Owner Notification Letter - Our records indicate that a EMISSIONS RECALL has not been completed on this vehicle (Vehicle Identification Number XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX). Under certain circumstances, your vehicle's powertrain control module (PCM) may not properly adjust the air-fuel ratio resulting in your vehicle releasing air pollutants which exceed California and Federal standards. In addition, your vehicle is equipped with an improperly functioning on-board emission-related diagnostic system that violates California and Federal standards and regulations.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Honda Civic engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2012 Honda Civic have filed 14 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 30,000 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 Civic | 183 |
| 2009 Civic | 26 |
| 2010 Civic | 17 |
| 2011 Civic | 10 |
| 2012 Civic (this page) | 14 |
| 2013 Civic | 14 |
| 2014 Civic | 11 |
| 2015 Civic | 12 |
| 2016 Civic | 55 |
When does it fail?
Of the 14 engine complaints filed for the 2012 Honda Civic, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Owner Notification Letter - Under certain circumstances, your vehicle's powertrain control module (PCM) may not properly adjust the air-fuel ratio resulting in your vehicle releasing air pollutants which exceed California and Federal standards. In addition, your vehicle is equipped with an improperly functioning on-board emission-related diagnostic system that violates California and Federal standards and regulations.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - Due to an improper PCM calibration, under certain conditions after starting the engine the PCM cannot properly adjust the air-fuel ratio. As a result, vehicle emissions may exceed applicable standards.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - Due to an improper PCM calibration, after starting the engine the PCM cannot properly adjust the air-fuel ratio under certain conditions and the on-board emission-related diagnostic system may not appropriately detect a malfuction. As a result, vehicle emissions may exceed applicable emissions standards and the vehicle contains an improperly functioning on-board emission-related diagnostic system that violates applicable state and federal standards.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - Today, September 24, 2019, American Honda is announcing a stop sale and emissions recall for certain 2012 Civic vehicles that may be releasing air pollutants that exceed applicable state and federal standards.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of this 2012 Civic report a cluster of engine and drivetrain faults spanning the vehicle's lifespan. The most serious are stalling incidents: multiple owners describe the engine dying when turning left from a stop or accelerating in traffic, particularly after extended idle periods, with some nearly struck by oncoming vehicles. Dealers have found no apparent cause and offered no fix.
Oil consumption is also chronic—owners add 0.5 to 0.75 quart per month between changes despite no visible leaks. At least one AC compressor failed around 64,000 miles with excessive heat and burning smell.
Early on, owners experienced rainwater pooling in the engine compartment through a gap in the hood and grille design; the dealer found this present on all same-model vehicles but did not remedy it. One owner had codes P0497 and P145C persist even after all seven listed evaporative emissions repairs (hoses, wiring, vacuum, canister, purge valve, cap, code clearing) following a recall. Engine noise and shaking at idle, abnormally strong exhaust smell during parking, a clutch squeal on launch with known service bulletins, and one transmission-reversal incident round out the reported failures. Dealership response has been inconsistent—sometimes denying problems exist, sometimes confirming known issues but offering no solutions.
Same Honda Civic engine reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Water ingress into engine compartment
Rainwater seeps through the gap between the front hood lip and grille, pooling in the engine compartment and saturating the hood liner. Owner noted water could damage electrical components and pose a fire risk.
When: 1000 miles; early in ownership (Feb 2012)
Symptoms owners cite: hesitation in third gear; water pooling under hood; wet hood liner; wet electrical connections and plugs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer supervisor checked other vehicles of same model/year and confirmed all exhibited the same design; no work order issued despite the problem
Check engine light and evaporative emissions faults persisting after recall
Following recall 19-106 (cold emissions gas reduction computer update), owner experiences continuous cycling between check engine light and low fuel cap warning, with codes P0497 and P145C. All diagnostic steps completed—hose reconnection, wiring replacement, vacuum service, charcoal canister replacement, canister purge valve replacement, fuel cap replacement, code clearing, and retesting—yet faults persist.
