The Lemon Index2012 Honda Civic.
The 2012 Honda Civic is better than average by owner complaints: 197 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 57, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about airbags, it has 3 recalls, and it gets 25 to 44 mpg combined. The best Honda Civic year is 2011.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 474 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Honda Civic year. 2012 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 10K to 73K miles on the car (333 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- airbags complaints mostly came at 11K–80K miles
- steering complaints mostly came at 30K–83K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 21K–70K miles
Recalls 3
- steering 2012
These vehicles were assembled with the incorrect steering column assembly.
- transmission & drivetrain 2012
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 HONDA CIVIC VEHICLES.
- fuel system, other 2011
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CIVIC 2-DOOR AND 4-DOOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 21, 2011, THROUGH MAY 2, 2011.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Honda told dealers about
Honda sent dealers 76 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- When accelerating from a stop, in some vehicles, noise is heard from clutch while engaged in…
- "dealer message - american honda (ahm) is investigating certain 2012 m/t civic sis with a…
- On some model vehicles, there is an alternator/starter tester (ast) module capable of testing
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
- ClosedElectrical overstress2019–2024
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Civic 2 DR FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Honda Civic 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Honda Civic CNG 4 DR FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1450–3200 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.5L 4-cyl, 1.8L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
On saturday june 27 at approximately 1pm I heard a bubbling sound from the passenger side of the dash. Once the sound ended my passenger air bag warning light came on message not activated.the air bag did not deploy.
2012 Honda Civic owner · NHTSA complaint 10730823
More owner reports
Sudden high rpm when exciting highway ramp,engines rpm,s go up to 4 or 5,when applying brake.
NHTSA complaint 10466546
The sensor that controls the speed of the airbag in the passenger seat, based on the passenger weight, is malfunctioning. I took it to the dealer and was told that the defective part that needs replacing is not on any recall list.
NHTSA complaint 10788187
Quick answers
Is the 2012 Honda Civic reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.8× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 57; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Honda Civic year by this measure is 2011.
What are the most common 2012 Honda Civic problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are airbags (26%), speed control (16%) and transmission & drivetrain (16%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2012 Honda Civic have?
3 safety recalls (latest: steering). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Honda Civic get?
25 to 44 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2012 Honda Civic safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2012 Honda Civic problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 10,600 and 73,000 miles. The middle report was at 30,200 miles, from 333 complaints.
Does the 2012 Honda Civic have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 16% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2012 Honda Civic cost in fuel a year?
About $1450 to $3200 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2012 Honda Civic have?
1.5L 4-cyl, 1.8L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl.
What Honda Civic year is better than the 2012?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2011, 2013 and 2015.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works