2012 Honda Civic Powertrain & Transmission Problems

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated or stalled while depressing the accelerator pedal. The “Check Emission Systems" message was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact then received notification from the Manufacturer for Honda Service Bulletin: 19-106. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where a PCM update was performed. Recently, the contact stated that the "Check Emission Systems" message returned, and the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The dealer was notified of the failure and provided the cost for a diagnostic test. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was provided with a case number. The contact was also informed that dealers were independently owned and could not be forced to repair the vehicle under the service bulletin. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 211,000.

While driving, my 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid suddenly loses power and steering ability. The vehicle stalls and the steering wheel locks up, making it impossible to safely maneuver. This has happened multiple times, including in traffic, creating a serious risk of collision. When the failure occurs, warning lights illuminate on the dashboard, including the IMA light, anti-lock brake light, and others. In some cases, all dash lights flash before the car stalls. When scanned with an OBD tool, the vehicle shows power inverter-related fault codes. The symptoms are consistent with the IMA motor power inverter defect described in Honda Recall H98 (2012–2015 Civic Hybrid inverter recall). However, my VIN does not currently show as part of that recall. Despite this, the vehicle is clearly experiencing the same safety defect. This defect causes sudden loss of propulsion and steering assist, placing myself, passengers, and other drivers at serious risk. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle, the vehicle was turned off and the vehicle started to roll away. The vehicle was stopped, and the parking brake was engaged to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the front axle had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact also stated that while at a stop light, the vehicle vibrated, and the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle unexpectedly lunged forward. There was no warning light illuminated. An independent was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 156,000.

I am reporting a serious safety concern with my 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid. What component or system failed and is it available for inspection? The hybrid drive system and regenerative braking system are malfunctioning. The hybrid battery recharging system including the MPI have failed, causing the vehicle to operate solely on the gasoline engine. This results in degraded braking performance due to the loss of regenerative braking. How was safety put at risk? When the hybrid system fails, braking performance is noticeably reduced, increasing stopping distances. This creates a high risk of collision, especially in sudden-stop situations or heavy traffic. Additionally, the sudden loss of hybrid power assistance can cause unsafe changes in vehicle acceleration and handling. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. The issue has been confirmed by Pearson Honda in Midlothian, Virginia. They state the MPI needs to be replaced and state my VIN is outside their "factory warranty extension". Multiple calls to Honda America state that I am responsible for all repairs and that this is not their problem and will not clarify how they decide what VIN's are included in the extension. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by others? The vehicle has been inspected by Pearson Honda in Midlothian, VA and documentation is available. It has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives at this time. Warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to failure? Yes. Warning lights for the hybrid system and/or IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) illuminate promptly as you start the vehicle. These first appeared last week ([XXX]) and have occurred multiple times since. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Emissions systems

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while exiting a parking structure, the vehicle failed to accelerate, the steering column started to fail, and the vehicle began to make an abnormal sound coming from the front driver’s side. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed as having a shredded C-axle and transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

SHUTTER WHEN GOING 25 TO 35

ON 3/15/2019 I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WHEN MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED (CHECK ENGINE, BRAKE MALFUNCTION, IMA BATTERY, CHARGING MALFUNCTION). THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. ONCE THERE, THEY DETERMINE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO RODENTS CHEWING FROM WIRES WHICH DAMAGED THE FUEL LINE AND IMA SYSTEM. AFTER THIS WAS REPAIRED, THE CAR STILL HAD FAILURE CODES DUE TO MECHANICAL ISSUES WITH THE CAR'S SYSTEM. TROUBLESHOOTING LED THE TECHNICIAN TO DETERMINE THAT THE MOTOR POWER INVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS REQUIRED THEM TO ALSO HAVE TO REPLACE THE JUNCTION BOARD. AFTER THEY WERE INSTALLED, THE IMA LIGHT STAYED ON, THE BATTERY WOULD NOT CHARGE, AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO RECODE. THEY HAD TO PUT IN A TEST MCM AND A SECOND MPI (SINCE THE FIRST ONE MALFUNCTIONED AS WELL). THIS OCCURRED OVER THE COURSE OF ALMOST TWO MONTHS. THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE A SPECIFIC CAUSE THAT LED TO THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, SO IT APPEARED TO BE A MANUFACTURING ISSUE. I WAS CHARGED FOR THE REPAIRS AS WELL AS ALMOST TWO MONTHS OF RENTAL CAR FEES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GWINNETT PLACE HONDA (3325 SATELLITE BLVD, DULUTH, GA 30096, (678) 274-6206) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,312.

