2021 Honda CR-V Engine Problems

Manufacturer Dealer Diagnostic confirmed that Head Gasket is leaking on cylinder 1 and that this is a known issue. Vehicle just 3 months and barely 2000 miles out of new car warranty. Manufacturer fails to cover repair at 100% Power Loss while driving on the freeway on 2 separate occasions. Engine did not provide power in response to accelerator pedal, car slows down w/o control. Incident 1 traveling 65 mph Hwy [XXX] in [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11755481

Incident

Jul 31, 2026

While Driving on freeway, engine suddenly stops. This has happened four times now in the last two years one time was almost deadly as we were surrounded by semi’s and lost power completely except for the small amount of hybrid power. I had to quickly get to the side, barely missing a semi truck. 2021 Honda CRV hybrid. I have taken it into Bountiful Honda in Utah after each episode, the first time they did some adjustments it was about $600. The second time they just kept it for six weeks and couldn’t find anything wrong. Third time was the same and this last time they changed the fuel injectors. But we’re scared to death to drive our car. We’ve been renting cars every time we have to go more than an hour away from our home or get on the freeway for very long. We are hesitant to trade it in because we don’t want them to turn around and sell it to someone else that would not be aware of the problem. But we were able on the last episode to retrieve a code with a little machine we purchased. But that code just meant severe engine failure. The dealership kept my car for almost 2 months on the third episode and drove it over 2500 miles and were unable to get it to replicate. It seems to happen every 3 to 4 months with normal driving. I have records for everything. This car is a hazard to gave on the road. I just can’t afford to just buy a new one without trading this in and I just can’t do that with good conscience.

NHTSA ID

11751701

Incident

May 14, 2026

While driving a 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid, the vehicle has intermittently and without warning lost the ability to accelerate. When this occurs, depressing the accelerator pedal — even fully to the floor — produces no response, and the vehicle simply coasts and loses speed. This has happened on three occasions — January 13, 2025; December 16, 2025; and June 10, 2026 — including at highway speed. Each occurrence is documented by a Honda dealer service invoice. In each instance, the check engine light began flashing immediately before the loss of power. The only way to restore normal operation was to bring the vehicle to a stop, turn the ignition off, wait, and restart. Restarting restores power but also clears the check engine light and any stored diagnostic trouble codes. Safety risk: Losing motive power without warning, particularly at highway speed or while merging in traffic, creates a serious risk of a rear-end or loss-of-control collision, because the vehicle cannot accelerate out of danger. The affected systems appear to be the power train and hybrid propulsion system, possibly originating from the engine given the flashing check engine light, which typically indicates an active engine misfire. The exact failed component has not been confirmed (UNKNOWN). The problem has NOT been reproduced or confirmed by the dealer during inspection. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Honda dealer for each occurrence, but because restarting the vehicle clears the fault codes, the dealer found no stored codes and could not duplicate the failure during a test drive. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. This matches NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE25016 regarding intermittent loss of motive power in MY 2020–2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid vehicles.

NHTSA ID

11743431

Incident

Jun 10, 2026

Dozens of photos&videos avail. When rains or humidity electrical is severely effected. All electrical warning lights turn on. Car wont shut off. Econo mode wont work and car stalls. Wipers wont turn off while driving. Lane change notification warnings go haywire and are unreliable. Has been "fixed"5 times and still happening. Car turned on by itself recently when it rained. Research has revealed that this is a common complaint with this particular vehicle/model. When conditions are dry it goes back to normal. This has been happening for a year and nobody has been able to fix it because they seem to not understand Honda Electrical. I have to tarp my car when off.

NHTSA ID

11741080

Incident

Jun 1, 2025

Oil has gas in it.

NHTSA ID

11736663

Incident

May 4, 2026

When driving on the highway at the speed of traffic, the check engine light appeared and was followed by a loss of engine power. Vehicle had to be pulled over to the shoulder. After shutting the vehicle off and turning it back on, engine power was restored. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Safety is a major concern if unable to move the vehicle out of traffic before coming to a stop with no power. The Honda dealer ran a diagnostic and did not find an issues. They were also unable to reproduce the problem. The vehicle has not been inspected by any other parties. -1st incident: August 15, 2025 -2nd incident: October 31, 2025 -inspected by dealer: November 13, 2025 -3rd and most recent incident: April 2, 2026

NHTSA ID

11729803

Incident

Apr 2, 2026

While driving warning light blink indicating electronic emergency brake issue, unable to drive because the brake set and would not release. After a while it released and drove to Honda dealership for a diagnosis. They stated it was a failed head gasket and due to this failure it leaked coolant onto the spark plugs, all had to be replaced and the estimated cost $5,500. It's a 2021 Honda CRV hybrid with 70,000 that has been well maintained. It should not have a failed head gasket. Upon researching this it appears this is a known issue for this vehicle, but Honda has not acknowledged. This is a very costly repair that is known by the manufacturer.

