There are 48 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2012 Honda Civicin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the alarm indicator sounded off intermittently without cause. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, who informed the contact that the alarm was a factory-made system and then suggested pressing the key fob twice to stop the alarm from sounding off. The vehicle was not officially diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 167,842.
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. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 116,000. Through a Carfax report, it was discovered that the mileage was 159,000.
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 BULLETIN AND THIS IS SUCH A SERIOUS ELECTRICAL POWER INVERTER ISSUE. Yet HONDA IS denying to work on it, even though there is 15 years or 150,000 miles warranty for this specific issue and MY CAR HAS 95000 miles. Yet HONDA is trying to run away from fixing it by claiming the VIN number is not associating whereby MY CAR IS EXACT SAME AS THE MODEL, year and issue for the GIVEN SERVICE BULLETIN. This is complete absurd and consumer rights are being thrown away by Honda. I am very sure that my United States NHTSA, state consumer protection, federal trade commission, all are going to help me and make Honda pay for this. I have attached the service bulletin and here my error codes on the car: P1437 Motor Drive Module (MDM) Short Circuit POA78 Tmu-L Motor Power Inverter Module Internal Circuit Malfunction P15A5 Motor Current Sensor Circuit Malfunction Clear Confirmed & Pending Trouble Codes 2 Pending Trouble Codes POA78 Tmu-L Motor Power Inverter Module Internal Circuit Malfunction P15A5 Motor Current Sensor Circuit Malfunction Clear Confirmed & Pending Trouble Codes ^ ^ 2 Permanent Trouble Codes POA78 P15A5 Motor Current Sensor Circuit Malfunction Tmu-L Motor Power Inverter Module Internal Circuit Malfunction
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 time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 119,560, and the contact stated she looked at the title and took the vehicle to a mechanic to verify and noticed that the mileage was 193,099.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while attempting to repair the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was an independent dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 71,00 and at the time of replacing the instrument panel, it was discovered that the mileage was 190,000.
My passenger airbag light is on and stays on.
ABS/VSA module faulty. Upon internet research it seems to be a very common problem among owners of this vehicle.
Car is stating air bag system check on and off.
The IMA inverter system keeps malfunctioning without any clear reasons, and the car is in drive mode, which makes the electric motor unresponsive. Additionally, the braking system also malfunctions, leading to a lack of control over the vehicle. I have tried to repair it multiple times, but to no avail. It keeps malfunctioning without any apparent reason.
Owns a 2012 HONDA Civic Hybrid. While driving ~30MPH, the IMA/braking/engine/charging/ABS lights illuminated. The car still driving but the hybrid system fails. Also, when starting the engine it switches to using the starter instead of the EV motor. The 12V battery will not charge and die soon, which increases the risk of a stall on the road, thus leading to a crash. The vehicle was taken to a Honda Dealer which suggests a Model Power Inverter failure. There is a Technical Service Bulletin: 20-030 (Warranty Extension: 2012-15 Civic Hybrid IMA Motor Power Inverter) related to the failing parts, however, the vehicle was not covered under the TSB. The vehicle was not prepared. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000 miles.
I purchased this vehicle 6 months ago from a dealer. In the short time I have had the car, there have been multiple issues presented. Bluetooth has been malfunctioning (connects the disconnects), window regulator has had to be replaced three times now (window kept disconnecting from the track and would cause the window to go down sideways and get stuck), more recently the AC condenser went out (it was reported as the condenser has small pieces of metal inside preventing the freon to get into the system and cool the inside of the vehicle).
If we don't drive my car for a couple of days, we have to keep charging the battery. We keep buying batteries. For instance, the last battery was bought in 10/2022 and we're in 6/2023 and it's doing it again. This time we know it's not the battery. And before we were told it was the battery.
https://electricvehicleforums.com/forums/honda-civic-hybrid-12/civic-hybrid-ima-failure-bad-power-inverter-32102/index6.html On this link, there is a form of several other individuals experiencing the same issue that I experienced with this vehicle. Randomly, while driving, ON THE HIGHWAY, all the engine dashboard lights came on at once. The car stopped working. It shut down in the most dangerous environment and it’s a miracle that we didn’t get into a car crash. Taking the car to hybrid auto repair in order have the codes read, there was a readout of P1440, B2993, and B2992. Doing research, I found the link which I included; it appears there is a consistent IGBT malfunction in the motor power inverter which is believed to happen after 100k miles but from different testimonials, can actually happen at any mileage. This electrical issue has been closely related to the air conditioner (which our car had issues with when purchased) with the summer months upon us, I can only imagine how many more of these hybrid vehicles will spontaneously lose power in the middle of traffic.
