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
331 reports, newest first.
Steering, Lane departure, May 12, 2026
Steering sticks/locks while driving requires excessive input. Feels like the lane departure is controlling the steering and fighting you for control. There is a recall for the same issue but our VIN is not included. Honda needs to re-evaluate to expand RECALL as this appears to apply to more than the original recalled VIN’s.
Steering, May 11, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to steer in the intended direction. The contact stated that the steering wheel was hard to steer and the steering wheel jerked. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed steering gear box. The contact was informed that the steering gear box needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was scheduled for diagnostic testing within the next couple of days. The contact referenced an unknown recall which had a similar failure description, however the contact's VIN was not associated. In addition, the contact stated that the failure was a known failure with the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Engine, May 8, 2026
Oil has gas in it.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Fuel/propulsion system, May 3, 2026
While driving on the highway with my child in the vehicle, all dashboard warning lights suddenly turned on at once. Immediately after, the vehicle began to shake, lose power, and would not accelerate properly. The vehicle was jerking and pulling back and forth, creating a dangerous situation in traffic. I took the vehicle to a mechanic, and they diagnosed a failure of the high-pressure fuel pump and all four spark plugs. The repair cost was $1,436. This failure happened unexpectedly in a 2021 Honda CR-V, which raises serious safety concerns due to sudden loss of power while driving at highway speeds.
Steering, Apr 29, 2026
While driving my 2021 Honda CR-V at highway speeds, the steering intermittently binds and becomes difficult to move, creating a dangerous “sticky steering” condition. The steering will momentarily resist normal input, and when I apply additional force to correct it, the wheel suddenly releases, causing the vehicle to jerk or swerve within the lane. This makes it difficult to maintain smooth, controlled steering and creates a serious safety concern, especially at higher speeds where precise steering is critical. The condition is unpredictable, unnerving, and significantly affects my confidence in safely operating the vehicle. This defect creates an especially concerning hazard because I frequently transport my two young grandchildren in this vehicle. When the steering binds and then abruptly releases, it compromises my ability to maintain stable lane control and increases the risk of losing control or being involved in a collision. This is not merely an inconvenience—it is a clear safety issue that makes the vehicle feel unsafe to drive. The symptoms my vehicle is experiencing are identical to those described in Recall 24V-744 involving sticky steering in Honda vehicles. Although my VIN is not currently included in that recall, this same defect has been widely reported by other 2021 Honda CR-V owners. I understand the defective steering gearboxes were identified in vehicles produced beginning in February 2021, and my vehicle was manufactured in August 2021, which falls within that timeframe. Based on the identical symptoms and known defect history, I believe my vehicle is affected by the same steering gearbox issue and should be included in the investigation and recall population.
Steering, Apr 27, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that the steering wheel was stuck whenever turned three-quarters towards the left or the right. Occasionally, while driving and attempting to remain centered in the intended lane, while driving approximately 50 - 70 MPH. The vehicle was taken to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with a steering gear box failure. The contact was informed that the rack and pinion system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure; however, the VIN was not included in a recall, and the repair was not covered under warranty. The manufacturer opened a case for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
Steering, Apr 26, 2026
The steering wheel in the 2021 Honda CR-V LX is sticky and choppy when turning. Mostly when turning left or returning from a left turn. It makes turning through curves extremely dangerous because you cannot smoothly turn through the corners. I’ve asked the dealership to test drive the vehicle upon my first dealership visit for service at 16,000 miles. First bought at 11,000 miles as a certified used from a Honda Dealership. The dealership did not do this test drive as they had low service techs to send.. the vehicle has not been inspected by any other party. Yet. No warning lights or indicators, and I noticed it a few months after purchasing in the middle of the summer two years ago. (2024) I’ve noticed that when LKAS is on and active that the steering wheel is not sticky but when it is off it gets sticky.
Steering, Apr 24, 2026
When driving at freeway speeds the steering became very difficult. It felt like the car would become stuck in a groove and I had to pull the steering wheel to get it to go straight. After taking it to my local Honda dealership it was determined that the vehicle had a faulty power steering rack. The car had approximately 49,000 miles on it when the issue started occurring. The steering rack is a very expensive repair and should not become faulty on a vehicle with that low of mileage.
