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2021 Honda Civic Hatch Type-r
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
147 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 17, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Steering problems dominate (40% of complaints, typically reported near 40k miles).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2021 Honda Civic Hatch Type-r, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Driver assistance (32) · Electrical system (20) · Brakes (18) · Airbags (12)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Steering
40%59 complaints · typically near 40k mi · 42 in the last 2 years
“Steering rack binds and requires extra effort to return to center. Specifically for me, when proceeding on a long curve that requires me to turn my steering wheel left…”
Driver assistance
22%32 complaints · 8 in the last 2 years
“Steering wheel sticks once at highway speed, wheel turns but with a glitch”
Electrical system
14%20 complaints · 8 in the last 2 years
“Entertainment system turns on and off while driving suspected bad alternator.”
Brakes
12%18 complaints · 6 in the last 2 years
“Cruise control does not disengage upon electronic parking brake being engaged while moving, causing the car to accelerate aggressively after the brake is released. Whi…”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2021 Honda CIVIC HATCH TYPE-R beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2021? See how every Civic Hatch Type-r model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2021 Honda Civic Hatch Type-r against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.