2012 Honda CIVIC HYBRID: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
43,214 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 12 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 33.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 25.0% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 25.0% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 16.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Electrical System:Propulsion System:Inverter | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
Electrical System: 3; Power Train: 3; Air Bags: 2; Engine: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Electrical System:Propulsion System:Inverter: 1; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 2; 2018: 2; 2021: 2; 2022: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10485881 · 2012-11-23 (November 23, 2012)
WE WHERE REAR ENDED ON THE 805 SOUTH AT E ST IN SAN DIEGO CA. THE TRAFFIC CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND A OLDER FORD EXPEDITION PLOWED INTO US AT 55 MPH , UPON IMPACT THE HONDA ACCELERATED FULL THROTTLE WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES , MY WIFE WAS DRIVING I WAS FRONT PASSENGER AND MY HANDICAPPED SON WAS R/R , SHE WAS ABLE TO STEER THE CAR TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AS I SLAMMED THE CAR INTO PARK AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AT ABOUT 40 MPH , IT TOOK ABOUT 100 YARDS BEFORE IT CAME TO A STOP, THE CAR IS AT TIPTON HONDA IN EL CAJON AND THEY SAY THAT THERE …
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10485881 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10501281 · 2013-03-04 (March 4, 2013)
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN MY BODY FROM MOVING FORWARD; DUE TO THE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION, MY CHEST AND HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL LEAVING ME WITH A CONCUSSION AND SIGNIFICANT BRUISING/SORENESS ON MY CHEST. IN ADDITION, MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT THE LIGHT FOR THE AIRBAG ON THE DASH IS NOW LIT AND THE INFORMATION DISPLAY STATES "CHECK AIRBAG SYSTEM". *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 18,357 miles reported. Look up ODI 10501281 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10513468 · 2013-05-24 (May 24, 2013)
I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND MY CAR ACCERLERATED AND CRASHED INTO A STONE WALL AND THEN WENT BACKWARDS SEVERAL FEET BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO BRAKE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT CAME LOOSE FROM THE WALL. I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL SINCE MY CHEST WAS HURT FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,267 miles reported. Look up ODI 10513468 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10563069 · 2014-02-05 (February 5, 2014)
2012 HONDA CIVIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. *SMD THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE VEHICLE NEEDED THREE SOFTWARE UPDATES, IN ORDER TO CHARGE THE BATTERY PROPERLY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10563069 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10566095 · 2014-02-26 (February 26, 2014)
WHEN THE CAR BECOMES LOW ON GAS YOU RECEIVE A LOW GAS NOTIFICATION VIA THE INDICATOR (ICON ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH) AND A NOTIFICATION VIA THE INFORMATION SCREEN, WHICH YOU CAN ACKNOWLEDGE AND WHILE THE INDICATOR STAYS ON (NORMAL) YOU CAN CLEAR THE INFORMATION SCREEN (AND AUDIBLE BEEPS) AND HAVE THE INFORMATION SCREEN GO BACK TO SHOWING THE ODOMETER OR SOME OTHER INFORMATION. THIS WAS THE STATUS ON MY 2012 HYBRID UNTIL ~90 DAYS AGO. WHEN THE VEHICLE NOW RECEIVES A LOW GAS WARNING (VERBAL BEEP AND LOW GAS SCREEN ON THE INFORMATION SCREE…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10566095 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11088945 · 2018-04-19 (April 19, 2018)
IT SHOWS A PROBLEM ON BOOSTER CONTROL MODULE FIRST, AND THEN ABS CONTROL MODULE PROBLEM WAS FOLLOWED IN A MONTH AFTER FIXING FIRST ONE. I AM SECOND OWNER AND BOUGHT IT 2 YEARS AGO. THERE HAS NOT BEEN PROBLEM AT NORTH CAROLINA, BUT AFTER MOVING HERE PEORIA IL WHERE IS COLDER IN WINTER HERE 2 YEARS AGO, "CHECKING BRAKE SYSTEM FOLLOWED BY CHECKING ABS, POWER STEERING, IMA ETC" ABOUT 5 CHECKING SIGNS SHOWED ON THE PANEL. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS BOOSTER CONTROL MODULE PROBLEM. AFTER HE REPLACING IT, THERE WAS NO PROBLEM FOR A WEEK. AND THEN WHEN …
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11088945 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11120466 · 2018-08-16 (August 16, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF IN TRAFFIC AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO FOUND A FAULTY FUEL FEED LINE. THE MECHANIC ORDERED THE PART AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE REGULAR HONDA, BUT NOT THE HYBRID MODEL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,214.
Owner-reported narrative. 43,214 miles reported. Look up ODI 11120466 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11417819 · 2021-05-19 (May 19, 2021)
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V770000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT BACK TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11417819 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
20V770000 · Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft
Reported: 2020-12-10 (December 10, 2020)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