This page covers 6 recalls, 464 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2012 Honda Civic.
25–44 mpg combined
5.3–9.4 L/100km
Compact Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 4 tested variants for this model year.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
For the 2012 Honda Civic, the dominant complaint category is airbags, specifically the passenger airbag warning light staying on. Owners frequently describe the airbag light illuminating and remaining on without an obvious trigger, in many cases the light never clears, and the system gives no further indication of what failed. Steering complaints are the second most-reported pattern, with owners describing electric power steering warnings appearing on the dash, sometimes alongside other system alerts like stability control. A smaller cluster of powertrain complaints describes engine hesitation, stalling under acceleration, and emissions system warnings appearing on the instrument panel, occasionally tied to cylinder misfire codes. The airbag warning light pattern accounts for a notably large share of total complaints, and in several reports the light appeared after the vehicle changed hands, suggesting the underlying condition may predate the most recent ownership.
464
Total Complaints
58
Crash-Related
5
Fire-Related
31
With Injuries
By System
The 2012 Honda Civic has 6 recalls, the most serious being fire and drivetrain risks: fuel line defects that can leak near ignition sources, and a driver's side driveshaft that can separate, cutting drive power or allowing the vehicle to roll away if the parking brake is not set.
The fuel system concerns involve two separate issues: a fuel supply line that may have been formed incorrectly and a misaligned O-ring seal in the fuel feed line, either of which can allow fuel to drip near heat or sparks. The driveshaft separation issue appears across multiple filings, all describing the same underlying problem where the driveshaft was not fully seated and locked during assembly. There is also a steering concern affecting a narrow production window: certain vehicles were built with the wrong steering column assembly, which may not absorb crash energy properly and can raise the risk of injury to the driver in a collision.
At a glance
What can fail
The protective coating on drive shafts may not have been applied correctly during manufacturing, leaving them vulnerable to damage from road salt and contaminants, which could cause the drive shaft to break.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect your drive shafts and replace the left or right drive shaft if needed, at no cost to you.
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Some 2012 Civic vehicles have an incorrect steering column assembly that may not function properly.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the steering column assembly at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's side driveshaft may not be properly seated and secured with its retaining clip. This can cause the driveshaft to separate.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the driver's side driveshaft and install a new one if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's side driveshaft may separate from the CV joint because the snap ring isn't seated properly. This can cause loss of power to the wheels or allow the vehicle to roll even when parked in PARK.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect your driveshaft and replace it if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
An O-ring sealing the fuel feed line connection may be misaligned, allowing a small fuel leak to develop.
What the fix does
The fuel feed line assembly will be replaced at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel supply line may have been made incorrectly, allowing fuel to leak. A leak near an ignition source could cause a fire.
What the fix does
Your dealer will replace the fuel supply line.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
