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: engine
36 reports, newest first. Show all
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Sep 5, 2013
SUDDEN ACCELERATION: I HAVE BEEN OBSERVING THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL OR MERGING ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT IT WILL ACCELERATE WHEN YOU TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE SPEED IS UNCONTROLLABLE FOR FEW SECONDS BEFORE THE ENGINE STARTS THE DECELERATION. I HAVE TAKEN A VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THEY HAVE ASSURED THAT THIS IS NORMAL FUNCTION SINCE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOT ON. THE VEHICLE IS 1.5 YEARS OLD AND HAS @15K MILES ON IT. *JB
Air bags, Structure, Engine, Jul 28, 2013, crash
AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AT 4:30 AM IN HEAVY FOG I HIT A DEER THAT WAS STANDING IN THE ROAD. I NOTICED AS I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE CAR SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE AIRBAG SENSOR, WELL I DIDN'T THINK NOTHING OF IT AS I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE CONDITION MY CAR WAS IN AT THE TIME. WELL THE BODY SHOP THAT FIXED MY CAR STATED THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE 100% DEPLOYED DUE TO THE FACT THE SENSOR WAS BUSTED AND THE WIRE WAS COMPLETELY INTO. MY CONCERN IS WHY IN THE WORLD DID THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOY? I AM GLAD IT DIDN'T BUT WHAT IF IT HAD BEEN A COLLISION WITH A CAR. WOULD THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOY AND I TAKE A CHANCE ON DYING BECAUSE OF FAULTY AIRBAGS? I AM REALLY UPSET ABOUT THIS SITUATION. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR NOW...AND I LOVED THIS CAR AND ONE REASON I BOUGHT THIS WAS BECAUSE OF SAFETY..BUT NOW I DO NOT KNOW IF I MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE. NOW THE CAR IS "FIXED" THE CHECK AIRBAG AND EMISSION SYSTEM LIGHT IS ON. I AM TAKING IT TO HONDA AS SOON AS I CAN, BUT I AM DRIVING THIS CAR WITHOUT SEAT BELT WORKING AND THE AIRBAGS NOT WORKING...CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS? THANK YOU... *TR
Power train, Engine, Jun 10, 2013
FIRST PURCHASE BRAND NEW 2012 HONDA CIVIC IN NOVEMBER 2011, RAN REALLY GREAT FOR FIRST SIX THOUSAND MILES. JUST UNDER TEN THOUSAND I NOTICE GAS MILEAGE GOT A LOT WORSE AND THE CHECK EMISSION LIGHT COMES ON. TAKE IT IN TO SHOP AND THEY SAY OH THERMOSTAT IS BAD. WELL THOUGHT STRANGE AT TIME CAR IS NEW. THEN AT JUST UNDER 14000 MILES GAS MILEAGE IS BAD AND ENGINE REVS AT HIGH RPM'S CHECK EMISSION LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WAS A SOFTWARE UPDATE??? WELL THEN AT UNDER 17000 MILES CHECK EMISSION LIGHT AGAIN AND THIS TIME IN SHOP FOR THREE WEEKS. THERMOSTAT AGAIN. TRY CALLING AMERICAN HONDA AND I GET THE SALES MANAGER WHO NEEDS AN ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT, AND HE SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. THEN I AM TOLD BY THE SERVICE SHOP THAT THIS IN NO WAY HAS HARMED ANYTHING AND THEY REPLACE THERMO AGAIN RUN SOME TEST AND STILL RUNS HOT SO THEY DO IT AGAIN AND STILL RUNS HOT AND THEN HONDA DECIDES ON A DIFFERENT THERMOSTAT THAT HASN'T BEEN RELEASED YET AND INSTALL IT. WELL THREE WEEKS LATER I GET MY CAR AND ALL I ASKED FOR WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY SEND ME ONE THAT THEY WANT ME TO SIGN TO RELEASE THE OF ANY POWERTRAIN ISSUES AND COOLING ISSUES. COOLING ISSUES I UNDERSTAND BUT POWERTRAIN REALLY I THOUGHT THERE WAS NOTHIN WRONG WITH MY CAR???? ALL THIS TIME I AM DEALING WITH THE RUDEST AMERICAN HONDA COMPANY CUSTOMER SERVICE. REALLY UPSETS SOMEONE SPEND THERE HARD EARNED MONEY EVERY MONTH ON A CAR PAYMENT AND ITS LIKE GOING TO THE STORE AND PAYING FOR MOLDY BREAD. NOT ONE TIME DO THEY THINK ABOUT THE CONSUMER. ALSO INTERESTING WHEN PICKING CAR UP ON FRIDAY THEY HAVE ANOTHER 2012 CIVIC LOW MILES IN SHOP FOR SAME ISSUE. I LIVE IN A TOWN IN WV WITH 28,000 PEOPLE AND 1 HONDA DEALER COINCIDENCE? *TR
