AI Damage2021 Honda CR-V: common problems
Owners of the 2021 Honda CR-V filed 338 complaints with NHTSA, most often about steering and forward collision avoidance. The maker issued 127 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 338
- involving a crash
- 14
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 127
What fails most often
- 1 Steering 34% of all complaints
- 2 Forward collision avoidance 26% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 10% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 10% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel/propulsion system 8% of all complaints
- 7 Lane departure 5% of all complaints
- 8 Air bags 4% of all complaints
- Steering: 114 complaints (34% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Forward collision avoidance: 88 complaints (26% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 34 complaints (10% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 39.
- Engine: 33 complaints (10% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 12.
- Service brakes: 27 complaints (8% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 12.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.5 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- 2 L · hybrid · 4 cyl
- CVTnamed in 1 complaints
Drive: AWD, FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 338 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 114 | 4 | 1 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 88 | 3 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 34 | 0 | 39 |
| Engine | 33 | 1 | 12 |
| Service brakes | 27 | 2 | 12 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 27 | 0 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 17 | 2 | 0 |
| Air bags | 15 | 4 | 2 |
| Powertrain | 12 | 0 | 7 |
| Visibility | 10 | 0 | 21 |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Wheels | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 4 | 0 | 13 |
| Structure | 4 | 0 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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 stated that no collision warnings were activated to detect the collision. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where the failure could not able to be replicated. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic, where the vehicle has yet to be diagnosed.
February 5, the car infront of me swerved to avoid a 2x4 in the road and I tried to do the same but my lane assist beeped and took control and forced me to run it over now I am going through another insurance claim because my electrical system is broken now due to the new damage.
Last September my lane assistance caused me to hydroplane and spin out of control. My airbag was deployed and I was injured. I was on the outside left lane, the roads were a little wet from a past rain event, I felt the car run over a slick spot and its wasn't until my lane assist beeped and turned my wheel and I…
The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the forward collision avoidance sensor failed to brake causing the contact to crash into another vehicle. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer.
I was at a complete stop at a flashing red light with my foot firmly on the brake petal. My intention was to make a left hand turn. As a truck going the opposite way started to pass in front of me, and the traffic was clear, I took my foot off the brake pedal and without touching the gas pedal the car on its own…
The vehicle rear ended a car and air bags never deployed. No passengers, just driver in the vehicle.
I have seen reports of "phantom braking" in Teslas. The driver of the Tesla stated to us that he was using cruise control and when the Tesla sensed a car pulled off into the breakdown lane, it stopped completely and there was nothing he could do. Our car sustained serious damage.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 186 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 9% most complained about).
On average one model year of the CR-V has 631 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 338, below average.
What to check before buying
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Service Bulletin - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which…
Service Bulletin - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, and/or misfire. In some cases, DTCs P0300 through…
- Dealer Message - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may…
Dealer Message - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, misfire, and/or DTCs P0300 through P0304 stored.
- Service Bulletin - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which…
Service Bulletin - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, misfire and/or DTCs P0300 thru P0304 stored.
- Service Bulletin - Oil leak at timing chain tensioner inspection cover due to possible insufficient…
Service Bulletin - Oil leak at timing chain tensioner inspection cover due to possible insufficient sealant adhesion on inspection cover.
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2022 Accord FHEVs, as well as 2017-2022 CR-V 1.5Ls (no 2.4L), & 2020-2022 CR-V FHEVs with a customer complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the DTC P030X…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2020-2021 Civics, 2020-2022 CR-Vs, 2022-2023 Pilots & Passports with a customer complaint of the center display flickering, flashing, or frozen (Civics and CR-Vs only). To better…
- Service Bulletin - Steering effort complaint while driving at moderate or highway speeds, with a possible…
Service Bulletin - Steering effort complaint while driving at moderate or highway speeds, with a possible complaint of a clicking noise at slow speeds while turning, and no MIL illuminated, or DTC stored.
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2022 Accord 1.5Ls (no 2.0L) & FHEVs, as well as 2017-2022 CR-V 1.5Ls (no 2.4L), & 2020-2022 CR-V FHEVs with a customer complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the…
- Service Bulletin - Due to a new North America regulation which introduces a new refrigerant and oil…
Service Bulletin - Due to a new North America regulation which introduces a new refrigerant and oil requirement, the compressor shaft seal may leak. American Honda is extending the warranty on the A/C compressor shaft…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2020-2021 Civics & 2020-2022 CR-Vs with a customer complaint of the center display flickering, flashing, or frozen. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to…
- Owner Notification Letter - The driven pulley in the transmission (CVT) was not properly hardened due to…
Owner Notification Letter - The driven pulley in the transmission (CVT) was not properly hardened due to improper heat treatment during the manufacturing process. Over time, this may lead to abnormal wear to the driven…
- Service News - Some customers have complained of fluid leaking from the rear differential after it has…
Service News - Some customers have complained of fluid leaking from the rear differential after it has been serviced due to over-torqueing of the drain plugs during servicing.
NHTSA lists 127 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Honda CR-V?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: steering, forward collision avoidance, electrical system. Total complaints: 338. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (22%), driver assists: adaptive cruise, lane keeping (8%), jerking, harsh shifts (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2021 Honda CR-V?
NHTSA lists 127 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2021 Honda CR-V from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2021 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.