Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise, lane keeping, backup camera).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2021 Honda CR-V owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the forward collision avoidance sensor failed to brake causing the contact to crash into another vehicle. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 19,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would independently downshift without warning. The contact also stated that the failure would occur while the cruise control was activated. In addition, the contact also stated that the lane-keep assist would fail to differentiate between road salt and line marking on the roadway, resulting in inadvertent sudden downshifting. The contact's husband had taken the vehicle to a dealer where their concerns were ignored and no diagnostic test was performed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100. In addition to the above, the lane keep assist cannot distinguish between lines & cracks in the road, which is a big deal in Missouri, and an issue I fight with daily on roads I have no choice to travel on. …
Last September my lane assistance caused me to hydroplane and spin out of control. My airbag was deployed and I was injured. I was on the outside left lane, the roads were a little wet from a past rain event, I felt the car run over a slick spot and its wasn't until my lane assist beeped and turned my wheel and I instantly began spinning, I hit a concrete wall. Prior to this I experienced my lane assist feeling sticky or like it drives to autosteer itself too much. I expressed this to my insurance and they said I couldnt prove it and did nothing about it. 2 weeks ago, my car braked to a complete stop because someone was on the sidewalk to the left and I was almost rear ended. …
I'm trying to report an incident that involved my Honda CRV running into a totally stopped Tesla in the HOV lane on I-75 in Atlanta Georgia on Sunday, May 8, 2022, at around 9 AM. We came around a large curve and had no time to avoid running into the TOTALLY STOPPED Tesla in the HOV lane. I have seen reports of "phantom braking" in Teslas. The driver of the Tesla stated to us that he was using cruise control and when the Tesla sensed a car pulled off into the breakdown lane, it stopped completely and there was nothing he could do. Our car sustained serious damage. Fortunately, we were not injured, but I believe NHTSA should be investigating Tesla for these incidents. If this is not the correct form to report this, please advise. There was no problem associated with my CRV in this incident.
February 5, the car infront of me swerved to avoid a 2x4 in the road and I tried to do the same but my lane assist beeped and took control and forced me to run it over now I am going through another insurance claim because my electrical system is broken now due to the new damage. Since my last accident, even my passengers can feel when the car resists my steering and when I try to correct it by turning the steering wheel slightly more, it just lets go and causes me to have to correct the over maneuver. I drive 60+ miles a day and I feel my car resist my steering too often, I do not feel comfortable. I purposely since my last accident don't even have my lane features turned on and it still over corrects.
The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was placed in reverse(R) and then drive; however, the Back Over Prevention camera remained illuminated. Additionally, the Lane Keep Assist feature caused the steering wheel to jerk while activated. The contact also stated the four-wheel alignment was off due a nail being in the tire. The tire issue was corrected. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and diagnosed with a loosened sensor. The sensor was properly reattached. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 18,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) independently activated, causing the vehicle to suddenly come to a stop, and the front driver's and front passenger's side seat belts to independently lock. The contact stated that the brake warning light was illuminated. An appointment was scheduled with the dealer to inspect the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: EA24002 (Forward Collision Avoidance). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the cruise control feature became inoperable. There were several warning lights illuminated. The contact stated the cruise control light failed to activate and the brakes would inadvertently activate with no traffic nearby. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled, and while accelerating the speed would fluctuate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced phantom braking. Additionally, while driving with the cruise control set at 72 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated to 66 MPH before accelerating to 73 MPH. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.
NHTSA investigations
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.
Collision Avoidance complaints in other CR-V years
Frequently asked questions
How common are collision avoidance problems on the 2021 Honda CR-V?
NHTSA has 95 complaints about the driver assistance of the 2021 Honda CR-V, 28% of the model year's 338 complaints. The component named most often is automatic emergency braking (69 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2021 Honda CR-V collision avoidance problems?
No. NHTSA lists no driver assistance recall for the 2021 Honda CR-V, 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 CR-V collision avoidance problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 30,000 miles, and 50% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries to driver assistance 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.