Engine, Jun 1, 2013
WHILE TURNING LEFT AT A STOP LIGHT (FROM A STATIONARY POSITION), THE CAR STALLS AFTER 2 OR 3 SECONDS IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY CAN FIND NO HISTORY OF SUCH SITUATIONS IN THEIR DATABASE AND TOOK NO ACTION. THE PROBLEM OCCURS VERY FREQUENTLY, PARTICULARLY AFTER IDLING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD AT LONG STOP LIGHTS. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Mar 31, 2013
WHEN I AM ABOUT TO GO DOWNHILL AND TAKE AN EXIT AT 40 MPH AFTER DRIVING AT CONSTANT SPEED OF 65 MPH FOR SOME TIME I SEE THIS PROBLEM. RPM IS SUDDENLY SPIKING UP FROM 1500 TO 2500 AND STAYS THERE FOR AT LEAST 5 SECONDS. HIT BRAKES OR GAS DOES NOT BRING IT DOWN. GOOD THING IS THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE IS NOT GOING UP. THAT'S THE GOOD SIGN BUT WHO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS. I THOUGHT THIS WAS THE PROBLEM WITH ECON DRIVE BUT I TURNED IT OFF ABOUT 3 MONTHS NOW AND STILL HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Power train, Engine, Feb 21, 2013
I BOUGHT A FULLY LOADED 2012 HONDA CIVIC SI SEDAN, WITH NAVIGATION. CAR WAS WONDERFUL FIRST FEW WEEKS, THEN THE ISSUES STARTED. WHEN I ENGAGED THE CLUTCH INTO 1ST GEAR, ALSO REVERSE, WHEN I WOULD LEVEL THE CLUTCH WITH THE GAS PEDAL, I WOULD HEAR A HIGH PITCH NOISE. KIND OF LIKE A SQUEAL. IN ALL TYPES OF CONDITIONS. IT IS WORSE IN THE SNOW, RAIN, UP A HILL, AND WHAT NOT. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP, THE TECH TESTDROVE IT WITH ME. HE HEARD THE NOISE, HE SAID THAT HE HEARD IT. HE THINKS IT WAS SOMETHING HITTING THE CLUTCH-PLATE. HE SAID OH HONDA IS NOT GONG TO FIX THIS DUE TO YOUR STYLE OF DRIVING I SAID EXCUSE ME? HE SAID WELL THERE IS NO NEED TO HAVE AN INTAKE, AND AN EXHAUST. BY THE MAGNUSON-MOSS WARRANTY ACT OF 1975 IT STATES: IF A VEHICLE IS BOUGHT NEW, AND YOU PUT AFTERMARKET PARTS ON IT, JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE AFTERMARKET PARTS, IT DOES NOT VOID THE WARRANTY. IF THE DEALERSHIP REALIZES THE ISSUE, AND JUST VERBALLY SAYS THEY CAN'T FIX IT DUE TO THE PARTS, WITHOUT EVEN LIFTING THE CAR UP, THAT IS ILLEGAL. THEY HAVE TO FIND THE ISSUE, AND SAY WHY THE AFTERMARKET PARTS ARE AFFECTING THE CLUTCH. I THEN CALLED THE DEALERSHIP OWNERS SON, HE SAID EMAIL ME THE ISSUES, AND THE VIN. I DID, HE FORWARDED IT TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER. WHEN HE RECEIVED THE EMAIL, THERE WAS A CORPORATE HONDA REPRESENTATIVE THERE. HE READ MY EMAIL, AND SAID THAT THEY NEED TO LOOK AT IT. THE MANAGER CALLED ME, SAID HE RECEIVED THE EMAIL THAT I SENT THE OWNER, HE SAID THEY HAVE TO RE-MAKE THE SOUND AGAIN, EVEN THO THEY HEARD IT, AND PUT ME THREW THE RINGER AGAIN. THERE ARE ALSO ALOT OF PARTS INSIDE THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. SO I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT NEXT TUESDAY, HOPEFULLY FOR THEM TO SEE THE ISSUES. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE ON FORUMS FOR THE 12 SI, 9TH GEN, THAT ARE COMPLAINING ALSO. THE HONDA REP SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL IN MANY CLUTCHES TO HEAR A HIGH PITCHED NOISE? *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Sep 15, 2012
WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED IN A DOWNWARD SLOPE FACING DOWN, AND YOU ENGAGE THE REVERSE GEAR, THE CAR ROLLS FORWARD. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL IF YOU ARE PARKED IN A TIGHT SPOT AND YOU WILL ROLL AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU. WE REPORTED THIS TO HONDA CORPORATION AND THEY SAID THAT THIS IS NORMAL BEHAVIOR. I DO NOT AGREE, SINCE MY OTHER CAR (DIFFERENT MAKE/MODEL) DOES NOT PERFORM THE SAME. *TR
Engine, Sep 3, 2012
