2021 Honda Civic: Is It Reliable?
Problems, Recalls & Buyer Verdict
Shopping for a used 2021 Honda Civic? This page highlights owner-reported complaint patterns and recall history so you can inspect the right systems before buying. Current data includes 124 complaints, with Steering Defects as the top reported area.
2021 Honda Civic Fuel Economy
✓ EPA Official DataEPA-rated fuel economy across 8 2021 Honda Civic trim configurations. The median figure is shown; range reflects all available trims.
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov. Figures reflect EPA lab testing; real-world results vary by driving style, load, and conditions. 8 trims analysed.
2021 Honda Civic Safety Ratings
NHTSA 5-Star ProgramOfficial crash test results from the NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Stars reflect government-conducted tests; higher is safer.
Overall
9.5% rollover risk
Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
9.5% probability
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Ratings are based on government crash tests and may not reflect all trim levels.
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2021 Honda Civic has 124 owner complaints, 5 crash-related complaints, and 3 recall campaigns on record. The most frequently reported component is Steering Defects. NHTSA reliability signal: Severe Issues.
- Make
- Honda
- Model
- Civic
- Model year
- 2021
- NHTSA owner complaints
- 124
- Crash-related complaints
- 5
- Safety recall campaigns
- 3
- Top reported component
- Steering Defects
- Reliability signal
- Severe Issues
- EPA MPG combined
- 33
- EPA MPG city / highway
- 30 / 38
- Fuel type
- Regular Gasoline
- NHTSA overall safety rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA frontal crash rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA side crash rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA rollover rating
- 5/5 stars
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
Most Common 2021 Honda Civic Problems
Top owner-reported complaint areas and where they often appear.
Steering Defects
Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB
Brake System
Complaint patterns center on Steering Defects, Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB, Brake System. Use these as a pre-purchase inspection guide, then verify recall and damage history on the specific VIN.
Should You Buy a Used 2021 Honda Civic?
The 2021 Honda Civic shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase.
Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report.
What to Check Before Buying a Used 2021 Honda Civic
Inspection Focus
- Inspect steering system for any unusual noises or stiffness.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for steering, brakes, and electrical systems.
- Have a mechanic inspect forward collision avoidance system functionality.
Before You Close the Deal
- Inspect steering system for any unusual noises or stiffness.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for steering, brakes, and electrical systems.
- Have a mechanic inspect forward collision avoidance system functionality.
Shortlist with model-year data. Decide with the exact VIN.
Before buying a used 2021 Honda Civic, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, theft checks, and open recalls for the exact vehicle.
What the Complaint Data Suggests
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology
Complaints for the 2021 Honda Civic are concentrated in steering defects and forward collision avoidance systems, with a moderate number of brake and electrical issues. Crash-related complaints are relatively low, but the overall confidence in the data is low due to limited sample size.
- Steering defects account for the highest number of complaints among all components.
- Forward collision avoidance (AEB) is the second most reported issue.
- Brake system and electrical faults each have 17 complaints, tied for third.
- Only 5 crash-related complaints were reported out of 124 total.
- Steering Defects: 52 complaints, the most frequent issue.
- Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB: 31 complaints, indicating potential system malfunctions.
- Brake System: 17 complaints, suggesting possible braking performance concerns.
All 2021 Honda Civic Complaints by Category
Every owner-reported complaint category filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Honda Civic. Use this as a pre-purchase inspection checklist.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering Defects | 52 | 1 | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 31 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Brake System | 17 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 17 | 1 | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 10 | — | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 8 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 5 | — | 1 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Real Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2021 Honda Civic. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
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.
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…
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
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.
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 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 …
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 …
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…
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…
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 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.
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…
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…
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.
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…
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…
When I’m turning, the steering wheel gets sticky/stuck in place. Whenever it unlocks, it’s usually a very jerky movement:
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…
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.
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.
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2021 Honda Civic.
2021 Honda Civic Recalls
3 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2021 Honda Civic. 3 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Recalls are free to fix at authorized dealers, but completion status must be verified on the exact VIN.
2021 Honda Civic Buying FAQ
Buyer-focused answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this model year.
Is the 2021 Honda Civic reliable?▾
Severe Issues. NHTSA currently shows 124 owner complaints, 5 crash-related complaints, and 3 recall campaigns for this model year. The 2021 Honda Civic shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Treat this as a model-year signal, then verify the exact vehicle's condition and history before purchase.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Honda Civic?▾
#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?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2021 Honda Civic?▾
Complaint data is not the same as crash-test scoring, but it does highlight possible risk patterns. For the 2021 Honda Civic, NHTSA complaints include 5 crash-related reports and 2 fire reports out of 124 total complaints. 2 injury reports are also on file. For controlled crash-test ratings, check nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2021 Honda Civic have any recalls?▾
Yes. 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2021 Honda Civic. A major recall area is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER. 3 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Always verify open recalls by VIN because completion status varies by vehicle.
Should I buy a 2021 Honda Civic?▾
The 2021 Honda Civic shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report. Pay extra attention to Steering Defects during inspection. Before committing, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, and recall completion for the exact car.
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.
Owner Reliability Rating
Rate the 2021 Honda Civic based on your ownership experience.
Add your rating:
Ratings are based on owner experience and are separate from NHTSA data shown above.
Check the Exact Vehicle History Before You Buy
Model-year complaints and recalls reveal patterns. A VIN report confirms whether the exact car has accident history, title brands, mileage issues, or open recalls.