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2021 Honda Accord: sudden loss of power

14 of the 247 complaints about the 2021 Honda Accord describe sudden loss of power.

owner complaints
14
of this car's complaints
6%
recalls
0
Is there a fix? 27 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Sudden loss of power by model year

What owners say

Filed Oct 18, 2026 · Brakes, Electrical · FL

Vehicle: 2021 Honda Accord Sport Subject: Intermittent Electrical Malfunctions, Multiple Safety Warnings, and Loss of Acceleration I am reporting ongoing safety concerns involving my 2021 Honda Accord Sport. On multiple occasions, my vehicle has displayed several dashboard warnings, including brake system, electric parking brake, vehicle stability assist, hill-start assist, adaptive cruise control, and electric power steering warnings. These warnings have appeared intermittently in the past and sometimes disappeared on their own. On October 18, 2026, while traveling on the highway at approximately 65 mph, these warnings had already been displayed for approximately 30 minutes to an hour when my vehicle suddenly began struggling to accelerate. Despite pressing the accelerator, the vehicle continued losing speed, and the RPM gauge remained around 2,000 RPM. It felt as though something was holding the vehicle back. After several moments, the vehicle suddenly regained power, accelerated, and the RPM increased. This was particularly concerning because I was traveling at highway speed. I also experienced electrical problems with the interior lights. While the vehicle was running, neither the automatic interior lights nor the overhead lights near the rearview mirror would turn on. They remained inoperative after I turned off the vehicle. Later, the lights began working again, but I noticed the right overhead light fading while the left remained illuminated. The battery was replaced earlier this year, in 2026. I am concerned that these intermittent malfunctions could result in a sudden loss of power or failure of important vehicle safety systems while driving. I am requesting that these problems be documented and investigated for a potential safety defect or recall. I have photographs of the dashboard warnings available as supporting documentation.

Filed Jul 13, 2026 · Engine · CA

First of all started with small coolant missing, later on I started noticing power loss and finally white smoke out the exhaust. Blown Head Gasket. Honda need to own up on defect engine design the ford did awhile back. Those slits between the cylinder was a big mistake. I myself is doing the repair. 2021 Honda Accord Sport 2.0 with mods and tuned

Filed Jul 9, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · TN

I am submitting this complaint regarding my 2021 Honda Accord because of a serious safety issue involving the turbocharger and fuel injector system. While driving on the highway, my vehicle experienced a failure related to the turbocharger and fuel injector system, which caused multiple warning sensors to activate and resulted in the vehicle suddenly losing power and becoming unable to continue driving. This unexpected failure forced my car to stop in the middle of the highway, placing me and other motorists at significant risk of a serious accident or fatality. A vehicle should not suddenly become inoperable while traveling at highway speeds due to a mechanical defect. This creates an extremely dangerous situation, especially in heavy traffic where other drivers may not have sufficient time to react. After researching this issue, I discovered that numerous other owners of 2021 Honda Accords have reported similar failures involving the fuel injectors and turbocharger. Given the number of reported incidents and the serious safety risks associated with these failures, I believe this represents a potential defect that warrants investigation. I respectfully request that the federal safety agency investigate this issue and require Honda to issue a safety recall if appropriate. No driver should have to experience a sudden loss of power that leaves them stranded in moving traffic due to an apparent vehicle defect.

Filed May 4, 2026 · Engine · CA

2021 Honda Accord EX-L, 1.5T turbocharged engine. Within 8 months of purchase at approximately 21,900 miles, I experienced three separate incidents of sudden complete engine power loss at highway speeds. During each incident the vehicle would not exceed 2,000 RPM and multiple warning lights illuminated simultaneously including check engine, TPMS, brake system warning, and Honda Sensing alerts. The vehicle was inspected by two independent Honda dealerships on multiple occasions including cylinder drop tests, leakdown tests, and full fluid checks. The vehicle passed every test at both locations with fluids confirmed properly maintained. Despite passing all professional inspections the power loss incidents continued to recur. The third incident occurred in a residential driveway with a passenger present and was captured on video. A Honda dealership subsequently diagnosed a head gasket coolant leak with an estimated repair cost of approximately $8,000. Research revealed numerous other 2021 Honda Accord 1.5T owners reporting identical symptoms regardless of maintenance history. This appears to be a known design defect in the 1.5T cylinder head where a narrow coolant passage represents a structural weak point that fails regardless of maintenance. Owners have been reporting this to the federal safety agency since 2024 requesting a recall. This defect created dangerous conditions at highway speeds with passengers present on multiple occasions. The vehicle is currently available for inspection at a Honda dealership. I am requesting the federal safety agency investigate and initiate a formal recall of all affected vehicles. i have everthing documeneted from the 4 dealship visit ive done since the start of the issue.

