2012 Honda CIVIC SI

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2012 Honda CIVIC SI has 9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is other problems (33% of all complaints), specifically: when i am taking off in first gear the car makes a loud squeal or grinding noise coming from the engine, thus keeping me from being able to take off anywhere over 5 miles per hour making it unsafe when taking off from a complete stop if around other traffic. i've researched it and apparently this ha.

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

OTHER

3 complaints

33%

• WHEN I AM TAKING OFF IN FIRST GEAR THE CAR MAKES A LOUD SQUEAL OR GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, THUS KEEPING ME FROM BEING ABLE TO TAKE OFF ANYWHERE OVER 5 MILES PER HOUR MAKING IT UNSAFE WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A COMPLETE STOP IF AROUND OTHER TRAFFIC. I'VE RESEARCHED IT AND APPARENTLY THIS HA
• BUZZ OR STATIC HEARD AT OTHER END DURING HFL CALL
• WHEN I STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT AND I TAKE OFF THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLE. CAR ONLY HAS 30,700 MILES

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHEN I AM TAKING OFF IN FIRST GEAR THE CAR MAKES A LOUD SQUEAL OR GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, THUS KEEPING ME FROM BEING ABLE TO TAKE OFF ANYWHERE OVER 5 MILES PER HOUR MAKING IT UNSAFE WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A COMPLETE STOP IF AROUND OTHER TRAFFIC. I'VE RESEARCHED IT AND APPARENTLY THIS HA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

2 complaints

22%

• WHEN EVEN SLIGHTLY DAMP, PASSENGER SEAT INITIATES A DASH WARNING LIGHT ADVISING AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED. THIS OCCURS REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE BEING STATIONARY OR IN MOTION.
• THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR IN THE SEAT WON'T COME ON WHEN MY WIFE SITS IN IT. SHE WEIGHS ABOUT 115 POUNDS. THE SECOND PROBLEM MY CAR IS EXPERIENCING IS ITS BURNING A HUGE AMOUNT OF OIL.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHEN EVEN SLIGHTLY DAMP, PASSENGER SEAT INITIATES A DASH WARNING LIGHT ADVISING AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED. THIS OCCURS REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE BEING STATIONARY OR IN MOTION.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

2 complaints

22%

• WHEN EVEN SLIGHTLY DAMP, PASSENGER SEAT INITIATES A DASH WARNING LIGHT ADVISING AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED. THIS OCCURS REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE BEING STATIONARY OR IN MOTION.
• WHILE DRIVING WITH A PASSENGER RIDING IN THE FRONT SEAT OF THE CAR WITH THEIR SEAT BELT ON SECURELY LOCKED THE CAR BEEPS THEN THE INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON WARNING "NO PASSENGER SEAT BELT IS ON" OR "CHECK SEAT BELT." IT SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SEAT BELT'S SAFETY AS IF THERE IS NO SEAT B

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHEN EVEN SLIGHTLY DAMP, PASSENGER SEAT INITIATES A DASH WARNING LIGHT ADVISING AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED. THIS OCCURS REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE BEING STATIONARY OR IN MOTION.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

1 complaints

11%

• WHEN I AM TAKING OFF IN FIRST GEAR THE CAR MAKES A LOUD SQUEAL OR GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, THUS KEEPING ME FROM BEING ABLE TO TAKE OFF ANYWHERE OVER 5 MILES PER HOUR MAKING IT UNSAFE WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A COMPLETE STOP IF AROUND OTHER TRAFFIC. I'VE RESEARCHED IT AND APPARENTLY THIS HA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

1 complaints

11%

• THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR IN THE SEAT WON'T COME ON WHEN MY WIFE SITS IN IT. SHE WEIGHS ABOUT 115 POUNDS. THE SECOND PROBLEM MY CAR IS EXPERIENCING IS ITS BURNING A HUGE AMOUNT OF OIL.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR IN THE SEAT WON'T COME ON WHEN MY WIFE SITS IN IT. SHE WEIGHS ABOUT 115 POUNDS. THE SECOND PROBLEM MY CAR IS EXPERIENCING IS ITS BURNING A HUGE AMOUNT OF OIL.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 9 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
OTHER: WHEN I AM TAKING OFF IN FIRST GEAR THE CAR MAKES A LOUD SQUEAL OR GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, THUS KEEPING ME FROM BEING ABLE TO TAKE OFF ANYWHERE OVER 5 MILES PER HOUR MAKING IT UNSAFE WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A COMPLETE STOP IF AROUND OTHER TRAFFIC. I'VE RESEARCHED IT AND APPARENTLY THIS HA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: WHEN EVEN SLIGHTLY DAMP, PASSENGER SEAT INITIATES A DASH WARNING LIGHT ADVISING AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED. THIS OCCURS REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE BEING STATIONARY OR IN MOTION.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SEATS/RESTRAINTS: WHEN EVEN SLIGHTLY DAMP, PASSENGER SEAT INITIATES A DASH WARNING LIGHT ADVISING AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED. THIS OCCURS REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE BEING STATIONARY OR IN MOTION.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: WHEN I AM TAKING OFF IN FIRST GEAR THE CAR MAKES A LOUD SQUEAL OR GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, THUS KEEPING ME FROM BEING ABLE TO TAKE OFF ANYWHERE OVER 5 MILES PER HOUR MAKING IT UNSAFE WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A COMPLETE STOP IF AROUND OTHER TRAFFIC. I'VE RESEARCHED IT AND APPARENTLY THIS HA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)