10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
32,882 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Honda Civic electrical problems

electrical problem

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2012 Honda Civic Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #50

Jun 232024

Civic

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car is stating air bag system check on and off.

- Springfield, TN, USA

problem #49

Jun 142024

Civic

  • miles
The IMA inverter system keeps malfunctioning without any clear reasons, and the car is in drive mode, which makes the electric motor unresponsive. Additionally, the braking system also malfunctions, leading to a lack of control over the vehicle. I have tried to repair it multiple times, but to no avail. It keeps malfunctioning without any apparent reason.

- Amman, CA, USA

problem #48

May 012024

Civic

  • miles
Owns a 2012 HONDA Civic Hybrid. While driving ~30MPH, the IMA/braking/engine/charging/ABS lights illuminated. The car still driving but the hybrid system fails. Also, when starting the engine it switches to using the starter instead of the EV motor. The 12V battery will not charge and die soon, which increases the risk of a stall on the road, thus leading to a crash. The vehicle was taken to a Honda Dealer which suggests a Model Power Inverter failure. There is a Technical Service Bulletin: 20-030 (Warranty Extension: 2012-15 Civic Hybrid IMA Motor Power Inverter) related to the failing parts, however, the vehicle was not covered under the TSB. The vehicle was not prepared. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000 miles.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #47

Jul 152023

Civic

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I purchased this vehicle 6 months ago from a dealer. In the short time I have had the car, there have been multiple issues presented. Bluetooth has been malfunctioning (connects the disconnects), window regulator has had to be replaced three times now (window kept disconnecting from the track and would cause the window to go down sideways and get stuck), more recently the AC condenser went out (it was reported as the condenser has small pieces of metal inside preventing the freon to get into the system and cool the inside of the vehicle).

- Florence, AZ, USA

problem #46

Jun 142023

Civic

  • miles
If we don't drive my car for a couple of days, we have to keep charging the battery. We keep buying batteries. For instance, the last battery was bought in 10/2022 and we're in 6/2023 and it's doing it again. This time we know it's not the battery. And before we were told it was the battery.

- Daly City, CA, USA

problem #45

May 192023

Civic

  • miles
https://electricvehicleforums.com/forums/honda-civic-hybrid-12/civic-hybrid-ima-failure-bad-power-inverter-32102/index6.html On this link, there is a form of several other individuals experiencing the same issue that I experienced with this vehicle. Randomly, while driving, ON THE HIGHWAY, all the engine dashboard lights came on at once. The car stopped working. It shut down in the most dangerous environment and it-??s a miracle that we didn-??t get into a car crash. Taking the car to hybrid auto repair in order have the codes read, there was a readout of P1440, B2993, and B2992. Doing research, I found the link which I included; it appears there is a consistent IGBT malfunction in the motor power inverter which is believed to happen after 100k miles but from different testimonials, can actually happen at any mileage. This electrical issue has been closely related to the air conditioner (which our car had issues with when purchased) with the summer months upon us, I can only imagine how many more of these hybrid vehicles will spontaneously lose power in the middle of traffic.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #44

Jun 282013

Civic

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The bluetooth Microphone screeches for the people on the other end of the call. I cannot hear it. It was replaced once under warranty, however my car is no long under warranty and it is doing it again. there are bulletins about this issue, but no recalls as it's not a safety issue. just a money issue.

- Moon Township, PA, USA

problem #43

Jun 152022

Civic

  • 64,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was extremely hot air was throughout the vehicle. There was an abnormal burning odor detected. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the air condition compressor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

problem #42

Jul 142021

Civic

  • miles
The vehicle stop working because the mpi is bad, there is a service bulletin that cover the warranty

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #41

Jan 082021

Civic

  • 81,452 miles
We were driving down the highway when the power steering light came on. It took two of us to turn the wheel to make a right or left turn. We were both afraid for our lives! we did not know if we were going to make it home but we did. I am petrified to drive this car again! I have to use the car because I live so far away from stores to shop etc. Please help me soon so I can use the car again!!!

- North Easton, MA, USA

problem #40

Jul 012020

Civic

  • 120,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the check charging system warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who stated that the charging system was operational however, the system needed to be updated or reprogrammed. The contact contacted metro Honda (9399 autoplex St, montclair, ca 91763, (909) 542-9637) who informed the contact that the failure was related to manufacturer communication number: 12/041 however, the vehicle was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed vehicle was not included. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

- Paloma, CA, USA

problem #39

Mar 152019

Civic 4-cyl

  • 78,550 miles
I have had to take my car in for two repairs related to rodents chewing through electrical wiring. One was for chewing through fuel harness and fuel pump wires resulting in repairs that cost $915 and occurred on 9/5/2018. I was driving on a major road when multiple warning lights illuminated. I made it home then took it to the dealership. The second incident was from chewing through gas line and ima inverter that cost $1701 and occurred on 3/15/19. I was driving on a city street when multiple warning lights illuminated (check engine, brake malfunction, ima battery, charging malfunction). I drove home and decided to take it to the Honda dealership. When I went to take it to Honda, the lights were no longer illuminated. I drove about 2 miles and got onto a major highway when I started to smell a strong odor and the lights illuminated again. I got off on the next exit when I lost power steering and the car would not accelerate. I began to pull over but then regained the ability to accelerate and luckily made it home. Fuel was pouring from under the car so I had it towed to the dealership. They determined I needed a new fuel line, new ima system as well as junction box. My car was in the shop for almost two months, during which I had to pay for a rental car. The Honda dealership told me it is common for chewing through wiring of this specific year and model Honda because the material wrapping around the wires was made from a soybean product, which rodents are attracted to.

