YearToAvoid

2021 Honda Civic Collision Avoidance & Cameras Problems

Owners filed 34 Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints for the 2021 Honda Civic, 24% of all 144 complaints that year. NHTSA lists 2 crashes and 1 fire tied to this area, with a median failure mileage of 18,480 miles. No related recalls are listed.

Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints
34
24% of 144
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
18,480 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical collision avoidance system symptoms owners report

  • Automatic Emergency Braking activates and slams the brakes hard on clear roads with no vehicle, person, or object in the vehicle's path.
  • A 'BRAKE' warning flashes on the dashboard right before the car forcefully brakes or comes to a complete stop while driving at normal speed.
  • Some owners report the forward collision system triggering repeatedly on the same routes, with drivers behind almost hitting them after sudden stops.
  • Drivers describe the brakes locking up and becoming unresponsive during rain or highway driving, with the steering wheel also locking in one instance.
  • Dealerships reportedly could not replicate the false-braking event during diagnostic visits because it occurs unpredictably.
  • Radar-based warning lights come on indicating the sensor is obstructed even when nothing is blocking it.

When 2021 Honda Civic collision avoidance system complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 21, 2021, latest Aug 5, 2026.

2021 Honda Civic collision avoidance & cameras complaints: complaints filed per month3Jun 2021Jun 2022Jan 2023Jun 2023Apr 2024Nov 2024Nov 2025
34 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2021 to Aug 2026; peak May 2024 (3).

Collision Avoidance & Cameras recalls for the 2021 Honda Civic

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints by Civic model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20051 (0%)
  2. 20060 (0%)
  3. 20070 (0%)
  4. 20080 (0%)
  5. 20090 (0%)
  6. 20100 (0%)
  7. 20110 (0%)
  8. 20120 (0%)
  9. 20131 (0%)
  10. 20141 (0%)
  11. 20153 (1%)
  12. 20169 (1%)
  13. 201710 (2%)
  14. 201810 (1%)
  15. 201934 (8%)
  16. 202024 (11%)
  17. 202134 (24%)
  18. 202271 (8%)
  19. 202317 (7%)
  20. 202417 (14%)
  21. 202510 (14%)

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Honda Civic's collision avoidance system reliable?
NHTSA has logged 34 complaints in this area for the 2021 Civic, which is 24% of all complaints filed for that model year, a higher share than most other Civic years listed.
Has NHTSA recorded crashes tied to this issue?
Yes. NHTSA data lists 2 crashes and 1 fire associated with Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints on the 2021 Civic, though 0 injuries were reported.
Is there a recall for the 2021 Civic's braking or camera system?
No related recalls are listed in the NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2021 Civic.
At what mileage do these problems typically start?
NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage at failure of 18,480 miles for this problem area on the 2021 Civic.
How does 2021 compare to other Civic model years for this issue?
The 2021 Civic's 24% share of complaints in this area is higher than 2019 and 2020 (8% and 11%), though 2022 had more raw complaints at 71.

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.