53 complaints reported

2012 Honda Civic Steering

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
53
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
1

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Apr 2025

This is a serious matter that needs to be evaluated as it is a potentially fatal safety issue for human drivers of 2012 Honda Civic. This email needs to be sent please to the Department of Transportation and the National Transportation Safety Board for evaluation of extension of recall: meaning other 2012 Honda Civic vehicles that have the same type or similar area of issues as the two above stated recalls and from the same manufacturer as the 2012 Honda Civic vehicles but whose VIN were not included in the group of VIN numbers in the original recalls) a. 2019 - control arm bushings cracked - cause: leaking - front lower arm compliance bushings, both replaced by Honda( documention available upon request) b. 2019- right front tire shred and upon inspection by Goodyear no nail or issue could be found for the one right front tire shredding. (documentation and images available upon request) c. 2022- right front tire shreds while driving and upon inspection by Goodyear no nail or issue could be found for the right front tire behavior. (documentation and images available upon request) d. 2024-right front control arm mount and right control arm failure while driving causing the vehicle to be a total loss including from collateral damage. It happened at a low speed but if it happened at a higher speed it would have been potentially fatal. Corporate American Honda made aware and Corporate American Honda made aware this is to be reported to the Department of Transportation and Corporate American Honda response was that they were taking no action to the situation of the request for evaluation of extension of recall, besides just collecting the information I was reporting to them due per Corporate American Honda to it potentially costing Corporate Honda money and that they American Corporate Honda were willing to wait the couple of months that it could potentially take for the Department of Transportation to evaluate. Police report was taken, but I do not have a copy.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jul 2024
Feb 2025

Esp code1.33-06 while driving car I suddenly lose of power steering making it difficult to control vehicle

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Feb 2025
Oct 2024

When my car reaches speeds above 60mph the steering is difficult to control (a lot of Play in the steering wheel). I took my vehicle in to a Monrovia, CA Honda Dealer in May 2024 to fix the issue. The dealer replaced the bushings but did not fix the steering issue. This vehicle feels dangerous. I noticed on the internet there are a lot of mechanics talking about steering issues in the model years that my car is under. I am frustrated that the Honda dealers don’t seem to want to fix this issue. I’ve already paid a great deal of money in up keep and the problem has not been corrected. I have had no warning lamps or signs of leaks just a lot of play in the steering wheel and lack of control.I don’t feel safe on the highway in this vehicle.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Apr 2024
Oct 2024

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2024
Apr 2024

Power Steering suddenly failed after I stopped for a stop sign. The EPS light was not on prior to stopping but came on after the steering failed. Managed to get to the nearest Honda Dealer and was told they wouldn't touch it. Managed to get to a local repair shop who looked up the issue and reset some code(s). They told me it could happen again at any time. This is an extremely dangerous problem that could cause serious damage or death if it occurred while driving. I can't understand why Honda hasn't figured out a solution and issued a recall.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 2024
Feb 2024

The power steering light will come on and the cars power steering no longer works. I was driving down the road approximately 60 mph and the power steering light came on and I could barely turn the steering wheel. I was able to stop and shut the care off and restart and the power steering worked again. On future drives the power steering intermittently will go out forcing me to stop and shut the car off and restart. I took vehicle to Honda dealer and the dealership and I was informed I needed to replace the EPS control unit, which I did. The vehicle was clear of any problems a a while but the same issue is now happening again. Went back to dealer and they reset code 51-04 and said they could not find any problem. Less than an hour after leaving the dealer, the same problem was there again: loss of power steering. This is so dangerous. I've noticed tons of other people have this same complaint and it should be a recall issue and fixed.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Feb 2024
Sep 2023

EPS warning light came on while I was pulling into a local gas station. When I came out and started vehicle, wheel would not turn. Realized with EPS assist off it reverts to manual steering and, with great difficulty, made it to garage. Rack and pinion replaced ($1514.77). Now EPS warning light still continues to come on randomly with sudden loss of steering, once at 70 mph on interstate and another at 35 mph on secondary road. This is EXTREMELY dangerous. If you turn car off and wait 10-15 minutes the system resets and steering works perfectly (until it doesn’t).I refuse to drive it now and, since it is an older car with high mileage, it would be cost prohibitive. Even if I could find a buyer, I can’t in good conscience sell it to someone and worry about their safety. Other potential repairs could be EPS motor, steering sensors, bad wiring, computer issues, etc.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Apr 2023
May 2022

