NHTSA has received 63 owner complaints about the 2021 Honda HR-V, or 11.1 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.26, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 85 model-year 2021 vehicles we track, it ranks #20 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Honda models its rate is 85% lower; against other Subcompact SUVs it is 55% lower.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Complaints filed between 2021-04-07 and 2026-08-31. Median delay from incident to filing: 8 days.
63Complaints
11.1Complaints per year on the road
0.26Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
4Recalls
7.9%Share involving a crash or fire
18Last 12 months
Analysis
The previous model year (2020) drew 12.4 complaints per year, more than this one. The following model year (2022) drew 18.2 per year, more than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2021 model collected 8 complaints, 87% lower than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Airbags & seat belts (30.2% of complaints), followed by Electrical (23.8%) and Interior & equipment (12.7%). Airbags & seat belts complaints are 7.9 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Within Airbags & seat belts reports, owners most often mention “notification air”, “bags recall”, “air bags”, “amount recall” and “exceeded reasonable”. 5 reports (7.9%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 5 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 42 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was years three to five (57% of incidents). In the last 12 months 18 new complaints were filed, versus 17 in the 12 months before — a steady pace.
NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for this model year. 54% of the complaints fall in component areas that a recall addresses. 1 NHTSA defect investigation covers this model year; the most recent is “Rear Differential Seizure” (opened 2022-11-28, closed 2024-07-22).
Complaint index
vs. all tracked vehicles0.26
vs. other Honda models0.15
vs. other 2021 models0.29
vs. other Subcompact SUVs0.45
Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (8)0.13
The contact owns a 2021 Honda HR-V. The contact stated while entering a parking space, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly and jumped over a curb. The brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond and drove towards a building.
Other · 2025-01-31 · ODI 11639877 · Crash
The contact owns a 2021 Honda HR-V. The contact stated that there was an abnormal whining sound detected. While driving at approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle stopped independently. No warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was pushed off the road manually.
Engine · 2025-01-29 · ODI 11639373
I got in my vehicle to go to work, put the vehicle in drive and it would not move. The engine light came on, a large red flashing PARK on the dash and the tire light. I placed the car back in park.
Brakes · 2026-08-31 · ODI 11760856
The contact owns a 2021 Honda HR-V. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted several times.
Airbags & seat belts · 2026-08-11 · ODI 11756144
My cars had a clunking type noise coming from the front left of vehicle, sounds happens on both left and right turns, and sometimes the steering wheel STICKS. Making a knocking sound and sometimes feels difficult to turn the wheel.
Steering · 2026-06-03 · ODI 11741789
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER Campaign 26V332000 · 2026-05-21
Summary: 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.
Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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 this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION Campaign 24V384000 · 2024-05-31
Summary: Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Fit and 2019-2022 HR-V vehicles that were previously recalled under NHTSA recall number 23V-046. The rearview camera image may not display when the engine is started with a key, due to a design error in the audio display power circuit. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: An inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the display audio unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2024. Owners may contact Honda service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are TIQ and DIR. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 23V-046 will need to have the new remedy completed.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER Campaign 24V064000 · 2024-02-01
Summary: 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.
Risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION Campaign 23V046000 · 2023-02-02
Summary: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Fit and 2019-2022 HR-V vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the engine is started with a key, due to a design error in the audio display power circuit. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: An inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the display audio unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 13, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is 6DW. This recall has been superseded by NHTSA recall number 24V-384. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 23V-046 will need to have the new remedy completed under recall 24V-384.
PE22011 · POWER TRAIN · Opened 2022-11-28 · Closed 2024-07-22 · Model years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
On November 29, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE 22-011 after reviewing field reports alleging rear differential seizure in 2018-2022MY Honda CR-V and HR-V vehicles equipped with all wheel drive. To date, ODI has not received any consumer complaints. Some of the field reports received alleged the vehicleâs wheels locked up with no warning while the vehicle was in motion.…
Frequently asked questions
How many complaints were filed for the 2021 Honda HR-V?
63 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Honda HR-V, or about 11.1 per year on the road.
What is the most common problem reported for the 2021 Honda HR-V?
The most common category is Airbags & seat belts, accounting for 30.2% of complaints.
Does the 2021 Honda HR-V have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 safety recall(s) for this model year. 1 NHTSA defect investigation covers this model year; the most recent is “Rear Differential Seizure” (opened 2022-11-28, closed 2024-07-22).
Is the 2021 Honda HR-V still generating complaints?
In the last 12 months 18 new complaints were filed, versus 17 in the 12 months before — a steady pace.
How does the 2021 Honda HR-V compare with similar vehicles?
NHTSA has received 63 owner complaints about the 2021 Honda HR-V, or 11.1 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.26, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 85 model-year 2021 vehicles we track, it ranks #20 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Honda models its rate is 85% lower; against other Subcompact SUVs it is 55% lower.