2021 Honda Accord Seat Belt Retractor Recall (21V900)

Recall 21V900 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Honda Accord in recall 21V900?

The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint system.

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."

Is it safe to drive a 2021 Accord with recall 21V900?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Accord shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the retractor, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 21V900?

Recall 21V900 covers 4,346 vehicles: 2021 Honda Accord; 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid; 2021 Honda CR-V; 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid; 2022 Honda Insight; 2021 Honda Ridgeline.

NHTSA lists 4,346 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Accord seat belt retractor recall?

Yes. Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge.

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.

Manufacturer recall number: ABS, BBT, NBQ, RBR.

When was recall 21V900 announced?

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) reported recall 21V900 to NHTSA on November 18, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as January 14, 2022.

This recall was filed 59 months ago. If your Accord was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my Accord is part of recall 21V900?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V900 is open on your Accord, it will be listed there.

Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 21V900000 is open on your Accord, it will be listed there, along with Honda recall number ABS, BBT, NBQ, RBR. You can also ask any Honda dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.

What should Accord owners do about recall 21V900?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V900000 applies to your Accord.
2. Book the recall appointment with any authorized Honda dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
3. Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
4. Keep a simple log of any retractor symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.

What are Accord owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 823 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 11 of them about the seat belts.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 823 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 11 of them involve the seat belts. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.

• 2021 Honda CR-V: 332 complaints in total, 4 about the seat belts
• 2021 Honda Accord: 234 complaints in total, 6 about the seat belts
• 2021 Honda Ridgeline: 101 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
• 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid: 76 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
• 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid: 48 complaints in total, 1 about the seat belts
• 2022 Honda Insight: 32 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts

A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):

I received an initial Honda recall notice on March 2024 regarding a recall and have been trying to reach out Honda dealership to get updates on the parts but they always say its on backorder and they even do not have an option for us to order the parts or place us in que for…

2021 Honda Accord Hybrid owner, NC, NHTSA complaint 11691029, filed October 2, 2025

Front passenger side seat belt does not lock into place. Nothing is obstructing it, we were told it is not covered under the vehicles warranty and have to pay out of pocket to get it fixed.

2021 Honda Accord owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11559672, filed December 12, 2023

Rear seat belt will not click and lock in. With the forward collision warning there was times I was driving on the freeway where there is no vehicle in front of me and Hard brake on me and shows forward collision warning.

2021 Honda Accord owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11589412, filed May 18, 2024

Can recall 21V900 make my Accord a lemon in California?

Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.

A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

Seat belt defects are safety defects. If the belt, buckle or pretensioner still does not work right after the recall repair, the repeat visit belongs in your records.

The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.

California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.

An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.

Frequently asked questions about recall 21V900