2012 Honda Civic problems and recalls

Owners have filed 454 complaints on the 2012 Honda Civic, and NHTSA has issued 3 recalls. The most cited component is the Air Bags (149 complaints).

454
Complaints
3
Recalls
55
Crash reports
5
Fire reports
41
Injuries
115.3
Severity index

Severity index 115.3 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 115.3p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 8 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 94% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Air BagsAir Bags: 149 complaints (32.8%)149 33%SteeringSteering: 74 complaints (16.3%)74 16%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 59 complaints (13.0%)59 13%Power TrainPower Train: 49 complaints (10.8%)49 11%Service BrakesService Brakes: 38 complaints (8.4%)38 8%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 38 complaints (8.4%)38 8%StructureStructure: 35 complaints (7.7%)35 8%EngineEngine: 32 complaints (7.0%)32 7%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
AIR BAGS14932.8%
STEERING7416.3%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5913.0%
POWER TRAIN4910.8%
SERVICE BRAKES388.4%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL388.4%
STRUCTURE357.7%
ENGINE327.0%

Complaints filed per year

024492011: 92012: 442013: 462014: 442015: 492016: 302017: 352018: 432019: 402020: 302021: 212022: 102023: 162024: 162025: 142026: 7 (partial year)1112131415491617181920212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20119
201244
201346
201444
201549
201630
201735
201843
201940
202030
202121
202210
202316
202416
202514
2026 (year to date)7
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (46 against 61).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
12V54800021/11/2012STEERING:COLUMNHonda 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.
11V28800018/05/2011FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGSHONDA 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 LEA
12V25600004/06/2012POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFTHONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 HONDA CIVIC VEHICLES. DURING ASSEMBLY, THE PROCESS REQUIRED TO SEAT THE DRIVER’S SIDE DRIVESHAFT AND SET THE RETAINING CLIP WAS NOT COMPLETED. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVESHAFT MAY SEPARATE.

Other Honda Civic model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 11 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.