DURING TEST DRIVE AND MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE, ENGINE BOGS DOWN OR STALLS WHEN ACCELERATING IN TRAFFIC. HONDA SERVICE DEPT. CHECKED CAR AND FOUND NO APPARENT PROBLEMS. CAR HAS BEEN RETURNED SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO SATISFACTION. SERVICE MANAGER SAID THE HESITATION WAS DUE TO A SAFETY FEATURE THAT DISENGAGES THE ACCELERATOR WHEN TOUCHING THE BRAKE. SEVERAL TIMES THE CAR HAS STALLED WITH NO USE OF BRAKES. THIS "SAFETY FEATURE" IS A SAFETY HAZARD. MY WIFE AND I HAVE ALMOST BEEN INVOLVED IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE CAR STALLS IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS A DEFINITE "SAFETY HAZARD". *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Structure, Apr 8, 2012
WE BOUGHT THE HONDA CIVIC IN FEB 2012. DROVE ABOUT 1000 MILES. ONE DAY I FEEL LITTLE HESITATION IN THIRD GEAR. I OPEN THE HOOD TO JUST CHECK, AND FOUND THE WATER ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND HOOD LINER WAS WET AND SOGGY. I WAS SURPRIZE AND WORRYED THOUGHT COOLING SYSTEM BUSTED OR LOOSE HOSE CLAMP. BUT AFTER THAROUGH CHECKUP FOUND THAT RAIN WATER SEEP THRU BETWEEN FRONT HOOD LIP AND GRILL. I TOLD MY WIFE NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR, IT'S NOT SAFE, BECAUSE WATER CAN DAMAGE THE ELECTRIC COMPONENT AND MAY CAUSE FIRE. SO I DRY THE ENGINE AREA AS MUCH AS I COULD. SETUP THE APPOINTMENT WITH HONDA DEALER. FIRST OF ALL THE SERVICE SUPPERVISOR DID NOT BELIVE, AND THEN SHE CHECK COUPLE OF OTHER CARS SAME MODEL AND YEAR,AND FOUND THAT ALL THE CARS ARE THE SAME DESIGN NOTHING MISSING. SHE SUGGEST TO CALL THE HONDA MANUFACTURE. I ASKED FOR THE WORK ORDER, SHE SAID THERE IS NO PROBLEM SO NO WORK ORDER NEED TO FILLUP. I TALK TO SALE PERSON ABOUT ALL THIS; HE SAID THE SAME. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED. I ASK FOR THE SERVICE MANAGER; AND SHOW HIM THE CAR AND PROBLEM; HE SAID THE SAME TO CALL MANUFACTURE. BUT ATLEAST HE AGREED TO WRITE THE WORK ORDER. THAT CONSUMER COMPLAINT THIS, AND WE COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. AS PER CONSUMER THE RAIN WATER GET IN TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND WET THE HOOD LINER AND OTHER ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT AND PLUGS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 21, 2012
CAR SHAKING AT A STOP LIGHT OR A LIGHT SEEM LIKE CARS MAKE NOISE ON ENGINE AND YOU CAN FEEL IN THE STEERING AT PARK VEHICLE. YOU CAN HEAR THE PROBLEM ANY TIME OF THE DAY. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Feb 13, 2012, crash
THE CIVIC I HAVE IS ONLY FOR 3 MONTH AND AROUND 3000 MILES. IT WAS A SUNNY DAY, THE ROAD IS DRY. I DRIVE LIKE AROUND 50 MILES/HR ON GRAND CENTRAL PARKWAY IN NY, SUDDENLY I SAW PEOPLE HIT THE BREAK IN FRONT OF ME, THEN I HIT THE BREAK AS SOON AS I CAN. I DIDNT HIT THE BREAK TO THE END (JUST AROUND HALF) BUT THE TIRE START TO SCREAM. I RELEASE THE BREAK A LITTLE BIT AND HIT IT AGAIN BUT THE TIRE STILL SCREAM AND I KEEP SLIDING. I SLIDE WITH MY TIRE LOCKED FOR MORE THE 5 CAR DISTANCE. THE TIRES KEEP SCREAMING AND I COULDNT STOP. THEN I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE A DRIVING RECORDER AND RECORD EVERYTHING. WHICH I UPLOAD TO YOUTUBE. HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=CTU66KPO8YM AFTER THE CAR FIXED BY THE BODY SHOP, THE CAR BECOME BETTER. THE BODY SHOP HAD CHANGE A NEW ABS SYSTEM AND BREAK AND RESET THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR. NOW THE BREAK IS MORE SHARP THEN BEFORE AND THE ABS WORK FINE. (I TEST IT ON A RAINING DAY IN MY DRIVEWAY) OTHER THING IS THAT THE CAR BECOME MORE FUEL EFFICIENT. I TRY SO HARD IN THE BEGINNING BUT ONLY GET 26 GALLON PER MILE. NOW IT IS SO EASY TO GO UP TO 29-30. (IT HAS BEEN USED FOR ANOTHER 800 MILE AND I DRIVE IT ON THE SAME ROAD I GO TO WORK) I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT AND DON'T WANT TO LET IT HAPPENS ON OTHERS.