Skip to content
KLUNK
KLUNK

2021 Honda Cr-v

The Verdict

40 Proceed with Caution

The 2021 Honda Cr-v has 338 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (220 complaints) and engine (55 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 40/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Honda Cr-v, consider the 2000 model year which has 58% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2000 has 58% fewer complaints

View the 2000 Honda Cr-v dashboard →

40

Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution

About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Get notified if a recall hits this car.

We email you when NHTSA issues a new recall on the 2021 Honda Cr-v. No spam, no marketing.

Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
2000431621815
200143263377
2002143252537927
20031432020510224
20041211318716911
2005119142853822
2006105212242522
2007293145003332
2008341205074630
2009130132071710
2010126192376722
201113615328469
201215720979633
2013101218310869
20142111811120343
2015193298228086
2016124137815127
201749915229173297
201880817220187831
20194809618830410
202015832777516
20212202530558
2022214149287
202341328264710
202427322316113
20251662515505

By Category

Body
220
Engine
55
Electrical
30
Brakes
25
Transmission
8

By Severity

1
162
2
156
3
5
4
15

Worst Problems

Compare Against

See how the 2021 Honda Cr-v stacks up against rivals.

Complaints

Engine 1

While I was driving my kids home my 2021 Honda CRV had every warning light turn on my dash and the car started jerking and braking and nearly caused me to get in accident with my [XXX] and [XXX] in the car. My husband took the car into the shop and the shop said it was the fuel pumps. They are trying to charge us over 1000 for something that is a Honda issue. Many Honda cars have had this issue and there should have been a recall for this. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

4d ago
Body 1

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.

6d ago
Body 1

*Steering rack assembly and pinion *If this goes out I would not be able to steer the car causing harm to my life and others *yes at 2 Honda dealerships *I only take my car to Honda dealership *no warning lamps came on, the failure started last year in 2025 and finally diagnosed 7/9/25 at Royal Honda and again recently 9/2026 at Honda of Harvey. I notice a lot of Honda crv 2022 and on have recalls for steering rack assembly and pinion it should be 2021 also.

10d ago
Engine 2

Car shut off and stalled while Driving.

15d ago
Body 2

Steering gets slightly stuck when turning left and makes a clicking sound. Seems this is already a recalled issue on newer CRV models. The root cause is a manufacturing defect in the electronic power steering gearbox where an improperly set internal spring and insufficient grease cause the worm gear to bind and suddenly release. Dealer wants over $4000 to fix this issue.

18d ago
Engine 1

my fuel pump failed on an interstate in [XXX] while I was going 65 miles an hour and the speed of my car dropped to 20 mph and I was lucky to change to the right lane and get onto the shoulder or I would have been hit by an oncoming car.I had the car towed to [XXX] where my mechanic diagnosed failure of high and low pressure fuel pumps and I had the repair done.When the pump failed,all the lights on the dash showed systems failure.Honda would not reimburse me for the repair because my car was six months out of warranty. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

20d ago
Electrical 1

The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The contact's friend used a code reader and retrieved DTC: B002-13 (Passenger Air Bag Inflator) and B00D5-17 (Driver Air Bag Inflator).

20d ago
Body 1

There is a hesitation when I turn the steering wheel. and also I slight click too

1mo ago
Engine 1

NHTSA SAFETY COMPLAINT SUMMARY Vehicle Identification: 2021 Honda CR-V Touring (1.5L Turbo) Current Mileage: 91,259 miles Failed Component: High-Pressure Fuel Pump (HPFP) & Associated High-Pressure Fuel System Diagnostic Trouble Codes: ⁠P0087⁠ (Fuel Rail/System Pressure Too Low) Technician Diagnostic Findings & Symptoms: Vehicle experienced sudden loss of power, erratically low fuel pressure under load, hard starting, and multiple dash warning lights. Independent repair shop technician confirmed the High-Pressure Fuel Pump was internally failing and dropping fuel pressure under load. The failing pump caused low fuel pressure readings at the fuel rail, resulting in severe engine power loss while driving. Total Repair Estimate Amount: $3,222.65 HPFP Assembly Replacement: $1,453.78 Fuel Pressure Rail Replacement: $1,193.80 Spark Plugs Replacement: $318.00 Engine Oil/Filter Change: $69.65 Safety Hazard Narrative: The internal mechanical failure of the high-pressure fuel pump causes a sudden loss of engine power and hesitation during vehicle acceleration, posing a severe traffic hazard and risk of rear-end collision when merging onto highways. Furthermore, internal HPFP failures on Honda 1.5L direct-injection engines can result in fuel dilution into the engine crankcase, risking major engine damage.

1mo ago
Body 1

I was driving on a clear mid-day with very little traffic. There were no cars in front of or beside me. There were no people or animals anywhere in sight. I was traveling west at 45MPR when suddenly the car slammed on the brakes. The warning light and beeping came on. I was panicked thinking I hit something but there was nothing/no one in sight. This happened in August 2026. I am not sure of the exact date. I just thought it must have been a fluke (bird flew by or some other random event) About a week-2 later on August 30th, I was traveling with a friend on the highway going 70MPH at the time when once again the brakes slammed on. It was so sudden and without warning that we both screamed wondering what had happened. Again - no cars, people, animals in sight. Fortunately both times, no one was behind me or I likely would have been hit. The automatic braking mitigation system is malfunctioning and is a very serious safety concern. On September 2, I took my car to Roush Honda to have it checked out. After keeping my car for 5 hours, running it through the computer evaluation and taking it for a drive at different speeds, they could not duplicate the problem and told me there was nothing they could do. I informed them I wanted the system turned off as it is unsafe to drive my car as is. They told me I could turn it off each and every time I started up my car. I do not feel that I should have to to this. I paid for a safety feature that is clearly malfunctioning but having it on is like playing Russian Roulette with my safety and the safety of my passengers. No one other than the dealership has inspected the vehicle. The brakes slammed on hard at the same time that the warning sound and orange warning came on. It is truly terrifying to drive the car with this problem so I have forfeited this safety feature by turning it off each time I start up my car afraid that it could malfunction again causing potential injury.

1mo ago
Transmission 1

June 22nd- Merging car onto NJ turnpike near Manasquan, NJ...accelerated to merge onto highway. Engine light started to blink and then car lost power as pushing the gas pedal no longer powered car. Pulled off the road. Turned the car off. Restarted it and car functioned and power came from pressing gas pedal. Safety of driver at risk as car was approaching merging onto highway speeds when suddenly lost power to accelerate. Luckily car had enough room with traffic that it could coast off road and come to a stop.

1mo ago
Body 2

There are steering problems with our 2021 Honda CRV. My wife & I notice two issues: 1. When driving on the interstate, we notice the steering wheel seems to grab or stick when we try to slightly turn it. It causes the car to suddenly jerk. 2. When driving on the interstate, we notice that we constantly have to constantly adjust the steering wheel (either to the left or right) to keep it moving straight. If we try to hold the steering wheel straight, the car starts moving either left or right. We have not taken the car to be inspected by a mechanic, but are getting more concerned about the problem as we have been doing more interstate travel lately.

1mo ago
Engine 1

All the warning lights on the dash board started to randomly light up like a Christmas tree while driving to get something to eat. The car began to shake and the steering stiffened up while the brakes were not working well enough to stop completely causing me to turn on the hazards lights to make it back home safely with my child in the car. An OBD-II SENSOR READS P0087. The fear of the car turning off while driving in the rain almost caused me to try and steer clear of cars and press brakes harder to make the car stop, I was in fear my life and my child's.

1mo ago
Electrical 1

Seat Weight Sensor Recall. The air bag sensor light is on but dealership will not fix since the car is built in [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

1mo ago
Engine 1

NHTSA SAFETY COMPLAINT SUMMARY Vehicle Identification: 2021 Honda CR-V Touring (1.5L Turbo) VIN: ⁠[XXX]⁠ Current Mileage: 91,259 miles Failed Component: High-Pressure Fuel Pump (HPFP) & Associated High-Pressure Fuel System Diagnostic Trouble Codes: ⁠P0087⁠ (Fuel Rail/System Pressure Too Low) Technician Diagnostic Findings & Symptoms: Vehicle experienced sudden loss of power, erratically low fuel pressure under load, hard starting, and multiple dash warning lights. Independent repair shop technician confirmed the High-Pressure Fuel Pump was internally failing and dropping fuel pressure under load. The failing pump caused low fuel pressure readings at the fuel rail, resulting in severe engine power loss while driving. Total Repair Estimate Amount: $3,222.65 HPFP Assembly Replacement: $1,453.78 Fuel Pressure Rail Replacement: $1,193.80 Spark Plugs Replacement: $318.00 Engine Oil/Filter Change: $69.65 Safety Hazard Narrative: The internal mechanical failure of the high-pressure fuel pump causes a sudden loss of engine power and hesitation during vehicle acceleration, posing a severe traffic hazard and risk of rear-end collision when merging onto highways. Furthermore, internal HPFP failures on Honda 1.5L direct-injection engines can result in fuel dilution into the engine crankcase, risking major engine damage. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

1mo ago
Body 1

When turning left, my steering wheel sticks/locks. This is an ongoing issue and continues to get worse.

