2021 Honda Civic problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2021 Honda Civic. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 10% of relevant complaints.
Better than 97% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2021 Honda Civic have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 14 of 159 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Honda Civic concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (10%). For comparison, the 2020 scores 30% and the 2022 scores 3%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
The rest of the picture on the 2021 Honda Civic
- Every owner quote, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 14 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Honda Civic?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2021 Honda Civic involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.…
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 17, 2026.
Checking one particular 2021 Honda Civic? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2021 Honda Civic have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 14 of 159 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Honda Civic concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (10%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Honda Civic?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2021 Honda Civic involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total: 23V858000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Honda Civic years are better?
Among the Honda Civic years we track, the 2022 (3%) and the 2023 (5%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (10%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2021 Honda Civic?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2021 Honda Civic shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 3 body styles NHTSA files separately.