Intermittent power steering loss. Vehicle would lose power steering sometimes while driving and other times at startup. Very random. For months nothing would happen until all of a sudden eps warning light would come on and power steering wouldn’t engage right away. Now it is permanently on and the power steering does not work at all. This issue started around 65k and complete power steering loss happened at 80k. Definitely scary to think you might lose power steering all of a sudden.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: May 2022
Oct 2021

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH, the emergency steering warning light illuminated, and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, then to the dealer. Initially, the dealer could not replicate the failure but later diagnosed the vehicle with steering column failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,500.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2021
Sep 2021

On or about August 2021, I drove my 2012 Civic to a store, and park. Leaving the location minutes later, I started the car and noticed I could not turn the wheel to back out. A dash light came on indicating a power steering system issue. I turned car off and tried again with the same results. Not able to drive, I left the car parked and returned the next morning to possibly have it towed. I started the car to check it, and the issue was gone. A mechanic checked the fuse and told me he "reset it." The problem has not returned to date.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2021
Aug 2021

The EPS Electric Power Steering failed on the vehicle with no warning. At 35-40 MPH the EPS warning light came on and the car could not be turned in any direction. The car was wrestled off to the side of the road. It was turned off for several minutes and turned back on. Problem persisted. Turned off ignition for 10 minutes and the warning light went out and steering came back. Thank God there was no accident. This is beyond dangerous. Honda needs to step up to the plate and recall these vehicles with defective steering. Somebody is going to die. Now my daughter is afraid to drive the vehicle. We need to get it to the shop.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2021
Jun 2021

When leaving my parking space, my steering wheel locked and I was unable to turn the vehicle. If I had needed to maneuver my vehicle, I would not have been able to do so. The dashboard indicated that the power steering needed to be inspected.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 2021
May 2021

POWER STEERING WHEN OUT ALL AT ONCE WHILE DRIVING, VERY DIFFICULT TO STEERING, DROVE HOME BARELY ABLE TO STEER, AFTER CAR SAT FOR A WHILE THE STEERING WORKS NOW, AFRAID TO GET OUT OF DRIVEWAY BECAUSE AFRAID IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Apr 2021
Feb 2021

CAR DRIVING DOWN HWY STEERING GOES OUT AND LIGHT CAME ON TURN CAR OFF STEERING WORKS FINE DRIVE CAR STEERING GOES OUT LIGHT COMES ON TURN CAR OFF DRIVE CAR HOME WITH NO POWER STEERING TURN OFF AND ON WORKS FINE TAKE TO DEALER CODES 33-01 AND 33-06 SAID NEEDS RACK & PUMP THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME OF THIS PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON ON THESE CARS SINCE 2012 WHY NO RECALL OH I,AM A MECHANIC CERTIFIED AGE 57

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2021
Nov 2020

ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILURE WITH CHECK POWER STEERING SYSTEM WARNING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2020
Aug 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE ON AFTER BEING PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THEY NOTICED THAT THE CHECK POWER STEERING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT, MAYBE MOVING APPROXIMATELY A HALF OF AN INCH IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2020
May 2020

THE EPS(ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING) INDICATOR TURNED ON AFTER IGNITION AND STAYS ON. BECAUSE OF THIS, I AM NOT ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE, IT CAN GO UP AND DOWN IN A STRAIGHT LINE BUT CANNOT STEER. IT STARTED WHILE REVERSING MY VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVEWAY, I COULD NOT DRIVE IT WITH THE EPS LIGHT ON, SO IT IS CURRENTLY PARKED AT THE DRIVEWAY. I SEE SIMILAR INCIDENTS REPORTED BY OTHERS ON COMMON FORUM. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS WITH COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER CUSTOMERS AND GET THIS FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Feb 2020
Mar 2020

STARTED CAR AND CHECK POWER STEERING WARNING CAME UP. THERE WAS A SLIGHT SHUTTER THEN STEERING WAS HARD. SHUT CAR AND RESTARTED AND WARNING WERE GONE AND STEERING OK. 1 WEEK LATER SAME PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT CLEAR AND NO POWER STEERING. SHUT CAR AND RESTARTED, WARNING STILL ON, BUT POWER STEERING WORKING, BUT THERE IS A SLIGHT NOISE ON AND OFF. SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Mar 2020
Feb 2020

THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THE CARS POWER STEERING COLUMN WILL LOCK UP. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON. I COULD BARELY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL . I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND PEOPLE HELPED ME GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS INFORMED I NEEDED TO UPDATE THE EPS. IT COST $70 AND MY SYSTEM SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED. A MONTH LATER I WAS DRIVING AGAIN AND THE LIGHT CAME ON. THE POWER STEERING IMMEDIATELY LOCKED U AGAIN. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS. I WAS ABLE TO GET STOPPED, TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON. IT RESET IT I GUESS CAUSE IT STARTED WORKING. I DROVE IT TO THE DEALER VERY SLOW AND WAS TOLD I NEED AN EPS CONTROL UNIT SYSTEM AND IT WOULD BE AROUND $867 WITH LABOR. I'VE NOTICED TONS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME COMPLAINT AND IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE AND FIXED. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Feb 2020
Dec 2019

I BEGAN TO PULL OUT OF THE PARKING LOT OF MY WORKPLACE TO HEAD TOWARDS THE FREEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY MY STEERING STOPS WORKING. I WORK IN A VERY BUSY AREA AND TRAFFIC IS VERY BUSY. LUCKILY, THERE WAS A RED LIGHT AND THAT I AM A SAFE DRIVER BECAUSE IF I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN ON THE FREEWAY I WOULD HAVE MOST LIKELY GOTTEN INTO A FATAL ACCIDENT. I AM ALSO VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE WEATHER DID NOT END UP BEING INCLEMENT AS IT WAS PREDICTED TO BE. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR 2012-2013 HONDA CIVICS. SHOULDN'T THEY INITIATE A RECALL PROCESS BECAUSE THIS ISN'T SAFE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Dec 2019
Sep 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CHECK POWER STEERING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CAUSEWAY HONDA (457 ROUTE 72, MANAHAWKIN, NJ 08050, (609) 597-0033) A FEW YEARS AGO FOR THE STEERING WHEEL FAILURE. THE DEALER PEFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE CODE AT THE STEERING SOFTWARE. THE DEALER UPDATED THE STEERING SOFTWARE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2017
Sep 2019

MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT 45 MPH AND THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND SHE LOST STEERING CONTROL. SHE PULLED OVER TURNED OFF THE CAR AND SAT FOR 15 MINUTES. THEN TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND IT WORKED SHE DROVE THE CAR FOR ANOTHER 5 MINUTES AND IT DID THE SAME THING TO HER AGAIN. IF SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A CURVE WHEN THIS HAPPEN SHE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN STRONG ENOUGH TURN THE CAR AND AN ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURED

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2019
Aug 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED WITH SPORT HONDA (3110 AUTOMOBILE BLVD, SILVER SPRING, MD 20904, (301) 890-4700), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2019
Aug 2019

JUST AS MANY OTHER COMPLAINS, DAUGHTER GOT INTO CAR AFTER CLASSES AND COULDN'T STEER CAR IN PARKING LOT. NOTICED CHECK POWER STEERING LIGHT ON. DAD CAME TO TAKE HER HOME SINCE NOT DRIVABLE. RESEARCHED ISSUE AND NOTICED TROUBLES WITH MANY OTHER OWNERS. WENT BACK TO CAR NEXT AM PREPARED TO HAVE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP AND PROBLEM WAS GONE. DROVE CAR HOME SINCE DIDN'T WANT DAUGHTER TO DRIVE IT. TOOK TO LOCAL HI DA DEALER SERVICE AND SAID NO ISSUES WITH STEERING BUT NEEDED REPLACEMENT AIRBACN FOR $1200! THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. WE ALSO HAVE A HONDA MINIVAN (SECOND ONE) THAT HAS ELECTRICAL ISSUES RECENTLY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2019
Jul 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE EPS INDICATOR ALERTED THE CONTACT TO CHECK THE POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING ABILITY WHEN MANEUVERING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CLINTON HONDA (1511 US-22, ANNANDALE, NJ 08801, 908-735-0800, (908) 238-3933) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO EPS RECALL TO PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE EPS CONTROL UNIT AND UPDATED THE DTC 33-01FET (A SWITCH WITHIN THE STEERING RACK). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V548000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,859.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jul 2019

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Honda Civic has 53 Steering complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.