The best recent Accord
By 2021 the turbo Accord had settled down, with complaints near half of the 2018 rate. The main gripe is a touchscreen that registers taps on its own, which is a nuisance but rarely costly.
Updated November 2026 · based on 294 owner complaints and 4 recalls
145 44% below the Accord average
4 free to fix at a dealer
Every Accord year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known problems on the 2021 Accord
Top problems and what they cost
Touchscreen with ghost touches
The infotainment screen changes stations or opens apps without input, especially on hybrids.
Fix: Software update, or screen replacement $500 to $1,200.
Electrical
Automatic braking with nothing ahead
Some owners report false braking or cruise control dropping out.
Fix: Radar check $150 to $400 out of warranty.
Collision avoidance
Occasional limp mode
A smaller number report reduced power with warning lights.
Fix: Diagnosis $100 to $200.
Engine
Recalls
An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Complaints by part
Before you buy a 2021 Honda Accord
- Confirm the rear seat belt (21V900), air bag and fuel pump recalls show as repaired.A recall is a safety fix the carmaker must do for free, even for later owners. Typing the 17-character VIN (on the dashboard and driver door) into nhtsa.gov/recalls shows any that were never done. Codes like 18V332 are recall numbers.The 2021 Accord has 4 recalls on record, listed below.
- Use the touchscreen for a few minutes and watch for it acting on its own.Infotainment screens on these cars can freeze, reboot or go black. On many cars the backup camera and climate controls run through the same screen.Owners filed 18 complaints about infotainment screen freezing or rebooting on the 2021 Accord, one of the worst years for it.
- Drive with adaptive cruise on and watch for false braking.The automatic emergency braking system can brake hard for no reason, called phantom braking. Testing it around parked cars and overpasses shows whether this car does it.Owners filed 25 complaints about automatic emergency braking problems on the 2021 Accord.
Questions
Is the 2021 Honda Accord reliable?
The best recent Accord. By 2021 the turbo Accord had settled down, with complaints near half of the 2018 rate. The main gripe is a touchscreen that registers taps on its own, which is a nuisance but rarely costly.
How many recalls does the 2021 Honda Accord have?
4 recalls. Recall repairs are free at any Honda dealer, even for later owners. Enter the VIN on the free government recall lookup to see which are still open on a specific car.
What are the most common 2021 Honda Accord problems?
Touchscreen with ghost touches; Automatic braking with nothing ahead; Occasional limp mode.
Crash rating shown for the 2021 Honda ACCORD 4 DR FWD. Repair costs are typical U.S. ranges for parts and labor, not quotes. How we score.