Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2012 Honda Civic. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Incorrect Steering Column Installed
- Summary
- 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.
LEFT (DRIVER'S SIDE) DRIVESHAFT
- Summary
- 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 FEED LINE
- Summary
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (455)
455 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The air bags is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 455 |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 149 | 32.7% |
| Steering | 74 | 16.3% |
| Electrical system | 59 | 13% |
| Power train | 49 | 10.8% |
| Service brakes | 39 | 8.6% |
| Vehicle speed control | 38 | 8.4% |
| Structure | 35 | 7.7% |
| Engine | 32 | 7% |
| Unknown or other | 31 | 6.8% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 17 | 3.7% |
How 2012 compares with other Civic years
Best and worst Civic years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 916 | 7 |
| 2009 | 395 | 8 |
| 2010 | 397 | 8 |
| 2011 | 169 | 9 |
| 2012 | 455 | 3 |
| 2013 | 319 | 0 |
| 2014 | 292 | 2 |
| 2015 | 380 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1,081 | 5 |
| 2017 | 597 | 6 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2012 Honda Civic 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 32 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,100
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 278 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 32 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 / 39 / 32 | $2,100 | 278 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 / 38 / 31 | $2,150 | 287 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 / 35 / 31 | $2,150 | 287 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 / 38 / 31 | $1,500 | 227 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 31 / 25 | $3,300 | 356 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2012 Civic for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2012 Honda Civic FAQ
How many recalls does the 2012 Honda Civic have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 12V548000 (steering), 12V256000 (power train), 11V288000 (fuel system). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2012 Honda Civic problems?
Owners filed 455 complaints with NHTSA. Air bags (149), Steering (74), Electrical system (59) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2012 Honda Civic get?
EPA rates the 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed automatic version at 28 city, 39 highway and 32 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2012 Honda Civic get?
NHTSA rated the 2012 Honda Civic 4 dr fwd 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (10.9% rollover risk).
How does the 2012 Civic compare with other years?
Among the 2008–2017 Honda Civic model years at least five years old, the 2011 drew the fewest complaints (169) and the 2016 the most (1,081). The 2012 drew 455. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.