2021 Honda CR-V Problems: 14 Known Issues
2021 model year · 14,225+ owner reports · Updated November 2026
According to Au7o's analysis of 14,225+ owner reports, the 2021 Honda CR-V has 14 documented known issues, with 4 rated critical. The most serious are 1.5L Turbo Engine Oil Dilution ($0-$500 repair), Denso Fuel Pump Recall - NHTSA 21V-215 and 23V-858 ($0-$0 repair), Low-density fuel-pump impeller: stalling or no-start — recall 23V858 and Phantom Braking — Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) Activates With No Obstacle ($0-$200 repair). The most commonly reported issue is 1.5L Turbo Engine Oil Dilution with 5,000 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $60 to $3,000. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
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All 14 Known Issues
NHTSA Recalls8 recalls
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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
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 seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
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 vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
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 hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
STEERING
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Acura Integra, Civic Type R, CR-V Hybrid, CR-V, HR-V, 2022-2025 Civic, Civic Hatchback, 2024-2025 Acura Integra Type S, 2025 CR-V Fuel Cell EV, Civic Hybrid, and Civic Hatchback Hybrid vehicles. The steering gearbox assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause excessive internal friction and lead to difficulty steering the vehicle.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common Honda CR-V problems?
According to Au7o's analysis of 14,225+ owner reports, the 2021 Honda CR-V has 14 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: 1.5L Turbo Engine Oil Dilution, Denso Fuel Pump Recall - NHTSA 21V-215 and 23V-858, Low-density fuel-pump impeller: stalling or no-start — recall 23V858. Of these, 4 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
Is the Honda CR-V reliable?
The 2021 Honda CR-V has 14 known issues documented across 14,225+ owner reports. 4 issues are rated critical: 1.5L Turbo Engine Oil Dilution and Denso Fuel Pump Recall - NHTSA 21V-215 and 23V-858 and Low-density fuel-pump impeller: stalling or no-start — recall 23V858 and Phantom Braking — Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) Activates With No Obstacle. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
How much does it cost to fix common Honda CR-V problems?
Repair costs for known Honda CR-V issues range from $0 to $3,000, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, 1.5L Turbo Engine Oil Dilution, typically costs $0-$500 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
What is the 2017-2023 Honda CR-V 1.5L Turbo Engine Oil Dilution?
Gasoline mixes with engine oil in the 1.5L turbocharged engine, causing the oil level to rise above the full mark. The issue is most prevalent in cold climates where short trips don't allow the engine to reach full operating temperature. Unburned fuel bypasses the piston rings an… Repairs typically run $0-$500. Severity: high.
What is the 2018-2022 Honda CR-V Denso Fuel Pump Recall - NHTSA 21V-215 and 23V-858?
The 5th generation CR-V (2018-2022) is included in Honda's fuel pump recall 23V-858, which covers about 2.49 million U.S. vehicles. Denso-manufactured fuel pump impellers were made with improperly molded low-density material that swells and deforms under fuel exposure, interferin… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
What is the 2013-2023 Honda CR-V Low-density fuel-pump impeller: stalling or no-start — recall 23V858?
The May 2024 amended 23V858 report includes certain gasoline 2013–2023 CR-Vs and certain 2020 CR-V Hybrids. A deformed low-density impeller can stop the in-tank pump, causing no-start or stalling. This expands earlier campaigns but excludes vehicles already recalled in them; elig… Severity: high.
What is the 2017-2022 Honda CR-V Phantom Braking — Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) Activates With No Obstacle?
The CR-V's Honda Sensing automatic emergency braking (CMBS) is the subject of a major NHTSA defect probe for 'phantom braking' — sudden, hard, unrequested braking when no obstacle is present. NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened the case on 2017-2019 CR-V and 2018-2019… Repairs typically run $0-$200. Severity: high.
What is the 2017-2022 Honda CR-V A/C Compressor Shaft Seal Leak?
