2012 Honda Civic Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 10about this part
- Share
- 2%of 456 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 36,866miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 10 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2012 Honda Civic, 2% of the 456 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 36,866 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While car was parked and idling, I noticed flames coming from backseat ceiling light. Plastic and flames dripped onto the upholstery catching it on fire as well as the ceiling area. I was able to extinguish the flames with a snow brush. I immediately called the Honda dealership in town and am waiting for a tow truck to take it to the dealership so they can diagnose the issue.”
NHTSA complaint #10683683, filed 2015-02, 36,866 miles“My wife and I have a 2012 Honda Civic which seriously is a nightmare in repairs a lot of maintenance issues involving electrical as well as the car lacking power and the car needing to replace electrical harness due to the wires bing wrapped in some kind of sweet texture that rodents seemed to enjoy to much. Furthermore with the amount of problems we had with his car at 66100 miles I would much rather go back to my 95 Honda Civic 92 Honda Civic or 93 Honda Civic del sol any other day than this jung what kind of car needs an update for its diagnostics to work seriously. …”
NHTSA complaint #11241385, filed 2019-08, 66,100 miles“I was driving home at night. I had my headlights turned to auto like I always do. As I was driving home it seemed darker than usual. When I pulled up in front of my house, my husband, who I had followed home, told me my daytime running lights were on, not my headlights. He came to my door before I turned off the car. I pointed to the indicator light on the dash to show him that the headlight symbol was on and that my dash was lit. I then got out of my car and saw that the headlights were in fact not on. I turned my headlights to manual and they came on. …”
NHTSA complaint #10454089, filed 2012-03, 14,700 miles“Involved in a hit and run accident where the airbag sensors where hit but the airbags did not deploy. All panels of car had to be replaced. We where hit going thru an intersection and the car ran a red light going 65 sideswiped us into a wall and electrical box....updated 09/15/15 updated 11/13/2017”
NHTSA complaint #10733419, filed 2015-07, 38,563 miles“Driving on a rural highway and hit a deer. Impact bent the bracket that holds the airbag sensor completely backwards and into the sensor itself, which cracked. Airbag never deployed. Now, post repair, airbag warning and light are on constantly.”
NHTSA complaint #10991745, filed 2017-05, 20,000 milesExterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 3% |
| 2024 | 1 | 1% |
| 2023 | 4 | 2% |
| 2022 | 2 | 0% |
| 2021 | 2 | 1% |
| 2020 | 2 | 1% |
| 2019 | 1 | 0% |
| 2018 | 3 | 0% |
| 2017 | 4 | 1% |
| 2016 | 30 | 3% |
| 2015 | 1 | 0% |
| 2014 | 7 | 2% |
| 2013 | 5 | 2% |
| 2012 | 10 | 2% |
| 2011 | 3 | 2% |
| 2010 | 5 | 1% |
| 2009 | 10 | 3% |
| 2008 | 6 | 1% |
| 2007 | 14 | 1% |
| 2006 | 23 | 2% |
| 2005 | 6 | 2% |
| 2004 | 12 | 3% |
| 2003 | 23 | 5% |
| 2002 | 53 | 8% |
| 2001 | 62 | 6% |
| 2000 | 9 | 3% |
| 1999 | 2 | 1% |
| 1998 | 5 | 1% |
| 1997 | 6 | 2% |
| 1996 | 13 | 4% |
| 1995 | 2 | 1% |
| 1994 | 1 | 1% |
| 1991 | 7 | 6% |
| 1990 | 4 | 4% |
| 1989 | 1 | 1% |
| 1986 | 4 | 11% |
Other parts of the 2012 Honda Civic
149 complaintsSteering
74 complaintsElectrical system
60 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
49 complaintsBrakes
40 complaintsVehicle speed control
38 complaintsBody and structure
35 complaintsEngine
32 complaintsOther or unknown
31 complaintsFuel system
25 complaintsSeat belts
14 complaintsSeats
12 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Honda Civic
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology