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Honda AccordModel year report

2021 Honda Accord Problems

Compared with other Honda Accord years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

14/100 0.4× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
245filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
69,000miles, 27 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy
32 mpgcombined, 1.5L 4-cyl FWD · 29 city / 35 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2021 Honda Accord (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2021 Accord most often write about the infotainment touchscreen behaving as if it is being touched on its own, freezing or rebooting, particularly in warm weather, and about the automatic emergency braking system applying the brakes when no obstacle is present. A smaller but consistent group reports engine trouble, including coolant loss and head gasket repairs, generally at higher mileage. Many complaints also concern the front passenger airbag weight sensor recall and parts availability.

  1. Forward collision avoidance

    Automatic emergency braking engages with no obstacle

    • 48 complaints (20%)
    • median 39,500 mi at 3.7 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
    • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2021–2026

    Complaints describe the collision mitigation braking system applying the brakes abruptly at highway or city speeds when nothing is in front of the car, sometimes followed by warning lights and reduced power. Owners report that the car can take several seconds to respond to the accelerator afterward. Several say dealers could not duplicate the issue or told them the system was operating as designed. Most reports come from vehicles under about 40,000 miles, and the behavior is described as intermittent at various speeds.

    What to check: Ask whether the dealer has inspected or recalibrated the forward camera/radar, and test the adaptive cruise and braking assist settings during a test drive.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My honda Accord’s automatic braking system suddenly engaged this morning for no reason. The driver of the car following me had to slam on his breaks to avoid rear-ending me. If the other driver had not stopped, we would both have been injured. Honda’s emergency braking system is dangerous. There should be a way to disable it permanently.”

    NHTSA complaint #11591646, filed 2024-05

    “in the last 10 days, we there's been 4 incidents where the vehicle suddenly brakes when travelling on high speeds on the freeway out of nowhere. We were almost involved in a serious car accident yesterday where a vehicle behind us narrowly got out of the way. Took vehicle to honda dealership service and they claim they cant find any issues with braking system or sensors and they are not aware of any braking issues with this model. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11506095, filed 2023-02
  2. Electrical system

    Touchscreen ghost touches and freezing

    • 47 complaints (19%)
    • median 73,704 mi at 5.0 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2023–2026

    Owners describe the center display changing screens, pressing buttons, making calls or scrolling on its own, sometimes with the screen freezing or rebooting while driving. Several note the behavior is worse in hot weather and that navigation or the backup camera is affected. According to complaints, dealers often say the problem is known but no fix is available; some had the display replaced, with mixed results. Reported across a wide mileage range, from low miles to over 70,000, and more noticeable in warm interior temperatures.

    4 related service bulletins

    What to check: Spend time with the touchscreen on a warm day and try navigation, CarPlay and the backup camera; ask whether any display software update or replacement has been done.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I am writing to formally report a safety concern regarding the infotainment system in my 2021 Honda Accord. The infotainment system in my vehicle is faulty and exhibits consistent glitches that I believe pose a serious safety risk while operating the vehicle. The system frequently malfunctions by freezing, restarting unexpectedly, lagging during operation, or becoming entirely unresponsive. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11689061, filed 2025-09

    “I’m not sure what it’s called, but the entertainment system where the touch screen is for radio, has ghost touches when the weather gets warm. Over the winter, this never happens. But during the summer, the screen starts glitching out and if I have gps going, this is a real safety issue because the ghost touches change the screen and I don’t know where I’m going. And it’s very distracting , the ghost touches continue every couple seconds.”

    NHTSA complaint #11748397, filed 2026-07
  3. Engine

    Coolant loss, misfire and head gasket repairs

    • 29 complaints (12%)
    • median 91,289 mi at 5.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2025–2026

    Owners report warning lights, rough running and misfires, and dealers finding coolant entering a cylinder and replacing the head gasket. Some describe overheating and repeat failures after the repair, along with spark plug, ignition coil or turbocharger replacements. Complaints describe these repairs turning into long stays at the dealer. Typically reported between roughly 40,000 and 135,000 miles.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Check the coolant level and look for residue or a sweet smell, ask for service records on head gasket or turbo work, and have a pre-purchase inspection include a compression and cooling-system check.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “All the lights came on in my car and it wouldn’t accelerate. Brought to dealership and they stated it was a blown head gasket and it was a known problem with the 1.5 turbo cars. There are also 2 others problems that are known problems with these cars and Honda isn’t doing anything about it.”

    NHTSA complaint #11719498, filed 2026-02

    “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 determined that the turbocharger had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the failure was a common issue. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 108,579.”

    NHTSA complaint #11758597, filed 2026-08, 108,579 miles
  4. Fuel system

    Stalling and loss of power while driving

    • 16 complaints (7%)
    • median 88,578 mi at 4.7 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2021–2026

    Owners describe the car losing power or shutting off while driving, sometimes with several warning lights, and either restarting after several attempts or needing a tow. Dealers diagnosed some cases as a failed fuel injector or fuel pump, and some repairs did not resolve the problem. Others report hesitation on acceleration with no clear cause found. Mostly reported around 70,000 to 150,000 miles.

    Recall 23V858000

    What to check: Ask whether the fuel pump recall work has been completed, and test drive at highway speed to check for hesitation or warning lights.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Note the malfunction described below is CURRENTLY UNDER RECALL for multiple Honda models but has not YET been recalled for the 2021Accord Sport SE. PLEASE ADD TO THE LIST!! I was driving when warning lights flashed, car started to slow down and then shut off. I repeatedly tried to start my vehicle which was unsuccessful. I took my car to Honda and had the low pressure fuel pump changed on 8-1-2024. Today 2-5-2025, it happened again. Seems to be the high pressure fuel pump this time. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11641004, filed 2025-02

    “While driving in heavy rain on interstate, vehicle experienced lack of power and flashing check engine light. Driver was unable to maintain speed. Pulled off at next exit and turned off. Roadside assistance was contacted immediately after pulling off. Vehicle restarted and ran normally after allowing it to remain off for approximately 1.5 hr. Roadside assistance was cancelled. Continued trip without further incident.”

