Verdict
2021 Honda Civic: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues
What the public record actually says about the 2021 Honda Civic — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.
The read
More reported complaints than most sedan.
Owners filed 146 NHTSA complaints — more complaints than 89% of 2021 sedans. Steering leads the reports (39%). 4 safety recall campaigns on record — check the VIN and remedy terms with a dealer.
Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2021 sedans, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.
Complaints filed
146
Reports to NHTSA, 2021
Safety recalls
4
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
32.5
EPA estimate
Complaint volume vs. segment peers
More complaints than 89% of 2021 sedans
The bar is this car's percentile among 2021 sedans by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.
Known issues
Steering issues lead owner complaints (39% of 146 reports), followed by electrical system (11%).
+ 11 more component categories with fewer reports.
Share of all 146 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11567795, ODI 11739931, ODI 11738707, ODI 11736942, ODI 11735761.
Recalls(4)
Open a recall to read what NHTSA says is wrong, what can happen, and how it gets fixed. Check the VIN and remedy eligibility with a dealer; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though a manufacturer may offer more coverage.
Air BagsJan 2024 · 24V064000Details +Close −
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, October 18, 2024, and August 2025. 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.
Service Brakes · 23V458000Details +Close −
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, which can cause the brake master cylinder to separate from the booster assembly.
Risk: Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are VEU, AEV, and ZET.
Fuel System · 23V858000Details +Close −
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.
Air Bags · 26V332000Details +Close −
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.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
0 NHTSA investigations on record
No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.
Crash-test ratings
2021 Honda CIVIC 4 DR FWD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
Fuel economy by trim
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civic 4Dr | 1.5L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 32 | 42 | 36 |
| Civic 5Dr | 1.5L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 31 | 40 | 34 |
| Civic 4Dr | 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 30 | 38 | 33 |
| Civic 4Dr | 1.5L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S7) | 30 | 38 | 33 |
| Civic 5Dr | 1.5L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 29 | 37 | 32 |
| Civic 5Dr | 1.5L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S7) | 29 | 35 | 32 |
| Civic 4Dr | 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S7) | 29 | 37 | 32 |
| Civic 5Dr | 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 22 | 28 | 25 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
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Compare model years
"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.
2021 Honda Civic: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2021 Honda Civic?
Owners filed 146 NHTSA complaints about the 2021 Honda Civic — more complaints than 89% of comparable 2021 sedans, so it sits toward the weaker end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.
What are the most common problems on the 2021 Honda Civic?
The most-reported problem areas are Steering (39% of complaints) and electrical system (11%).
How many recalls does the 2021 Honda Civic have?
4 recalls have been issued that affect the 2021 Honda Civic, covering components such as air bags. Check the VIN with NHTSA and ask a dealer to confirm remedy eligibility; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though manufacturers may offer more coverage.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Honda Civic get?
The EPA rates the 2021 Honda Civic between 25 and 36 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.