2012 Honda Civic Transmission & Powertrain Problems
NHTSA lists 49 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2012 Honda Civic, 11% of that year's 455 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 18,314. A related recall (12V256000) covers a driveshaft retaining clip that was not seated properly during assembly.
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints
- 49
- 11% of 455
- Crashes reported
- 4
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 18,315 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical transmission symptoms owners report
- Owners report the vehicle rolling backward or lunging forward on hills or while parking, even when the brake was engaged or the car was believed to be in drive.
- Some drivers describe the transmission staying engaged incorrectly, letting the car roll as if it were in neutral.
- Several complaints describe rpm surging or staying elevated (around 3000-4000 rpm) after releasing the gas pedal, sometimes while descending a hill, with brakes failing to slow the vehicle.
- Manual-transmission owners report rpm not dropping when the foot is off the gas, leading to clutch wear and difficulty matching rpm.
- One complaint describes a momentary loss of power while making a turn at an intersection, which the dealer could not replicate.
- A separate report describes front axle failure that caused the vehicle to roll away after being parked and turned off.
When 2012 Honda Civic transmission complaints were filed
First complaint Jul 26, 2011, latest Jan 20, 2026.
Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2012 Honda Civic
- NHTSA 12V256000Jun 4, 2012Transmission & Powertrain50,190 vehicles
Power train:driveline:driveshaft
Honda is recalling certain model year 2012 honda civic vehicles. During assembly, the process required to seat the driverâs 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 âparkâ position, increasing the risk of crash or pedestrian injury.
Remedy: 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 service at 1-800-999-1009.
Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Civic model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Honda Civic transmission reliable?
- NHTSA recorded 49 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2012 Civic, making up 11% of all complaints filed for that model year. Several reports describe unwanted rolling or lunging at low speed.
- Does the 2012 Honda Civic have a transmission recall?
- Yes. Recall 12V256000 covers a driveshaft where the retaining clip was not properly seated during assembly, which could allow the driveshaft to separate. Dealers inspect and replace the driveshaft as needed.
- At what mileage do 2012 Civic transmission problems usually appear?
- The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2012 Civic is 18,314 miles, based on NHTSA complaint data.
- How does the 2012 Civic compare to other years for transmission complaints?
- The 2012 Civic's 49 complaints and 11% share is higher than 2010 (12 complaints, 3%), 2011 (4 complaints, 2%), and 2013 (22 complaints, 7%), but lower than 2014 (98 complaints, 34%) and 2015 (176 complaints, 46%).
- Were there any crashes linked to 2012 Civic transmission complaints?
- NHTSA data shows 4 crashes associated with Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2012 Civic, with 0 fires and 0 injuries reported.