NHTSA ID

11727542

Incident

Mar 25, 2026

2021 Hybrid CR-V - within the last 10 months the vehicle has twice lost engine power while driving on expressways with just enough time to pull off the road. In the same period of time, at least 6 times, when initially starting the engine, the engine runs roughly and will not accellerate. So far, this has happened in cold or cool weather but not extremely cold weather. In an effort to restart the system, we then shut the system off, wait a few minutes and try restarting. Occaisionally, the engine will start normally after this "reset". More often, if the "reset" doesn't work, we shut off the heat/cooling system (to keep the system from calling for the engine power) and restart the system in EV Mode. The car will begin moving in EV Mode. The engine then starts and runs normally when accellerating beyond the EV system's capacity to accelerate. We understand this problem does not register in the car's computer as a "fault" once the car's engine operation returns to normal. Therefore, the dealers are unable to diagnose the problem. We have read of many other people having the same experience without any satisfactory correction from the dealerships or mechanics. Because this is an intermitant and unpredictable failure, and because the engine and system operates normally for long periods between incidents, the error must be computer/electrical and not related to the fuel pump. We have also replaced the aged engine battery and cleaned the cables. This did not correct the problem. Any assitance in resolving this issue is appreciated. We are concerned that the system will fail completely at the most inopportune time, leaving someone stranded on the highway or being a road hazard on a highway.

NHTSA ID

11726658

Incident

Oct 6, 2025

Blown head gasket at 125448 miles.

NHTSA ID

11725876

Incident

Feb 26, 2026

Auto-Restart is failing, causing car to stall or shut down entirely. When we pull up to a red light and the engine turns off, the car does not restart. Sometimes, it needs to be manually turned back on — sometimes, it shuts down entirely and requires a jump. Most recently, it required a jump and blocked traffic for 15 minutes on a busy street.

NHTSA ID

11725765

Incident

Mar 17, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving 73 MPH with two children inside the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated, and while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle decelerated and failed to respond as needed. The contact was able to move over to the right side of the road, where the vehicle was turned off and restarted, and operated as intended. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the diagnostic result was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000.

NHTSA ID

11720182

Incident

Feb 23, 2026

Mileage

48,000 mi

License Plate: [XXX] (CA) Vehicle: 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid Mileage: 102,700 Description of Incident: While operating the vehicle at highway speeds, a "Engine Temperature Near High" warning suddenly appeared on the dashboard. I immediately heard a loud "gurgling" or "water pouring" sound from the dashboard area. I was forced to navigate through traffic to the shoulder to prevent a total engine seizure and avoid a high-speed collision. I was able to restart and limp the vehicle to Tracy Honda (Dealer), where a certified technician performed a diagnostic (Repair Order #XXX) and confirmed a blown head gasket with coolant leaking into the combustion chambers. Detailed Defect Information: The vehicle is experiencing a premature failure of the head gasket, a component designed for the life of the engine. This failure allows coolant to breach the internal engine seals and enter the cylinders. This specific issue is currently being litigated in the consolidated class-action lawsuit Bissell v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Case No.XXX in the Southern District of California. Despite following maintenance schedules, the engine hardware failed, creating a sudden loss of thermal management. Safety Risk: The sudden onset of overheating while in high-speed traffic creates a significant safety risk. The "Engine Temperature Near High" warning provides insufficient time for a driver to safely exit a highway before the risk of catastrophic engine failure or fire becomes imminent. This is a documented manufacturing defect in 2017–2022 CR-V models that poses an unreasonable risk of accidents or being stranded in dangerous traffic conditions. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11718982

Incident

Feb 17, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, however the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact became aware of an abnormal sound coming from the engine with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The engine sputtered, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was driven near the contact's son-in-law's residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with head gasket failure. The contact was informed that the head gaskets needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated that in October 2025, the entire fuel injector kit was replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. In addition, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the recall. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.

