2012 Honda Civic
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 455 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 26 Civic model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 55 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 41 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Steering, columnNov 21, 2012
Honda is recalling certain model year 2012 Civic passenger vehicles, manufactured from October 26, 2012, through October 30, 2012. These vehicles were assembled with the incorrect steering column assembly.
The steering column may not have proper energy absorbing characteristics, which could increase the risk of injury during a vehicle crash.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the steering column, as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on December 10, 2012. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
Campaign 12V548000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, driveline, driveshaftJun 4, 2012
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 HONDA CIVIC VEHICLES. DURING ASSEMBLY, THE PROCESS REQUIRED TO SEAT THE DRIVERS SIDE DRIVESHAFT AND SET THE RETAINING CLIP WAS NOT COMPLETED. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVESHAFT MAY SEPARATE.
IF THIS OCCURS, THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE A LOSS OF DRIVE POWER AND MAY ROLL AWAY IF THE PARKING BRAKE HAS NOT BEEN SET WHEN THE GEAR SELECTOR HAS BEEN PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, INCREASING THE RISK OF CRASH OR PEDESTRIAN INJURY.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver's side driveshaft and install a new driveshaft as needed, free of charge. The safety recall began on June 21. 2012. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
Campaign 12V256000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, other, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsMay 18, 2011
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CIVIC 2-DOOR AND 4-DOOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 21, 2011, THROUGH MAY 2, 2011. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT AN O-RING, WHICH SEALS A CONNECTION IN THE FUEL FEED LINE, IS MISALIGNED. IF THE O-RING IS MISALIGNED, A SMALL FUEL LEAK MAY OCCUR.
FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FEED LINE ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
Campaign 11V288000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
149 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Jun 30, 2026
We were not injured. We fixed the problem before we did get hurt..message came up.. “Check airbag system”. We had t replace our driver’s side airbag at the cost of over $1,500.
Air bags, Jun 26, 2026
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side seat weight sensor failed to operate properly. The contact stated that while the front passenger’s seat was occupied, the air bag enabled warning light was flashing off and on. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V332000 (Air Bags). The dealer was contacted; however, the contact was informed that the failure was not associated with the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Air bags, Structure, Other or unspecified, Mar 23, 2026
I purchased a vehicle from a private seller on offer up. The seller stated the vehicle was clean title, he also stated the vehicle was low mileage with 112,000. When I got the vehicle the tire sensor was showing on the dash and the air bag sensor. After purchasing the vehicle I later found out the vehicle was salvage, and the mileage is also roughly 180,000 miles or more.
Electrical system, Air bags, Mar 7, 2026
My passenger airbag light is on and stays on.
Air bags, Sep 16, 2025
I have had this 2012 for a little over a year, within the past 6 months periodically the check air bag system warning lamp comes on if I make a sharp turn or move the steering wheel very fast. On the guage it says that the passenger side air bag is off..This issue just came out of no where, but generally the car runs great
Air bags, Oct 26, 2024
I was 3 hrs away from home and I started my vehicle and the air bag light began flashing and beeping. The light was on the message board that indicates my speed, clock, fuel, etc. it basically is the information center for the car. I pushed the information button on the steering wheel to clear it but it kept blinking and flashing the entire way home. I also turned off the engine and restarted it but no luck with that either. It was a very distracting experience having to drive 3 hours like this. I made an appointment with my mechanic and he diagnosed it as the Occupant Passenger Detection Sensor. This will cost $800.00 to repair. The car is not drive able in this condition because of the safety of the air bag. I looked up recalls but it seems my car has none.
Electrical system, Air bags, Jun 23, 2024
Car is stating air bag system check on and off.
Electrical system, Air bags, Engine, Jun 23, 2024
The IMA inverter system keeps malfunctioning without any clear reasons, and the car is in drive mode, which makes the electric motor unresponsive. Additionally, the braking system also malfunctions, leading to a lack of control over the vehicle. I have tried to repair it multiple times, but to no avail. It keeps malfunctioning without any apparent reason.
Air bags, Feb 20, 2024
My airbag warning light comes on intermittently. When the light is on, the airbags are non-functional. It comes on at various times while driving, and at various speeds. The official diagnosis is a flaw in the "internal resistance in driver's airbag inflator." This is a well-established problem in this model, and Honda offers extended warranty coverage for the passenger side airbag for this problem. Yet Honda refuses to take any responsibility or action for the drivers side with the same issue. Numerous other manufacturers have issued recalls or other corrective action for the same part.
Air bags, Feb 5, 2024, crash
We were making a left turn, and a SUV ran the red light across the street and ran through the intersection hitting us broadside at about 45 mph. We were traveling at about. 20-30 mph as we were going to the freeway onramp and had to get to speed. The SUV impact was by the front passenger side tire or just after. The impact was hard enough to bend the subframe to the left. The side air bags did not inflate. We have always had issues with the child safety sensor in the front passenger seat, could that have been the reason? The passenger in the seat was about 105 -110 lbs. and hit the door panel and glass as a result of the air bags no deploying. The hit was bad enough it killed the engine and the frame damage further disabled it.
