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2021 Honda Civic Hatchback Type R
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
136 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 14, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Steering problems dominate (42% 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.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2021 Honda CIVIC HATCH 5 HB FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 10%
No open NHTSA defect investigations on file.
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 Hatchback Type R, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Driver assistance (32) · Brakes (18) · Electrical system (17) · Lane Departure (11)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Steering
42%57 complaints · typically near 40k mi · 41 in the last 2 years
“At speeds between 40 and 70 my 2021 Honda Civic EX Hatchback steering feels sticky when making small adjustments. There is a slight resistant in steering when a slight…”
Driver assistance
24%32 complaints · 8 in the last 2 years
“Steering wheel sticks once at highway speed, wheel turns but with a glitch”
Brakes
13%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…”
Electrical system
13%17 complaints · 5 in the last 2 years
“The infotainment system in these vehicles is poor when using the navigation. Having the phone connected via wire will cause the phone and infotainment system to malfun…”
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 HATCHBACK TYPE R beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2021? See how every Civic Hatchback Type R model year scores →
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What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.