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2012 Honda Civic Hybrid recalls and problems

The 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid has 1 safety recall and 12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Honda dealer.

Recalls
1
Complaints
12
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2012 Honda Civic Hybrid recalls

Recall 20V-770: Power Train

Reported Dec 10, 2020 · 248,358 vehicles affected · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Problem: 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.

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 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 problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Electrical System4
Power Train3
Service Brakes2
Vehicle Speed Control2
Air Bags2
Engine2
Seat Belts1
Structure1
Fuel/Propulsion System1
Unknown or Other1
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)1
Fuel System, Gasoline1

Most reported parts

  • Structure › Body — 1
  • Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings — 1
  • Electrical System › Propulsion System › Inverter — 1
  • Hybrid Propulsion System › Inverter — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 43,214 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Engine · at 90,000 miles · reported Mar 26, 2025
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…
Electrical System · at 100,600 miles · reported Apr 25, 2024
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…
Power Train · at 130,000 miles · reported Aug 25, 2022
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…
Power Train · reported Jul 12, 2021
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.
Power Train · reported May 19, 2021
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 yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and referred the contact back to the dealer. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Other Honda Civic Hybrid years

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Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid: 20V-770 (power train). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid?

Owners report electrical system problems most often (4 reports), followed by power train (3). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 43,214 miles.

Are Honda recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Honda dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.