Most common 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid problems
Share of the 12 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Honda Civic Hybrid complaints by model year
Best Civic Hybrid years: 2011, 2015, 2014. Years to avoid: 2010, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2009. Compare all years →
2012 Honda Civic Hybrid recalls (1)
Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft
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,…
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid owners say
Electrical system
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the contact became aware that the braking system, ABS, and battery warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. Additionally, while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle took longer than normal to start. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 20-030 (Warranty Extension: 2012-15 Civic Hybrid IMA Motor Power Inverter); however, the vehicle was not covered under the TSB. The contact replaced the battery, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,600.
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 I drive slippery ground surface in a rain, and slipped a little, the same symptom with continuous working moter on ABS assembly showed off. Even when the key out, the moter was still working so that there is no electrical power left due to discharging in the morning. The mechanic said that it is ABS control module problem so that he is fixing it now.
Fuel & propulsion system
The contact's stepdaughter owns a 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid. The contact stated that while his stepdaughter was driving at approximately 40 MPH, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact about Service Bulletin 20-030 Warranty Extension related to the IMA motor power inverter (MPI) and was referred to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed that the failure was due to the IMA Motor Power Inverter (MPI). The dealer informed him there was no recall or warranty coverage. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
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.
Transmission & drivetrain
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH on the highway, the suspension lowered inadvertently, causing her to lose control of the vehicle, and the vehicle stopped. The vehicle was towed to the residence where it was diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The independent mechanic diagnosed that the front driver's side axle had detached and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred on the front passenger's side axle five months later. The vehicle was towed to the independent mechanic on three different occasions where the front passenger's side axle was replaced three times. However, the failure persisted. …
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 available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced the failure. The VIN was not available.
2012 Honda Civic Hybrid engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4-cyl hybrid | CVT | FWD | 43 / 44 / 44 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid a good car?
Based on 12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Civic Hybrid rates average: 13% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Civic Hybrid at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid?
The electrical system — 4 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year, most often about propulsion system › inverter. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (3) and transmission & drivetrain (3).
How many recalls does the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid have?
There is 1 recall for the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid, the most recent from December 10, 2020 (driveshaft). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Honda Civic Hybrid?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2015 and 2014. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2010, 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2009. See the full Honda Civic Hybrid years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 43,000 miles; 56% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.