NHTSA ID

11718903

Incident

Dec 25, 2025

Mileage

135,000 mi

The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and failed to accelerate above 60 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 5 MPH while driving uphill. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who adjusted an unknown valve, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was then taken back to the dealer for the third time, where a fuel injector was replaced, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: PE25016 (Engine). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.

NHTSA ID

11717090

Incident

Dec 1, 2025

Mileage

61,000 mi

P3001 misfire cylinder 1 and the accompanying dash full of warning lights and subsequent disabling of vehicle safety systems. swapped coils and plugs .. still misfire cylinder 1 .. suspect injector and/or intake carbon problem .. missed existing handfull of 2020 model year recalls by 1 year for the same engine, fuel pump, injector and carbon build up problem. Problem almost always happens at cold start

NHTSA ID

11715619

Incident

Jan 1, 2024

The contact's daughter owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at highway speeds, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted and failed to accelerate above 30 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The driver pulled over and restarted the vehicle. Upon restarting the vehicle, the check engine warning light was no longer illuminated, and the vehicle resumed normal operation. The following day, the vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer determined that there was coolant intrusion in cylinder #1. Upon investigation, the contact discovered an open investigation under NHTSA Action Number: PE25016 (Engine) and related the failure to the open investigation. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and agreed to assist with paying the deductible the repair. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA ID

11713911

Incident

Jan 18, 2026

Mileage

60,000 mi

Dear NHTSA, There needs to be an immediate recall on this (VIN#: [XXX] ) 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid Motor Nightmare. Despite proper maintenance and care, the vehicle has experienced persistent problems that stem from known defects. The engine has a fatal flaw with the head gasket. The high compression turbo engine stretches the head bolts, lifts the cylinder head just enough to blow the gasket causing coolant to leak into the cylinders and mix with the oil and destroys the bearings. Along with oil dilution where gas washes pass the piston rings. This is a widespread problem affecting this model as indicated by the numerous technical service bulletins. The issue appears to occur during the 20,000 to 30,000 mile mark where it begins to experienced recurring engine performance issues, misfires, loss of power, and excessive radiator fluid consumption resulting in premature engine wear and sludge buildup. Honda sites have pointed out: "This can happen when the car is frequently idled or driven for short commutes, which can prevent the oil from flowing properly" and my commute is a 3 minute drive and 5 minute to the market. [XXX] "it’s a well documented issue and Honda America is aware of it that they’ve released an article about it for mechanics" One customer wrote "I have a 2021 Honda CRV and the engine had a terrible knock" [XXX] Please do something immediately! Several Mechanics acknowledge these widespread issues, the Lane Manager that advised me to reach out to the manufacturer pointed out that this is a “common issue”, and Your Website highlights that you all have already received similar recall campaigns for the engine oil and gasoline dilution issue that occurs approximate at the 22,500 mileage. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11706706

Incident

Dec 31, 1969

On two recent occasions over the past month, my 2021 CR-V Hybrid has lost motive power/check engine light flashing, with the while driving on busy interstate roads between 60-70 mph, decelerating in fast-moving multi-lane traffic. The dealership service department has not been able to fix the issue. I believe this issue is similar to others that the NHTSA is evaluating (PE25016). This issue could be very dangerous if a driver is not able to safely move off the road or shoulder. Please issue information to car owners and dealers on how to fix this serious issue.

NHTSA ID

11703936

Incident

Dec 8, 2025

This has happened twice in a month. I was driving on the interstate and the check engine light began flashing. The engine lost power and would not accelerate beyond 40 mph. The situation was incredibly unsafe as both times I was on the interstate and had to pull over. The second time was at night and around heavy construction which increased the danger. On each occasion the light turned off and the problem fixed when I turned off the car and turned it back on. Both times I took the vehicle to the dealership and they were unable to find the code or any issues. On the second time they recommended adjusting the valves and replacing spark plugs. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone else. There were no warnings prior to the flashing check engine and the car losing power. On both occasions this happened within ten minutes of starting the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11703934

Incident

Dec 8, 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while parking, and the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle accelerated inadvertently up a slight incline and collided with a stone boulder/wall. Neither the contact nor the passenger sustained injuries. The contact stated that no collision warnings were activated to detect the collision. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where the failure could not able to be replicated. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic, where the vehicle has yet to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.