Steering, Apr 22, 2026
My 2021 Honda CR-V Touring model, with around 59000 miles on the odometer, has developed a problem in which the steering wheel gets "stuck" and resists being turned. Then, when more force is applied to turn the wheel, the steering mechanism suddenly "lets go", and this is accompanied by a clunking sound from the front of the vehicle. I first noticed this a few weeks ago, and at first the resistance and noise was barely noticeable. However, since then, the degree of resistance and volume of the clunking sound have been steadily INCREASING. This has prompted me to get the problem diagnosed and repaired ASAP before it becomes more than just a distraction (I have an appointment with a dealier). Meanwhile, I've done some web research about the issue, and found a Honda news release dated October 9, 2024 that announces a recall for a steering problem with symptoms that EXACTLY MATCH the problem my CR-V is exhibiting. The same goes for the NHTSA "Part 573 Safety Recall Report 24V-744", which describes PRECISELY the same symptoms. Unfortunately, the safety recall only covers 2023 through 2025 Honda CR-V's, so repairs to my 2021 CR-V is not covered. However, it seems very likely that my vehicle DOES have the same issue. Accordingl, I am reporting this to the NHTSA to (1) provide a data point that may help in establishing the prevalence of this issue, and (2) encourage further research by NHSTA as to whether an expansion of the recall is warranted. I am also concerned about owners of vehicles that are not covered by the recall having to bear the repair costs. I will get it repaired one way or the other, but I'm certain that many others would be discouraged by the cost and choose not to have it repaired. Thank you for your attention to and actions taken regarding this matter.
Steering, Apr 22, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving and turning, the steering wheel was sticking and failed to return to the center as intended. The contact stated that the failure progressively worsened, and the steering wheel was difficult to turn while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be test-driven, and the dealer determined that the steering rack and pinion had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.
Forward collision avoidance, Apr 17, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced phantom braking. Additionally, while driving with the cruise control set at 72 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated to 66 MPH before accelerating to 73 MPH. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.
Steering, Apr 16, 2026
When driving along a straight stretch of road, the steering sticks and must be jerked or forced to adjust direction of vehicle. The steering makes a clicking noise with minor movements of the steering wheel. The condition is much worse in hot humid weather. We just returned from several months in Florida where the problem was significantly worse. It is also bad on long interstate drives. The problem is just as described on the recall for the 2022 and 2023 Honda CRV's. We have taken it to a Honda dealership for repair -they said it had something to do with the air bag. They were not interested in properly diagnosing the problem because it was not on the recall list.
Structure, Apr 16, 2026
The paint is gradually chipping off around my door frames.
Steering, Apr 15, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel failed to return to center after making a left turn. No warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, and the contact advised that the failure could be related to a rack-and-pinion failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.
Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Apr 13, 2026
The automatic emergency brakes deployed for no reason while I was driving through traffic. There was nothing in the road and nothing that should have triggered the emergency brakes. It could have caused an accident
Steering, Apr 8, 2026
UNKNOWN, Steering stick when drivining down the road. You turn the steering wheel and just sticks.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Apr 8, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road and turned off. The vehicle was restarted and driven to the residence. The vehicle was later taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer two times, but the failure was not duplicated. The failure reoccurred. In addition, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed with fuel injector and a misfire on cylinder number 1. The contact was informed that the fuel injector failure, and the contact was informed that the fuel injector needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure reoccurred three weeks later. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was determined that a valve adjustment was needed in cylinder #2. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.
