Home · 2012 Honda Civic · Complaints

What 454 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Honda Civic

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (454)Crash / fire / injury (63)Airbags (149)Steering (74)Electrical system (59)Transmission & drivetrain (49)Brakes (38)Speed control (38)Body & structure (35)Engine (32)Fuel system (25)Seat belts (14)

Newest first · 454 complaints · page 8 of 19

Jul 2, 2018AirbagsCrash

FRONT END COLLISION. 30 MPH. RAN INTO STOPPED CAR AHEAD. AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI 11105044

Jun 13, 2018BrakesCrash

MY CAR (MANUAL) WAS PARKED IN FIRST GEAR ON AN INCLINE IN MY JOBSITE PARKING LOT. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED. WITHIN 1-2HRS IT ROLLED BACK NEARLY HITTING MY PLACE OF BUSINESS AND AN AC UNIT. IT IS ALL ON CAMERA. IT ROLLED SOME, THEN STOPPED, THEN AGAIN ROLLED AND STOPPED. IT HAS NEVER DONE THIS IN THE PAST BUT I TYPICALLY HAVE THE E-BRAKE ENGAGED. DAYS BEFORE, I WAS SITTING IN MY SAME VEHICLE AFTER IT WAS PARKED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND IT JERKED SUDDENLY. IT DID NOT ROLL BACK AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11101596

Jun 5, 2018Brakes

I AM EXPERIENCING VERY RAPID REAR BRAKE PAD WEAR ON MY CIVIC. IT IS A 2012 MODEL, AND IS DRIVEN QUITE NORMALLY AS A COMMUTER VEHICLE TO AND FROM WORK DAILY. IN 2015 AT ABOUT 60K MILES, THE REAR PADS WERE WORN TO 0%. I WAS SURPRISED, BUT REPLACED THEM THEN. JUST RECENTLY, AT ABOUT 80K MILES, I AM JUST HAD MY MECHANIC REPORT THEY'RE BACK DOWN TO ABOUT 10% LIFE AND NEEDING REPLACEMENT SOON. THIS IS UNNATURALLY FAST, IS EXPENSIVE, AND UNSAFE AS MECHANICS AND CONSUMERS ARE USED TO REAR BRAKES WEARING MUCH MORE SLOWLY THAN FRONT BRAKES. IN THE SAME PERIOD OF TIME, THE FRONT BRAKES ARE STILL THE ORIGINAL PADS, AND ARE SHOWING ABOUT 35% LIFE REMAINING - THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN REPLACED. I'VE READ AROUND ON FORUMS ONLINE, AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR OTHER CIVIC OWNERS.

NHTSA ODI 11099981

May 17, 2018Body & structure

SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ON 5/16/2017 @ 645 AM. TEMPERATURE WAS UPPER 60S WITH CALM WEATHER. THE GLASS COVERED THE FRONT SEATS OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11096575

May 16, 2018Airbags

SINCE THE FIRST WEEK I BOUGHT MY HONDA DASH SCREEN READ THAT "PASSANGER AIRBAG IS OFF". I NOTIFIED THE WORKERS AT THE HONDA SERVICE DEPARTMENT SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I WOULD GET IT SERVICED. THEY STATED THAT IT WASN'T ANYTHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT, SOMETIMES THAT HAPPENS. IT DOESN'T SHOW UP ALL THE TIME BUT EVERY NOW AND THEN IT'LL POP UP. I HOPE I WON'T EVER HAVE TO FIND OUT IF IT IS PROPERLY WORKING IN A CAR INCIDENT BUT IT IS A CONCERN OF MINE IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN THAT THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT WORK. WHEN IT DOES OCCUR IT OCCURS WHEN I'M DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11096431

Apr 30, 2018AirbagsCrash2 injuries

CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON BRAKES SUDDENLY AND I COLLIDED WITH THE REAR OF OTHER CAR IN A FORWARD MOTION. THE AIRBAG WAS DEPLOYED AND MY WRIST WAS BROKEN.THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITH SUCH FORCE THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED. THE INSIDE OF THE CAR WAS SMOKEY FROM THE CHEMICALS OF THE AIRBAG, I HAD WHEEZING FOR 2 DAYS FOLLOWING ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11091064

Apr 4, 2018AirbagsSeat belts

THE AIR BAG LIGHT TURN ON FOR NO REASON AND PASSAGES AIR BAG NEVER ACTIVATES. I TOOK MY CAR WITH A MECHANIC AND THE DIAGNOSTIC WAS THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT.

NHTSA ODI 11083302

Apr 3, 2018Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

THE CAR RANDOMLY DISPLAYS A CHECK EMISSIONS SYSTEM AND CHECK TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS ERROR ON THE DASHBOARD WHILE DRIVING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE "D" INDICATOR ON THE DISPLAY FLASHES. WHEN THE CHECK TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS ERROR DISPLAYS THE CAR DOES NOT SHIFT AS IT SHOULD. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION, AND NO ERROR CODES CAME UP ON HIS COMPUTER. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID A SOFTWARE UPDATE IS NEEDED. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WEAR AND TEAR ON THE ENGINE AND/OR TRANSMISSION DUE TO THESE ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 11082690

Apr 3, 2018Steering

DRIVING BACK HOME FROM WORK, CHECK POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON. DIFFICULT TO DRIVE HOME. NEXT DAY I STARTED MY CAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOT DISPLAYING.

