2012 Honda Civic Hybrid

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

76/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 455 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Air bags	105	23%
Steering	53	12%
Electrical system	26	6%
Power train	23	5%
Structure	21	5%
Unknown or other	19	4%
Vehicle speed control	19	4%
Service brakes	15	3%
Fuel/propulsion system	11	2%
Engine	11	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle, the vehicle was turned off and the vehicle started to roll away. The vehicle was stopped, and the parking brake was engag
NHTSA complaint: Power train

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Honda Civic. The contact stated that before attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private dealer sale.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

So according to Honda Service Bulletin 20-030, all honda civic 2012-2015 hybrids having IMA Motor Power Inverter (MPI) have to fixed. I have the SAME CAR, SAME MODEL, SAME YEAR AND SAME ERROR CODES AS THE SERVICE BULLETI
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

Paint defect. Paint faded and clouded on vehicle due to cheap paint used during manufacturing. I was never notified about the extended warranty. I contacted Honda and let them know, but was told the warranty ended. I fin
NHTSA complaint: Structure

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the t
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

It has happened more than once since 3 years ago. If I’m running my AC in the car, when I accelerate the car will skip/jump. It’s extremely expensive to repair and the problem isn’t even getting fixed. I basically can’t
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system

Esp code1.33-06 while driving car I suddenly lose of power steering making it difficult to control vehicle
NHTSA complaint: Steering

This is a serious matter that needs to be evaluated as it is a potentially fatal safety issue for human drivers of 2012 Honda Civic. This email needs to be sent please to the Department of Transportation and the National
NHTSA complaint: Steering

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Power train:driveline:driveshaft 20V770000

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,

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 incre

Fix: 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 inte

The seven scores

Reliability	71	good
Longevity est.	78	good
Maintenance	90	excellent
Depreciation	83	excellent
Performance	39	below average
Efficiency	66	good
Safety	93	excellent

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 18% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 47% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 100% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 85% of compact cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 71: from NHTSA recalls and complaints, divided by approximate units sold so it is comparable between models.
Longevity 78: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2012 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 90: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety 93: NHTSA crash testing blended with IIHS awards.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid?

Owners have filed 455 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 105 of them (23%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 71/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density, adjusted for how many were sold so a popular model is not penalised for having more owners.

How long will a 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2012 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 76/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.