2021 Honda HR-V

Air Bags

Airbag defects are safety-critical and may trigger California’s two-repair threshold under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22. The 2021 Honda HR-V has 26 NHTSA complaints on record related to airbag warning lights, unexpected deployment, and sensor failures. Owner reports include: “The contact owns a 2021 Honda HR-V. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (AIR BAGS). The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair. The contact was informed that the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.” (NHTSA Complaint #11710407)

Electrical System

Electrical system failures are notoriously difficult to diagnose and repair, which often results in multiple unsuccessful repair attempts — a key element of a lemon law claim. Reported issues for the 2021 Honda HR-V include infotainment malfunctions, battery drain, warning lights, power window failures, and intermittent starting problems. 20 NHTSA complaints have been filed for this category. Owner reports include: “An electrical issue with the right-hand side gauge cluster. This contains the fuel gauge, odometer, trip meter, temperature, & clock. Parts of the instrument cluster functions intermittently or shows scrambled, incorrect information. More recently it has turned completely off all together. This defect has created situations where I was unaware that the vehicle was about to run out of fuel. Also created situations where I couldn’t track my mileage on long car trips to monitor my fuel.” (NHTSA Complaint #11719436)

Other Systems

The 2021 Honda HR-V has generated 16 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “In November 2024, I purchased a 2021 Honda HR-V with approximately 65,881 miles from Carvana, which conducted an inspection and found no issues. However, just four months later, while driving on the highway, my vehicle suddenly went into neutral, and all warning lights came on. It was a terrifying experience, as I narrowly avoided a collision with a semi-truck before the car shut off entirely. I was lucky to make it to the side of the road safely. Upon having the car towed to my mechanic, it was discovered that the transmission sensor contained metal shards, indicating an internal transmission failure likely due to a factory defect. This was further confirmed by an authorized Honda dealer, who found that the CVT belt had disintegrated and that this was unrelated to wear and tear. Given the fact that my vehicle was less than four years old with 74,165 miles on it, this is a clear indication of a serious factory defect. This is a video of someone else CVT transmission that failed: [XXX] FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)” (NHTSA Complaint #11655317)

Powertrain

Powertrain and transmission defects directly impair the vehicle’s core function and are generally considered substantial defects under California lemon law. Owners of the 2021 Honda HR-V have reported harsh shifting, shuddering, slipping, and transmission warning lights. 8 NHTSA complaints have been submitted for this defect category. Owner reports include: “Transmission failed, metal shavings in the system” (NHTSA Complaint #11704885)

Air Bags,Electrical System

Electrical system failures are notoriously difficult to diagnose and repair, which often results in multiple unsuccessful repair attempts — a key element of a lemon law claim. Reported issues for the 2021 Honda HR-V include infotainment malfunctions, battery drain, warning lights, power window failures, and intermittent starting problems. 4 NHTSA complaints have been filed for this category. Owner reports include: “The contact owns a 2021 Honda HR-V. The contact stated that the instrument cluster was inoperable on several occasions and displayed erroneous information on other occasions. The contact stated that the failure occurred on colder days, with temperatures between 30-40 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, the contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted several times and was notified of the instrument cluster failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.” (NHTSA Complaint #11699851)

Active NHTSA Recalls — 2021 Honda HR-V

The following 3 recalls have been issued for the 2021 Honda HR-V by the NHTSA or Honda. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.

California Lemon Law — Song-Beverly Act

California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.

Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2021 Honda HR-V:

• 4+ repair attempts for the same non-safety defect without resolution
• 2+ repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury
• 30+ calendar days out of service for warranty repairs (cumulative, not consecutive)

Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Honda to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Honda must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.

What You Can Recover

If your 2021 Honda HR-V qualifies as a lemon under California law, Honda may be legally required to:

• Repurchase your vehicle — Full refund of your down payment, all monthly payments, registration fees, and incidental costs (towing, rentals), minus a mileage offset for miles driven before the first repair attempt
• Replace your vehicle — Provide a new, comparable vehicle at no cost to you
• Pay your attorney’s fees — Under § 1794(d), Honda pays all legal fees if you prevail
• Civil penalty up to 2x damages — If Honda willfully violated the Act, courts may award double the actual damages

Steps to Protect Your 2021 Honda HR-V Claim

Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.

Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Honda a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Honda dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.

Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Honda pays your fees if you win.

Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Honda a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.

2021 Honda HR-V Lemon Law Questions

How many repair attempts qualify my 2021 Honda HR-V as a lemon?

Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.

Does Honda pay my attorney fees?

Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Honda is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.

Can I file a lemon law claim without an active recall?

Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.

What is the time limit to file a lemon law claim for my 2021 Honda HR-V?

California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.