Service brakes, Apr 8, 2026, crash
Pulled into driveway and put car in park. I had to close gate and lock it up and when returning to the car to turn off I was standing outside the car and it started rolling backwards. I tried to jump in the car to stop it and it was picking up speed. Driveway has a slight incline but nothing like the speed was on the car. I was in between the car door and the car seat running with the car. I am shocked I didn't get ran over. Car went across the street and hit my neighbors car and my car and well as his truck was damaged. This could have been worse and this is a huge safety feature.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 7, 2026
When driving on the highway at the speed of traffic, the check engine light appeared and was followed by a loss of engine power. Vehicle had to be pulled over to the shoulder. After shutting the vehicle off and turning it back on, engine power was restored. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Safety is a major concern if unable to move the vehicle out of traffic before coming to a stop with no power. The Honda dealer ran a diagnostic and did not find an issues. They were also unable to reproduce the problem. The vehicle has not been inspected by any other parties. -1st incident: August 15, 2025 -2nd incident: October 31, 2025 -inspected by dealer: November 13, 2025 -3rd and most recent incident: April 2, 2026
Steering, Apr 3, 2026
For the past year my steering wheel gets stuck or feels sticky. Especially when I am driving at higher speeds of 45mph or above. It happens more so when the temperature outside is warmer or I have been driving on the highway. When I turn the wheels left to go around a curve, the wheel will stay when I go to return the wheel to center. It causes my car to bounce back and forth and be very shaky. I have had it in the dealership multiple times for the issue and they "cannot" replicate the issue. They claim the tire pressure is low (which it is not) or the clock spring needs replaced. This has happened for over a year.
Steering, Apr 2, 2026, crash
The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at 30–35 MPH, the steering wheel failed to steer in the intended direction. The contact stated that the steering wheel independently steered and made a left turn. The vehicle crashed into a nearby pole. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that when the vehicle stopped, the steering wheel independently spun about 4–5 times. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle was condemned as a total loss. The contact was transported to the medical center. The contact sustained injuries to the head and neck from the air bag deployment. In addition, the contact sustained injury to the right shoulder and right arm. A Police report was filed. The contact referenced an unknown recall which had a similar failure description, however the contact's VIN was not associated. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.
Steering, Mar 31, 2026
Steering wheel feels sticky or like it catches when going at higher speeds, particularly on long distances. Dealer has confirmed to replace the power steering rack (which includes the steering gear box/worm gear). The gear box/worm gear was part of a previous recall but only for 2023-2025 CRVs although this issue was being reported beginning in 2021.
Engine, Mar 27, 2026
While driving warning light blink indicating electronic emergency brake issue, unable to drive because the brake set and would not release. After a while it released and drove to Honda dealership for a diagnosis. They stated it was a failed head gasket and due to this failure it leaked coolant onto the spark plugs, all had to be replaced and the estimated cost $5,500. It's a 2021 Honda CRV hybrid with 70,000 that has been well maintained. It should not have a failed head gasket. Upon researching this it appears this is a known issue for this vehicle, but Honda has not acknowledged. This is a very costly repair that is known by the manufacturer.
Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Mar 27, 2026
I was driving past a school zone at 20 mph, came to a stop to allow children to cross street, as I began my acceleration past the school crossing, I reached a 20mph speed again and my CRV activated the emergency braking system without having anything in front of me that could have activated the forward collision braking system. Luckily I was not rear ended.
Power train, Lane departure, Forward collision avoidance, Mar 25, 2026
CRV Dashboard all warning lights illuminated including check engine and emissions system problem. I had to park my car and it smelled like gas. I immediately called Honda Care and I took my car to Unicars Dealer on 03/11/2026 They provided a diagnostic report, report retrieved PO172 fuel system Bank 1 too rich and P219F no 4 cyclinder air fuel ratio variation. Despite Honda issuing Service Bulletin NHTDA ID 10220352, 10208090 and similar 22-002 for the exact same part failure 2017-2019 models, and despite Manufacturer Communication MC -10201454 specifically requesting failed injectors from 2021 models for investigation, HONDA HAS REFUSED TO PROVIDE A WARRANTY EXTENSION OR GOODWILL ASSISTANCE FOR THIS KNOWN DEFECT. This is a premature failure of critical fuel system component that causes the vehicle to stall smell like gas, lose power unexpectedly posing a significant safety risk to the driver and others on the road. I opened a GoodWill case # 16219868- after two weeks Case manager said it did not meet their guidelines offered a $125 assistance. I have called Unicars dealer service technician multiple times with no avail and no return calls. I finally walked into the UNICARS Dealer yesterday 3/25/26 and made appointment to get vehicle fixed on 03/27/26. I am paying out of pocket for all repairs over $2000 dollars.