Filed Mar 14, 2026 · Transmission · CA

A transmission problem occurred shortly after a CVT transmission service was performed at an authorized Honda dealership, Classic Honda of Midland in Midland, Texas. After the service, the vehicle began experiencing abnormal noise, vibration, and harsh driving conditions. The vehicle was later inspected at another authorized Honda dealership, Ocean Honda of Burlingame, California. During the inspection, technicians documented that the CVT transmission fluid had been overfilled and excess transmission fluid had to be drained. After further evaluation, internal transmission damage was identified and the dealership advised that the transmission likely needs replacement. Ocean Honda of Burlingame provided an estimated cost of $10,101.13 for transmission replacement. Attempts were made to resolve the issue directly with Classic Honda of Midland in Texas, but the dealership refused to take responsibility or provide assistance. This condition may create a safety risk due to potential loss of power and unsafe drivability while operating the vehicle.

Filed Mar 9, 2026 · Engine · CA

I am reporting a serious safety concern involving my 2021 Honda Accord Sport SE. The issue began at approximately 78,000 miles when multiple warning lights suddenly appeared on the dashboard while driving. At the same time, the vehicle began shaking and had difficulty accelerating. The engine felt unstable and the car struggled to gain speed. I immediately took the vehicle to a mechanic where it was diagnosed with an engine misfire on cylinder 3. The spark plug and ignition coil were replaced. After this repair the vehicle appeared to run normally for a short time, but the exact same symptoms returned shortly afterward. The vehicle again began shaking while driving and experienced loss of power and poor acceleration. This creates a serious safety concern, especially when merging onto highways or driving in traffic where sudden loss of power could lead to an accident. After researching this issue, I discovered numerous complaints from other owners of 2021 Honda Accords describing the same symptoms that ultimately resulted in blown head gasket failures. These complaints appear in the federal safety agency database and other consumer forums. The pattern of engine misfires, shaking, and loss of acceleration appears to be consistent across many vehicles with similar mileage. Despite the number of similar complaints, there are currently no recalls associated with my VIN. I believe this may indicate a broader manufacturing defect affecting these vehicles. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate this issue further to determine whether a safety defect exists that could require a recall or other corrective action.

Filed Feb 5, 2026 · Engine · CA

Financed a used 2021 honda accord sport in April of 2024 with 68,671 miles. About a month ago, with no warning signs of any sort such as overheating etc...my car did not want to start, finally started but was sputtering with a rough idle, my dash lit up with like 7 or more warning lights. Including a flashing check engine light. All the were safety warnings from braking system not working, to power steering to emissions failure, etc... and to take to dealership. Got the car to a local mechanic to get a diagnostics reading and was told I had a misfire in cylinder 2. Replaced the #2 coil and spark plug. Thought everything was fine until picking up my daughter from school and then all those warning messages lit my dash up again including the flashing check engine light. Car started sputtering and went into limp mode. Lost power and by the grace of God was able t9 coast off the major Blvd away from traffic and out of harms way. Very, very scary. My life literally flashed before my eyes. Not only my life was in danger but my daughters along with other drivers around me. So I took it back to mechanic and he ran diagnostics again still had a misfire. He could not pin point the exact problem. Took it to the dealership and they confirm it was a faulty head gasket between CYL 2 and water jacket. And they quoted me a price of $5,998. Which i can not afford. And feel Im not responsible for catastrophic major mechanical failure. I maintenance my car regularly thru the dealership so they have record of me properly maintenancing the car. Head gasket failure at 80,000 miles is absolutely unheard of. Until I started researching and come to find out this is a design flaw made by Honda. I was flabbergasted with the amount of people with the exact type of problem. Im afraid that even after repairing this problem that it may happen again down the line. And that would be putting my life in danger. Vehicle is still at dealership being that I can not afford the repairs.