THE CAR RANDOMLY DISPLAYS A CHECK EMISSIONS SYSTEM AND CHECK TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS ERROR ON THE DASHBOARD WHILE DRIVING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE "D" INDICATOR ON THE DISPLAY FLASHES. WHEN THE CHECK TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS ERROR DISPLAYS THE CAR DOES NOT SHIFT AS IT SHOULD. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION, AND NO ERROR CODES CAME UP ON HIS COMPUTER. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID A SOFTWARE UPDATE IS NEEDED. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WEAR AND TEAR ON THE ENGINE AND/OR TRANSMISSION DUE TO THESE ISSUES.

WHILE DRIVING, CAR RANDOMLY DISPLAYS CHECK EMISSION AND CHECK TRANSMISSION SYSTEM ERROR. WHEN I RESTART THE CAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES WHEN I PUT IT IN D POSITION. I TOOK THE CAR FOR REPAIR AND THEY SAY EVERYTHING IS NORMAL AND THEY DIDN'T FIND ANY ISSUES. I'M REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY IN MID-WAY AND ALSO THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION MIGHT GET EFFECTED.

RECENTLY, I STARTED NOTICING MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCING A SLIGHT LOSS OF POWER WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, AND A TENDENCY TO OVER-REV, AS WELL AS SPOTTING IN MY PARKING SPACE. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST, OCCURRING MAINLY IN THE MORNING. AFTER TWO DAYS, I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC TO TAKE A LOOK, AND AFTER CLEANING THE UNDERCARRIAGE, HE TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE. UPON ENTERING A ROUNDABOUT, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL DRIVING POWER. HE INSPECTED IT AGAIN, AND FOUND THAT THE FRONT LEFT DRIVE SHAFT HAD SLIPPED OUT OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HOUSING, ALLOWING ALL OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK OUT. WHILE SHOPPING FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS, I FOUND MENTION OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM BEING REPORTED IN THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR OF VEHICLES, REQUIRING A RECALL.