When: After November 6, 2019 recall service; 99,535 miles
Symptoms owners cite: continuous cycling of check engine light and gas cap warning light; no visible fuel system leaks per three smoke tests; vehicle passes emissions inspection despite codes
Codes mentioned: P0497, P145C
Repairs/costs cited: All seven recommended repairs completed by dealer; problem unresolved
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 19-106 (campaign recall 19-106 6bd00 – 2012 civic cold emissions gas reduction) applied; subsequent dealer diagnostics ruled out hoses, wiring, vacuum, charcoal canister, purge valve, and fuel cap
Engine stalling during acceleration and turning
Engine bogs down or stalls unexpectedly when accelerating in traffic and specifically when turning left from a stop, particularly after extended idling. Occurs without braking input. Happens frequently and creates hazardous situations in traffic; multiple owners report nearly being hit by oncoming traffic.
When: During test drive and repeatedly during ownership; most common after extended idle periods
Symptoms owners cite: engine stalling during acceleration; engine hesitation during acceleration; stalling when turning left from a complete stop; stalling after extended idling at traffic lights; no warning lights
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer service found no apparent problems and offered no repairs; one service manager incorrectly attributed the stalling to a throttle-by-wire safety feature, claiming it disengages the accelerator when the brake is touched
Excessive oil consumption
Engine consumes oil at a rapid rate despite proper maintenance and regular oil changes. Owners report adding 0.5 to 0.75 quart per month between changes, requiring topping off three times between service intervals. No oil leaks found on driveway or undercarriage after thorough inspection.
When: Throughout ownership; chronic issue
Symptoms owners cite: oil level dropping between scheduled oil changes; no visible oil leaks
Engine shaking and noise at idle
Engine produces a noticeable shaking and audible noise while the vehicle sits at a stoplight or is parked. Vibration is felt through the steering wheel. Issue is consistent and noticeable at any time of day.
When: Chronic; occurs whenever vehicle is stationary
Symptoms owners cite: visible shaking at idle; engine noise audible at idle; vibration felt through steering wheel at idle
AC compressor failure with hot air and burning odor
Air conditioning system fails, resulting in extremely hot air blowing throughout the cabin and an abnormal burning smell. No warning lights present before failure.
When: Approximately 64,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: hot air throughout cabin; abnormal burning odor; no warning lights illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Air conditioning compressor diagnosed as needing replacement; vehicle not repaired by owner
Strong exhaust smell during idle
Pronounced exhaust odor detected when standing near the vehicle while it is idling or parked. Owner concerned about emissions compliance and potential for fumes to enter the passenger compartment.
When: Noticed soon after purchase in 2014 or 2015
Symptoms owners cite: strong exhaust smell during idle and while parked; smell noticeable when standing next to the vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple exhaust leak inspections performed; no leaks found
Transmission shifting into reverse when accelerating from stop
When stopped at a red light and accelerating forward, the transmission shifts into reverse instead of remaining in Drive. Engine must be shut off and restarted to restore normal forward operation.
When: Occurred twice; second incident approximately two months after first
Symptoms owners cite: transmission shifts into reverse when accelerating from a complete stop; requires engine restart to resume forward driving
Clutch squeal on launch
Audible squeal occurs when releasing the clutch from a stopped position. Owner reports it happens almost every time and is more frequent on slight inclines. Dealership unable to reproduce the fault despite three service visits, but confirms it is a known issue with available service bulletins.
When: Happens consistently during normal driving
Symptoms owners cite: squeal when releasing clutch from a stop; more frequent on slight inclines
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Known issue with available service bulletins; dealership unable to replicate or repair
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
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.
Vehicle frequently stalls when turning left after coming to a stop, very dangerous when oncoming traffic, read numerous other complaints online, Honda needs to fix this problem before someone hurt/killed (if not already, and how would we know because of their negligence to fix this problem despite all the complaints?), and no it is not due to "left foot braking"
Had engine trouble with your 2012 Honda Civic?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2012 Honda Civic?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 14 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 25,000 and 64,000 miles, with the median around 30,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 25,000; a quarter make it past 64,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Honda/Civic.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.