9th generation · FB (sedan) / FG3-FG4 (coupe) · 1,927 complaints, 1,195 with mileage
Owners filed 1,927 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012–2015 Honda Civic, and 1,195 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 7,000 and 72,000 miles. The median is 30,138 miles.
The most-reported areas are the airbag system (19.5% of complaints, typically around 47,456 miles), the transmission and driveline (17.9% of complaints, typically around 61,000 miles), the electrical system (8.5% of complaints, typically around 37,933 miles).
5 recall campaigns cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 376 | 19.5% | 47,456 | 19,000–80,000 |
| Power Train | 345 | 17.9% | 61,000 | 10,180–95,000 |
| Electrical System | 164 | 8.5% | 37,933 | 15,000–70,800 |
| Unknown Or Other | 153 | 7.9% | 36,000 | 12,500–77,680 |
| Steering | 146 | 7.6% | 46,750 | 15,447–77,800 |
| Engine | 107 | 5.6% | 19,129 | 1,800–63,300 |
| Service Brakes | 102 | 5.3% | 18,000 | 9,000–47,000 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 87 | 4.5% | 10,890 | 967–36,000 |
| Structure | 83 | 4.3% | 25,041 | 3,500–57,000 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 53 | 2.8% | 17,850 | 2,000–33,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 620 | 444 |
| 2013 | 438 | 262 |
| 2014 | 384 | 230 |
| 2015 | 485 | 259 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 30,138 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The airbag system accounts for 19.5% of complaints (376 reports, 218 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 47,456 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 19,000 and 80,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 17.9% of complaints (345 reports, 190 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 61,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 10,180 and 95,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 8.5% of complaints (164 reports, 98 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 37,933 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,000 and 70,800 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 7.9% of complaints (153 reports, 69 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 36,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 12,500 and 77,680 miles.
The steering accounts for 7.6% of complaints (146 reports, 98 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 46,750 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,447 and 77,800 miles.
The engine accounts for 5.6% of complaints (107 reports, 70 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 19,129 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 1,800 and 63,300 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2012 model year drew the most — 620 complaints — while 2014 drew the fewest at 384. The median year sits at 461.
NHTSA records 5 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the transmission and driveline (2), the tyres (1), the steering (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 1,927 complaints filed against this generation, 240 reported a crash; 22 reported a fire; 195 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 12.5% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 7,000 and 72,000 miles, with a median of 30,138. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the airbag system and the transmission and driveline are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The airbag system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 47,456, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Start-clutch judder and shudder on light acceleration after the 2014 switch from the 5-speed automatic to a CVT on the 1.8L; addressed by control software updates and fluid service. Note this defect cannot exist on 2012-2013 cars, which used a conventional automatic.
A/C condenser refrigerant leaks causing loss of cooling; a high-volume complaint across the generation.
Takata inflator recall population continues through this generation.
IMA battery degradation on the Civic Hybrid, same failure mechanism as the prior generation.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 15V574000 | 2015-11-02 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) |
| 14V109000 | 2014-04-15 | Tires:Bead |
| 12V548000 | 2012-12-10 | Steering:Column |
| 12V256000 | 2012-06-21 | Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft |
| 11V288000 | 2011-05-27 | Fuel System, Other:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings |