2021 Honda Civic Type R

Routine

Owners filed 11 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System3
000
Engine2
000
Air Bags2
100
Wheels1
000
Steering1
000
Power Train1
111
Fuel/Propulsion System1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification › Front Passenger26V332000
Filed May 21, 202698,892 vehiclesHonda (american Honda Motor Co.)

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.

Risk. 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 Passenger24V064000
Filed Feb 1, 2024750,114 vehiclesHonda (american Honda Motor Co.)

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.

Risk. 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine
Filed Sep 10, 2026CA

Head Gasket failure, coolant was found while inspecting a spark plug at my local Honda dealership. Noticed spark plug in cylinder 2 was damaged. Stuck a camera down to find coolant mixed with oil.

Electrical System
Filed Mar 25, 2026NE

While operating my 2021 Honda Civic Type R (VIN: [XXX] ) in high-ambient temperatures (approximately 95°F), the vehicle experienced a sudden and total loss of motive power during acceleration while exiting a busy intersection. This resulted in an immediate engine stall in the path of oncoming traffic, creating a severe risk of a collision. Following the stall, the vehicle was extremely difficult to restart. Once restarted, it entered a 'limp home' mode with a severely restricted RPM limit and multiple dashboard warnings, including 'Emissions System Problem' and 'Rev Match System Problem.' A diagnostic scan performed immediately after the incident revealed a DTC P0087 (Fuel Rail/System Pressure - Too Low). The symptoms—thermal-related failure, stalling under load, and the P0087 code—are identical to the documented mechanical failures of the Denso fuel pump impeller swelling defect. Although this production year and model are known to be part of the expanded fuel pump recall population, my specific VIN is not currently showing as 'remedied' or 'open' in the manufacturer's database. I am reporting this as an active, unaddressed safety defect that poses an unreasonable risk of crash or injury due to unpredictable engine failure in traffic. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Engine
Filed Dec 4, 2025NM

Misfire in cylinder 4 led to head gasket failure. The problem was diagnosed at the dealership, and there is an active TSB for this issue - however my vehicle is not covered.

Electrical System
Filed Nov 21, 2025KY

Entertainment system turns on and off while driving suspected bad alternator.

Air BagsCrash
Filed Jan 24, 202548,000 milesCA

The contact owns a 2021 Honda Civic Type-R. The contact stated that the vehicle in front came to a stop, and the contact did not have ample time to bring the vehicle to a stop. As a result, the contact crashed the front of the vehicle into the rear of the vehicle in front. None of the air bags deployed. The vehicle was not deemed a total loss. The vehicle was driven back to the contact's residence and then taken to an independent service center, where it remained for further investigation. The vehicle was not repaired due to costs. It was unknown if the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (Air Bags), which was associated with the VIN. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.

Power TrainCrashFire1 injured
Filed Nov 5, 20244,000 milesCA

The contact owned a 2021 Honda Civic Type R. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 mph, the vehicle suddenly lost automotive power and stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The transmission was replaced and the failure was remedied. Later, while driving and making a left turn the steering wheel remained stuck in the left direction and the contact was unable to veer to the right direction causing the vehicle to crash into a tree and then catch on fire immediately. During the crash, the vehicle was destroyed and later towed away. The contact sustained a fractured right ankle and was transported to the hospital. The contact required surgeries, 16 bolts, and a plate where he was placed in bed rest for 2 years. A police report was filed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 4,000.

Air Bags
Filed Sep 26, 2024CA

See attached document for complaint.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jul 25, 2024VA

Car abruptly shut off after start up. Then car started and ran normally for 2 days. Then after start up CEL came on for emissions problem. Took to dealership and said it had a P0546 (small evap leak) code. Performed a leak down test and no leak was found. Then said fuel was present in charcoal canister. These are same issues and complaints that other Honda owners have had about vehicles that fall under the fuel pump recall. My car is a 2021, but was built late 2020. Vin # is right at the end of recall vins. I want to report my issue just in case my fuel pump goes bad while driving and causes an accident.

Electrical System
Filed Jul 23, 2024IL

Infotainment system reboots while driving, lose access to navigation, music, and anything controlled with the radio. Unable to reverse safely due to loss of back up camera, Honda dealer does not want to replace and they tell me to turn my head and look over my shoulder

Steering
Filed Jun 19, 2024NE

The steering wheel will get stuck while turning slowly, mostly only while turning to the left, if I remove my hand from the wheel it will stay in that spot and not return to center without effort to free it. It does not always happen and seems to be more prevalent in warmer weather rand when the car has been driving for a little while. It also occurs, when I am driving down the hwy when it is acting up, it is difficult to make corrections because the steering feels stuck and requires effort to break free. It seems dangerous and the dealer has been no help - they just say there are no error codes and everything looks fine.

Wheels
Filed Apr 22, 2024AZ

The contact owns a 2021 Honda Civic Type-R. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and received the rear wheels alignment, and the rear tires were rotated. The contact stated that after the vehicle was serviced, the contact noticed an abnormal metal scraping sound coming from the rear wheels. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle had been taken back to the dealer several times after the original service; however, the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

11 of 11 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2021
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20253100Routine
20241100Routine
20238200Routine
2021 — this page11210Routine
20201100Routine
20196200Routine
20185200Routine
20172100Routine

Compare every Civic Type R year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: May 21, 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.