Severe Issues

2021 HONDA CIVIC Problems

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2021 Honda Civic. This model year has 124 NHTSA complaints β€” top issue: Steering Defects.

124
Complaints
5
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Injuries
β€”
Deaths
3
Recalls

Before you buy β€” check the actual VIN

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.

Worst 2021 Honda Civic Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1
52
complaints

Steering Defects

Crash-related:1
#2
31
complaints

Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB

Crash-related:2
Fires:1
#3
17
complaints

Brake System

Crash-related:2
Fires:1

Considering a 2021 Honda Civic?

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).

All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2021 Honda Civic. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.

ComponentComplaintsCrashesFiresAvg MileageVolume
Steering Defects521β€”β€”
Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB3121β€”
Brake System1721β€”
Electrical Faults171β€”β€”
Lane Departure11β€”β€”β€”
Uncategorized Issues10β€”β€”β€”
Airbag Malfunctions81β€”β€”
Engine Problems5β€”1β€”
Unintended Acceleration521β€”
Seat-Related Issues3β€”β€”β€”
Fuel/Propulsion System3β€”β€”β€”
Tire Issues2β€”β€”β€”
Headlight/Taillight Failures2β€”β€”β€”
Visibility/Wiper2β€”β€”β€”
Back Over Prevention2β€”β€”β€”
Suspension Failures2β€”β€”β€”
Hydraulic1β€”β€”β€”
Wheel Issues1β€”β€”β€”
Seat Belt Issues1β€”β€”β€”
Visibility1β€”β€”β€”
Transmission / Drivetrain1β€”β€”β€”

Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2021 Honda Civic. Type a keyword (e.g. β€œtransmission”, β€œstalling”, β€œbrakes”) to filter.

πŸ”

Showing 124 most recent complaints

Engine ProblemsπŸ”₯ FireApr 22, 2026

While driving the car began to smoke from under hood and engine stopped. Interior and under hood flooded with smoke and fire under hood. This was a major fire, fire company put it out. No repairs were made or needed on car since purchase October 2024.

Steering DefectsApr 14, 2026

The Steering Gearbox, Electronic Power Steering failed. The steering was resistant and sticks on the highway, causing jerking and overcorrection to control the vehicle. This was with both manual driving and Lane Assist. Took the vehicle to the local Honda dealership, they confir…

Steering DefectsMar 31, 2026

There’s a sticky notch in my steering that becomes noticeable at highway speeds. I see later models (2022-) already have been recalled by the exact issue is happening on my relatively new 2021 Civic

Tire IssuesMar 20, 2026

I went to my dealership for the recall on November seventh of 2025 and the service crew notified me that my car did not have the lug nuts Honda was worried about.

Steering DefectsMar 6, 2026

My steering wheel becomes "sticky" when I am accelerating 40mph and up. It is hard to make minor corrections without potentially over correcting due to the stickiness.

Steering DefectsFeb 14, 2026

Steering wheel seems to "stick" when positioned in the center and "unsticking" it requires extra effort causing the wheel to jerk free and making you overcorrect for what would be a minor lane adjustment. It causes you to zig zag back and forth in your lane as you try to correct …

Lane DepartureFeb 3, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the Lane Keep Steering Assist failed to function as intended. In addition, the contact stated that the steering wheel was sticking. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle …

Steering DefectsJan 24, 2026

Vehicle is experiencing sticky steering. Same as discovered in recall report 24V-744. A ton of 10th generation owners are experiencing the same exact problems. You have over 1,200 reports on record for the 10th generation years. Please do something about this, it would be easy to…

Brake SystemJan 9, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving approximately 37 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The check engine, master cylinder, and adaptive cruise control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and dete…

Steering DefectsDec 30, 2025

My car has sticky steering when making turns and has a difficult time making micro adjustments. This appears to be the same issue that there is a recall for but my VIN is not recalled. This is a huge safety issue as the steering is more difficult to control on the highways, turni…

Steering DefectsDec 24, 2025

Steering is sticking. Honda has recalls for this exact issue for but not for 2021. The steering wheel sticks left or right and has to be forced out of the direction. Same exact symptoms as the current steering recall.

Steering DefectsDec 9, 2025

I drive on the highway everyday to get to work and my steering makes it impossible to drive in a straight line it takes every bit of effort to remain in my lane and when I make a slight adjustment it reacts too much. It is unpredictable and it becomes obvious to drivers around me…

Brake SystemNov 14, 2025

Nov 9th, 3:00pm, Fruitridge Rd 35 mph, driving with foot on the gas The safety brake feature overrode my ability to drive by forcefully coming to a complete stop while flashing 'brake' messege appeared on dashboard. No car, item or person was in front of me. The car behind me (wh…

Seat-Related IssuesNov 10, 2025

I have been calling my local dealership for over a year trying to get my car fixed due to the recall and the dealership keeps saying they do not have the parts and will call when they do.

Airbag MalfunctionsOct 28, 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Honda Civic. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonab…

Electrical FaultsSep 7, 2025

The infotainment system in these vehicles is poor when using the navigation. Having the phone connected via wire will cause the phone and infotainment system to malfunction constantly causing restarts and making the mobile device extremely hot too the touch. The android auto func…

Steering DefectsSep 2, 2025

When I’m turning, the steering wheel gets sticky/stuck in place. Whenever it unlocks, it’s usually a very jerky movement:

Electrical FaultsAug 16, 2025

A recent Electric Power Steering (EPS) failure on my 2021 Honda Civic that resulted in a repair of the entire steering rack. I took my vehicle to Vandedrgriff dealership for routine maintenance, including tire replacement, alignment, oil change, and a multi-point inspection. The…

Steering DefectsAug 9, 2025

While driving at interstate speeds and turning left into a curve the steering wheel sticks and you have to forcibly pull it back to drive straight jerking the vehicle dangerously. Possibly a known steering rack issue.

Steering DefectsAug 4, 2025

At higher speeds the steering wheel sticks, this make making minor corrections to stay within the lane difficult, subsequently causing the vehicle to swerve while making these adjustments.

Page 1 of 7

Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2021 Honda Civic.

Recalls for 2021 Honda Civic

3 campaigns

NHTSA recall campaigns for the 2021 Honda Civic. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

23V458000Invalid Date
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

24V064000Jan 2, 2024
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

23V858000Invalid Date
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

2021 Honda Civic β€” FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2021 Honda Civic reliable?β–Ύ

Severe Issues. The 2021 Honda Civic has 124 NHTSA owner complaints, 5 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Steering Defects (52 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.

What are the most common problems with the 2021 Honda Civic?β–Ύ

#1: Steering Defects (52 complaints). #2: Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB (31 complaints). #3: Brake System (17 complaints)

At what mileage do problems start on the 2021 Honda Civic?β–Ύ

Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.

How safe is the 2021 Honda Civic?β–Ύ

The 2021 Honda Civic has 5 crash-related complaints and 2 fire reports out of 124 total NHTSA complaints. 2 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Does the 2021 Honda Civic have any recalls?β–Ύ

Yes β€” 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2021 Honda Civic. The largest issue: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

Should I buy a 2021 Honda Civic?β–Ύ

The 2021 Honda Civic has severe issues β€” review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Steering Defects issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.

Wider context: See the full Honda Civic reliability report with year-by-year comparison.

Check Your Specific 2021 Honda Civic

Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.