2012 Honda CIVIC

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Honda CIVIC has 618 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 7.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (24% of all complaints), specifically: hi, i would like to bring to your notice in regards to my 2012 honda civic cpe. the issue is with passenger side airbags. in january when one of my friends 9 yr old son sat in front passenger seat for 2 mile ride, the passenger side air bag sign showed the airbags are off. i can see the airbag l. ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.

5 fire reports 71 crash reports 39 injuries

618

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

7.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

147 complaints

24%

• HI, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR NOTICE IN REGARDS TO MY 2012 HONDA CIVIC CPE. THE ISSUE IS WITH PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS. IN JANUARY WHEN ONE OF MY FRIENDS 9 YR OLD SON SAT IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FOR 2 MILE RIDE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SIGN SHOWED THE AIRBAGS ARE OFF. I CAN SEE THE AIRBAG L
• I WAS TRYING TO BACK INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH MY 8 MONTH OLD, 2012 HONDA CIVIC. AS I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL TO PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND BEFORE I COULD STEP ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AT A TREMENDOUS RATE OF SPEED, JUMPED A CURB AND WENT STRAIGHT INTO A BRICK BUILDING. THE CA
• AT APPROXIMATELY 7:45 A.M. I ARRIVED AT WORK AND TURNED LEFT INTO PARKING SPACE TO PARK. I WAS DRIVING A 2012 HONDA CIVIC, WHICH WAS LESS THAN ONE MONTH OLD. THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR, JUMPED THE PARKING BUMPER AND STRUCK A CONCRETE WALL. THE DRIVER'S AIR B

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 34 crashes

“HI, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR NOTICE IN REGARDS TO MY 2012 HONDA CIVIC CPE. THE ISSUE IS WITH PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS. IN JANUARY WHEN ONE OF MY FRIENDS 9 YR OLD SON SAT IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FOR 2 MILE RIDE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SIGN SHOWED THE AIRBAGS ARE OFF. I CAN SEE THE AIRBAG L”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

74 complaints

12%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2012 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TOWARD THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED ON TWO OCCASIONS TO REPAIR THE ALIGNMENT FAILURE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT
• I GOT INTO A ACCIDENT LAST MONDAY, FEB. 13, 2012, LIKE AROUND 8 OR 9 IN THE MORNING. I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN WHEN MY CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL EVEN THOUGH I WAS ALREADY STEPPING ON THE BRAKES AND I WAS TRYING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT BUT THE CAR JUST KEPT GOING TO THE RIGHT UNTIL I HI
• MY 2012 HONDA CIVIC LX COUPE HAS EXTREMELY VAGUE STEERING FEEL, CAUSING EXCESSIVE AND REPEATED CORRECTION TO MAINTAIN PROPER COURSE. THE CAR ALSO VEERS TO THE RIGHT ON A REGULAR BASIS CAUSING ME TO DIRECT THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS THE LEFT TO CONTINUE DRIVING STRAIGHT. I HAVE HAD A HONDA DEALER ADD

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2012 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TOWARD THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED ON TWO OCCASIONS TO REPAIR THE ALIGNMENT FAILURE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

59 complaints

10%

• HONDA CIVIC HYBRID 2012 BOUGHT JUST AFTER SIX DAYS FAILED AFTER DOING A LEFT TURN. ALL WARNING LIGHTS LIT FROM THE DASHBOARD. RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME BUT FAILED TO START NEXT DAY. TOWED TO THE NEAREST HONDA DEALER. SERVICE GUY AFTER CALLING HONDA HEADQUARTERS DETERMINE IT WAS THE AB
• WHILE I WAS DIVING ON 1ST OCTOBER NIGHT, MY DASH LIGHT WAS SUDDENLY TURNED OFF. IN HONDA CIVIC SPEEDOMETER IS DIGITAL, SO IT WAS TURNED OFF TOO. SO I WAS DRIVING WITHOUT CHECKING THE SPEED. LATER I TOOK MY CAR TO A NEAREST HONDA DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BUT THEY REFUSED TO DIAGNOSE. I REPO
• BATTERY DRAINS OFF AFTER CAR SETS FOR A FEW DAYS. WILL START UP NORMALLY BUT THE BATTERY LOOSES CHARGE AS YOU DRIVE EVEN THOUGH THE ALTERNATOR IS PUTTING OUT CHARGE. AFTER YOU STOP THE CAR AND TURN IT OFF IT WILL NOT START AGAIN. CAR STUTTERS AT STOPS DUE TO LOW BATTERY. RISK THAT THE BATTERY CA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“HONDA CIVIC HYBRID 2012 BOUGHT JUST AFTER SIX DAYS FAILED AFTER DOING A LEFT TURN. ALL WARNING LIGHTS LIT FROM THE DASHBOARD. RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME BUT FAILED TO START NEXT DAY. TOWED TO THE NEAREST HONDA DEALER. SERVICE GUY AFTER CALLING HONDA HEADQUARTERS DETERMINE IT WAS THE AB”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

50 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING INTO A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD AS THE BRAKE WAS DISENGAGED. ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING UPHILL AND RELEASING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SURGED BACKWARD. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE F
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BECOME EXTREMELY RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SHIFTING WHEN THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE AND AN ENGINEER ALS
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC EXL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THERE WAS A TWO SECOND DELAYED RESPONSE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFAC

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING INTO A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD AS THE BRAKE WAS DISENGAGED. ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING UPHILL AND RELEASING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SURGED BACKWARD. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE F”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

38 complaints

• HONDA CIVIC HYBRID 2012 BOUGHT JUST AFTER SIX DAYS FAILED AFTER DOING A LEFT TURN. ALL WARNING LIGHTS LIT FROM THE DASHBOARD. RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME BUT FAILED TO START NEXT DAY. TOWED TO THE NEAREST HONDA DEALER. SERVICE GUY AFTER CALLING HONDA HEADQUARTERS DETERMINE IT WAS THE AB
• WHILE GOING UP A HILL ON MY DRIVEWAY THE VSA (VEHICLE STABILITY ASSISTANT) WAS ACTIVATED ON MY 2012 HONDA CIVIC DUE TO SLIPPAGE IN SNOW. THE VSA MODULATOR GOT STUCK AND THE VSA, ABS AND POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHTS INSTANTLY TURNED ON. UPON TURNING THE CAR OFF THE VSA MODULATOR REMAINED ON PRODUCIN
• 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 H

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 13 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 618 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: HI, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR NOTICE IN REGARDS TO MY 2012 HONDA CIVIC CPE. THE ISSUE IS WITH PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS. IN JANUARY WHEN ONE OF MY FRIENDS 9 YR OLD SON SAT IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FOR 2 MILE RIDE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SIGN SHOWED THE AIRBAGS ARE OFF. I CAN SEE THE AIRBAG L
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2012 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TOWARD THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED ON TWO OCCASIONS TO REPAIR THE ALIGNMENT FAILURE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: HONDA CIVIC HYBRID 2012 BOUGHT JUST AFTER SIX DAYS FAILED AFTER DOING A LEFT TURN. ALL WARNING LIGHTS LIT FROM THE DASHBOARD. RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME BUT FAILED TO START NEXT DAY. TOWED TO THE NEAREST HONDA DEALER. SERVICE GUY AFTER CALLING HONDA HEADQUARTERS DETERMINE IT WAS THE AB
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING INTO A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD AS THE BRAKE WAS DISENGAGED. ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING UPHILL AND RELEASING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SURGED BACKWARD. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE F
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)