NHTSA ODI 11083103

Mar 25, 2018

WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR ARM REST IS LEANED ON, THE DASHBOARD SIMULATES "DOOR OPEN" AND THE INTERIOR LIGHT COMES ON. THIS HAPPENS WHEN SITTING STILL OR MOVING.

NHTSA ODI 11081155

Feb 27, 2018Steering

I LEFT THE HOUSE TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER FROM DAYCARE. LEFT THE HOUSE TO THE DAYCARE AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. WHEN I LEFT THE DAYCARE, STARTED THE CAR EVERYTHING WAS GOOD UNTIL I WENT TO TURN THE WHEEL TO GET ONTO THE MAIN ROAD AND I RECEIVED THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH THAT SAID "CHECK POWER STEERING SYSTEM". NEEDLESS TO SAY, MY POWER STEERING WAS GONE. I BACKED UP, WITH TURNING THE WHEEL HARD, AND TURNED THE CAR OFF HOPING IT WAS FLUKE. TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND SAME ISSUE. SINCE I DON'T LIVE TOO FAR FROM THE DAYCARE, I DID DRIVE HOME WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. PULLED IN DRIVEWAY AND TURNED CAR OFF AND ON A FEW TIMES AND STILL AN ISSUE. DROVE TO LOCAL MAINTENANCE SHOP TO INVESTIGATE- THEY DIDN'T GET TO IT UNTIL NEXT DAY.....NO ISSUES WHEN THEY STARTED THE CAR! APPEARS OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. I MAY TAKE TO LOCAL HONDA DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSIS IF ISSUE PERSISTS, BUT I DON'T WANT POWER STEERING TO GO ON THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY WHEN HITTING 65 MILES / HOUR! BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR HONDA TO INVESTIGATE.

NHTSA ODI 11075243

Feb 12, 2018Steering

STARTED CAR IN MORNING AND A LIGHT CAME ON TO "CHECK POWER STEERING SYSTEM". BROUGHT CAR IN TO BE CHECKED AND POWERS STEERING RACK OF PINION IS MISSING A PIECE (WAS EITHER NEVER IN PLACE OR FELL OUT). HONDA DEALERSHIP UNWILLING TO COVER ANY COST BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 11072376

Feb 10, 2018Airbags

FROM THE TIME I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IT'S BEEN SHOWING THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND THE DEALER STAYED IT'S THE SENSORS BEHIND THE SEAT THAT ARE DEFECTIVE. THEY REPLACED THE SENSORS AND CONTINUED HAPPENING DIDN'T WORRY ABOUT IT BECAUSE CAR ALWAYS PASSED STATE INSPECTION. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 11072117

Feb 9, 2018BrakesCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND CAUSED IRRITATION TO THE FACE. NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY WHO ADVISED HIM TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED FOR THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DIAMOND VALLEY HONDA (300 CARRIAGE CIR, HEMET, CA 92545 (888) 794-1620) WAS CONTACTED, BUT DECLINED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE BODY DAMAGE AND AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE AND THE BRAKE LINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO BEING DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

NHTSA ODI 11071957

Feb 8, 2018SteeringElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A POWER STEERING AND ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING COLUMN NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO COST AND BELIEVED THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. THE HONDA MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (MILLENNIUM HONDA, 286 N FRANKLIN ST, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550, (516) 481-2800) WERE CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT OF NO OPEN RECALLS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. *TT *TR

NHTSA ODI 11071839

Feb 1, 2018

THE TPMS ALERT IS ALWAYS ON EVEN THOUGH THE TIRES ARE INFLATED AT THE APPROPRIATE PSI. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO HONDA NUMEROUS TIMES TO GET THE TPMS RESET SO THAT IT WOULD TURN ON ONLY WHEN NECESSARY. BECAUSE THE TPMS ALERT IS ALWAYS ON, I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE TIRE IS LOW ON AIR PRESSURE. I TOOK IT TO HONDA MULTIPLE TIMES TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE WITH HONDA CIVICS AND THAT TO GET IT FIXED, IT WOULD COST $200-300 WITH THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE TPMS CAN ACT UP LIKE THIS AGAIN. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE I ONCE DROVE FOR MILES AND MILES WITHOUT KNOWING THAT ONE OF MY TIRES WAS AT 14 PSI. I HAD NO IDEA THAT MY TIRES WERE SO FLAT BECAUSE AS MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, THE TPMS ALERT IS ALWAYS ON. HONDA NEEDS TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS IF THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AMONGST HONDA CIVICS AND GET THIS ISSUE FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 11066555

