Honda CR-V Complaints (2021)

444 consumer complaints on file.

#11669244June 25, 2025
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
Been dealing with an intermittent flashing engine light issue for the past 1.5 to 2 years. We bought this car brand new in 2021 and the first time this happened the car was barely 3 years old. Whenever this issue occurs, the check engine light would flash and the car would lose engine power (pressing down on the accelerator does nothing). Once stopped, we can hear loud knocking noises from the engine. Usually turning the car off and then back on resets the behavior and the car operates normally. However, this is a very dangerous issue as it sometimes happen on the highway. It took us almost 2 years to successfully pull the error codes because, for reasons we can't understand, Honda designed this error code to clear itself after 3 uneventful drive cycles (as told to us by two separate dealers). We took the car to the various shops multiple time and they were never able to reproduce or diagnose the issue. Finally we were able to get the codes pulled at an O'Reilly's right after it happened, and the codes they found were: - Cylinder 1 misfire - Cylinder 2 misfire - Random misfires We took it to a dealer afterward and they ran a fuel/air ratio test and said everything looked fine; then they examined the fuel valves and noticed they were all overly tight. They believed that was the root cause and adjusted them to spec; we had to pay $1000 for the adjustment because for some reason this was considered a "maintenance item" even though we have never touched the fuel valves and the car was not due for this particular maintenance item until 100K miles, so I don't understand why this shouldn't be covered under warranty. In any case, it turned out the fuel valve adjustments didn't fix the issue and it happened again, so the car's back in the dealership now. I found a bunch of similar complaints pertaining to this vehicle model, and it really deserves more. attention.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11669059June 24, 2025
ENGINE
My 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid has experienced three identical and dangerous incidents over a one month period beginning around 60,000 miles. Each time, while driving at highway speeds (60-70 mph) climbing hills or grades, the vehicle suddenly loses all acceleration power accompanied by a rapidly flashing check engine light. This creates an extremely hazardous situation as the vehicle cannot maintain highway speeds with fast-moving traffic approaching from behind, forcing emergency stops on busy highway shoulders where rear-end collisions become a serious risk. After each incident, turning off the vehicle and waiting 10+ minutes allows normal operation to resume, with the flashing check engine light disappearing. The malfunction involves the engine ignition system, specifically cylinder 4 misfiring as confirmed by diagnostic trouble code P0304 that I captured during the most recent incident. The suspected failing components include the ignition coil, spark plug, or fuel injector for cylinder 4. What makes this particularly dangerous is the complete unpredictability - no warning symptoms appear before each incident, and the failure occurs suddenly under specific conditions that are common in highway driving. Despite three documented occurrences, two separate Honda dealerships have been unable to reproduce the issue or confirm the problem. Both claim they find "no stored codes" even though I have evidence of the P0304 code. The codes appear to be cleared after turning the vehicle off and on. The intermittent nature and specific conditions required (sustained highway speeds while climbing grades) prevent typical shop diagnosis, yet this appears to be a widespread pattern affecting multiple 2021 CR-V Hybrids based on similar owner reports online. The recurring nature combined with the inability of dealers to address the root cause, creates an ongoing safety hazard. The vehicle remains available for inspection.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11668310June 21, 2025
STEERING
When parallel parking, steering became extremely heavy making it difficult to turn the steering wheel. This was followed by heavier-than-normal steering when driving at speeds ranging from 25-45 mph.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11668157June 20, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) independently activated, causing the vehicle to suddenly come to a stop, and the front driver’s and front passenger’s side seat belts to independently lock. The contact stated that the brake warning light was illuminated. An appointment was scheduled with the dealer to inspect the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: EA24002 (Forward Collision Avoidance). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11667913June 19, 2025
VISIBILITY/WIPER
I have a 2021 Honda CRV with only 15,166 original miles on this car. I am the original owner and only driver of this car. The entire rear windshield defroster is leaking ! Windshield is unsightly but possible hazard for shattering I live in Florida and have NEVER used any defroster with this Honda. Honda has not recalled these cars for this manufacturing defect
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11667665June 18, 2025
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Engine overheating in short trips with full coolant and oil. My car is 4 years old and after years of mysteriously going into limp mode and no help from the dealer, I believe it has a bad head gasket. this started when the car was 3 years old.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11667290June 16, 2025
STEERING
The steering is sticky and makes a grinding noise as it is turned to its neutral position. Notice more during a right turn. But overall steering is not smooth.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11667105June 16, 2025
STEERING
Steering sticks intermittently. Recall for same issue and make of vehicle from 2022 forward to 2025. My car is a 2021 model
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11666952June 14, 2025
STEERING
The steering wheel sticks.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11666749June 13, 2025
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I own a 2021 Honda CR-V Touring hybrid and have had 2 incidents of what I have learned is called sudden unintentional acceleration (SUA). I bought the car new and took possession of it in the spring of 2021. The first incident occurred Nov 14, 2023 when I was parking at a restaurant. I was slowly pulling forward into a parking spot where there were unattended cars on either side of me as well as in front of me. Suddenly, without warning, I was surging with full force into the minivan parked ahead of me as well as the front end of the car parked next to it. I slammed on the brake but not before I had pushed the minvan several feet forward. I did not know how this happened but, even though I knew that I had not stepped on the gas pedal nor had something interfered with it, I assumed that I must have done something to cause this accident. Thousands of dollars of damage was done to my car as well as the other two vehicles that were struck. The second incident was June 11, 2025. I was slowly advancing forward into a hotel parking space. There was a curb at the end of the space with some landscaping behind that. The landscaping had an uphill incline with some large evergreens about 8-10 feet from the curb. Once again, the car suddenly surged forward, jumping the curb, and accelerating into the evergreens. I slammed on the brake, feeling like I was putting my foot through the floor. This was an exact repeat of the previous incident and I am absolutely certain that I did nothing to cause this acceleration to occur. I was able to back out of the evergreens and my car does not appear to be damaged. Airbags were not deployed in either incident. I went on-line and there are numerous reports of similar incidents among CR-v owners but I do not see any recalls or actions taken by Honda on this problem. I intend to take the car to the Honda dealer in the next week. I fear the next incident may result in injury or death.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11665812June 9, 2025
