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2012 Honda Civic problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2012 Honda Civic. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 30% of relevant complaints.
Better than 71% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 156 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 20%).
Does the 2012 Honda Civic have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 90 of 305 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Honda Civic concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (30%). For comparison, the 2011 scores 18% and the 2013 scores 26%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2012 compares with other Honda Civic years
Of the 14 Honda Civic years with enough complaints to score, the 2012 is the 4th-worst on engine and transmission share (30%). The worst is the 2015 (63%), the best the 2022 (3%). By volume, the 2012 drew 461 complaints (90 drivetrain), against 171 for the 2011 and 320 for the 2013.
Honda Civic years to avoid and best years →
2010 Civic problems · 2011 Civic problems · 2012 · 2013 Civic problems · 2014 Civic problems · 2015 Civic problems · 2016 Civic problems · 2017 Civic problems · 2018 Civic problems · 2019 Civic problems · 2020 Civic problems · 2021 Civic problems · 2022 Civic problems · 2023 Civic problems
The rest of the picture on the 2012 Honda Civic
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2012 Honda Civic said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 90 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2012 Honda Civic powertrain recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2012 Honda Civic involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: 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…
Fix: 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…
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.
Risk: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: 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.
1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2012 Honda Civic? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2012 Honda Civic have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 90 of 305 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Honda Civic concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (30%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Honda Civic?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2012 Honda Civic is air bags: 151 of 461 complaints (33%) name it, followed by steering (74) and electrical system (59). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 30% of the relevant total.
Is the 2012 Honda Civic reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 30% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 71% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Honda Civic years we score, it ranks 4th-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2012 Honda Civic?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2012 Honda Civic involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total: 12V256000 (power train: driveline: driveshaft), 11V288000 (fuel system, other: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Honda Civic years are better?
Among the Honda Civic years we track, the 2022 (3%), the 2023 (5%) and the 2021 (10%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2012 (30%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/honda-civic
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 3 body styles NHTSA files separately.