VehicleVerdict

2012 Honda Civic transmission problems

The 2012 Honda Civic has 50 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 8% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

50

Transmission complaints

8%

Share of year

4

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Civic transmission complaints by model year409 complaints1984: 1 complaints1986: 5 complaints1987: 2 complaints1988: 1 complaints1989: 2 complaints1990: 6 complaints1991: 7 complaints1992: 5 complaints1993: 9 complaints1994: 8 complaints1995: 19 complaints1996: 26 complaints1997: 28 complaints1998: 53 complaints1999: 37 complaints2000: 30 complaints2001: 409 complaints2002: 188 complaints2003: 102 complaints2004: 56 complaints2005: 37 complaints2006: 79 complaints2007: 106 complaints2008: 53 complaints2009: 23 complaints2010: 12 complaints2011: 4 complaints2012: 50 complaints2013: 22 complaints2014: 98 complaints2015: 175 complaints2016: 36 complaints2017: 29 complaints2018: 14 complaints2019: 13 complaints2020: 31 complaints2021: 2 complaints2022: 10 complaints2023: 6 complaints2024: 6 complaints2025: 4 complaints2026: 2 complaints
Civic transmission complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

12V256000TransmissionJune 4, 2012 · 50,190 units

Defect

HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 HONDA CIVIC VEHICLES. DURING ASSEMBLY, THE PROCESS REQUIRED TO SEAT THE DRIVER’S SIDE DRIVESHAFT AND SET THE RETAINING CLIP WAS NOT COMPLETED. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVESHAFT MAY SEPARATE.

Consequence

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 “PARK” 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.

What owners report

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE PARKING, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · August 24, 2015 · crash

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2012 Honda Civic have?

NHTSA has 50 complaints about the 2012 Honda Civic transmission — 8% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2012 Honda Civic transmission?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the transmission: 12V256000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.