for my safety while operating the vehicle. When I contacted customer service, I was informed that only vehicles from model years 2022–2024 are currently covered under a recall for steering-related problems. As my vehicle does not fall within that range, I was told I do not qualify for assistance — despite experiencing similar symptoms. I respectfully request that this issue be investigated further, as it appears to pose a serious safety risk. I am happy to provide additional documentation or bring the vehicle in for inspection if needed. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
Steering, Jul 22, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and turning the steering wheel to the right, there was an abnormal popping sound, with an abnormal tug of the steering wheel in the same direction. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the electric power steering rack assembly was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 32,753.
Steering, Jun 30, 2025
The Power Steering Rack/Gearbox has been determined to be faulty and needs to be replaced. It will keep getting harder to steer. The dealership said that another had recently been replaced. There has not been any inspection by Honda, only the dealership who diagnosed the issue. There has been a recall of later models by Honda. October 9, 2024 — TORRANCE, Calif. Approximately 1.7 million Honda and Acura vehicles in the U.S. affected by a defective part in steering gearbox Issue can cause increased steering effort and difficulty that can increase risk of a crash or injury Free repair of steering gearboxes will be completed at authorized Honda and Acura dealerships American Honda will voluntarily recall approximately 1.7 million 2022-2025 Acura and Honda vehicles in the U.S. for a free repair of a defective part in the steering gearbox that could result in an increased risk of a crash or injury. 2023-2025 Honda CR-V. It seems unreasonable that a model 4 years old and less than 63,000 miles will need $3,450 repair for a safety issue related to steering the vehicle. It occurs at all speeds. The steering problem appears to be very similar to the issue related to the 2023 models.
Steering, Jun 30, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. The failure had occurred on several occasions. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to a different dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the steering rack needed to be replaced. The dealer made the contact aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 17,000.
Steering, Jun 26, 2025
During wet conditions or after a car wash, the steering get stuck and requires force to free it up. Usually resulting in overcorrecting and erratic steering. I believe there is a recall for the same issue on CRV models but not in my year range.
Steering, Lane departure, Jun 26, 2025
Steering sticks and will not return to center without correction. I am told there is a recall for 2022 models for this same issue.
Steering, Jun 21, 2025
When parallel parking, steering became extremely heavy making it difficult to turn the steering wheel. This was followed by heavier-than-normal steering when driving at speeds ranging from 25-45 mph.
Steering, Jun 16, 2025
The steering is sticky and makes a grinding noise as it is turned to its neutral position. Notice more during a right turn. But overall steering is not smooth.
Steering, Jun 16, 2025
Steering sticks intermittently. Recall for same issue and make of vehicle from 2022 forward to 2025. My car is a 2021 model
Steering, Jun 14, 2025
The steering wheel sticks.
Steering, Jun 9, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver observed that the steering wheel stiff. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic however, the failure was not duplicated. The contact stated that on another occasion while driving 10 MPH, the steering wheel became stiff. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that that power steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
Steering, Forward collision avoidance, Jun 9, 2025
The steering wheel sticks when beginning to turn it. Occurs at all speeds and seems to be more prevalent at warmer temperatures.
Steering, Jun 4, 2025
The steering wheel sticks during turns causing the wheel to jerk back into place afterwards. There were no warning lights to alert of this issue. The dealership says that the entire power steering system needs to be replaced and quoted me $3500. I bought the car 6 months ago with 27000 miles on it. I have now learned that this issue is common on the CRV and that newer models have been recalled. I'm hoping that the 2021 can be added to the recall.
Steering, May 14, 2025
The steering wheel was sticking when steering to the left then back to center, almost like it was catching on something. Took to the dealer and they replaced the electric rack due to the steering issue.
Steering, May 3, 2025
Steering sticking at highway speed
Steering, May 1, 2025
Sticky steering wheel. It catches when beginning to turn(i.e. when changing lanes or turning corners). Right now, it doesn't keep me from continuing to turn, but issue is getting worse in terms of frequency of occurrence. It occurs every time I take the car out. Currently, the car has less than 14,000 miles on it. Problem has not been examined nor confirmed by dealer. There have been no warning lamps, messages, or other symtoms prior to problem occurring.
Steering, Apr 25, 2025
When turning (any direction and any speed) the steering wheel will get stuck requiring more effort to turn the vehicle. It was initially intermittent but has recently become more frequent. After searching online this appears to be a common issue with newer Hondas.
Steering, Apr 21, 2025
Excess friction between the worm wheel and worm gear.
Steering, Apr 15, 2025
Sticky steering wheel. Happens when temperatures get above 75 degrees. Feels like the steering wheel might not turn.
Steering, Apr 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel became sticky while turning. There was no warning light illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under recall or warranty. The contact was informed that the repair of the vehicle would be an out-of-pocket expense. Upon investigation, the contact discovered and linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V744000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000.
Steering, Apr 5, 2025
The steering sticks really bad when going around a curve or turning. It has been doing it for months, but it keeps getting worse.