AI Damage2021 Honda HR-V: common problems
Owners of the 2021 Honda HR-V filed 64 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and electrical system. The maker issued 41 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 64
- involving a crash
- 5
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 41
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 33% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 25% of all complaints
- 3 Forward collision avoidance 11% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 6 Engine 5% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 5% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 5% of all complaints
- Air bags: 21 complaints (33% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Electrical system: 16 complaints (25% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
- Forward collision avoidance: 7 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 5 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Service brakes: 5 complaints (8% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.8 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- CVTnamed in 5 complaints
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 64 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 21 | 2 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 16 | 0 | 6 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Lane departure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 0 | 0 | 18 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The air bags did not deploy. There was no injury sustained. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an autobody repair shop, where it was repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure.
The vehicle crashed into the concrete sidewalls. The contact's daughter sustained body and neck pain. The contact stated no medical treatment was provided. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer.
This air bag and seatbelt both malfunctioned clearly the air bag malfunctioned while I was about to cross over a bridge on an interstate .. Ciasing a projectile to shoot me in my eye knocking me unconcouiss and I wasn’t sure wht happened until hind sight and clearly the foremsic evidence supports this ..
Car was towed as of now there is $15,709 damage with drivers side seat belt on National-Global back order. Due to this being a safety item no after market parts are allowed no seat belt to be found. Car is held up in the body shop they will not release.
When this happens, I completely lose access to critical safety information, including the speedometer, fuel gauge, and all vehicle warning lights. I cannot monitor my speed or know if a critical vehicle system is malfunctioning while actively operating the vehicle in traffic.
The engine light came on, a large red flashing PARK on the dash and the tire light. I placed the car back in park. Checked to see if the parking break had accidentally been engaged. It had not. I placed the vehicle in drive again, unable to move. Attempted to reverse. Unable to move. Placed the vehicle back in park.
My cars had a clunking type noise coming from the front left of vehicle, sounds happens on both left and right turns, and sometimes the steering wheel STICKS. Making a knocking sound and sometimes feels difficult to turn the wheel. I had to have the steering gearbox assembly replaced at cost of over $3015 before taxes.
CVT transmission failed and vehicle lost power while on Interstate I-88 65 MPH speed zone. f Momentum allowed me to reach an exit at which point I needed to push the vehicle by myself off the roadway. Vehicle mileage was slighlty over 60,000 miles and the $10,000 dollar repair was not covered by warranty.
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 766 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 36% most complained about).
On average one model year of the HR-V has 168 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 64, below average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Service Bulletin - During engine start in cold conditions, a miscalculation in the PCM causes the air-fuel…
Service Bulletin - During engine start in cold conditions, a miscalculation in the PCM causes the air-fuel ratio to exceed DTC P2DE1 rich criteria.
- Service Bulletin - During engine start in cold conditions, it is possible for air-fuel ratio to exceed DTC…
- 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.
- Dealer Message Request for Visit
2018-2022 Accord & HR-V Front Damper Noise (ACTION REQUIRED)
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2021-2022 Accords and 2022 HR-V Sports with a customer complaint of a front damper noise. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to…
- Servicenews article - If you are inspecting an HR-V and notice oil residue on the A/C condenser, it's not…
Servicenews article - If you are inspecting an HR-V and notice oil residue on the A/C condenser, it's not always an indication that the condenser is leaking refrigerant. The source of oil residue can potentially come…
- Dealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2021 HR-V that exhibits a leak at the A/C Condenser. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any…
- Dealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2021 HR-VS that exhibit a leak at the A/C Condenser. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any…
- Dealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2019-2021 HR-V that exhibits a leak at the A/C Condenser. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any…
- Dealer message - America Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2019-2021 HR-V that exhibits a leak at the A/C Condenser. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any…
- Dealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2021 HR-V AWDs with a customer complaint of inaccurate fuel gauge reading; less fuel remains in the fuel tank than indicated on the fuel gauge. To better understand the cause of this…
- "Dealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2019-2021 HR-V that exhibits a leak at the A/C Condenser. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any…
NHTSA lists 41 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 HR-V?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, electrical system, forward collision avoidance. Total complaints: 64. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (23%), fuel system, fuel smell (6%), knocking, grinding or other noise (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2021 Honda HR-V?
NHTSA lists 41 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 HR-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.