NHTSA vehicle safety data
2012 Honda Civic Recalls, Ratings & Complaints
The 2012 Honda Civic has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 456 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Honda dealer.
NHTSA also files the 2012 Honda Civic separately as Civic Hybrid — 1 recall campaign.
NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2012 Honda Civic, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
2012 Honda Civic owner complaints
Owners have filed 456 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Honda Civic, describing incidents dated May 20, 2011 to September 14, 2026.
Most-cited components
- Air Bags 149 complaints
- Steering 74 complaints
- Electrical System 60 complaints
- Power Train 49 complaints
- Service Brakes 39 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 38 complaints
Of the 456 complaints on file, 55 report a crash and 5 a fire; across all 456 complaints, owners report 41 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Newest complaints
ODI #11770850 · Filed
Dear NHTSA Vehicle Safety Complaint Team, I am submitting this complaint regarding a recurring and unresolved hybrid-system issue with my 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid. Vehicle Information Make/Model: 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid VIN: [XXX] Current Mileage: Approximately 144,000 miles Diagnostic Trouble Code…
ODI #11765427 · Filed
Failed braking after repairing 9/14/26, Sun Auto did not bleed my brakes after installing front pads and rear shoes. When I brought this to the Service writer's attention on 9/18/26 his response was that I did not purchase the brake fluid service. Yes an independent Brake shop inspected and resolved…
ODI #11747440 · Filed
We were not injured. We fixed the problem before we did get hurt..message came up.. “Check airbag system”. We had t replace our driver’s side airbag at the cost of over $1,500.
Owner-reported
2012 Honda Civic mileage at failure
310 of the 456 complaints on file for the 2012 Honda Civic give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.
| Component | Median | Middle half | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | Median 45,000 miles | Middle half 15,000–85,000 miles | Based on 92 complaints |
| Power Train | Median 20,000 miles | Middle half 2,000–80,000 miles | Based on 40 complaints |
| Vehicle Speed Control | Median 10,000 miles | Middle half 900–25,000 miles | Based on 30 complaints |
A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.
Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.
These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.
Most complaints NHTSA received since May 17, 2021 give no mileage. So that they aren't undercounted, each one received since then that gives a mileage also stands in for those that gave none, which can put a component's median above most of the mileages it is based on.
Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out
NHTSA defect investigations
NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2012 Honda Civic in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
- Engineering Analysis EA21-002: Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Open since September 17, 2021
- Engineering Analysis EA19-001: Electrical overstress
Closed September 19, 2024
Incorrect Steering Column Installed
NHTSA #12V548000 · Steering — Column · NHTSA notice
Reported November 21, 2012 · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Potentially affected: 157 vehicles
Honda campaign S69 · Owners notified December 10, 2012 · Vehicles built October 26, 2012 – October 30, 2012 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
The steering column may not have proper energy absorbing characteristics, which could increase the risk of injury during a vehicle crash.
Manufacturer remedy
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.
Notes
Honda's campaign recall number is S69.Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
LEFT (DRIVER'S SIDE) DRIVESHAFT
NHTSA #12V256000 · Power Train — Driveline — Driveshaft · NHTSA notice
Reported June 4, 2012 · HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.)
Potentially affected: 50,190 vehicles
Honda campaign S40 · Owners notified June 21, 2012
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
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.
Manufacturer remedy
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.
Notes
HONDA'S RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS S40.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.
FUEL FEED LINE
NHTSA #11V288000 · Fuel System, Other — Delivery — Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings · NHTSA notice
Reported May 18, 2011 · HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.)
Potentially affected: 1,156 vehicles
Honda campaign R79 · Owners notified May 27, 2011 · Vehicles built April 21, 2011 – May 2, 2011 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Manufacturer remedy
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.
Notes
HONDA'S SAFETY RECALL NO. R79.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .
Other Honda Civic model years
Check your 2012 Honda Civic VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Honda Civic at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Check a Honda VIN