2012 Honda Civic Reliability
The 2012 Honda Civic has 474 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and steering. Compared with other Civic model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Civic's typical year, while the 2011 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
474
NHTSA owner complaints
4
Recall campaigns
58
Complaints citing a crash
5
Complaints citing a fire
2012 Honda Civic complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 model year, filed between 2011 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 153 | 32% |
| Steering | 74 | 16% |
| Electrical system | 64 | 14% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 53 | 11% |
| Service brakes | 41 | 9% |
| Speed control / throttle | 40 | 8% |
| Body structure | 36 | 8% |
| Unknown or other | 35 | 7% |
2012 Honda Civic recalls
4 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2012 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11V288000 | May 18, 2011 | Fuel system — delivery / hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | Honda 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… |
| 12V256000 | Jun 4, 2012 | Powertrain / transmission — driveline / driveshaft | Honda is recalling certain model year 2012 Honda Civic vehicles. During assembly, the process required to seat the drivers side driveshaft and set the retaining clip was not completed. As a result, the driveshaft may separate. |
| 12V548000 | Nov 21, 2012 | Steering — column | Honda 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. |
| 20V770000 | Dec 10, 2020 | Powertrain / transmission — driveline / driveshaft | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Acura ILX, 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid, and 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles with a manual transmission and 2009-2013 Honda Fit vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in… |
How the 2012 compares with nearby Civic years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Civic analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 413 | 8 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2011 | 172 | 9 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2012 (this page) | 474 | 4 | Air bags | Caution |
| 2013 | 329 | 0 | Air bags | Better year |
| 2014 | 298 | 2 | Powertrain / transmission | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2012 Honda Civic on the used market
- 146 of 1,406 2012 Honda Civic listings in CarWhere's lifespan study showed 200,000 miles or more.
What to check on a used 2012 Honda Civic
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 4 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2012 Honda Civic can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2012 Honda Civic reliability FAQ
Is the 2012 Honda Civic reliable?
The 2012 Honda Civic has 474 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and steering. Compared with other Civic model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Civic's typical year, while the 2011 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2012 Honda Civic problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Honda Civic are air bags (153), steering (74), electrical system (64), powertrain / transmission (53). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2012 Honda Civic have recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2012 Honda Civic, including 11V288000 (fuel system — delivery / hoses, lines/piping, and fittings) and 12V256000 (powertrain / transmission — driveline / driveshaft). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2012 Honda Civic compare with the 2011 and 2013 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2011 has 172 complaints and 9 recalls (solid); the 2013 has 329 complaints and 0 recalls (better year). The 2012 has 474 complaints and 4 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2012 Honda Civic?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Honda Civic research
Other Honda Civic model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2012 Civic, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.