Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2021 Honda Accord owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed the interior of the vehicle was full of smoke. The vehicle was unoccupied. The contact stated no visible fire was noticed. The contact inspected and noticed that the passenger side of the dashboard and the glove box were melted. The contact stated the vehicle had just been driven and parked for about an hour prior to the failure. No warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the passenger front door well and the carpet on the front passenger side were melted. The local fire department was contacted and determined that the fire was caused by exposed wires. The fire department chief disconnected the battery as a precaution. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. …
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started jerking. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that some time after the incident, the vehicle was involved in a crash due to the vehicle jerking and all the lights illuminating on the instrument panel, resulting in damage to the front bumper. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the turbocharger needed to be replaced due to a missing screw. The dealer advised the contact to contact a local independent mechanic for assistance, who performed a repair before the crash. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a loose battery. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed low speed, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The messages "Electric Power Steering Problem" and "See Dealer" were displayed. The contact stated that she pulled to the side of the road. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the contact was able to continue driving. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving at low speeds. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to start while pressing the Push to Start button. The contact stated that the vehicle would start after pressing the Push to Start button for an extended period. The contact stated that the failure recurred intermittently. The contact also stated that the speedometer and odometer were malfunctioning and were displaying inaccurate information. …
This vehicles have a engineering flaw in the design of the head gasket failing prematurely disabling all components of vehicle at any given time wether it's in the highway or local the car will basically shut itself down causing a major risk for the driver and civilians even death. This is a safety hazard, tragedy waiting to happen y'all should act now theirs multiple and quiet frankly the Corporation should be taking care of it since they are still allowing them out on the road even with knowledge of this issue the customer should not loose their life nor money to a mass production engineering flaw that's is over seen by NHTSA, HONDA. I got in to an accident due to my vehicle not being at 100% because of the head gasket issue the cars availability to detect or use its components, mechanically or electrical.
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 manufacturer was contacted by phone, and a case was filed.
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Accord. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, the vehicle failed to restart. The contact stated that a bystander recharged the battery, and the vehicle was restarted. The contact stated that there were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the battery needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 126,000.
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.
Vehicle safety concern, door lock actuator FAILS to lock or unlock. Hardware affected: Electrical Door Lock Actuator Vehicle has a recorded mileage of 30,000 miles when incident occurred. Description of issue, unable to lock/unlock using the key fob, unable to lock/unlock using the door switch, walkaway function inoperable, no audible beep when locking/unlocking, remote start inoperable, unable to open the door using the inner/outer door handle. Safety concerns for owners of this vehicle. - Driver and occupant safety is at increased risk with unknown integrity of the door lock actuator and its ability to securely lock the vehicle door(s). - Owners and insurers of this vehicle are at increased risk for vehicle theft due to the vehicle door(s) lock being inoperable, and vehicle failing to indicate that a door lock has failed to actuate. …
NOTE: the item / malfunction described below is CURRENTLY UNDER RECALL for multiple Honda models but has not YET been recalled for the 2021 Accord Sport 2.0T. Please add this model to the recall list!!! I had been driving on the interstate for about 30 minutes on Thursday, 11/7, when suddenly seven of the warning lights flashed in succession on my vehicle, including braking system warnings, emission system warnings, and tire pressure system warmings. I pulled to the side of the road, quite concerned. I called the dealership. The service professional thought it might be the radar on the front camera causing an electrical system malfunction. I was advised by the service technician to drive slowly (about 55mph) and come to the dealership (about an hour away). Upon inspection by the dealer, it was determined that the high-pressure fuel pump in the engine was defective. …
I have experienced persistent and frustrating issues with the infotainment system of my 2021 Honda Accord Touring. These problems affect both the usability and reliability of critical in-car technology, impacting daily driving and reduces overall satisfaction. Specifically: 1. Touchscreen Malfunctions Symptoms: Unresponsive screens, freezing, and "ghost touches" (inputs registered without physical contact) disrupt navigation, audio, and other controls 2. System Crashes and Reboots Symptoms: The system may randomly crash, freeze, or restart, sometimes causing the entire dashboard to shut off-even while driving 3. Connectivity Problems Symptoms: Frequent disconnections or failures with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth, making it hard to use smartphone features safely 4. …
Electrical complaints in other Accord years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2021 Honda Accord?
NHTSA has 68 complaints about the electrical system of the 2021 Honda Accord, 28% of the model year's 245 complaints. The component named most often is 12v/24v/48v battery (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2021 Honda Accord electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2021 Honda Accord, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2021 Honda Accord electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles, and 20% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 1 fire and 3 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.