NHTSA ID

11703264

Incident

Nov 14, 2025

Mileage

56,000 mi

Report from dealer: Customer states that the vehicle feels like it's sporadically shooting forward when accelerating between 20-30mph. Check and advise vehicle failed AF test,all cylinders failed (rich).

NHTSA ID

11702110

Incident

Nov 27, 2025

Model: 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid VIN: [XXX] ]] Mileage: [78000 old motor | 25000 replaced motor] Issue Type: Engine Stalling / Rough Idle/ Low Operating Temperature / Warranty Denial Maintenance History: Dealer-maintained per schedule Dealer Name/Location: [American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Attn: Customer Relations / Warranty Department 1919 Torrance Blvd. Torrance, CA 90501] Manufacturer Contacted: Yes – denied assistance despite known issue TSB References (if applicable): TSB 21-013, TSB 22-087 --- Complaint Summary: I am reporting a known issue with my 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid involving engine sludge accumulation and chronically low operating temperatures, which I believe are tied to a systemic design flaw affecting hybrid models of this generation. Despite proper maintenance at a Honda dealership, I was informed of internal engine sludge. The issue appears linked to the engine not reaching optimal operating temperatures—leading to oil degradation and sludge formation over time. This matches problems detailed in official Honda Technical Service Bulletins (TSB 21-013 and TSB 22-087), yet I was denied warranty support, even under a Goodwill request. Honda regional representatives and mechanics provided no meaningful analysis or assistance and defaulted to denying support without adequately addressing the root cause. This is deeply concerning, particularly since multiple owners nationwide have reported similar problems. I believe this issue poses a long-term reliability and potential safety risk and should be investigated. I seek resolution from Honda, including coverage of necessary repairs and full acknowledgment of the defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11701524

Incident

Apr 28, 2023

I am experiencing the problems that are described in investigation NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: PE25016. When driving on the highway, there have been multiple times (8-10) when the car stops accelerating and the check engine light starts flashing. I am not able to accelerate the car. If it turn the car off for 5-10 minutes, the check engine light stops flashing and I am able to drive the car again. It has always happened when I haven't driven the car for a while (either driving it for the first time for the day or after sitting idle at work for 8 hours), the problem happens within minutes of getting on the highway. I have taken the car to the dealership for service twice with this problem. The first time was in late August. They said there was no code with the check engine light and they could not replicate or find a problem. The most recent time was this past Friday (Nov. 21, 2025). I experienced the problem and immediately took it to the dealership. Because the check engine light was flashing, they were able to pull diagnostics and retrieve a code. They said a fuel check showed cloudy fuel and a spark plug was brown to copper color. They removed the old fuel and replaced all four spark plugs. This did not fix the problem, as I experienced it again this morning (Sunday, Nov. 23).

NHTSA ID

11701087

Incident

Nov 23, 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that the battery failed to start the engine. The vehicle was jumpstarted, and the vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact noticed acid on top of the battery by the terminals and noticed that acid had dripped down the vehicle, and the battery was hot. The dealer replaced the battery. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, the battery short-circuited, and the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was jumpstarted and taken to the dealer, where the battery was replaced. The battery failed a third time. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the A/C condenser had failed. The vehicle was repaired. Upon leaving the dealer, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. An unknown toxic gas emitted from the A/C vents and splashed the contact's face. The contact went to the emergency room and was informed that an unknown toxic gas had burned and injured the contact’s left eye. The contact was partially blind in the left eye. The contact took the vehicle back to the dealer, who diagnosed that the intake manifold had failed. The dealer stated that the intake manifold needed to be snapped back into place. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure persisted, and abnormal sounds were coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer; however, the dealer refused to repair the vehicle and issued a no trespass order against the contact. The contact towed the vehicle to another dealer in Sarasota, Florida. The dealer installed a switch near the starter. The contact stated that afterwards it was found out that the dealer in Bradenton, Florida had failed to install the A/C filter. The A/C failure persisted. Several warning lights were illuminated. Most recently, after entering the parking lot at a gas station, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the front end. Upon investigation, the contact noticed that the overflow of the coolant had leaked out. Several unknown warning lights were illum

NHTSA ID

11691956

Incident

Dec 7, 2024

The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the fuel injector was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000.

NHTSA ID

11675685

Incident

Jul 16, 2025

Mileage

72,000 mi