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
455 reports, newest first.
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.
Steering, Power train, Engine, Mar 4, 2021
WE ALMOST GOT KILLED TRYING TO TURN THE WHEEL TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE STEERING WHEEL ISSUE WAS ALREADY LOOKED AT BY MY MECHANIC. HE SAID IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR AND REPLACED THAT INSTEAD. I WAS CHARGED FOR THE ALTERNATOR! I TOOK IT BACK AFTER WE WERE ALMOST KILLED. HE FIXED THE STEERING ISSUE BUT NOW THE CAR DOESN'T STEER RIGHT AWAY AFTER THE CAR IS TURNED ON! WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW? IT STAYS LOCKED AND YOU CAN ONLY GO FRONTWARDS AND BACK!! WE HAVE TO KEEP GOING BACK AND FORTH TILL IT UNLOCKS! WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE OF THIS CAR? I DON'T DRIVE FAR. IT ONLY HAS 81491 MILES ON IT. ON THE MECHANIC'S BILL STEERING ISSUE ELECTRONIC STEERING MOTOR- REMOVE & REPLACE- ALL APPLICABLE MODELS. DID YOU RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE? WHEN DO I GET MY MONEY BACK FROM HONDA FOR THEIR MISTAKES? I AM 68 YEARS OLD DISABLED WOMAN WHO NEEDS HELP WITH THIS BILL. HONDA SHOULD PAY THE BILL FOR ME. I HAVE TO LIVE ON 954.00 A MONTH LIVE IN STATE HOUSING. PLEASE HELP ME!! [XXX] CELL: [XXX] THANK YOU INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Steering, Service brakes, Feb 20, 2021
CHECK VSA CHECK POWER STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION DURING DRIVING! VEHICLE BREAKING ON ITS ON RANDOMLY! I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A FATAL ACCIDENT! VEHICLE IS NOT FUNCTIONAL DUE TO THESE ELECTRICAL ERRORS!
Steering, Feb 15, 2021
CAR DRIVING DOWN HWY STEERING GOES OUT AND LIGHT CAME ON TURN CAR OFF STEERING WORKS FINE DRIVE CAR STEERING GOES OUT LIGHT COMES ON TURN CAR OFF DRIVE CAR HOME WITH NO POWER STEERING TURN OFF AND ON WORKS FINE TAKE TO DEALER CODES 33-01 AND 33-06 SAID NEEDS RACK & PUMP THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME OF THIS PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON ON THESE CARS SINCE 2012 WHY NO RECALL OH I,AM A MECHANIC CERTIFIED AGE 57
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.
Steering, Feb 5, 2021
POWER STEERING WHEN OUT ALL AT ONCE WHILE DRIVING, VERY DIFFICULT TO STEERING, DROVE HOME BARELY ABLE TO STEER, AFTER CAR SAT FOR A WHILE THE STEERING WORKS NOW, AFRAID TO GET OUT OF DRIVEWAY BECAUSE AFRAID IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN
Steering, Air bags, Feb 4, 2021
WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURNS (90 DEGREE TURNS) WITH THE VEHICLE GOING ~10 MPH THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTTURNS AND STAYS ON FOR SOME TIME BEFORE IT DISAPPEARS. HOWEVER, THE FREQUENCY OF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS HAVE INCREASED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND WAS TOLD THE ISSUE IS COMING FROM A CABLE REEL AND THE DRIVER INFLATION MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED TOO. ACCORDING TO THE HONDA TECHNICIAN- IF THE ISSUE/PARTS REMAIN UNFIXED, THE AIRBAG WILL FAIL TO DEPLOY IN A FORWARD MOVEMENT CRASH.
Air bags, Seat belts, Jan 14, 2021, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SON WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH BEFORE CRASHING INTO THE REAR OF A SECOND VEHICLE. DURING THE CRASH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, THE MESSAGE "CHECK AIR BAG" HAD DISPLAYED AND THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE HAD UNLATCHED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO CONTACT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO BOTH KNEES. A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT YET DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT YET NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 9, 2021
WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON. IT TOOK TWO OF US TO TURN THE WHEEL TO MAKE A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN. WE WERE BOTH AFRAID FOR OUR LIVES! WE DID NOT KNOW IF WE WERE GOING TO MAKE IT HOME BUT WE DID. I AM PETRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN! I HAVE TO USE THE CAR BECAUSE I LIVE SO FAR AWAY FROM STORES TO SHOP ETC. PLEASE HELP ME SOON SO I CAN USE THE CAR AGAIN!!!
Other or unspecified, Dec 30, 2020
THERE IS A LATENCY DELAY BETWEEN MY PHONE AND BLUETOOTH OF ABOUT 4 SECONDS AND HAS BEEN THAT WAY SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE.
Engine, Dec 30, 2020
THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO BURN OIL VERY FAST EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED PROPERLY THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. I'VE HAD TO FILL UP THE OIL 3 TIMES BETWEEN OIL CHANGES DUE TO THIS ISSUE AND NO LEAKS HAVE BEEN FOUND AFTER A THOROUGH SEARCH.
