The most trouble-free Civic of the last decade
With about a third of the Civic's average complaints per car sold, the 2021 is the last and most sorted year of its generation. A few owners report sticky steering at highway speeds, so test that on the drive.
Updated November 2026 · based on 163 owner complaints and 4 recalls
62 68% below the Civic average
4 free to fix at a dealer
Every Civic year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known problems on the 2021 Civic
Top problems and what they cost
Steering sticks briefly at highway speed
A small number of owners feel the wheel catch or bind during small corrections.
Fix: Dealer inspection; a steering rack outside warranty is $1,200 to $2,000.
Steering
Automatic braking or cruise warnings
Occasional false collision warnings or adaptive cruise shutting off.
Fix: Camera and radar check $100 to $300.
Collision avoidance
Infotainment freezes with a phone plugged in
Some owners report the screen and phone connection glitching during navigation.
Fix: Software update, usually free at a dealer.
Electrical
Recalls
Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.
An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Complaints by part
Before you buy a 2021 Honda Civic
- Confirm the brake master cylinder (23V458), air bag and fuel pump recalls show as repaired.A recall is a safety fix the carmaker must do for free, even for later owners. Typing the 17-character VIN (on the dashboard and driver door) into nhtsa.gov/recalls shows any that were never done. Codes like 18V332 are recall numbers.The 2021 Civic has 4 recalls on record, listed below.
- Make small steering corrections at highway speed and feel for a catch.Steering should feel smooth and even. Clicks, a heavy wheel, wandering or a catch can mean a worn coupler, steering gear or tie rods, and some failures were recalled.69 of the 163 owner complaints about the 2021 Civic involve the steering (42%).
- Plug in a phone and run navigation for a few minutes.Infotainment screens on these cars can freeze, reboot or go black. On many cars the backup camera and climate controls run through the same screen.21 of the 163 owner complaints about the 2021 Civic involve the electrical system (13%).
Questions
Is the 2021 Honda Civic reliable?
The most trouble-free Civic of the last decade. With about a third of the Civic's average complaints per car sold, the 2021 is the last and most sorted year of its generation. A few owners report sticky steering at highway speeds, so test that on the drive.
How many recalls does the 2021 Honda Civic have?
4 recalls. Recall repairs are free at any Honda dealer, even for later owners. Enter the VIN on the free government recall lookup to see which are still open on a specific car.
What are the most common 2021 Honda Civic problems?
Steering sticks briefly at highway speed; Automatic braking or cruise warnings; Infotainment freezes with a phone plugged in.
Crash rating shown for the 2021 Honda CIVIC 4 DR FWD. Repair costs are typical U.S. ranges for parts and labor, not quotes. How we score.