2021 Honda CR-V: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
322 NHTSA owner complaints · 4 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
For six years the fourth-generation CR-V (2012–2016) was one of the most dependable cars in the dataset, scoring in the 80s. Then the fifth generation arrived in 2017 with a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine, and the record turned: petrol diluting the engine oil in cold climates, rising oil levels, misfires and stalling, and a heater that would not warm the cabin in winter. Read the full note on the model page. 2021 specifically: a year the record favours — 322 complaints, score 70/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Honda CR-V: the years to buy and the years to avoid, including 2021 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 322 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 64.4
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
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
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 frictio…
Gently used car, the steering wheel makes strange noise, sticking and clicking, not felling safe when driving. There are a lot of complaints about steering wheel problems. Why there is no recall on it, I cannot spend $5000 for fixing and is all about 2021 crvs. defected? Need to be recalled or replaced. So sad it is only 5 year old car. My 2011 honda crv lasts 11 years with no problems. Very disappointed.
Recalls: 4 campaigns (4 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 24V064000 | Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger… |
| 21V900000 | Seat Belts:Rear/Other:Retractor | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint system. |
| 23V858000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX… |
| 26V332000 | Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic… |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 29 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,100
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Steering109 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
- Forward Collision Avoidance86 complaints · typical job: Radar or camera module replacement and calibration (3.0 h labour + parts)$780–$2,160
- Unknown Or Other36 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Electrical System34 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Engine32 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Service Brakes27 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
Other Honda CR-V years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Honda CR-V?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Steering (109 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2021 Honda CR-V a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 70/100, computed from 322 NHTSA complaints and 4 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2021 Honda CR-V's most common problem?
109 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2021 Honda CR-V sit in the Steering group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement: about 5.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,020–$2,500 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2021 Honda CR-V cost to run per year?
About $4,693 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $23,465 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2021 Honda CR-V have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for the 2021 Honda CR-V, 4 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 01/02/2024. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compact suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2021 Honda CR-V really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 322 complaints, 4 recalls on record
- 322 NHTSA complaints on record (64.4/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (63.0/yr)
- 4 recall campaigns, 4 touching safety-critical systems