NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 66 owner complaints for the 2021 Honda HR-V.
Recalled components: air bags and backover prevention and rearview camera. Most-described problems: transmission failure or replacement and gauge cluster or speedometer failures (5 complaints, 8% each). Most-reported area: air bags (21 complaints, 32%).
One of the best HR-V years by owner complaints
The 2021 drew 13 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 36 for a typical HR-V year. No open NHTSA investigation names it, and it has no recall telling owners not to drive or to park outside.
Years to avoid: 2023; best year: 2021. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
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.
The fix and full notice
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 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.
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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Fit and 2019-2022HR-V vehicles that were previously recalled under NHTSA recall number 23V-046.
NHTSA listing: HR-V. Components: Backover prevention and rearview camera: display function; Backover prevention and rearview camera: software. Honda campaign TIQ, DIR.
Air bags
Feb 1, 2024
sensor · occupant classification · front passenger
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.
The fix and full notice
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 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
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, 2020-2021CR-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 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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Fit and 2019-2022HR-V vehicles.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation that names the 2021 Honda HR-V; it is closed. An investigation means NHTSA is reviewing reports of a problem. It is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
Rear differential seizure
Preliminary evaluation PE22011Closed Jul 22, 2024 (opened Nov 28, 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.
A preliminary evaluation is NHTSA's first step, to gather information and decide whether to look further. NHTSA lists investigations by make, model and model year only, so one can apply to only some versions of a model, such as one engine; its summary says which.
What owners report
Owners have filed 66 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 HR-V. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Most named: automatic emergency braking (3); warnings (3)
Powertrain7 · 11%
Brakes5 · 8%
Engine4 · 6%
Speed control4 · 6%
Unknown or other9 · 14%
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Honda HR-V recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2021 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2023 HR-V drew the most (671) and the 2021 drew 13.
Owner complaints
2021: 66 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Honda HR-V
Model year
Complaints
2016
244
2017
124
2018
161
2019
242
2020
88
2021
66
2022
90
2023
689
2024
110
2025
49
2026
21
Safety recalls
2021: 4 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Honda HR-V
Model year
Recalls
2016
2
2017
0
2018
3
2019
7
2020
5
2021
4
2022
3
2023
3
2024
4
2025
1
2026
0
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 66 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Honda HR-V, the problems described most are transmission failure or replacement (5) and gauge cluster or speedometer failures (5). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2021 Honda HR-V safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2021 Honda HR-V earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2021 Honda HR-V?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no open investigations for the 2021 Honda HR-V. It lists one closed investigation, which closed on Jul 22, 2024.
How do I check if my HR-V has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Honda dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: HR-V.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.