AI Damage2021 Honda CRF1100 Africa Twin reliability: common problems
Owners of the 2021 Honda CRF1100 Africa Twin filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and fuel/propulsion system. The maker issued 2 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 2
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 50% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel/propulsion system 50% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 25% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 25% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 25% of all complaints
- Engine: 2 complaints (50% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 2 complaints (50% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (25% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (25% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 4 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 0 | 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.
The fuel guage hits empty after only 3 gallons with a 5gal tank, did not do this when I first bought it, started after about 1200 miles on a long road trip. The TFT resets on its own, mileage for a tank will read for instance 22mi. when it should be 140-ish.
The engine sometimes stalls when given gas after idling (for me, it has always been idling for at least 30 seconds). When it happens, it happens the instant that I turn the throttle (the motorcycle doesn't even move). The hotter the ambient temperature, the more likely it is to happen.
The TFT Touchscreen has failed multiple time. Sometimes it blackouts so I cannot see what speed I am going or my tachometer. Recently it stopped responding to my touch input. This is an issue worldwide with any Honda Africa Twin 202X - to present. If it has a TFT screen they have this issue.
While overpassing a slow moving truck doing about 45 MPH on a 2-lane highway, I accelerated to overtake the vehicle. Just before pulling in front of the truck I experienced a total loss of propulsion. I thought I had a broken chain. I quickly looked and discovered the chain was intact.
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 14,162 of 32,257 model years in the NHTSA data (top 44% most complained about).
On average one model year of the CRF1100 Africa Twin has 3 complaints (2 years in the data). This year has 4, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Service Bulletin - American Honda has determined that the Multi-Information Display (MID) Touchscreen on…
Service Bulletin - American Honda has determined that the Multi-Information Display (MID) Touchscreen on all 2020~2022 model year CRF1100 Africa Twin models may not function correctly when subjected to high temperatures.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Honda CRF1100 Africa Twin?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, fuel/propulsion system, electrical system. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: infotainment or screen glitches (25%), stalls while driving (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2021 Honda CRF1100 Africa Twin?
NHTSA lists 2 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 CRF1100 Africa Twin 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 2026-11-06.