The Verdict
Worst problem area
Steering
Steering leads by volume: 69 of 163 complaints (42%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (2) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 242 in 2020 to 163 in 2021.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 163
- Recall campaigns
- 4
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $1,750–$3,100
- Combined MPG
- 25–36
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | vs. 2021 Large Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 1,750–3,100 | 1,750–3,100 | 1,750–3,100 | 1,750–2,500 | 1,750–3,200 | |
| Combined MPG | 25–36 | 25–36 | 25–36 | 29–36 | 24–36 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 22–32 / 28–42 | 22–32 / 28–42 | 22–32 / 28–42 | 26–33 / 36–42 | 22–33 / 28–42 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 248–360 | 248–358 | 248–358 | 243–304 | 243–364 | |
| Complaints filed | 461 | 242 | 163 | 962 | 338 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 27 | 15 | 7 | 35 | 20 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 20 | 14 | 3 | 20 | 12 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 7 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2021 Honda Civic have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2021 Honda Civic?
Steering: 69 of 163 NHTSA complaints (42%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Honda Civic get?
EPA rates it 25–36 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Honda Civic?
EPA estimates $1,750–$3,100 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (8)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 29 mpg | 37 mpg | 32 mpg | $2,400 | 274 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 1.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 31 mpg | 40 mpg | 34 mpg | $1,850 | 259 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (AV-S7) | 4 | 1.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 29 mpg | 35 mpg | 32 mpg | $2,400 | 279 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (AV-S7) | 4 | 1.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 30 mpg | 38 mpg | 33 mpg | $1,900 | 266 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 1.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 32 mpg (high) | 42 mpg (high) | 36 mpg (high) | $1,750 (low) | 248 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (AV-S7) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 29 mpg | 37 mpg | 32 mpg | $1,950 | 277 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 30 mpg | 38 mpg | 33 mpg | $1,900 | 268 g/mi |
| Configuration 8 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 22 mpg (low) | 28 mpg (low) | 25 mpg (low) | $3,100 (high) | 358 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 18 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 69 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 14 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 41 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (4)
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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. 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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.