The A/C compressor shaft seal can swell and leak due to interaction with the new R-1234yf refrigerant and PAG oil. This causes refrigerant to leak from the compressor, resulting in reduced or no cooling from the air conditioning system. Honda extended the warranty on this compone… Repairs typically run $0-$1,500. Severity: medium.
What is the 2015-2023 Honda CR-V CVT Shudder/Judder During Acceleration?
The CVT transmission can develop a shudder or judder, particularly during light acceleration at low speeds. This vibration is often felt between 15-40 mph and may feel like driving over rumble strips. The issue is related to the torque converter or CVT fluid degradation. Repairs typically run $150-$3,000. Severity: medium.
What is the 2017-2023 Honda CR-V Adaptive Cruise Control Erratic Behavior?
The Honda Sensing adaptive cruise control can behave erratically, including phantom braking on the highway when no obstacle is present, or failing to detect vehicles ahead. Weather conditions, sun glare, and road conditions can affect system performance. Repairs typically run $0-$500. Severity: medium.
What is the 2017-2022 Honda CR-V A/C Compressor Shaft Seal Leak — A/C Stops Blowing Cold (Warranty Extended to 10 Years)?
Fifth-gen CR-Vs commonly lose A/C cooling because of a leak at the A/C compressor main shaft seal. Honda traces the root cause to the North American switch to a new refrigerant (R-1234yf) and PAG oil, which causes the compressor shaft seal to swell and wear abnormally, opening ga… Repairs typically run $0-$1,500. Severity: medium.
What is the 2012-2022 Honda CR-V A/C Condenser Leak from Road Debris / Corrosion — A/C Blows Warm (4th/5th Gen)?
The CR-V's A/C condenser sits low and exposed at the very front of the vehicle, making its thin tubes and fins vulnerable to perforation by rocks and road debris, and to corrosion pinholes where the tubes meet the side tanks. The result is a slow refrigerant leak and A/C that gra… Repairs typically run $600-$1,500. Severity: medium.
What is the 2017-2022 Honda CR-V Power Liftgate Motorized Strut Failure — Hatch Won't Open/Close, Beeps & Reverses (5th Gen)?
The hands-free / power liftgate on 5th-gen CR-Vs (EX-L and Touring) is a common complaint. Each side of the tailgate uses a motorized strut (power liftgate spindle) containing a motor, gearbox, and drive screw; these struts wear and fail internally. A classic symptom is the tailg… Repairs typically run $300-$900. Severity: medium.
What is the 2017-2021 Honda CR-V Infotainment Display Freezing/Black Screen?
The infotainment display can freeze, go black, or become unresponsive. This affects the audio system, backup camera, and climate control display. The system may reboot randomly while driving. Issues are often caused by software bugs. Repairs typically run $0-$1,200. Severity: low.
What is the 2020-2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid Brake Rotor Rust and Pad Glazing from Light Use?
The CR-V Hybrid (2020+) uses regenerative braking as the primary retardation method, meaning the conventional friction brakes are used less frequently than on non-hybrid models. This reduced usage causes brake rotors to develop surface rust and corrosion significantly faster, cre… Repairs typically run $0-$600. Severity: low.
What is the 2017-2023 Honda CR-V Parasitic Battery Drain?
Some CR-V owners experience unexplained battery drain that can result in a dead battery after sitting for a few days. This can be caused by various electronic modules not going to sleep properly, Bluetooth module issues, or aftermarket accessories. Repairs typically run $100-$600. Severity: low.
What is the 2017-2022 Honda CR-V Sun Visor Sagging / Cracking — Won't Stay Up, Drops While Driving (5th Gen)?
A very common 5th-gen complaint is the sun visor failing to stay in position: it won't fold flush to the headliner, sags, or drops down from the forward/parked position after a few road bumps, partially blocking the driver's view. The root cause is a broken/sheared torsion-spring… Repairs typically run $60-$250. Severity: low.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.