Filed Oct 25, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · NJ

The head gaskets are known to fail on the 10 generation accord. It failed on my 2021 Honda accord ex-l. I left work and while I was driving the dashboard lit up with every possible light. This was quickly followed by the vehicle losing power on the highway. I ultimately got it repaired by a Honda certified mechanic. The mechanic took it to a Honda dealer to confirm it was the gasket, in which it was. There were no warning lamps message or other symptoms prior to the failure. At the time of power loss I was on an 8 lane highway at 70mph. Luckily no accidents occurred, but the failure definitely put my safety at risk along with others. The mechanic I took my vehicle to has all available information if needed upon request.

Filed Oct 22, 2025 · Acceleration, Engine · MS

I hereby state that my 2021 Honda Accord has experienced major mechanical failures involving the transmission and head gasket. The vehicle began exhibiting mechanical issues including rough shifting, loss of power, and engine overheating. Upon inspection by a qualified automotive technician, it was determined that both the transmission and head gasket have failed prematurely. These failures have rendered the vehicle unsafe and inoperable, resulting in significant repair costs, loss of use, and financial hardship. The nature and timing of these failures suggest a possible manufacturing or design defect. This statement is submitted in support of a formal claim and potential legal action against the responsible parties for the defective condition of the vehicle.

Filed Oct 3, 2025 · Electrical · LA

While driving, all of my dashboard warning lights turn on at the same time. On several occasions, the vehicle has also completely shut off while I was driving, creating a dangerous situation where I lost power steering & braking assistance. I request that your safety/ recall department investigate this issue immediately to determine whether it falls under an active recall or should be added as a new recall. I know several people who has the same issue in my city with the same model car as mines. plus I seen on social media where people who has the model as mines have the same issue.

Filed May 30, 2024 · Electrical, Steering · 14,888 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2021 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed low speed, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The messages "Electric Power Steering Problem" and "See Dealer" were displayed. The contact stated that she pulled to the side of the road. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the contact was able to continue driving. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving at low speeds. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to start while pressing the Push to Start button. The contact stated that the vehicle would start after pressing the Push to Start button for an extended period. The contact stated that the failure recurred intermittently. The contact also stated that the speedometer and odometer were malfunctioning and were displaying inaccurate information. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that the failure was not related to the battery, the alternator, or the engine. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 14,888.

Filed Feb 17, 2023 · Driver assistance, Electrical · CA

I was driving my 21 Honda Accord 1.5T on the highway and all of a sudden vehicle lost the power and Honda sensing / Emission warning lights came on. It almost cause a major accident and I was lucky enough to exit the freeway without incident. I drove to the Honda dealer and they found out one of the wire harnesses was chewed by a rodent which causes the whole issue. I did some research and found out that Honda was using less expensive Soybean base wire harnesses (instead of Petroleum base wire harnesses) to save the planet earth. This Soybean wires are easy target for rodents. This less expensive Soybean wire harness cost about $3000-3500 to replace and it's NOT fair to the consumer. Honda must re-call this Soybean wire harness before causing some major accident, especially on the freeway ( imaging your car losing power while driving 65-70 mph)

Service bulletins that may apply

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

Questions about the 2021 Honda Accord loss of power

Is sudden loss of power a common problem on the 2021 Honda Accord?

14 of 247 owner complaints about the 2021 Honda Accord (6%) mention sudden loss of power. The model year with the most reports is 2018.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2021 Honda Accord?

There are 0 recalls and 27 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2021 Honda Accord

Warning lights 24Check engine light 16Screen failure 14Misfire 13Collision warning 10Jerking 10Adaptive cruise 9Fuel pump 9Lane assist 9Overheating 9Backup camera 6Phantom braking 6Stalling 6Won't shift 6

All model years of the Honda Accord

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