MotorDeets

2012 Honda Civic: Recalls, Problems & MPG

Here are the deets on the 2012 Honda Civic: 3 recalls, 455 owner complaints and up to 31 mpg combined.

3vehicle recalls
455owner complaints
55mention a crash
31best combined mpg
2012 Honda Civic
Photo: MercurySable99 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Representative photo of this generation; trim may differ.

Recalls

3 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.

Fuel system (other) Vehicle recall #11V288000 · 2011 · 1,156 vehicles

What's wrong: 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.

Why it matters: Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.

The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel feed line assembly free of charge. The safety recall began on May 27, 2011.

Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #12V256000 · 2012 · 50,190 vehicles

What's wrong: During assembly, the process required to seat the driverâ’s side driveshaft and set the retaining clip was not completed. As a result, the driveshaft May separate.

Why it matters: 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 â“park┠position, increasing the risk of crash or pedestrian injury.

The 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.

Steering Vehicle recall #12V548000 · 2012 · 157 vehicles

What's wrong: These vehicles were assembled with the incorrect steering column assembly.

Why it matters: The steering column May not have proper energy absorbing characteristics, which could increase the risk of injury during a vehicle crash.

The 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.

Most-reported problems

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 5 mention a fire, 41 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.

Airbags149
Steering74
Electrical59
Transmission & drivetrain49
Speed control / throttle38
Body & structure35
Brakes35
Engine32

What owners describe

The 2012 Honda Civic has 455 owner complaints, ranking #11 of 37 Civic model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 432). Complaints peaked in 2015 (49 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 30,150 miles. Neighboring years: 2011 (169 complaints, 9 recalls), 2013 (319 complaints, 0 recalls).

Engines & fuel economy (EPA)

EngineTransmissionDriveCityHwyComb.Fuel
1.8 L 4-cylAutomatic 5-spdFront-Wheel Drive283831Regular
1.8 L 4-cylManual 5-spdFront-Wheel Drive283531Regular
2.4 L 4-cylManual 6-spdFront-Wheel Drive223125Premium

Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.

Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2012 Honda Civic.

eManualOnline Download (PDF), keep forever

Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.

Most $25–$78, one-time
Check 2012 Honda Civic manual
Mitchell 1 DIY Online access, factory-level data

Pro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.

From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yr
Check 2012 Honda Civic manual
ALLDATAdiy Online access, factory OEM info

OEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.

From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yr
Check 2012 Honda Civic manual
Haynes Print book or AllAccess online

Step-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.

Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/mo
Check 2012 Honda Civic manual

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FAQ

Does the 2012 Honda Civic have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 3 vehicle recalls for the 2012 Honda Civic. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What are the most common 2012 Honda Civic problems?

Owners have filed 455 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (149), steering (74), electrical (59).

What gas mileage does the 2012 Honda Civic get?

EPA ratings run up to 31 mpg combined (1.8 L, Automatic 5-spd), across 3 engine and transmission combos.

Where can I get a 2012 Honda Civic repair manual?

eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.

Other Civic years

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