Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2021-2022 Accords (non-Hybrid) with customer complaint of a rear brake noise while driving in reverse. The noise can be described as humming, moaning similar to a foghorn. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to your attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2021 Honda Accord brakes problems
severe Owners of the 2021 Honda Accord have filed 17 NHTSA complaints about the brakes at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 Accord | 17 |
| 2018 Accord | 149 |
| 2019 Accord | 53 |
| 2020 Accord | 34 |
| 2021 Accord (this page) | 17 |
| 2022 Accord | 4 |
2crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 17 brakes complaints filed for the 2021 Honda Accord, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2021 Accords, 2019-2017 Civics, 2017-2021 CR-Vs, 2018-2021 Odysseys & 2018-2021 Pilots with a customer complaint of an unexpected CMBS operation or a brake application. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific information from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2021 Accords, 2019-2017 Civics, 2017-2021 CR-Vs, 2018-2021 Odysseys & 2018-2021 Pilots with a customer complaint of an unexpected CMBS operation or a brake application. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific information from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2021 Accords, 2019-2017 Civics, 2017-2021 CR-Vs, 2018-2021 Odysseys & 2018-2021 Pilots with a customer complaint of an unexpected CMBS operation or a brake application. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific information from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2021 Accords, 2019-2017 Civics, 2017-2021 CR-Vs, 2018-2021 Odysseys & 2018-2021 Pilots with a customer complaint of an unexpected CMBS operation or a brake application. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific information from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2021 Accords describe a pattern of brake system problems spanning multiple subsystems. Most common is unintended activation of the collision mitigation braking system (CMBS) or automatic emergency braking—the vehicle suddenly decelerates at highway speeds (30–60 mph) with no vehicles or obstacles in the lane. This happens repeatedly and unpredictably, creating rear-end collision risk; one owner was hit by a semi-truck when the system engaged without cause.
Rear brake noise is nearly universal in this complaint cluster. Owners report squeaking or grinding from the rear brakes during reverse, beginning as early as 5,000–10,000 miles. Dealerships claim they cannot reproduce the noise, despite one service manager initially confirming it and later retracting. An independent mechanic and Honda corporate both declined to replace pads and deglaze rotors. In one case, rotor replacement was performed, but the noise returned.
A smaller subset reports brake system warning lights—"brake system problem, brake performance may be reduced," "brake hold system problem," and "electric parking brake system problem"—often without codes that dealerships can diagnose or repair. One owner experienced engine stall with loss of steering during hard braking on the highway. Another reported the electric parking brake locking unexpectedly, nearly hitting a guardrail.
Across all complaints, dealers have been unable or unwilling to perform repairs, citing inability to replicate the issue or stating the vehicle is performing as designed.
Same Honda Accord brakes reports on nearby years: 2018 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended collision mitigation/auto braking activation
The collision mitigation braking system (CMBS) or automatic emergency braking engages suddenly without any vehicle or obstacle in front of the car, creating sudden deceleration that puts the driver at risk of rear-end collision.
When: Varying mileages, some as early as 1-5 months of ownership; one complaint at 71,080 miles
Symptoms owners cite: System activates without warning while driving normal traffic speeds (30-60 mph); No vehicles or obstacles present when activation occurs; Brake warning light flashing or illuminated; Sudden loss of control; vehicle brought to complete stop or near-stop; System engages at random traffic lights and highway locations
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Related to NHTSA Action Number EA24002 Forward Collision Avoidance (mentioned in one complaint); dealers report inability to replicate the issue
Rear brake noise (squeaking/grinding during reverse)
High-pitched squeaking or grinding noise from rear brakes, particularly when backing up with foot on brake pedal, occurring as early as 10,000 miles on new vehicles.
When: First few thousand miles; as early as initial purchase; one case at 21,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: High-pitch squeaking or grinding noise when backing up; Grinding sound from rear right brake area; Noise worse in reverse with foot on brake pedal; Noise occurs consistently and worsens over time
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic recommended rear brake pad replacement and rotor deglaze; dealer did not perform work; Honda declined repair citing uncertainty it would resolve issue; one dealer performed rear rotor replacement due to overheating, but noise returned after repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers unable or unwilling to replicate noise; Honda corporate declined repair recommendation; one service manager initially agreed to replace rear brakes but later recanted
Unintended engine stall with loss of steering during braking
Engine shuts off unexpectedly during braking on highway, with idle system disengaging and causing temporary loss of steering control; related to interaction between brake engagement and idle system.
When: Occurred multiple times at low mileage (24k miles reported)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine idles cuts off when braking hard; Simultaneous loss of steering ability while vehicle is moving; Steering control returns only after releasing brake; Required releasing and re-engaging brake to regain control; Skid marks left on highway during incident
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership claimed brakes performing as designed; no repair offered after 2 weeks at dealership
Brake system warning lights and diagnostic messages
Multiple brake system warning messages appearing on dashboard, including 'brake system problem,' 'brake hold system problem,' 'electric parking brake system problem,' and general brake performance warnings.
When: Varies; one case at 77,156 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Warning light illuminated: 'brake system problem, brake performance may be reduced'; Warning message: 'brake hold system problem. Apply brake when stopped'; Warning message: 'Electric parking brake system problem. Parking brake not available'; In one case, vehicle stalled at 30 mph with brake warning light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership advised changing brake sensor in one case; other cases not repaired
Brake system overheat and accelerated rotor wear
Rear brake rotors overheating and deteriorating prematurely at very low mileage, causing grinding and unsafe braking conditions.
When: Under 5,000 miles on one vehicle; approximately 21,000 miles on another
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding sound from brakes at very low mileage; Brake pad worn out prematurely; Rotor grinding evident; Shuddering and vibrating while driving with abnormal sound; Unsafe to drive under normal conditions
Repairs/costs cited: Rear rotor replacement performed at dealer; grinding noise returned after repair
Electric parking brake malfunction and lockup
Electric parking brake system engages unexpectedly without driver input, causing unintended braking or lockup that nearly caused collision with guardrail.
When: Occurred on off-ramp exit
Symptoms owners cite: Electric parking brake locked up without warning; Occurred while exiting highway via off-ramp; Happened on at least two separate occasions; Nearly caused vehicle to strike guardrail
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
It makes false things there is no car but it brakes by self for nothing
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The braking system warning light was illuminated. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken back to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 77,156.
Had brakes trouble with your 2021 Honda Accord?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2021 Honda Accord?
It's a meaningful issue. 17 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 17 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 56,412 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2021/Honda/Accord.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.