Complaint volume
134 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2021 Honda Civic Complaints
134 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Honda Civic, grouped by component category.
134 Total complaints
5 Crash reports
2 Fire reports
1 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are steering, electrical system, air bags. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 5 crash reports, 2 fire reports, 1 injury report, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 13 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 37,573 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to steering, electrical system, air bags?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2021 Honda Civic?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2021 Honda Civic
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2021 Honda Civic complaints?
5 Crash
2 Fire
1 Injury
0 Fatality
3 Towed
1 Medical attention
What are the most common 2021 Honda Civic complaint categories?
STEERING 48
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9
AIR BAGS 8
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 8
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 7
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING 6
SERVICE BRAKES 5
SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 3
ENGINE 2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2
134 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2025 | STEERING | At highway speeds, the steering has a hitch in it when making slight lane adjustments. This becomes more noticeable over 60mph and after driving for 20-30 minutes. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | STEERING | The contact owned a 2021 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH and attempting to make a right turn, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated that the failure only occurred while making a right turn. No warning light was illuminated. An unknown dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V704000 (STEERING); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 88,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 88,000 |
| Mar 2025 | AIR BAGS | The contact owned a 2021 Honda Civic. The contact stated that his wife was driving at 30-35 MPH, when another vehicle suddenly merged in front of the vehicle causing a T-bone collision. The vehicle was pushed into the middle of the road from the impact where it came to a stop. All air bags deployed. However, the front passenger-side air bag deployed backward onto the front windshield instead of deploying forward. The contact was unsure whether there was a warning light illuminated. A police report was not filed. EMS was called however, refused to take the contact and his wife to the hospital. The contact's wife sustained unknown injuries and was pending an MRI. The contact sustained whiplash and no medical attention was sought. The insurance company towed the vehicle to a storage location and deemed the vehicle a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 78,000. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 2 Towed Medical attention | 78,000 |
| Mar 2025 | STEERING | Sticky steering due to faulty eps gearbox. Recall is for 2022-2025 but many 2021 are affected. Steering is stiff and difficult, constant corrections being made just trying to steer straight, steering wheel does not want to return to zero position after taking a curve. Steering gets worse when it's cold out or after some rain due to the moisture. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | STEERING | The steering system in my 2021 Honda Civic appears to be malfunctioning, causing the steering wheel to feel "sticky" when making small adjustments while driving on the highway. This issue is most noticeable at speeds between 45-70 mph, where the steering momentarily resists movement before suddenly adjusting, making it difficult to maintain smooth lane control. The steering system appears to be the affected component. The Issue seems to be with the EPS not having enough grease which there is a recall for 2022-2025 models. This problem puts my safety and the safety of others at risk because it reduces my ability to make precise steering corrections, especially at highway speeds. The delayed response in the steering makes the vehicle feel unstable, increasing the potential for unintended lane deviations or overcorrections. There were no warning lights, messages, or prior symptoms before this issue began occurring. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | STEERING | after prolonged driving steering becomes "sticky", steering wheel will jerk when steering, causing over correction on straights and turns | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | STEERING | Noticed steering wheel “sticks” when lightly turning to the left. I have to use significantly more force to move the steering wheel past this stick compared to the rest of its travel. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | STEERING | Similar to the recall made for Honda civics years 2022-2024 for difficulty steering due to improperly produced steering gearbox, in experiencing difficulty steering. In particular, it is felt as a sticky feeling when making left turns. When making slight left turns, the steering wheel will remain “stuck” in a turned position unless forced to realign straight. The sticky wheel and extra effort to stay aligned in lanes increased risk to crashes and accidents. Many people online have expressed issues in this generation of civics (10th gen 2016-2021) but since it is not a recall, it is costly to diagnose or fix even though a recall was made for those made after. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | both fog lights have cracked due to placement and cheap plastic covers on the outta fog light. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | STEERING | Steering is becoming sticky while on roadway. Seems like it is developing hard spots. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | SERVICE BRAKES,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | On multiple occasions my car has applied the brake while driving on the highway as well as my caliper has become frozen and I have replaced brakes 3 times in less than one calendar year. I have all old brakes that have needed to be replaced and there is uneven wear on them. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | SEATS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | There’s been a safety recall and I took my car like more than a year ago to repairs and then the check the car but told me the piece it’s not ready yet. I have to wait almost a whole year for it and I receive the notification that the piece was ready. When I call to make the appointment the lady told me that I receive the notification but the piece it’s not on the Honda yet and I have to wait. Wait more ? I’m seriously concerned about my car and even though I receive the notification that it’s ready she says they haven’t receive the piece yet ? This is a serious matter and my car and even my family we are driving the car and this is absolutely not ok. I don’t know how much more do I have to wait. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING | I have had dozens of incidents where I will be driving down the road and my car will just break for no apparent reason. It is totally random and at times terrifying. It happens with no other vehicles in front of my vehicle as well as while I am just driving in traffic with cars behind me. Many times, after it happens initially, I cannot accelerate the car due to the breaks locking up. I have to put the car in park and then drive to accelerate. I have asked my service providers at HONDA the dealership about this, and they have no idea why this is happening. This is so dangerous and frightening. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | AIR BAGS | 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 reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | STEERING | The steering has recently started sticking at random times while gradually turning left at around 55 mph. When it unsticks on its own it’s a slight jerk back to the right. In at aid if it doesn’t correct on its own I would have no choice but to go into the other lane and possibly hit oncoming traffic. This could absolutely cause an accident. The vehicle has not been inspected or taken to the dealership. There are no warnings indicated before the event takes place. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | X | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | STEERING | The steering wheel occasionally sticks and requires me to keep tugging at it to unstick it, then readjust the wheel again to straighten my car up on the road. On highway road trips I've taken (6 or so hours one way), it is an almost constant tug of the wheel for the whole drive. It happens both while driving straight and when going around curves. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | STEERING | While driving the steering wheel sticks occasionally and, without warning causes me to over-react and jerk the steering wheel. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | STEERING | I have a 2021 Honda Civic Ex with 55, 000 miles on the odometer. The steering sticks at highway speeds and when correcting jerks to break free of the stickiness. Have taken it to the dealership and told the steering box is malfunctioning and would be $4,000 to replace. I work in the automotive industry and recognize this as a manufacture defect that Honda is aware of due to the current lawsuits against the company for this issue in 2022-2024 Honda Civics. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | STEERING | Steering can stick and cause a momentary increase in steering effort that could potentially cause overcorrection and an increased risk of a crash. The issue seems to occur after long bouts of highway driving and in warmer weather. My steering rack was just replaced under warranty -- but the issue is identical to what you are investigating here: [XXX] . I have read of many others with 2016-2021 Civic with this issue as well. I really believe you need to expand it to more model years, it is VERY dangerous to drive when it is happening. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING | There is a warning flash to brake when there is no vehicle or anything in front or alongside. This has happened several times. I am concerned if vehicle is safe to drive. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | STEERING | The steering system "sticks" when driving at highway speed. Minor course corrections require excessive driver input and once the resistance is overcome, overcorrection results in undesired swerving of the vehicle. This has the potential to cause loss of control of the vehicle. This vehicle has not been in an accident. The local Honda dealership has examined the vehicle and recommended replacement of the electronic power steering rack. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | The contact owns a 2021 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving on several occasions at approximately 70 MPH, and changing lanes, the Forward Collision Avoidance Automatic Emergency Braking system inadvertently activated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 24,000 |
| Jul 2024 | SERVICE BRAKES | I have had a few incidents where I am driving and the brake signal starts flashing/dinging when I am nowhere near another car. In one instance; the car automatically braked in the middle of the highway with no car in front of me. This could have caused a major accident if I did not react quickly. In addition, I could have gotten major whiplash as I was driving over 40 MPH. I am also having issues with the auto lock feature on the car. Sometimes when I am driving the car will try to lock the doors even though the doors are already locked. It will continuously lock, the only way this issue has stopped is by turning off my auto lock function. I liked have the auto lock function on because it made me feel safe. There have been no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to these incidences happening. I have not taken my car to the dealer or independent service center due to the cost of high cost the issue. I am open to someone coming to inspect the car as long as it is free of charge. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | STEERING | Steering wheel catches and I have had to replace a strut due to the car wearing out my tire. I have kept proper maintenance and align my wheels regularly. This is a manufacturer defect not yet recalled. I've seen multiple people with this issue claiming it may ve the LKAS system or steering worm or steering component issue. This needs to be recalled as it will cause death in the right circumstances. Honda do better. Your reputation is degrading. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |