2021 HONDA CR-V Engine Problems

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)

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.

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.

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.

Mileage: 56,000

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).

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)

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).

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.

Mileage: 72,000

On 7/21/2025, the car smelled of rotten eggs. When I got home I checked the Honda website for recalls. There is a recall on the fuel pump for my type of car, but not with my vin number. I researched that if the fuel pump goes without repair it can lead to the catalytic converter needing replaced. So, I went outside to go get some dinner and the car wouldn't start. Everything inside flashed a few times and then went dead. This car is only 4 years old. I believe they've missed my car on their recall list.

Head gasket failure. 79,600 miles. Car consumes coolant. Coolant is entering the firing ring when car sits after being driven a distance of 5 miles or more and sits for about 8 hours, vehicle starts with a misfire and makes a small amount of white sweet smoke out of the exhaust pipes even in 85 degree weather. Car smooths itself out after 10-30 seconds. No OBDII or Honda specific codes. Spark plugs, ignition coils, and spark plugs again since 75K. Over $2,000 into this car in repairs. Refilled coolant reservoir 3 times since April 8TH (3 full jugs of Peak Asian blue from Advanced Auto Parts). I want justice for this car and other Honda 1.5T vehicle owners as many of them have this happen at the 80K mark and they’re being quoted $10K for an engine and $5K for a head gasket. There are several people with Accords, Civics, CR-Vs equipped with the 1.5T engine that have coolant leaking into one cylinder. Oil looks fine and not milky. And besides the coolant being low, it looks fine (blue/aqua). Only when the car sits. Car was brought to Rivera Honda in Port Jeff and they couldn’t find any issues. Car is consuming coolant. No leaks. It’s being burned when you start the car after it sits. Gushing liquid noise when car starts or with idle engine stop activated and car restarts.Design flaws on cylinder head has grooves that allow coolant to flow on top of the head to cool it. Failure point according to a Honda mechanic on YouTube. Second flaw is poorly designed head bolts that are too thin and are brittle, not making a good seal as the vehicle ages. Parts are not expensive at all, but the man hours needed to replace this are the killer. 4.5 years old with 80K, it’s Honda. It’s supposed to run forever. Not die under 100K. I would expect this problem after 250K or when the car is over 10 years old. My Godmother had a 1998 Accord that she had for over 20 years and it only needed a fuel pump as a major repair. A testament to Honda’s rock solid reliability. What happened?

While Driving on Highway engine lost power and check engine light went on so i had to pull over turn off engine wait a few minutes and restart this happened on 3 occasions

I drove to Pittsburgh on [XXX]. I got back in the car, pulled down the driveway and when I tried to enter traffic the car lost power, the dashboard went crazy with error messages and the car was useless. Had it towed to the nearest Honda dealer, they suspected fuel. The high pressure fuel pump was the part that fixed the problem. Fault code dtcp0087 was found in the ECU. I obtained a fuel sample and had it checked, the water content was a little out of spec but nothing really bad. I do have the fuel pump in case anyone wants to do a failure analysis. To add insult to injury, my extended "warranty" is refusing to cover the repair because they just want to say no. [XXX]... The bill was $1786.11, not including a rental car and my time. I have heard of quite a few recalls on these Hondas, you might want to add my model year to that list. Please advise if you have had other reports. Thanks! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving at 40 MPH, the contact stated that the automated brake warning light would illuminate. The contact stated that the brake would inadvertently engage. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 33,233.

Mileage: 33,233

I have a 2021 Honda Cr-v with 24,203 miles on my vehicle as of today oct.21 2024. I i checked my oil drip stick to make sure the oil at the right level. Today I notice I had more oil over the fill mark. I change my oil every 5000 miles with Ams-oil 0-20wt. I read that Honda knows of this on going problem. Should I go to the Honda dealer to address the oil dilution problem happening with my car? Please let me know. [XXX] [XXX] e-mail [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE I have a lemon with Honda CR-V year of car 2021 bought it in October of 2021. The 3-year warranty is about to expire. I have taken the car several times to two different Honda dealerships because they are the closest to my home and I don't have anyone to pick me up or take me back. They claim there's nothing wrong with the vehicle but lights in the dash come up every other day then disappear after several hours then return the next time, I use the vehicle. the vehicle also has an issue with the acceleration; sometimes I step on the gas pedal but after trying to drive the car, the MOTOR does NOT move faster but rather the force of the vehicle decreases and doesn't allow for me to go faster than 20 MPH. The odometer is also inaccurate; one month after driving the vehicle about 80 miles-the vehicle odometer increased around 10 miles. I only have about 9,877 miles that I’ve driven the car… I'M [XXX] and cannot drive and take pictures while I'm driving. I barely know how to use my phone. I get nervous, start to panic and my heart starts racing and I feel like I'm going to crash. I'm scared for my life and my grandchildren that I pick up after school and take them to their home. ive tried to upload documents but i keep getting an error...INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the cruise control activated, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure, and no error codes were retrieved. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 6,851.

Mileage: 6,851

OIL LEVEL RAISED UP TO ABOVE THE UPPER MARK ON DIP STICK AND SMELL GASOLINE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN OFF AND SITTING MORE THAN A FEW HOURS ON LEVEL GROUND.

Mileage: 233