Jan 29, 2018Steering

I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY YESTERDAY WITH 2 OF MY TODDLER KIDS IN MY HONDA. SUDDENLY THE POWER STEERING LIGHT TURNED ON AND IMMEDIATELY THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND LIKE DEAD. I WAS VERY SCARED AND TRY TO SLOW DOWN. BUT IT IS STILL VERY EXTREME DIFFICULT TO TURN. I TURNED ON THE DOUBLE FLASHING LIGHT AND SLOWED MOVED TO THE NEARBY GAS STATION AND ASKED MY INSURANCE TO TOW MY CAR TO DEALER. I AM 20WEEKS PREGNANT SO I HAVE 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THE SECOND DAY THE DEALER CHECKED EVERYTHING BUT TOLD ME THEY CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH IT. I FOUND A LOT OF COMPLAINT FILED ONLINE WITH 2012 HONDA CIVIC AND THERE IS A RECALL WITH CERTAIN 2012 HONDA CIVIC THAT WAS MADE LATE THAT YEAR. I CALLED HONDA INC AND CHECKED MY VIN, I WAS INFORMED THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY CAR. I EXPLAINED THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO OTHER CASES THEY MADE RECALL ON ABOUT THE STEERING SYSTEM AND THIS IS VERY LIKELY DUE TO THEIR MANUFACTURE MISTAKE AS I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR WITHOUT ANY ISSUE IN 5 YEARS AND NO ANY ACCIDENT OR INJURY. THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THE CAR DEALER ALSO INFORM ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BUT HAVE ME DRIVE CAREFULLY AND THEY TOLD ME THIS CAN HAPPEN AGAIN!!!. I AM PREGNANT AND HAVE 2 LITTLE CHILDREN I SENT TO SCHOOL WITH DAILY. I CANNOT HAVE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN IN A TRAGIC ACCIDENT.!!!

NHTSA ODI 11065765

Jan 27, 2018SteeringBrakes

THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED ON THIS CAR TWICE. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT BOTH TIMES WERE IN A PARKING LOT AND MY DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. AT THE SAME TIME THE BRAKES WENT OUT THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AS WELL AND SHE HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY TURNING THE CAR AS WELL AS STOPPING IT. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME, SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING PLACE ONE TIME AND THE SECOND TIME WAS ABLE TO LET THE CAR ROLL FORWARD IN TO AN EMPTY PARKING SPOT WHERE SHE PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE.

NHTSA ODI 11065448

Jan 18, 2018Airbags

TAKATA RECALL ON AIRBAGS ASSOCIATED WITH MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11063494

Jan 7, 2018Airbags

EVERY SO OFTEN THE AIRBAG MESSEGE ON MY CAR COME SUP. IT SAYS THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBACK IS NOT WORKING OR DISABLED. SOME DAYS THESE IS PROMPTED ON MY CARS DASH BOARDS. ON SAME DAYS IT DOES NOT SHOW UP

NHTSA ODI 11061048

Jan 7, 2018Airbags

MY CHECK AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND OFF AGAIN FOR MONTHS. AFTER SEVERAL VISITS TO THE DEALER THEY DETERMINED THE INFLATOR IS THE ISSUE AND I NEED TO PAY FOR IT AS IT IS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. I COMPLETELY DISAGREE WITH THIS AND FEEL IT IS IMPACTED BY THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11061057

Jan 5, 2018Airbags

TAKATA RECALL ....I RECEIVED A NOTICED IN THE MAIL ABOUT THIS RECALL AND I LOOKED INTO IT. LOW AND BEHOLD MY VIN# WAS ONE OF THE ONES THAT WAS TIED TO THE TAKATA RECALL. IF THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE IN ANYWAY I WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE CORRECTED BEFORE THE PROBLEM GETS OUT OF HAND.

NHTSA ODI 11060851

Dec 31, 2017Airbags

TAKATA RECALL, THE AIRBAGS TURN OFF WHEN GOING DOWNHILL ON A STREET AND HIGHWAY WHEN TRYING TO USE THE BRAKES AND WHILE NOT USING THE BRAKE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION. THIS CONTINUES TO OCCUR AND HAS HAPPENED MORE THEN ONCE.

NHTSA ODI 11057796

Dec 28, 2017Airbags

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SIGN KEEPS COMING OUT TO TELL THE DRIVER THE AIRBAG IS DISABLED SOMETIMES WHEN THERE IS A PERSON WHO SITS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO RECEIVED A RECALL OF MONTHS AGO BUT THE DEALER KEEPS SAYING EVERYTHING IS FINE NO RECALL ON THE LIST. IT HAPPENED SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED IN 2012 AND IT HAPPENS VERY OFTEN RECENTLY.

NHTSA ODI 11057255

Dec 19, 2017Airbags

TAKATA RECALL...*BF UPDATED 9/19/18*JB

NHTSA ODI 11055476

← NewerOlder →

Working with the data? Download all 454 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Honda Civic verdict →