Is the 2012 Honda Civic a bad year?
455 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Civic years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2012 Honda Civic are in line with other Civic years. Air bags and steering stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2012 Civic owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 43,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 149 (33%) | 16k–83k miles · around this mileage | — |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 74 (16%) | 32k–83k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Electrical system | 60 (13%) | 25k–67k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 49 (11%) | 2k–64k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Brakes | 39 (9%) | 13k–44k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Body structure | 35 (8%) | 8k–78k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 25 (5%) | 3k–45k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Visibility and wipers | 10 (2%) | 4k–43k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 37 (8%) | 1k–25k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Engine | 36 (8%) | 2k–33k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seats | 12 (3%) | 5k–34k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seat belts | 14 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 10 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Stability control | 10 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 43,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 455 complaints: 55 mention a crash · 5 mention a fire · 28 report an injury · 19 say the car was towed.
9 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
The car randomly displays a check emissions system and check transmission systems error on the dashboard while driving.
My wife came to a stop at our security gate, used the remote for the gate but it wouldn't open. She backed up about 15 feet to turn around.
When making a left turn at a busy and dangerous intersection I lost power for several seconds. I managed to pull onto the shoulder until the car accelerated again.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 43,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2012 Honda Civic: 3
These vehicles were assembled with the incorrect steering column assembly. The steering column may not have proper energy absorbing characteristics, which could increase the risk of injury during a vehicle crash.
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. 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 park position, increasing the risk of crash or pedestrian injury.
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. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Honda: 59
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2012 Honda Civic. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The oil consumption is more than the customer expects; the engine oil level is low on the dipstick sooner than expected based on overall vehicle usage…
The MIL comes on with one of these DTCs: P2646/P2651 (Rocker arm oil pressure switch circuit low voltage)
There is a chirping from the engine area while driving on rough roads in hot weather
When accelerating from a stop, in some vehicles, noise is heard from clutch while engaged in 1st gear, and sounds like a squeaking, or groaning, or grinding…
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Electrical overstress
Neighbouring years
2011 Civic: 169 complaints, keep it · 2013 Civic: 319 complaints, keep it.
Every Honda Civic year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Civic years side by side
Other Honda models: Honda Accord · Honda Accord Hybrid · Honda CR-V · Honda CR-V Hybrid · Honda Civic Hybrid · Honda Civic Si · Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid · Honda Crosstour · Honda Element · Honda Fit · Honda GL1800 · Honda HR-V · Honda Insight · Honda Odyssey · Honda Passport · Honda Pilot · Honda Prologue · Honda Ridgeline · Honda VTX1300. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2012 Honda Civic a bad year?
455 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Civic years. At 43,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Honda Civic?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (149), steering (74), electrical system (60), transmission and drivetrain (49), brakes (39).
How many recalls does the 2012 Honda Civic have?
3 recall campaigns list this model year: Steering (NHTSA 12V-548), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 12V-256), Fuel system (NHTSA 11V-288). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.