    NHTSA complaint #11434291, filed 2021-09

Buying note. Check the infotainment screen and forward braking system carefully on a test drive, and confirm that any open recall work, especially the passenger seat sensor, has been completed. Service records showing coolant, head gasket or fuel-system repairs can help indicate how the car has been maintained.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 245 consumer complaints for the 2021 Honda Accord. 27 of the complaints include a mileage, and 41% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 69,000 miles. Of all complaints, 15 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 9 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 142 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 15 Honda Accord model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 14 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Steering (8), Seat belts (6), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (5), Engine cooling (3), Seats (3), Body and structure (3), Suspension (3), Exterior lighting (2), Back-over prevention (rear camera) (1), Equipment (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2021 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 76,566 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 111,139.”

NHTSA complaint #11741504, filed 2026-06, 111,139 miles

Forward collision avoidance: “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 going bad. Today is just cut off on me. Luckily there wasn't anyone behind me. I see a lot of people are having these same issues and a recall should be put out immediately.”

NHTSA complaint #11763472, filed 2026-09

Other or unknown: “Driving on the highway, heard a boom, sunroof blew out. No reason/explanation. The cover was closed and the sunroof was completely closed, not even tilted up. Driving about 70 MPH.”

NHTSA complaint #11399536, filed 2021-03, 740 miles

Engine: “First of all started with small coolant missing, later on I started noticing power loss and finally white smoke out the exhaust. Blown Head Gasket. Honda need to own up on defect engine design the ford did awhile back. Those slits between the cylinder was a big mistake. I myself is doing the repair. 2021 Honda Accord Sport 2.0 with mods and tuned”

NHTSA complaint #11749905, filed 2026-07

Mileage when problems were reported

41% of the 27 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 14,888 and 100,000 miles.

22%0–1011%10–257%25–5026%50–757%75–10022%100–1504%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (27 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 69,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

20212022202320242025202687
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2021 Honda Accord. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Accord · sedan FWD★★★★★5 / 5555 · 9.3% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2021 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking not available.

Neighbouring years: 2020: same overall rating; 2022: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2021 Honda Accord version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Accord FWD1.5L 4-cylCVT303833$2,050
Accord Sport/Touring FWD1.5L 4-cylCVT293532$2,100
Accord Sport/Touring FWD2.0L 4-cyl10-speed automatic223226$2,600

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2021 Honda Accord → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 142 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 142 bulletins →

Other model years of the Honda Accord

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2026145000532—Too new
2025965,0450532Too new to compareToo new
202415315,7003532Too new to compareToo new
20238737,20055320 · FewerToo new
202226023,343453219 · FewerRising
202124569,000453214 · FewerRising
202036512,500553050 · TypicalRising
201969819,000653064 · TypicalRising
20181,89622,0006530100 · MoreRising
201753925,000352639 · TypicalRising
201661036,000452748 · TypicalRising
201560140,000552742 · TypicalFalling
201498246,000452750 · TypicalFalling
20131,42745,000552775 · MoreStable
201237325,284852655 · TypicalStable
201129644,000952628 · FewerStable
201058141,00012—2556 · TypicalFalling
200972732,94410—2484 · MoreStable
20081,52127,0468—24100 · MoreFalling
200752468,5109—25Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200643377,30012—25Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200565672,67415—24Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20041,01890,00013—24Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20031,98788,00013—25Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20021,05088,3245—24Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200192285,0007—23Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20001,18390,4008—23Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19991,135105,6894—23Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19981,200100,0006—23Not compared (before 2008)Falling
1997460107,0003—22Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1996472106,6021—22Not compared (before 2008)Falling
1995543115,0002—23Not compared (before 2008)Falling
1994369118,7501—23Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1993186155,2501—22Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1992206125,0002—22Not compared (before 2008)Falling
1991212166,2193—22Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1990192152,0112—23Not compared (before 2008)Falling
198986116,0001—23Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198888200,0002—24Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198711173,5123—25Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198654164,2002—24Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198513117,0001—24—Not enough data
198422165,3672—26—Stable
19837—1———Not enough data
198210—2———Not enough data
19817—0———Not enough data

All Honda Accord model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2021 Honda Accord?

Owners of the 2021 Accord most often write about the infotainment touchscreen behaving as if it is being touched on its own, freezing or rebooting, particularly in warm weather, and about the automatic emergency braking system applying the brakes when no obstacle is present. The issues reported most often: Automatic emergency braking engages with no obstacle; Touchscreen ghost touches and freezing; Coolant loss, misfire and head gasket repairs.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2021 Honda Accord have?

NHTSA recorded 245 consumer complaints for the 2021 Honda Accord as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2021 Honda Accord is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 68 complaints (28% of the total), followed by forward collision avoidance with 62.

Has the 2021 Honda Accord been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2021 Honda Accord do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2021 Honda Accord 5 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2021 Honda Accord get?

The EPA rates the 2021 Honda Accord (Accord Sport/Touring, 1.5L 4-cyl) at 32 mpg combined, 29 city and 35 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,100 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2021 Honda Accord reported?

Among the 27 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 69,000 miles and the middle half falls between 14,888 and 100,000 miles; 41% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.