Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 328 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Honda CR-V, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 96 | 29% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 51 | 16% |
| Unknown or other | 24 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 13 | 4% |
| Engine | 12 | 4% |
| Air bags | 11 | 3% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | 2% |
| Visibility/wiper | 7 | 2% |
| Steering | 6 | 2% |
| Electrical system | 6 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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. T
NHTSA complaint: Power train
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 th
NHTSA complaint: Steering
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 we
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
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)
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
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
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
When turning left, my steering wheel sticks/locks. This is an ongoing issue and continues to get worse.
NHTSA complaint: Steering
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
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
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 c
NHTSA complaint: Steering
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2021 Honda CR-V. 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 | 76 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 89 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 93 | excellent |
| Performance | 56 | average |
| Efficiency | 50 | average |
| Safety | 93 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 328 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and steering is the most reported area with 96 of them (29%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 76/100 (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 76/100, 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 78/100. 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.