The vehicle stop working because the mpi is bad, there is a service bulletin that cover the warranty
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE CHARGING SYSTEM WAS OPERATIONAL HOWEVER, THE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE UPDATED OR REPROGRAMMED. THE CONTACT CONTACTED METRO HONDA (9399 AUTOPLEX ST, MONTCLAIR, CA 91763, (909) 542-9637) WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION NUMBER: 12/041 HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
THE DISPLAY WHICH SHOWS ODOMETER, MPG, ETC FLASHES ON AND OFF. WHEN LOW ON GAS, THE DISPLAY CONTINUALLY BEEPS AND ADVISES YOU ARE LOW ON GAS, INSTEAD OF ONE TIME WHEN YOU START THE VEHICLE. REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY, NOW BROKEN AGAIN, PART # 78260-TR2-A11RM
MY ELDERLY MOTHER HAS HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON HER 2012 HONDA CIVIC 4-DOOR LX SEDAN. SHE KEEPS GETTING THE 'CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM' WARNING LAMP ON DASH. IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS TWO NEW START BATTERIES HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND A CHECK OF THE ALTERNATOR CHARGING SYSTEM LAST TIME INDICATED THE ALTERNATOR WAS GOOD. HERE'S THE UNDERLYING ISSUE...THE CABLING FROM BATTERY TO MULTIPLE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN NON-STOPPED CHEWED ON BY RODENTS! HAS HONDA PRODUCED THESE MODEL CARS WITH SOME SORT OF ELECTRICAL CABLE INSULATION MATERIAL THAT RODENTS ARE ATTRACTED TOO? HONDA SHOULD REPLACE ANY AND OR ALL DAMAGED ELECTRICAL CABLES! THIS IS TERRIBLE WHAT MY MOM IS GOING THROUGH AND THE DEALER (WALDORF MARYLAND HONDA) JUST WANTS TO STALL AND TRY TO 'PATCH' UP SOME OF THE CHEWED CABLES, ALL WHILE DOING A HORRIFIC JOB WITH SOME SORT OF ELECTRICAL TAPE!!!! COME ON NOW HONDA IS THIS HOW YOU TREAT CUSTOMERS???? ELDERLY CUSTOMERS THAT DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CARS? SHAME ON YOU!
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. WHAT IS IT IRON MAN NEEDING A CHARGE THIS CAR IS JUNK THE BATTERY DON'T LAST THAT LONG AND FURTHERMORE WHEN THEY DECIDE TO RECALL THIS BATTERY WHAT IS VEHICLE YOU CAN GLADLY TAKE YOUR JALOPY BACK... DON'T BUY A HONDA UNLESS YOU WANT TO WISH TO BUY NEW LIKE WE DID AND THROW THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO YOUR VEHICLE TO HAVE IT RUN LIKE JUNK. TOYOTA CAMRY OR COROLLA HERE I COME... BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE RESALE VALUE SUCKS AND SO DOES EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT THE VEHICLE THE GAS MILEAGE IS NOT AT ALL WHAT YOU SHOULD CLAIM IT TO BE ESPECIALLY FOR ECOBOOST MOTOR SO YEAH SAD THING IS MY FAMILY HAS BOUGHT THREE HONDAS AND THIS IS THE LAST TIME THEY SEE ANY OF OUR RETIREMENT THIS CAR IS SERIOUSLY JUNK YOU CAN GLADLY TAKE MY BACK EVEN IF YOU DON'T RECALL IT ALL RIGHTS CAN SEND IT BACK TO YOU IN CONFETTI US ARMY RANGER....
I HAVE HAD TO TAKE MY CAR IN FOR TWO REPAIRS RELATED TO RODENTS CHEWING THROUGH ELECTRICAL WIRING. ONE WAS FOR CHEWING THROUGH FUEL HARNESS AND FUEL PUMP WIRES RESULTING IN REPAIRS THAT COST $915 AND OCCURRED ON 9/5/2018. I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR ROAD WHEN MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. I MADE IT HOME THEN TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS FROM CHEWING THROUGH GAS LINE AND IMA INVERTER THAT COST $1701 AND OCCURRED ON 3/15/19. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WHEN MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED (CHECK ENGINE, BRAKE MALFUNCTION, IMA BATTERY, CHARGING MALFUNCTION). I DROVE HOME AND DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP. WHEN I WENT TO TAKE IT TO HONDA, THE LIGHTS WERE NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. I DROVE ABOUT 2 MILES AND GOT ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN I STARTED TO SMELL A STRONG ODOR AND THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AGAIN. I GOT OFF ON THE NEXT EXIT WHEN I LOST POWER STEERING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I BEGAN TO PULL OVER BUT THEN REGAINED THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AND LUCKILY MADE IT HOME. FUEL WAS POURING FROM UNDER THE CAR SO I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY DETERMINED I NEEDED A NEW FUEL LINE, NEW IMA SYSTEM AS WELL AS JUNCTION BOX. MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR ALMOST TWO MONTHS, DURING WHICH I HAD TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT IS COMMON FOR CHEWING THROUGH WIRING OF THIS SPECIFIC YEAR AND MODEL HONDA BECAUSE THE MATERIAL WRAPPING AROUND THE WIRES WAS MADE FROM A SOYBEAN PRODUCT, WHICH RODENTS ARE ATTRACTED TO. *TR
THE ODOMETER (MILE COUNTER), THE MILES PER GALN COUNTER CEASED WORKING. LOOKS LIKE A SOFTWARE FAILURE.
Showing 1–20 of 48 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026