2021 Honda Accord problems, complaints & recalls

Updated Oct 11, 2026 from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 239 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Honda Accord, most often about driver assistance & safety tech. There are 4 recalls for this model year.

Complaints: 239
Recalls: 4
Crashes: 15
Fires: 1
Injuries: 9
Median mileage: 65,500 mi

Key facts

Driver Assistance & Safety Tech is the most-reported problem area, named in 71 of 239 complaints (30%).
Electrical System (65) and engine (39) follow.
Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 65,500 mi.
Owners reported 15 crashes, 1 fire and 9 injuries.
The 2021 Honda Accord has 4 recalls on file.
NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation covering this vehicle.
It ranks 9th of 22 Honda Accord model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
That is 34% fewer complaints than the 2020 model year (362).

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)	Complaints
Electrical system	62
Unknown or other	56
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking	49
Engine	36
Service brakes	28
Air bags	15
Forward collision avoidance: warnings	14
Fuel/propulsion system	13

When problems happen (mileage)

Mileage at the time of the problem, for 2021 Honda Accord complaints that list mileage.

2021 Honda Accord recalls (4)

Recall 26V332000May 21, 202698,892 vehicles
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.
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.
Recall 24V064000Feb 1, 2024750,114 vehicles
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.
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.
Recall 23V858000Dec 18, 20232,490,460 vehicles
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.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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 are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
Recall 21V900000Nov 18, 20214,346 vehicles
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."
Risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: 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.

NHTSA defect investigations

EA24002Opened Apr 15, 2024Open
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
On February 21, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE22003) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), an automatic emergency braking (AEB) system, in model year 2017-2019 Honda CR-V and 2018-2019 Honda Accord vehicles. The reports allege that activation of the AEB system occurs while driving with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's forward path, resulting in sudden vehicle deceleration. Honda indicated that they were aware of a total of X,XXX reports that may relate to the alleged defect. Hon…

NHTSA 5-Star safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover
2021 Honda ACCORD 4 DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★

Recent 2021 Honda Accord complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Filed Oct 6, 2026NJOther / Unknown
head unit touch screen will occasionally, uncontrollably create multiple phantom touches all over the screen, multiple per second continuously. driver cannot resolve while in motion. driver cannot cannot click away while the issue is occurring as the issue seems to mask real input. very distracting not only visually, but hearing as well. worst case the car could inadvertently contact emergency services via phones or cars sos capabilities. occurs at any / all speeds. multiple…
NHTSA complaint #11769478 · source
Filed Oct 5, 2026TXOther / Unknown
Vehicle infotaiment screen glitches and therefore is not making user access all car warnings ans switches screen during driving specially if using the navigation feature.
NHTSA complaint #11769194 · source
Filed Oct 4, 2026SCOther / Unknown
The infotainment center went bad. It has been replaced... twice and is still bad. The screen jumps from XM radio to compass to clock to settings to FM radio to maps to XM radio to _____. It may do that 30-40 times a minute. And with each change there is a beep. This cannot be turned off. It is verrrry distracting. Honda says there is nothing that can be done to fix this. ?!?!?!?! They said I would have to wait until they come up with an idea to try, though it may be a year…
NHTSA complaint #11768804 · source
Filed Oct 3, 2026FLElectrical System
My 2021 Honda Accord Touring 2.0T has an intermittent touchscreen/infotainment malfunction commonly described as “ghost touch” or “phantom touch.” The touchscreen generates inputs on its own without the screen being touched, causing menus and functions to change unexpectedly while the vehicle is being driven. The malfunction is distracting because the infotainment system begins operating by itself and requires driver attention to correct or stop the unwanted inputs. The same…
NHTSA complaint #11768740 · source
Filed Oct 1, 2026TNCrash1 injuredTowedAirbagsElectrical System
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving with the driver assist enabled, the vehicle veered over to the left and crashed into the median. The contact stated that the vehicle was uncontrollable. No air bags deployed. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. A Police report was filed; however, the information was unavailable. The contact was transported to the local medical center. The contact sustained bruises and pain to the body. The…
NHTSA complaint #11768388 · source
Filed Sep 26, 2026SCElectrical System
The infotainment/touchscreen system in my 2021 Honda Accord is malfunctioning and experiencing what is commonly referred to as “ghost touching.” This issue has been occurring since approximately March 2026. While I am driving, the touchscreen will randomly make selections on its own without me touching the screen. This is especially concerning when I am using GPS/navigation because the system can change screens, select different options, and interfere with the navigation…
NHTSA complaint #11767198 · source
Filed Sep 23, 202643,881 miPATowedEngine
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while her son was driving 55 MPH, the vehicle shut off with several warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact's son pulled off to the shoulder of the highway and had the vehicle towed to a dealer. While at the dealer, the mechanic discovered coolant leaking into cylinder #2, causing an engine misfire. The dealer replaced the head gasket. After the repair, the failure returned immediately upon…
NHTSA complaint #11766324 · source
Filed Sep 19, 2026NJDriver Assistance & Safety Tech
Sudden braking; car comes to a complete stop and brakes so Hard. Most likely fault from Collision Mitigation Brakking system
NHTSA complaint #11765567 · source

Compare the 2021 Honda Accord with another vehicle →

Other 2021 Honda models

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology