Research · Midsize Cars · 3 NHTSA variants

2021 Honda CivicRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 162 owner complaints for the 2021 Honda Civic. Most complaints involve steering (68) and forward collision avoidance (33). The EPA rates it 25–36 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
25–36mpg
EPA · 8 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
4campaigns
Latest May 2026
Owner complaints
162
Top: steering
Fuel cost / yr
$1,800est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

4 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Air bags: front passenger

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported May 22, 2026NHTSA 26V332000

Air bags: front passenger

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Feb 1, 2024NHTSA 24V064000

Fuel system

Free remedy

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.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Dec 19, 2023NHTSA 23V858000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

162 complaints filed with NHTSA · Mar 2021 – Oct 2026
  1. Steering68
  2. Forward collision avoidance33
  3. Electrical system21
  4. Service brakes17
  5. Air bags13
  6. Lane departure11
  7. Engine9
  8. Vehicle speed control6
  9. Fuel/propulsion system6

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Civic model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996314
1997383
1998450
1999348
2000297
20011,089
2002717
2003525
2004351
2005316
20061,411
20071,212
2008923
2009398
2010400
2011170
2012462
2013320
2014293
2015389
20161,083
2017608
2018602
2019460
2020240
2021162
2022962
2023338
2024144
202588
202632
Crashes reported
7
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
3
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Steering

68 reports1 crash
“When it is warm and humid, at highway speeds and slight turns, the steering sticks and the wheel does not recenter on its own. All driver assist features are off when this occurs. It takes additional force to unstick and causes overcorrection in the steering. Symptoms are consistent with the 11th gen civic recalls, yet mine is a 2021 and no recall yet. This is very scary and dangerous at highway speeds, a crash waiting to happen. Issues started before my 3 year/36k mile warranty ran out, and was taken to a Honda dealership which claimed they could not recreate the issue (drove around the block, checked for codes and checked suspension). No repairs were made by the dealership. This issue remains at current 5 years and 60k miles and seems to be getting worse (sticking harder). Issue more consistently noticeable in humid weather. No indicator lights.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 28, 2026SteeringODI 11767602

Forward collision avoidance

33 reports2 crashes1 fire
“while driving last week with my family, doing some grocery shopping, we got on the highway which is 75mph in our 2021 Honda Civic and it had a catastrophic failure on its ADAS system out of nowhere it stopped and made my car swerve off the road and applied the breaks like it detected a car in front of us, it took us from 75 to 0 pretty darn fast fortunately no one was behind us, after the event im not able to use any features that involve the camera which includes crucial features of the car including cruise control, i can't even see what any info that is supposed to be displayed on the dash, I took it to the dealership where they said that their ADAS system doing this's a common occurrence and that most likely the camera it self will need replacement, i truly believe this to be a very dangerous feature that should be looked into and if the camera is prone to getting messed up like they said they are there should be a recall on this equipment before there's a bad accident! also yes my vehicle is and can be inspected whenever it is needed and no we didn't have any problems whatsoever with the ADAS system before it just failed”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 5, 2026Forward collision avoidanceODI 11754955

Electrical system

21 reports1 crash
“On September 17, 2026 at approximately 8:00 a.m. I was driving my 2021 Honda civic Lx with my children in the vehicle when multiple warning lights and system malfunction messages suddenly appeared on the dash board. The vehicle appeared to experience an electrical malfunction/ reset while still driving and I suddenly lost normal power- steering assistance. The steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn and control while the vehicle was moving.I was able to call for assistance and when jumper cables were hooked on to battery underneath the vehicles hood the vehicle engine was able to restart, then was able to get the vehicle home without a collision or injury. The sudden loss of steering assistance created a serious safety risk to me, my children and others on the road. I photographed multiple warnings displayed on the dash panel, including Electric Parking break problem and collision mitigation system problem. This vehicle has a documented history of electrical/ mechanical concerns and prior repairs, including battery and alternator replacement. The exact cause of this most recent failure is currently UNKNOWN. American Honda motor co. has also opened a…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 20, 2026Steering, Electrical systemODI 11765597
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

8 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Midsize Cars, Large Cars
Engines
1.5L 4-cyl turbo · 2.0L 4-cyl · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
Transmissions
Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Automatic (AV-S7) · Manual 6-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline · Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Civic 4Dr
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
324236$1,800248
Civic 5Dr
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
314034$1,900259
Civic 4Dr
Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
303833$1,950266
Civic 4Dr
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
303833$1,950268
Civic 4Dr
Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
293732$2,000277
Civic 5Dr
Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
293532$2,500279
Civic 5Dr
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
293732$2,500274
Civic 5Dr
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
222825$3,200358
  • Civic 4Dr
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo
    32 city · 42 hwy · $1,800/yr
    36
    mpg comb.
  • Civic 5Dr
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo
    31 city · 40 hwy · $1,900/yr
    34
    mpg comb.
  • Civic 4Dr
    Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo
    30 city · 38 hwy · $1,950/yr
    33
    mpg comb.
  • Civic 4Dr
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    30 city · 38 hwy · $1,950/yr
    33
    mpg comb.
  • Civic 4Dr
    Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    29 city · 37 hwy · $2,000/yr
    32
    mpg comb.
  • Civic 5Dr
    Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo
    29 city · 35 hwy · $2,500/yr
    32
    mpg comb.
  • Civic 5Dr
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo
    29 city · 37 hwy · $2,500/yr
    32
    mpg comb.
  • Civic 5Dr
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo
    22 city · 28 hwy · $3,200/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

3 tested variants
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Honda CIVIC 4 DR FWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
5 of 5
Rollover risk
9.5%
Overall
5 / 5
Honda CIVIC HATCH 5 HB FWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
5 of 5
Rollover risk
9.5%
Overall
— / 5
Honda CIVIC HATCH Type-R 5 HB FWD
Frontal crash
Not rated
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
5 of 5
Rollover risk
9.5%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 3, 2026Vehicle 15896Vehicle 15365Vehicle 15366
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2021 Civic questions

How many recalls does the 2021 Honda Civic have?

4 safety recalls as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2021 Honda Civic problems?

Owners filed 162 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are steering (68), forward collision avoidance (33), electrical system (21). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2021 Honda Civic get?

The EPA rates the 2021 Honda Civic at 25–36 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (8 versions rated).

How safe is the 2021 Honda Civic?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2021 Honda Civic 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 3, 2026