STEERING
The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver observed that the steering wheel stiff. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic however, the failure was not duplicated. The contact stated that on another occasion while driving 10 MPH, the steering wheel became stiff. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that that power steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11665784June 9, 2025
STEERING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
The steering wheel sticks when beginning to turn it. Occurs at all speeds and seems to be more prevalent at warmer temperatures.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11664958June 4, 2025
STEERING
The steering wheel sticks during turns causing the wheel to jerk back into place afterwards. There were no warning lights to alert of this issue. The dealership says that the entire power steering system needs to be replaced and quoted me $3500. I bought the car 6 months ago with 27000 miles on it. I have now learned that this issue is common on the CRV and that newer models have been recalled. I'm hoping that the 2021 can be added to the recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11663387May 28, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
My 2021 Honda CR-V has experienced incidents where it suddenly and unexpectedly applied the brakes while I was driving, despite: - No vehicle, pedestrian, or object is present in front of me - No driver input on the brake pedal - Not using cruise control at the time My car occasionally jerks or shows warning lights before stopping, sometimes without any warning. I suspect an issue with the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) or related driver-assistance components. These braking incidents occurred under normal driving conditions and pose a high risk of being rear-ended. My car's issues remain unresolved, and I feel unsafe while driving my vehicle. Two dealerships conducted four diagnostic tests (on 18, 19, 21, and 24 May 2025) to evaluate the Honda Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) and the associated driver-assistance components. But no issues were identified during these evaluations. - 23 May 2025, I discussed my car’s issues with a Honda Case Manager (in California). He did not accept any responsibility for the reported Honda braking issues. - 27 May 2025, I filed a formal complaint with Honda Customer Service. Honda has not taken any action to address my car’s issues.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11662741May 23, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
I was driving down a main road and with no cars in front of me, my Automatic Emergency Breaking came on, flashed Brake and then brought my car to an immediate stop. I made an appointment at my dealership. The dealership said there were no recalls and said they would charge me $50 to try to recreate the issue but they didn't think they would be able to recreate it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11661717May 18, 2025
ENGINE
Head gasket failure. 79,600 miles. Car consumes coolant. Coolant is entering the firing ring when car sits after being driven a distance of 5 miles or more and sits for about 8 hours, vehicle starts with a misfire and makes a small amount of white sweet smoke out of the exhaust pipes even in 85 degree weather. Car smooths itself out after 10-30 seconds. No OBDII or Honda specific codes. Spark plugs, ignition coils, and spark plugs again since 75K. Over $2,000 into this car in repairs. Refilled coolant reservoir 3 times since April 8TH (3 full jugs of Peak Asian blue from Advanced Auto Parts). I want justice for this car and other Honda 1.5T vehicle owners as many of them have this happen at the 80K mark and they’re being quoted $10K for an engine and $5K for a head gasket. There are several people with Accords, Civics, CR-Vs equipped with the 1.5T engine that have coolant leaking into one cylinder. Oil looks fine and not milky. And besides the coolant being low, it looks fine (blue/aqua). Only when the car sits. Car was brought to Rivera Honda in Port Jeff and they couldn’t find any issues. Car is consuming coolant. No leaks. It’s being burned when you start the car after it sits. Gushing liquid noise when car starts or with idle engine stop activated and car restarts.Design flaws on cylinder head has grooves that allow coolant to flow on top of the head to cool it. Failure point according to a Honda mechanic on YouTube. Second flaw is poorly designed head bolts that are too thin and are brittle, not making a good seal as the vehicle ages. Parts are not expensive at all, but the man hours needed to replace this are the killer. 4.5 years old with 80K, it’s Honda. It’s supposed to run forever. Not die under 100K. I would expect this problem after 250K or when the car is over 10 years old. My Godmother had a 1998 Accord that she had for over 20 years and it only needed a fuel pump as a major repair. A testament to Honda’s rock solid reliability. What happened?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11660905May 14, 2025
STEERING
The steering wheel was sticking when steering to the left then back to center, almost like it was catching on something. Took to the dealer and they replaced the electric rack due to the steering issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11660070May 9, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
I had 2 unrelated issues in the past 2 days: 1) rear door actuator malfunction. The door won't lock or unlock as part of the central locking system 2) The "break" alert went off without any cars around. Happened once, breaks weren't activated by the car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11658629May 3, 2025
STEERING
Steering sticking at highway speed
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11658189May 1, 2025
STEERING
Sticky steering wheel. It catches when beginning to turn(i.e. when changing lanes or turning corners). Right now, it doesn't keep me from continuing to turn, but issue is getting worse in terms of frequency of occurrence. It occurs every time I take the car out. Currently, the car has less than 14,000 miles on it. Problem has not been examined nor confirmed by dealer. There have been no warning lamps, messages, or other symtoms prior to problem occurring.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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