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

problem #38

Dec 022019

Civic

  • 123,000 miles
Was driving on interstate 70 in richmond Indiana was traveling in the middle lane of a 3 lane highway when all of a sudden my lights on my dash off licked on and off and I lost all electrical power including brakes steering and the engine I was able to force the vehicle and coast to a stop at an exit I turned on my hazards and my hazards were not working either so it was a complete electrical failure. In addition it was late in the evening so while I was driving and I lost all lights nobody could see me and I could not see anything this could've ended very tragically for me trying to move over as the speed limit posted in the area is 70 mph. In researching the issue I found multiple forums and posts regarding this same type of failure. Honda needs to fix this. Now I need to tow to a service center and see how much more money I will need to come up with to be able to drive my vehicle

- Sidney, OH, USA

problem #37

Oct 222019

Civic

  • miles
The display which shows odometer, mpg, etc flashes on and off. When low on gas, the display continually beeps and advises you are low on gas, instead of one time when you start the vehicle. Replaced once under warranty, now broken again, part # 78260-TR2-A11rm

- Newbury Park, CA, USA

problem #36

Oct 012018

Civic

  • miles
Car would not be able to start without a jump for months. Got 2 new batteries. 3 new alternators. Kept happening. Now I must keep headlights on at all times, even in the brightest daylight, or else battery will begin to lose charge again.

- Menifee, CA, USA

problem #35

Sep 272019

Civic

  • 16,000 miles
My elderly mother has had multiple issues with the electrical system on her 2012 Honda Civic 4-door LX sedan. She keeps getting the 'check charging system' warning lamp on dash. In the past few months two new start batteries have had to be replaced, and a check of the alternator charging system last time indicated the alternator was good. Here's the underlying issue...the cabling from battery to multiple locations throughout the vehicle has been non-stopped chewed on by rodents! has Honda produced these model cars with some sort of electrical cable insulation material that rodents are attracted too? Honda should replace any and or all damaged electrical cables! this is terrible what my mom is going through and the dealer (waldorf Maryland Honda) just wants to stall and try to 'patch' up some of the chewed cables, all while doing a horrific job with some sort of electrical tape!!!! come on now Honda is this how you treat customers"??? elderly customers that don't know anything about cars" shame on you!

- Waldorf, MD, USA

problem #34

Aug 012019

Civic

  • 66,100 miles
My wife and I have a 2012 Honda Civic which seriously is a nightmare in repairs a lot of maintenance issues involving electrical as well as the car lacking power and the car needing to replace electrical harness due to the wires bing wrapped in some kind of sweet texture that rodents seemed to enjoy to much. Furthermore with the amount of problems we had with his car at 66100 miles I would much rather go back to my 95 Honda Civic 92 Honda Civic or 93 Honda Civic del sol any other day than this jung what kind of car needs an update for its diagnostics to work seriously. What is it iron man needing a charge this car is junk the battery don't last that long and furthermore when they decide to recall this battery what is vehicle you can gladly take your jalopy back... don't buy a Honda unless you want to wish to buy new like we did and throw thousands and thousands of dollars into your vehicle to have it run like junk. Toyota Camry or corolla here I come... because this vehicle resale value sucks and so does everything else about the vehicle the gas mileage is not at all what you should claim it to be especially for ecoboost motor so yeah sad thing is my family has bought three Honda and this is the last time they see any of our retirement this car is seriously junk you can gladly take my back even if you don't recall it all rights can send it back to you in confetti us army Ranger....

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #33

Jul 132018

Civic

  • 69,400 miles
At 70,000 miles my "vsa alert" and "check steering alert" has been flashing on my dashboard. Honda service "claims they never saw such a complaint" but last week Honda motor corporation issued a recall to fix this issue on 130,000 Honda vehicles for this same problem. The fix could run over $2,000. This alert flashes and beeps, annoyingly, while auto is stationary and moving, it flashes constantly now for the last 7,000.

- Tinley Park, IL, USA

problem #32

Feb 172019

Civic

  • 60,000 miles
The odometer (mile counter), the miles per galn counter ceased working. Looks like a software failure.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #31

Mar 292018

Civic

  • 64,000 miles
The car randomly displays a check emissions system and check transmission systems error on the dashboard while driving. The check engine light comes on and the "D" indicator on the display flashes. When the check transmission systems error displays the car does not shift as it should. I took it to my mechanic and he couldn't find anything wrong with the engine or transmission, and no error codes came up on his computer. I called the dealership and they said a software update is needed. I am concerned about wear and tear on the engine and/or transmission due to these issues.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

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