YearToAvoid

2021 Honda Civic Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Best The 2021 Honda Civic has a complaint index of 0, the lowest of any Civic model year, and ranks 21st worst (meaning best) out of 21 years, earning a Best verdict. It has 144 complaints and 4 recalls, with steering issues being the top reported problem area.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
0/100
#21 of 21 Civic years
Verdict
Best
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
144
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
4
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
5
reported in complaints
Fires
2
Injuries
2
Top issue
Steering
Best nearby year
2020
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
32.5
29.5 city / 37.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0

Top 2021 Honda Civic problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Steering64 (44%)
  2. Collision Avoidance & Cameras34 (24%)
  3. Electrical System19 (13%)
  4. Brakes18 (13%)
  5. Other12 (8%)
  6. Engine11 (8%)
  7. Lane Departure11 (8%)
  8. Airbags9 (6%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (4%)
  10. Fuel System4 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Steering pulls randomly to the left or right at highway speed, with dealers replacing the steering rack.
  • Forward collision or brake system sensors trigger unexpected brake lockups, sometimes during rain or at intersections.
  • Rearview camera and blind spot warning systems fail to display images or alerts after turns.
  • Engine has unexpectedly accelerated while in reverse with no warning, and separately smoked and caught fire under the hood.
  • Electrical faults include windows opening on their own after parking and dim headlights reducing night visibility.
  • Owners report persistent unspecified electrical problems shortly after purchase.
2021 Honda Civic complaints: complaints filed per quarter152021 Q12022 Q12022 Q42023 Q32024 Q22025 Q12025 Q42026 Q3
144 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2021 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q2 (15).

2021 Honda Civic recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V332000May 21, 2026Airbags98,892 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

    Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.

  2. NHTSA 24V064000Feb 1, 2024Airbags750,114 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger

    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, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.

    Risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.

  3. NHTSA 23V858000Dec 18, 2023Fuel System2,490,460 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

See all 4 recalls for the 2021 Honda Civic →

2021 Honda Civic fuel economy and fuel cost

City
29.5 MPG
Highway
37.5 MPG
Combined
32.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,000
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2021 compared with other Civic years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2019Caution50430432.5
2020Best20225532
2021Best0144432.5
2022Avoid100881433
2023Caution60255433

All Honda Civic years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Honda Civic reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2021 Civic performs better than every other Civic model year, with a complaint index of 0 and a Best verdict.
What problems does the 2021 Honda Civic have?
NHTSA complaints for the 2021 Civic center on steering (44% of complaints), collision avoidance and camera systems (24%), electrical issues (13%), and brakes (13%).
Does the 2021 Honda Civic have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2021 Civic covering airbags, fuel system, and brakes, including a tie rod fastener issue affecting the brake booster.
How does the 2021 Civic compare to other years?
The 2021 Civic ranks 21st out of 21 model years for complaint volume relative to its rank, tying for the best position, while years like 2022 (complaint index 100) and 2007 (complaint index 95) rank far worse.
What is the top complaint area for the 2021 Civic?
Steering is the top problem area, accounting for 64 of 144 complaints, or 44% of the total, with a median failure mileage of 36,000 miles.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.