Other or unspecified, Dec 15, 2020
HONDA WONT FIX HOOD LATCH THAT FAILS TO OPEN AND NOW HAS ASKED FOR A COPY OF MY NORMAL STATE TITLE SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE THE STATE MAKE IT A SALVAGED TITLED IN ERROR. THEY ARE DIRTY. THEY HAVE NEVER HONOR ANY WARRANTY ON THE CAR AND HAVE SAID IT IS A SALVAGE TITLE WHEN I BOUGHT IT NOT AS SUCH A VEHICLE THE LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIPS HAVE RIPPED US OFF...PLEASE REFER TO CONSUMER PROTECTION BUREAU TOO
Other or unspecified, Dec 15, 2020
THE HOOD DOES NOT OPEN. THE LATCH HAS FAILED WITH ONLY 80,000 MILES AND THE OFFICIAL POSITION OF AMERICAN HONDA IS GO SCREW YOURSELF THE CAR IS A 2012 AND HAS A SALVAGED TITLE BUT IT NEVER HAD A SALVAGED TITLE AND THEY LIE AND NEVER PROVIDED US ANY WARRANTY SERVICES EVER. WE HAVE OWNED OVER 10 HONDAS AND THEY ARE UNLOYAL.
Other or unspecified, Dec 10, 2020
2012 HONDA CIVIC EX. SEAL COAT FAILURE, MOSTLY ON ROOF WITH SOME PAINT PEELAGE ON DOOR HANDLE AND SPOILER ALSO. THIS STARTED 2 1/2 YEARS AGO AND IS GETTING PROGRESSIVLEY WORSE. HONDA WILL NOT RECTIFY THE ISSUE ALTHOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF PAINT DEFECTS AND HAVE COVERED A FEW MODELS BUT NOT ALL MODELS AFFECTED.
Steering, Dec 5, 2020
THE EPS(ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING) INDICATOR TURNED ON AFTER IGNITION AND STAYS ON. BECAUSE OF THIS, I AM NOT ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE, IT CAN GO UP AND DOWN IN A STRAIGHT LINE BUT CANNOT STEER. IT STARTED WHILE REVERSING MY VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVEWAY, I COULD NOT DRIVE IT WITH THE EPS LIGHT ON, SO IT IS CURRENTLY PARKED AT THE DRIVEWAY. I SEE SIMILAR INCIDENTS REPORTED BY OTHERS ON COMMON FORUM. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS WITH COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER CUSTOMERS AND GET THIS FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER
Steering, Nov 26, 2020
ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILURE WITH CHECK POWER STEERING SYSTEM WARNING.
Air bags, Oct 7, 2020
THE CHECK AIR BAG SYSTEM COMES ON AND STAYS ON!
Structure, Sep 9, 2020
THE PAINT IS PEELING ALL OVER MY CAR ESPECIALLY THE ROOF AND TRUNK
Steering, Aug 25, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE ON AFTER BEING PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THEY NOTICED THAT THE CHECK POWER STEERING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT, MAYBE MOVING APPROXIMATELY A HALF OF AN INCH IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
Air bags, Aug 24, 2020
AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. HAVE THERE BEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON HONDA VEHICLES? THE LIGHT STAYS ON. WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREETS THE LIGHT STAYS ON.
Air bags, Aug 21, 2020
PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATOR SENSOR STARTED SHOWING UP IN MY 2012 HONDA CIVIC. I'M WORRIED THE AIRBAGS MIGHT ACTIVATE. I WANTED TO KNOW IF IS A RECALL
Electrical system, Aug 4, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE CHARGING SYSTEM WAS OPERATIONAL HOWEVER, THE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE UPDATED OR REPROGRAMMED. THE CONTACT CONTACTED METRO HONDA (9399 AUTOPLEX ST, MONTCLAIR, CA 91763, (909) 542-9637) WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION NUMBER: 12/041 HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Structure, Jul 14, 2020
CAR CLEAR COAT IS COMING OFF ON THE TRUNK AND ROOF IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. IN AREAS WHERE THE CLEAR COAT IS GONE, THE PAINT IS NOW COMING OFF. VEHICLE IS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC PURCHASED NEW IN 2011. THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED IN 2018 APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AFTER EXTENDED PAINT WARRANTY EXPIRED. I CONTACTED HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR COSTS AND SAID THERE WAS NO KNOWN PAINT DEFECT FOR MY VEHICLE YEAR/MODEL. THE PAINT IS DEGRADING AT AN ALARMING RATE. THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS 7 YEARS OLD. THE PROBLEM IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I HAVE OWNED 2 OTHER HONDA'S AND NEVER HAD A PAINT ISSUE. THE NUMEROUS WEBSITES AND FACEBOOK GROUPS DEDICATED TO HONDA PAINT PROBLEMS SUGGESTS THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT THAT HONDA HAS CHOSEN NOT TO ADDRESS. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN FLORIDA AND WAS PREVIOUSLY IN ILLINOIS AND MARYLAND. THE CAR WAS TYPICALLY WASHED ONCE A MONTH AT A CAR WASH OR BY HAND AND WAXED AT LEAST TWICE PER YEAR. SINCE THE PROBLEM STARTED, I NO LONGER WASH THE EXTERIOR SINCE THAT EXACERBATES THE PAINT DEGRADATION.
Air bags, Jun 8, 2020
SRS TROUBLE LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF RANDOMLY. *TR