YearToAvoid

2012 Honda Civic Hybrid Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

64/100

#5 most-complained of 12 Civic Hybrid years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid has 12 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 64 out of 100 — #5 highest of 12 Civic Hybrid model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is electrical system (4 complaints, 33% of the total). Complaints report 3 crashes and 6 injuries.

Complaints
12
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
44
43 city / 44 hwy

Top 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System4 (33%)
  2. Engine4 (33%)
  3. Fuel System3 (25%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain3 (25%)
  5. Airbags2 (17%)
  6. Brakes2 (17%)
  7. Other1 (8%)
  8. Seat Belts1 (8%)
  9. Structure & Body1 (8%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (8%)
2012 Honda Civic Hybrid complaints: complaints filed per month5Nov 2012May 2013Apr 2018May 2021Aug 2022Mar 2025
22 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2012 to Mar 2025; peak Feb 2014 (5).

2012 Honda Civic Hybrid recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V770000Dec 10, 2020Transmission & Powertrain248,358 vehicles

    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, 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.

    Risk: 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.

2012 Honda Civic Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost

City
43 MPG
Highway
44 MPG
Combined
44 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,450
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2012 compared with other Civic Hybrid years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Good3612642
2011No verdict01641
2012Caution6412144
2013Best189044
2014Good275044

All Honda Civic Hybrid years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid ranks #5 of 12 among Civic Hybrid model years (Complaint Index 64/100, verdict: Caution). It has 12 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (4 complaints), engine (4 complaints), and fuel system (3 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 43,214 miles.
Does the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid, most recently reported 2020, covering transmission & powertrain.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid?
EPA rates the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid at 44 MPG combined (43 city / 44 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,450. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.