2012 Honda Civic Transmission & Power Train Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/12/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 454 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Honda Civic overview page.
What owners report
“SHIFT CABLE IS LOSS - CAUSING LONGER GEAR AND SOMETIMES ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT.”NHTSA complaint 10542783 — filed 09/09/2013
“MY 2012 HONDA CIVIC ROLLED BACK WHILE ON A STEEP INCLINE AND IN DRIVE. INSTEAD OF TRANSMISSION STAYING ENGAGED IT ALLOWS THE CAR TO ROLL…”NHTSA complaint 10526073 — filed 07/22/2013
“SOME CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN CAR THE IS ACCELERATING TO SHIFT GEARS, THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED FIRST…”NHTSA complaint 10522184 — filed 06/28/2013
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2012 Honda Civic have transmission & power train problems?
Power Train is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2012 Honda Civic: 46 of 454 complaints on file (10.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 2012 Honda Civic have in total?
454 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 55 involved a crash, 5 involved a fire, 41 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train category include?
NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.
