repaired · 2026 Q3
Occupant classification: front passenger
NewRisk. Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
2021 Honda CR-VProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 342 owner complaints about the 2021 Honda CR-V, most often about the steering. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 24V-064 the manufacturer reports only 55% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 5, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Alex Neman, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2021 Honda CR-V has problems
342 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
116Steering4 crash/fire/injury
89Forward collision avoidance5 crash/fire/injury
34Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
33Engine1 crash/fire/injury
28Fuel/propulsion system
26Service brakes3 crash/fire/injury
17Lane departure
15Air bags
12Power train
5115 other systems4 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 116 | 4 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 89 | 5 |
| Electrical system | 34 | 1 |
| Engine | 33 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 28 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 26 | 3 |
| Lane departure | 17 | 2 |
| Air bags | 15 | 4 |
| Power train | 12 | 0 |
| 15 other systems | 51 | 4 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2021 Honda CR-V recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Occupant classification: front passenger
Risk. An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Delivery: fuel pump
Risk. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2023 Q4
Rear/other: retractor
Risk. An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Honda.
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Steering
11 owners mentioned a cost$4,204median
Middle half: $3,800 – $4,509
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2021 vs. every other CR-V year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the CR-V median. How we score
'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2021 Honda CR-V safety ratings
2021 Honda CR-V SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (16.4% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Standard
- Lane departure warning: Standard
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2021 Honda CR-V, and the recalls they led to.
- Inadvertent Automatic Emergency BrakingOpen
- Rear Differential SeizureNo recall
In owners' words
What CR-V owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The steering wheel sticks/binds while driving at highway speeds (sticky steering). It feels like it gets stuck in the center position and requires extra force to move, causing sudden jerky corrections. Dealer states my 2021 Honda CR-V is not included in Recall 24V-744/NTHSA Action Number EA23003,…
While driving, the steering wheel exhibits a severe "sticky," binding, and catching sensation, particularly at highway speeds. The vehicle requires excessive physical force to break past this catching point to make minor steering adjustments. When the steering wheel finally breaks free, it causes…
Electronic power steering failing. Honda dealer verified. EPS keeps sticking and pulling when turning right and over sharp turns particularly more pronounce over uneven roads.
Own a 2021 CR-V?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.