Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 228 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Honda Accord, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Forward collision avoidance | 31 | 14% |
| Unknown or other | 26 | 11% |
| Electrical system | 21 | 9% |
| Engine | 15 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 11 | 5% |
| Air bags | 10 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 9 | 4% |
| Lane departure | 7 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 4 | 2% |
| Power train | 4 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Vehicle started flashing all lights on dashboard. I drove it for awhile and then it eventually went off. A few days later same lights came back on a car started misfiring. Was told by Honda that is was the Turbo that's g
NHTSA complaint: Forward collision avoidance
Door lock actuator(s) randomly failing to lock/unlock. Multiple reports on forums for same exact issue. Replace one, another fails shortly after. Issue involves both locking and unlocking, putting safety individuals at r
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
Unable to use cruise control Unable to use lane control Unable to use tire pressure gauge Unable to use auto brake system Car shakes due to a sudden decrease in engine performance. Turbocharger issues Powertrain Syste
NHTSA complaint: Power train
Dash lights on for Brake system malfunction. Emergency parking brake light on as well as TPS system. Lights around Park, Neutral and drive not illuminated. Battery and alternator are in good standing.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
SUBJECT: A REQUEST FOR HONDA CORPORATE INVESTIGATION AND GOODWILL ASSISTANCE - 2021 HONDA ACCORD I am submitting a formal complaint regarding serious and recurring electrical and safety-related problems with my 2021 Hon
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the message "Emission System Problem" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and deter
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
Infotainment system recieving phantom / ghost touches. Screen selects menu items on its own, plays, pauses music, causes major distraction and disruption. Screen flashes when changing menus and can pull attention from
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
My car currently has displayed all lights on panel. Went to auto zone to have codes read, shows powertrain-description is code PO299 suggests turbocharger assembly. Safety is put at risk because all of the safety featu
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2021 Honda Accord. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 sys
Risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
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 RD
Risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-
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, F
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall
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
Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for th
| Reliability | 78 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 81 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 89 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 86 | excellent |
| Performance | 53 | average |
| Efficiency | 55 | average |
| Safety | 100 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 228 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and forward collision avoidance is the most reported area with 31 of them (14%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 78/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density, adjusted for how many were sold so a popular model is not penalised for having more owners.
AVOIR scores its longevity 81/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2021 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 79/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.