Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| At 160,000 mi | Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed) |
Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2021 CR-V.
The 2021 Honda CR-V features an automatic transmission with variable gear ratios and an EPA-rated 27/32/29 mpg, utilizing 3.7 quarts of 0W-20 viscosity engine oil. This model year recorded 310 total owner complaints and four recalls, with steering identified as the top complaint area. Positioned within a model history spanning 1997-2026, the 2021 version represents a significant decrease in owner issues compared to the 2018 peak of 2,085 complaints.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.
From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 51R · 410 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic (variable gear ratios) |
| Overall length | 180.7 in |
| Overall width | 72.8 in |
| Overall height | 66.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 104.7 in |
| Curb weight | 3483 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 63 / 63.8 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 58/42 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 27 / 32 / 29 mpg |
| Drivetrain | All-Wheel Drive |
| Recommended fuel | Regular Gasoline |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the CR-V of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Hybrid Touring 2.0L I-4 + Elec 1.4-kWh | 7.50 sec | 16.10 sec | 212 hp | AWD |
| 2021 | Touring 1.5L Turbo I-4 | 7.80 sec | 16.10 sec | 190 hp | AWD |
| 2020 | Hybrid Touring 2.0L I-4 + Elec 1.4-kWh | 7.50 sec | 16.00 sec | 212 hp | AWD |
| 2020 | Hybrid Touring 2.0L I-4 + Elec 1.4-kWh | 7.60 sec | 16.20 sec | 212 hp | AWD |
| 2020 | Touring 1.5L Turbo I-4 | 7.60 sec | 15.90 sec | 190 hp | AWD |
| 2020 | Hybrid Touring 2.0L I-4 + Elec 1.4-kWh | 7.90 sec | 16.30 sec | 212 hp | AWD |
| 2019 | Touring (87 octane) 1.5L Turbo I-4 | 7.30 sec | 15.70 sec | 190 hp | AWD |
| 2019 | Touring (93 octane) 1.5L Turbo I-4 | 7.40 sec | 15.80 sec | 190 hp | AWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 3.7 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, Honda DPSF-2 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 80.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | Honda HCF-2 |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity | 8.9 qt |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | Honda HCF-2 |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity | 8.0 qt |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | ATF |
| Brake Fluid | DOT 3 |
| Brake Fluid | DOT 3 |
| Differential Gear Oil | Honda DPSF-2 |
| Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s) | 9.0 ft-lbs |
| Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s) | 9.0 ft-lbs |
| Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s) | 9.0 ft-lbs |
| Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s) | 9.0 ft-lbs |
| Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs | 13.0 ft-lbs |
| Cylinder Head Instructions | Use a beam type torque wrench if available. |
| Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s) | 9.0 ft-lbs |
| Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s) | 33.0 ft-lbs |
| Differential Fill Plug | Use new washer: 35.0 ft-lbs |
| Differential drain Plug | Use new washer: 35.0 ft-lbs |
| Differential Fill Plug | Use new washer: 35.0 ft-lbs |
| Differential drain Plug | Use new washer: 35.0 ft-lbs |
| Lug Nuts | 80.0 ft-lbs |
| Automatic Transmission Drain Plug | Use new washers: Drain: 36.0 ft-lbs |
| Automatic Transmission Drain Plug | Use new washers: 32.0 ft-lbs |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-3-4-2 |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-3-4-2 |
| Curb Idle Speed (No Load) | Neutral |
| Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load) | 50 rpm |
| Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load) | 720 rpm |
| Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load) | 50 rpm |
| Curb Idle Speed (No Load) | Neutral or Park: 1,200 rpm |
| Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load) | 50 rpm |
| Refrigerant | R1234yf |
| Refrigerant Capacity | 0.91-1.02 lbs |
| Oil Group | POE |
| Oil Type | DENSO ND-11 |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 51R |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 410 cca |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 51 |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 500 cca |
| Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum | 56.6 psi |
| Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum | 63.9 psi |
| Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum) | 56.6-63.9 psi |
| Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum | 55.1 psi |
| Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum | 62.4 psi |
| Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum) | 55.1-62.4 psi |
| Engine Oil Pressure | 13.1 minimum psi @ curb idle speed psi |
| Engine Oil Pressure RPM | 40.7 minimum psi @ 3,000 rpms. rpm |
| Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque | Front: 37.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 17.0 ft-lbs |
| Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque | Front: 101.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 80.0 ft-lbs |
| ABS Sensor Torque | 6.2 |
| Minimum Pad Thickness | 0.063 in |
| Minimum Pad Thickness | 0.063 in |
| Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement | Front: 1.024; Rear: .315 |
| Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation | .0006" |
| Maximum Rotor Runout | .0016" |
| 1 | Remove the tire and wheel assembly. Step 3: Perform inspection of front suspension bolts, brushings and nuts. Step 4: Replace any loose, damaged or deteriorating parts. Step 5: Perform inspection of ball joint boot for leaks, cracks or any damage. Step 6: Inspect lower control arm by holding the outside and moving up and down. Step 7: Replace control arm if there is any noise or looseness or if the lower control arm and ball joint clearance exceeds specifications. Step 8: Replace ball joint if damaged. | |
| 1 | 10.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90° | 10 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 63.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90° | 63 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 30.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°, Step 3: 90°, Step 4: This step is only required if using a new cylinder head bolt: 60° | 30 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 22.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 40°, Step 3: 40° | 22 ft. lbs |
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| At 160,000 mi | Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed) |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 2021 Honda CR-V shows a sharp decline from the severe quality issues that plagued the 2017-2018 models (2,085 complaints in 2018—the highest in the dataset), dropping to just 310 complaints, which is comparable to the low-complaint years of the early 2010s. Recalls also fell from 5-8 in that problematic period to just 4 for 2021, while TSBs dropped from 262 in 2018 to 124. The 2021 model thus appears to represent a significant improvement in the CR-V's reliability trajectory, falling after the peak of the generation's issues and into a period of normalization. However, the top complaint area—Steering at 89 instances—remains notable, and while crash complaints (13) and fire complaints (1) are relatively low, they are not absent. The takeaway: the 2021 CR-V is a considerably safer bet than the 2017-2018 models, but the lingering steering complaints warrant a pre-purchase inspection and verification that any related recall or TSB work has been completed.
All 310 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
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… Remedy: 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…
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid… Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024, October 18, 2024, and August 2025. This is a phased recall…
Showing 5 of 124 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| A25-077 | 2025-07-28 | Engine | Service Bulletin - Oil leak at timing chain tensioner inspection cover due to possible… |
| ATI&10112024901 | 2024-10-11 | Engine | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2022… |
| ATI&09202024901 | 2024-09-20 | Engine | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2022… |
| ATI&09122024904 | 2024-09-12 | Electrical System | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2020-2021… |
| ATI&09112024907 | 2024-09-11 | Engine | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2022… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
3.7 qt of Honda 0W-20, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 27 city / 32 highway / 29 combined mpg.