Air bags, Jan 31, 2024
Like others, I have had an airbag warning light appear intermittently. Apparently, my VIN is affected by this even though this and Honda's website indicates there are 0 recalls for my car. Dealership informed me that this indeed is a recall issue.
Air bags, Jan 24, 2024
Airbag system appears
Air bags, Nov 27, 2023
Light for Air Bag System fault keeps intermittingly coming on. I know it was a problem in the civic until 2011 but I have a 2012 and it may have been an issue or this year as well.
Air bags, Oct 18, 2023, crash
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at approximately 55 mph, his vehicle crashed into a stopped Ford F-150. The driver was sore where x-rays were performed and medical attention was provided. There was no fire. A police report was filed. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location. The air bag warning light illuminated after the impact. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 196,000.
Air bags, Seat belts, May 9, 2023
The airbag popped for no reason, and Honda was unable to fix it, 8 months in the dealership with no progress.
Air bags, Apr 8, 2023
Air bag light came on sometime back. Took it to dealer from where we purchased the car and we were told a specific part had failed which came up during Airbag Diagnostics - 77900-TR0-A11 (Reel). Had it replaced per Dealer suggestion. Dealer 'OPEN ROAD HONDA, Edison, NJ'. However the light came back up again. Now the Dealer is saying the Airbag Control Unit is malfunctioning and now I have to replace this part. Please check if there are recalls associated with this model Honda Airbags.
Air bags, Oct 29, 2022, crash
I braked unexpectedly and only my license plate was curved, but the driver passenger bag component popped open. The airbag didn't deploy properly. So if I was in an actual accident, I would have died.
Air bags, Seat belts, Sep 21, 2022, crash
1 airbags didn't deploy on highway accident on 1/11/2021. Honda usa rejected inspection upon request. 2 14 wheeler hit driverside on civic on hwy we almost died. 3 I reported accident of bags not deploying to Hobda USA. They denied case open for free inspection. 4 Airbags have not been inspected by no one. 5 unknown on the warning lamps . Dont know system.
Air bags, Jun 29, 2022
The contact's girlfriend owns a 2012 Honda Civic. The contact stated that upon his girlfriend placing the vehicle into drive(D) while in her garage; the air bags deployed without warning. Black smoke emitted from the vehicle as his girlfriend exited the vehicle; the air bag hit his girlfriend in the face which resulted in a headache, she did not seek medical attention. She called the dealer and they informed her to bring in the vehicle for an inspection. The contact's girlfriend took the vehicle to the dealer on two occasions where they discovered that the air bag light had illuminated on the instrument panel but quickly disappeared prior to failure. His girlfriend was given an estimate for repair. The contact called Performance Kings Honda(9131 Fields Ertel Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45249) where he was given an appointment to have a second diagnostic performed on the vehicle. The contact attempted to reach the manufacturer but was unsuccessful. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.
Air bags, Oct 13, 2021
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to multiple local dealers and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.
Air bags, Oct 12, 2021
My light for airbag inspection came on shortly after purchase. When we asked about it during a routine service we were told that shouldn't be happening. We were told the airbags are still working and they do not know why that is happening but, they were not interested in taking care of the issue even tho the car was under warranty at the time and several recalls were being issued for other cars with the Takata Airbags in them. Because of this poor service we decided to stop using your service. Now, several years later I have become aware of all the problems others are having with your airbags and requested a call back from a supervisor because no one answering your phones has offered any responsible response to this problem. No one is able to get a hold of a supervisor. I was finally given a case # thru an email from an unknown person with no contact information. I am very upset that I was not notified about this safety concern sooner and do not accept the system that you are using to get out of fixing a problem you pretended to know nothing about. Every time I try to find out which airbags are in my car I am referred to Takata Lawsuit over dysfunctional exploding bags are going off in older vehicles. I simply do not trust your process after many attempts to contact a responsible party and told they will get to it but, no one gets back and they have show no concern at all on their part. I do not wish to wait any longer for a correct response. it is long past due.
Air bags, Jun 27, 2021
Check Airbag System light will turn on as soon as I start driving. SRS Code 11-10 open in the driver's airbag first inflator.
Air bags, Apr 14, 2021, crash
COLLISION LEFT FRONT OF CAR, PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, DRIVERS DID NOT. CAR WAS DRIVING ON A PARKING LOT STEERING TO THE LEFT AND I STRUCK CONCRETE PILLER PROTECTING LAMP POST
Air bags, Mar 5, 2021
CHECK AIR BAG SYSTEM WARNING MESSAGE POPS UP WHILE CAR IS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD A SHORT SHORT DISTANCE. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.
Air bags, Feb 15, 2021
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE CAR SLID A BIT. THE VEHICLE PASSENGER REAR TIRE HIT THE SIDE OF THE SIDEWALK, CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO POP.