1mo ago
Engine 1

Car suddenly fails to accelerate and dashboard lights all go off. Multiple repairs of fuel pumps have not fixed the issue. Mechanics cant find why it's not being solved

1mo ago
Body 2

The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and turning left, the steering wheel was making a clicking sound and became difficult to turn the steering wheel back to center. The contact associated the failure with Technical Service Bulletin: 24-011 (that addressed a sticky steering, increased steering effort, or clicking noises caused by excessive internal friction in the electronic power steering (EPS) gearbox). The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

2mo ago
Engine 2

Hello NHSTA -- My Honda is a 2021 CR-V AWD Hybrid. Two very unsafe events to report which occurred within a few weeks of each other, apparently from the same cause. First event, on 27 Feb 2026, I was driving on a two lane county road, traveling about 40 mph, I was in the lead with 2 or 3 cars behind me. Suddenly, on a fairly level grade, I noticed that the car was gradually slowing down; I was not touching the brakes, my foot was on the accelerator. When I pushed it to speed up, there was no effect, no change in the engine sound. I put on my flashers, and scanned for a place to pull-over, but there was no shoulder. My speed had reduced to around 5 mph. The check engine light flashed I believe, but it did not stay on. In about a hundred yards I was able to locate a broad drive-way entrance to pull in to and I was able to let the cars behind go by. Turned the engine off 2 or 3 times. On the 3rd time, the car moved a little bit. When I put it in reverse, it moved back a little bit. So, when the road was clear I put it in drive again and it took off like normal. I drove directly to my local Honda shop. The kept it for a couple of days. They couldn't find anything, and said that no service codes had been recorded in the system. Given the age of the battery, we put in a new one. And the car ran fine from that point. Then, second event, a few weeks later on 30 March 2026, I was driving on an Interstate (3 lanes each way), traveling around 55 mph, flat terrain. Suddenly, the car began to lose power and gradually slow down, I had no acceleration or control over it. I was in the middle lane, Put on the flashers and drifted into the right lane, the other cars slowed for me. Got over to the shoulder. Check engine light was on steady. Called Honda, per their instructions from the first event. They told me to have it towed. Bottom line, Honda said that the intake valves were too tight. See attached worksheets. Clearly a factory build defect. Valves are not checked until 90K.

2mo ago
Body 2

I love my Honda CRV however, I recently have experienced what I call "Sticky Steering". I purchased this vehicle brand new from Jones Honda in Lancaster and have followed all the service suggestions for the most part to the "T". I used it for my Real Estate job along with filling in the gaps with driving for lyft. About 4 months ago I noticed the steering sorta wanted to stay in the position it was in when I wanted to slightly adjust the steering it was "Stuck" and I had to extend more pressure than normal to get it to move. Than all of the sudden it moved to another spot but got stuck in that spot. Needless to say this really concerned me. I than searched online to see if others are having the same problem to find out they are! When I checked the recall on my vehicle I found out that 2022-2024's were recalled but my 2021 CRV was not. This is definitely a safety issue because if a person would "Over steer" to get it unstuck the car could jolt into another lane of traffic or even go off the road and have a crash. I found out that there are many people having and complaining about this same issue online. I do not have the money to make the repair myself so that is why I am reaching out. Maybe my vehicle along with other 2021 models can be repaired and hopefully save someone from being killed. It's very unnerving when it occurs. The problem is I never know when it's going to get stuck. I was hoping to drive this CRV till the wheels fell off but now I am forced to drive with extreme caution every time I get behind the wheel for fear of not knowing when the steering will "Stick". Please help me get this repaired. From my understanding there is a faulty electric motor that controls the steering that for some reason does not operate properly.

2mo ago

338 total

1/ 17
Report a Klunk