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ProblemsByVinFile / 2012-HONDA-CIVICNHTSA data synced 7 hours ago
2012 · Honda
Honda Civic problems
452 owner complaints and 3 active recall campaigns on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, what a working mechanic would actually do about it.
Reliability score
6.4 / 10
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
0
Critical
3
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2012 Civic?
High-risk ownership
Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open.
Steering: 74 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 33,100–89,687 mi
Electrical system: 48 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 24,000–66,100 mi
Reliability score 6.4/10 — around the segment average
3 recall campaigns on file
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model —
not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
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What owners are saying
recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
2012 Civic· airbags
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.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Honda civic. While driving at speeds below 40 MPH and accelerating, the contact heard a grinding noise coming from the front end of the vehicle. No further information was available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to duplicate the…
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File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Honda is recalling certain model year 2012 Civic passenger vehicles, manufactured from October 26, 2012, through October 30, 2012
The steering column may not have proper energy absorbing characteristics, which could increase the risk of injury during a vehicle crash.
Fix: 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.
Honda is recalling certain model year 2012 civic 2-door and 4-door vehicles manufactured from april 21, 2011, through may 2, 2011
Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Fix: 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.
Honda is recalling certain model year 2012 Honda civic vehicles
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.
Fix: 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.
Under investigation
1 open at NHTSA
EAAir Bags › Frontal · opened September 2021
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. EA21002 on NHTSA →
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.4 out of 10 based on 452 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Honda Civic has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
Should you avoid the 2012 Honda Civic?
The 2012 Honda Civic is a higher-risk ownership prospect. Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open. The record behind that call: Steering: 74 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 33,100–89,687 mi; Electrical system: 48 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 24,000–66,100 mi; Reliability score 6.4/10 — around the segment average; 3 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2012 Honda Civic?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 132 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 57,295 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 57,295 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Honda Civic has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2012 Honda Civic?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 452 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database, last synced 7 hours ago. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Honda/Civic.
Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics.
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