2012 Honda Civic
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Airbags & Restraints
Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 155 of 472 complaints (33%) mention it.
Complaints filed rose from 170 in 2011 to 472 in 2012.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | vs. 2012 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 1,500–3,250 | 1,500–3,250 | 1,400–3,100 | 1,400–3,100 | 1,400–3,100 | |
| Combined MPG | 24–42 | 24–41 | 25–44 | 25–44 | 25–44 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 21–40 / 29–45 | 21–39 / 29–43 | 22–43 / 31–44 | 22–43 / 31–44 | 22–43 / 31–45 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 212–370 | 217–370 | 202–355 | 200–354 | 202–352 | |
| Complaints filed | 411 | 170 | 472 | 329 | 295 | |
| Recalls issued | 8 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 32 | 22 | 58 | 29 | 31 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4 | |
| Injuries reported | 33 | 20 | 47 | 34 | 30 | |
| Deaths reported | 47 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2012 Honda Civic have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2012 Honda Civic?
Airbags & Restraints: 155 of 472 NHTSA complaints (33%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Honda Civic get?
EPA rates it 25–44 MPG combined across 6 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2012 Honda Civic?
EPA estimates $1,400–$3,100 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (6)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 5-spd | 4 | 1.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 28 mpg | 38 mpg | 31 mpg | $2,000 | 287 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 1.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 28 mpg | 35 mpg | 31 mpg | $2,000 | 287 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 22 mpg (low) | 31 mpg (low) | 25 mpg (low) | $3,100 (high) | 355 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic 5-spd | 4 | 1.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 28 mpg | 39 mpg | 32 mpg | $1,950 | 278 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 1.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 43 mpg (high) | 44 mpg (high) | 44 mpg (high) | $1,400 (low) | 202 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic 5-spd | 4 | 1.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | CNG | Compact Cars | 27 mpg | 38 mpg | 31 mpg | $1,450 | 227 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 39 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 53 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 28 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical | 64 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 48 | 15 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Steering | 74 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 18 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 155 | 37 | 0 | 30 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 40 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 50 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 19 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Other | 39 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (4)
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT · Campaign 20V770000 · Dec 11, 2020
Defect: 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 Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The drive shafts' protective coating may not have been applied properly during manufacturing, making it more susceptible to damage from road salt, or other contaminants, and potentially cause it to break.
Consequence: A broken drive shaft may cause a sudden loss of drive power. The vehicle could also roll away if the parking brake has not been applied before the vehicle has been exited. Either condition can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the drive shafts, replacing either the left or right drive shaft, if necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk with an interim letter mailed February 2, 2021. A second letter will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are P9M, PAV, BAY, TAX, CA0, and MAZ.
STEERING:COLUMN · Campaign 12V548000 · Nov 28, 2012
Defect: 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.
Consequence: The steering column may not have proper energy absorbing characteristics, which could increase the risk of injury during a vehicle crash.
Remedy: 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. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT · Campaign 12V256000 · Jun 6, 2012
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · Campaign 11V288000 · May 18, 2011
Defect: 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 MISALIGNED, A SMALL FUEL LEAK MAY OCCUR.
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FEED LINE ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.