The 2021 Honda CR-V belongs to the 5th generation (2017-2022), built with 1.5L L15 turbo or 2.4L naturally aspirated, plus a hybrid from 2020. It takes 0W-20 full synthetic. Oil changes run 7,500 - 10,000 miles on the Maintenance Minder. This is a late year of that generation, typically the most refined build after several years of running changes.
A 2021 Honda CR-V is 5 years old in 2026, which at an average 12,000 miles a year puts it around 60,000 miles - the interval that decides its future. At roughly 60,000 miles a vehicle enters the window that most separates the ones that reach 200,000 miles from the ones that do not. Keeping up with whatever its own manufacturer schedule calls for here is what avoids expensive failures later. This manufacturer schedules it by Maintenance Minder code rather than a fixed odometer number - the car itself decides the interval based on how it has been driven - so there is no single mileage to give here; see what is due at each mileage below for the typical points those codes appear.
The fault most worth knowing about on this generation is Infotainment complaints on earlier builds. Owners also report Fuel dilution of engine oil on the 1.5L turbo in cold climates - Honda's Dec 2018 product update (bulletin 18-114) covered 2017-2018 CR-Vs with an ECU/TCU software update; and A/C condenser failures, a common complaint across Honda models of this era. None of these are certainties on any individual vehicle - they are the patterns worth checking for when you buy or when a symptom appears.
Track your 2021 Honda CR-V service history free with the ServiceSage maintenance tracker, or compare it against other model years on the Honda CR-V maintenance schedule hub.
| Interval | Service |
|---|---|
| Maintenance Minder Code A (typically every 7,500-10,000 mi) | Engine oil change (0W-20 full synthetic), Reset the oil life monitor |
| Maintenance Minder Code B (typically every 15,000-20,000 mi) | Replace engine oil and filter, Inspect brakes and brake fluid, Inspect suspension, steering, driveshaft boots, exhaust, and fuel lines |
| Sub-code 1 | Rotate tires |
| Sub-code 2 (Maintenance Minder - no fixed mileage published) | Replace engine air filter, Replace dust and pollen (cabin) filter, Inspect drive belt |
| Sub-code 2, severe duty (dusty conditions for the air filter; high-soot urban conditions for the cabin filter) | Replace engine air filter or cabin filter every 15,000 mi - Honda's own severe-duty override |
| Sub-code 3 (Maintenance Minder - no fixed mileage under normal driving) | Replace transmission fluid (CVT HCF-2 on the 1.5T; Honda ATF DW-1 on the hybrid e-CVT - both are a full replacement, not just an inspection) |
| Sub-code 3, severe duty (mountainous terrain, very low vehicle speeds, or towing) | Replace transmission fluid every 25,000 mi (1.5T CVT) or every 47,500 mi/3 years (hybrid e-CVT) - Honda's own severe-duty override |
| Sub-code 4 (Maintenance Minder - no fixed mileage published) | Replace spark plugs, Inspect valve clearance |
| Sub-code 5 | Replace engine coolant (Honda Long Life Type 2, blue) - Honda publishes no fixed mileage for this item |
| Sub-code 6 | Replace rear differential fluid - all-wheel-drive trims only; Honda publishes no fixed mileage for this item |
| Sub-code 7 | Replace brake fluid (DOT 3) - independent of the Minder, Honda calls for this every 3 years regardless of what the display shows |
The table above is indexed by service interval. This is the same schedule indexed by odometer reading, for when you know your mileage and want the list. If your odometer sits between these figures, work back to the last one you passed and catch up anything skipped.
| Odometer | Service due |
|---|---|
| 30,000 mi (48,000 km) | Engine oil change (0W-20 full synthetic), Reset the oil life monitor, Replace engine oil and filter, Inspect brakes and brake fluid, Inspect suspension, steering, driveshaft boots, exhaust, and fuel lines. |
| 60,000 mi (97,000 km) | Same as the 30,000 mi service. |
| 90,000 mi (145,000 km) | Same as the 30,000 mi service. |
| 120,000 mi (193,000 km) | Same as the 30,000 mi service. |
| 150,000 mi (241,000 km) | Same as the 30,000 mi service. |
Honda schedules this vehicle by Maintenance Minder code rather than by odometer, so the mileages above are the typical points those codes appear - the car itself decides, based on how it has been driven.
| Part | Fitment note | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Mobil 1 0W-20 Full Synthetic (5 qt) | OEM-spec 0W-20 for CR-V 1.5T and 2.0L hybrid | Check price on Amazon |
| Honda Genuine Oil Filter (15400-PLM-A02) | OEM oil filter for CR-V 1.5T (5th and 6th gen) | Check price on Amazon |
| Honda CVT Fluid HCF-2 (1 qt) | Required for CR-V 1.5T CVT - do not substitute with generic CVT fluid | Check price on Amazon |
| Honda Long Life Antifreeze Type 2 Blue (gallon) | Honda blue coolant - do not mix with green, orange, or pink coolant types | Check price on Amazon |
| NGK Iridium Spark Plugs for CR-V 1.5T (set of 4) | NGK iridium plugs for 1.5L turbo (5th and 6th gen) - Honda publishes no replacement mileage; Maintenance Minder sub-code 4 decides | Check price on Amazon |
| NGK Iridium Spark Plugs for CR-V 2.0L Hybrid (set of 4) | NGK iridium plugs for 2.0L Atkinson hybrid (2020+) - Honda publishes no replacement mileage; Maintenance Minder sub-code 4 decides | Check price on Amazon |
| Honda CR-V Cabin Air Filter | Cabin air filter for CR-V 5th and 6th gen - Maintenance Minder sub-code 2 decides; Honda's severe-duty figure (high-soot urban driving) is 15,000 mi | Check price on Amazon |
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| Fastener | Torque | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Lug nut | 80 ft-lbs (108 Nm) | 19mm |
| Oil drain plug | 29 ft-lbs (39 Nm) | 17mm |
The 2021 Honda CR-V has 4 safety recalls on record with NHTSA, affecting the seat belts, air bags, fuel system (as of 2026-07-09). Recall repairs are free at any dealer. Run the live check on this page. Get reminded before recalls and services.
Maintenance keeps these away, but when the dash does light up these are the codes this vehicle throws most often - each with what it means and what the repair actually costs.