I HAVE EXPERIENCED ACCELERATION PROBLEMS FOR OVER A PERIOD OF 3 MONTHS, SIMILAR TO THOSE LISTED BY OTHER HONDA OWNERS ONLINE. MOST RECENT INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 11/27/2017 ,10/6/2017,10/9/17 AND IN OTHER SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE AND ITS INABILITY TO PERFORM IN A SAFE MATTER HAS GREATLY TROUBLED ME CONCERNING MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY PUBLIC. THE FOLLOWING OCCURRED ON THAT DAY, WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN CROSSING LANES OF TRAFFIC AND CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS BEING PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR ALSO LAUNCHES FORWARD WHILE IN THE DRIVE GEAR OR ON REVERSE AFTER IT HAS BEEN PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS. ON OTHER OCCASIONS , WHEN PULLING INTO OR OUT OF THE GARAGE/DRIVEWAY THE CAR CLUNKED AND LURCHED AHEAD. ON OTHER OCCASIONS THE CAR HAS UNATTENDED GAS CONTROL ISSUE, THE CAR ALSO REACHES TOP SPEEDS OF OVER 37 MPH WITHOUT EVEN TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL ONCE. THIS NOW HAPPENS DAILY, I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TELL ME THIS IS A NORMAL FUNCTION OF THE CAR WHEN I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT TRUE. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL CARS AND I KNOW THIS IS NOT NORMAL. I NO LONGER FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS CAR BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE MANUFACTURER AND I FEEL THEY KEEP GIVING ME THE RUN ?AROUND. I HAVE ALSO TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT, BUT THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER (AMERICAN HONDA) REQUESTING A FIELD ENGINEER HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ANY RESOLUTION AND I?M GETTING NOWHERE WITH THEM. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY AND MY FAMILIES AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC SAFETY. I HAVE NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION AND RENTING A CAR IS NOT WITHIN MY BUDGET. I HOPE THAT WITH YOUR HELP I CAN GET THIS MATTER RESOLVED. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS RPMS REMAIN HIGH EVEN AFTER FOOT IS OFF THE GAS PEDAL CONSEQUENTLY MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MATCH RPMS AND CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE TO FRICTION DISKS (CLUTCH). UN NECESSARY WEAR CAUSING 1200+ IN REPAIRS. BRAKES LOCKED UP ON HIGHWAY.. LOST CONTROL SPUN 5 TIMES AND EVEN AFTER NEW ALTERNATOR.. THE RPM NEVER REDUCES PROPERLY.. HAD IN SHOP 3 X'S SET AT YOUR SPEC IS WRONG TO MAKE BRAKE ELEASE JERK, CAR SHAKE AT LIGHTS AND CAUSES ME TO REAR END ANOTHER CAR. 2/6/16

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE PARKING, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.

THE VEHICLE HAD A DRAGGING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR AND THEN A WHOLE CHUNK OF METAL FELL OFF FROM UNDER THE CAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS RPMS REMAIN HIGH EVEN AFTER FOOT IS OFF THE GAS PEDAL CONSEQUENTLY MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MATCH RPMS AND CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE TO FRICTION DISKS (CLUTCH). UN NECESSARY WEAR CAUSING 1200+ IN REPAIRS. HAS FAILED TWICE NOW IN LESS THAN 80,000 MILES FIRST FAILURE UNDER 30,000

I WAS DRIVING ON AN EXIT RAMP FROM A HIGHWAY, CAR WAS COASTING, AND AS I WAS APPROACHING THE STOP SIGN, I APPLIED THE BRAKES SOFTLY, THE CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN FURTHER DUE TO BRAKING AND THEN SUDDENLY CAME TO A BRUTAL STOP WITH TIRES SCREECHING. ENGINE WAS STALLED, AUTOMATIC GEAR HAD SHIFTED IN NEUTRAL BY ITSELF, AND THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL IN THE CAR. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO CAR BEHIND ME, OTHERWISE IT WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN POSSIBLE TO PREVENT BEING REAR-ENDED. THE 25 MPH SPEED IS APPROXIMATE AS I WAS DECELERATING. A SIMILAR SITUATION ON A HIGHWAY WHEN TRAFFIC SLOWS DOWN COULD HAVE DRAMATIC CONSEQUENCES, CAUSING A PILE-UP AND POSSIBLY MULTIPLE DEATHS AND INJURIES. I WILL DRIVE THE CAR VERY CAREFULLY TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED YESTERDAY. *TR

CAR WILL ROLL BACKWARDS WHILE IN DRIVE (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY THAT IS UPHILL. I LET OFF THE BRAKES AND THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS. I CONDUCTED MORE TESTS AND FOUND IT DOES THIS REGARDLESS OF THE GRADE. I ALSO TESTED OUR 2 OTHER CARS AND NEITHER DID THIS. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT IS NORMAL. I CALLED HONDA (FILE # N012014-03-1702499) AND THEY SAID IT IS NORMAL. I FEEL THAT THIS IS UNSAFE. I'M 41 YRS OLD HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 25 YRS, I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN AUTOMATIC CAR THAT WILL DRIFT BACKWARDS IN DRIVE. THIS IS DANGEROUS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT USED TO THIS AND NOT INFORMED THAT THE CARS WILL DO THIS. *TR