VehicleVerdict

2021 Honda Accord Hybrid problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid carries two red flags at once: 67 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA and an open NHTSA defect investigation (subject: Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking). It is one of the Accord Hybrid years to avoid.

Driver Assistance leads the complaint categories with 18 reports (27% of the total). In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

67

NHTSA complaints

3

Recalls

2

Investigations · 1 open

2

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2021 compare to other Accord Hybrid years?

Accord Hybrid NHTSA complaints by model year, 2021 highlighted283 complaints2005: 43 complaints2006: 0 complaints2007: 1 complaints2014: 34 complaints2015: 64 complaints2016: 1 complaints2017: 69 complaints2018: 169 complaints2019: 140 complaints2020: 62 complaints2021: 67 complaints2022: 82 complaints2023: 283 complaints2024: 131 complaints2025: 41 complaints2026: 0 complaints
Accord Hybrid NHTSA complaints by model year, 2021 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Accord Hybrid years to avoid →

What are the most common 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Driver Assistance1827%
Engine1015%
Other1015%
Electrical System710%
Airbags57%
Fuel System46%
Brakes46%
Speed Control34%
Seats23%
Seat Belts11%
Body & Structure11%
Tires & Wheels11%
Visibility & Wipers11%

Does the 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid have recalls?

3 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

26V332000AirbagsMay 21, 2026 · 98,892 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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 are expected to be mailed July 6, 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.

24V064000AirbagsFebruary 1, 2024 · 750,114 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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, October 18, 2024, and August 2025. 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.

21V900000Seat BeltsNovember 18, 2021 · 4,346 units

Defect

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."

Consequence

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.

Open NHTSA investigations

EA24002

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. Honda provided analysis of the alleged defect and alleges that some customers possibly had an inadequate understanding of the CMBS and its limitations.  However, many consumer complaints allege that Honda dealerships were unable to reproduce the condition or state that they were informed that this is considered normal CMBS operation. To date, ODI has received a total of 1,294 consumer complaints of inadvertent activation of CMBS in 2017-2022 Honda CR-V and 2018-2022 Honda Accord vehicles. A total of 31 complaints alleged a crash and 50 alleged an injury.  The Total column in the Failure Report Summary removes duplicate reports and shows the total number of reports with unique VINs from all Manufacturer, ODI, and EWR data sources.  In some cases, there were multiple reports associated with a particular vehicle in which recurring failures were alleged.  In total, there were X,XXX reports, 93 injury incidents and 47 crashes involving vehicles with unique VINs that may relate to the alleged defect. PE22-003 has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis to further assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety related consequences of the inadvertent AEB activations. The scope has been expanded to include assessment of model year 2020-2022 Honda CR-V and Accord vehicles. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“Braking at intersections without car being present in front. Sometimes car in traffic driving toward intersection and car in right hand turn lane. When the car in turn turns at intersection away from my vehicle my vehicle slows or completely stops. It has done the same while making left hand turn…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Driver Assistance · January 16, 2022

“2021 Accord Hybrid Touring 2.0L with 51k miles. On 10/22/2023 the check engine light started flashing so I pulled over and noticed the engine was running rough so I shut it off. When I restarted it all was fine, no CEL, so I drove it to the dealership. They stated that there are no CEL codes found,…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · September 22, 2023

“Tire jack not provide with buying new car Honda Accord hybrid 2021 How can I use flat tire repair kit without tire jack.It was disclosed to me when buying. Tire jack & tools tick mark in delivery documents but not provided.”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · September 14, 2021

“The screen randomly freezes or toggles between different screen without user input. It will randomly exit navigaton, end calls, increase volume, etc. This happens irrespective of day or night and whether I am using Android Auto of the factory navigation. Several times it has ended navigaton while…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · August 14, 2024

“Upon pulling into a parking space, with the steering wheel almost at full lock to the right, when I braked, the car suddenly accelerated out of control and hit another car. Airbags did not deploy but there was damage to both vehicles, no injuries. Vehicle has been taken to a collision repair shop…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · December 7, 2021 · crash

2021 Honda Accord Hybrid — common questions

Is the 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 67 complaints put the 2021 model at #7 of 16 Accord Hybrid years, and a defect investigation remains open. It is one of the Accord Hybrid years to avoid.

What are the most common 2021 Accord Hybrid problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are driver assistance (18 complaints), engine (10 complaints), other (10 complaints).

Does the 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns affecting the 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid under NHTSA investigation?

Yes — an investigation remains open (Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking). An open ODI action means NHTSA is actively assessing a possible defect.

Which Honda Accord Hybrid years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Accord Hybrid years to avoid are 2023, 2018, 2019, 2024, 2022, 2021, 2020. The cleanest record among Accord Hybrid years belongs to 2026.

How safe is the 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid earned an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.