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2021 Honda HR-V problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2021 Honda HR-V. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 20% of relevant complaints.
Better than 88% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 22 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 13%).
Does the 2021 Honda HR-V have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 8 of 41 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Honda HR-V concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (20%). For comparison, the 2020 scores 38% and the 2022 scores 45%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2021 compares with other Honda HR-V years
Of the 8 Honda HR-V years with enough complaints to score, the 2021 is the 2nd-best on engine and transmission share (20%). The worst is the 2022 (45%), the best the 2023 (2%). By volume, the 2021 drew 63 complaints (8 drivetrain), against 84 for the 2020 and 88 for the 2022.
Honda HR-V years to avoid and best years →
2016 HR-V problems · 2017 HR-V problems · 2018 HR-V problems · 2019 HR-V problems · 2020 HR-V problems · 2021 · 2022 HR-V problems · 2023 HR-V problems
The rest of the picture on the 2021 Honda HR-V
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 8 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2021 Honda HR-V engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2021 Honda HR-V, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
4 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2021 Honda HR-V? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2021 Honda HR-V have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 8 of 41 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Honda HR-V concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (20%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Honda HR-V?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2021 Honda HR-V is air bags: 21 of 63 complaints (33%) name it, followed by electrical system (15) and forward collision avoidance (7). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 20% of the relevant total.
Is the 2021 Honda HR-V reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 20% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 88% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 8 Honda HR-V years we score, it ranks 2nd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Honda HR-V?
No. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2021 Honda HR-V, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which Honda HR-V years are better?
Among the Honda HR-V years we track, the 2023 (2%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (20%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/honda-hr-v
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.