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2021 Honda Civic: Recalls and Reported Problems

Every NHTSA safety recall recorded for this model year, what owners report most often, and how to check whether one specific vehicle still has open work.

By VIN Lookup Research DeskPublished 2026-08-27Reviewed 2026-08-27United States
NHTSA dataModel-year data describes the production run, not the car in front of you.

Two identical Civics can differ entirely: one may have had every recall repaired, the other none.

Direct answer

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for the 2021 Honda Civic, alongside 139 owner complaints filed with the agency, most often about steering. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by a franchised dealer, with no expiry on safety recalls. A recall applies to a production range, so check the specific VIN — a previous owner may already have had the work done.

2021 Honda Civic at a glance

4NHTSA safety recallsCampaigns covering this model year
139Owner complaintsFiled with NHTSA, unverified
5Complaints mentioning a crashOwner-reported, not adjudicated
2Complaints mentioning a fireOwner-reported, not adjudicated

What owners report most

These are the vehicle systems named most often in complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Honda Civic. A complaint is an unverified owner report: it does not establish a defect, and a high count can simply reflect a popular model. Use it to decide where an inspection should look hardest.

Most-reported systems, 2021 Honda Civic (NHTSA complaints)
Vehicle systemComplaints
Steering61
Forward Collision Avoidance33
Service Brakes18
Electrical System17
Lane Departure11
Air Bags8

Recall campaigns for the 2021 Honda Civic

Each campaign below is an official NHTSA record. The remedy is performed free of charge by a franchised dealer, and safety recalls never expire — but a campaign covers a production range, so only a VIN lookup confirms whether a particular vehicle is included and whether the work is still outstanding.

NHTSA recall campaigns recorded for the 2021 Honda Civic
CampaignComponentIssue
23V458000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDERHonda (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…
24V064000AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGERHonda (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…
23V858000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPHonda (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…
26V332000AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGERHonda (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,…

How to check one specific Civic

  1. Copy the 17-character VIN from the windshield or driver-door label — not from the listing.
  2. Run it through NHTSA’s free recall lookup to see open campaigns for that exact vehicle.
  3. Ask the seller for repair documentation on any campaign that shows as completed.
  4. Check title, odometer, and total-loss history separately; recalls say nothing about a vehicle’s past.
  5. Book an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the systems owners report most.

What this data cannot tell you

  • Whether a specific vehicle is included in a campaign, or whether its recall work was completed — only a VIN lookup answers that.
  • Whether a complaint is accurate. NHTSA publishes owner reports without verifying them.
  • How reliable the model is overall: complaint volume tracks how many vehicles were sold as much as how they hold up.
  • Anything about title brands, accident history, odometer records, or liens on an individual vehicle.
Evidence

Primary sources behind this page

Open the underlying public source and verify that its scope matches the question you are asking.

  1. Recalls Lookup by VINNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  2. NHTSA Recalls APINational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  3. NHTSA Complaints DatabaseNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  4. Vehicle Product Information Catalog (vPIC)National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Quick answers

2021 Honda Civic questions

How many recalls does the 2021 Honda Civic have?

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls covering the 2021 Honda Civic as of 2026-08-27. Whether a specific vehicle is affected — and whether the repair was already done — depends on its VIN.

What are the most common 2021 Honda Civic problems?

Owners most often report steering, forward collision avoidance, service brakes issues to NHTSA. These are unverified owner reports and do not establish a defect, but they show where to focus an inspection.

Are Honda recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are performed at no charge by a franchised dealer, and federal safety recalls do not expire. Bring the VIN and ask the dealer to confirm open campaigns before the appointment.

Can I check recalls on a specific 2021 Honda Civic VIN?

Yes. NHTSA's free VIN lookup reports open recalls for an individual vehicle, including whether the repair is still outstanding. Model-level lists like this page cannot tell you that.