19 complaints reported

2012 Honda Civic VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

Reports
19
Crashes
4
Fires
0
Injuries
2

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Oct 2019

I HAVE A 2012 HONDA CIVIC LX, IT HAS INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. IT OCCURRED TWICE ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALSO URBAN AREA. JUST THIS MORNING, IT HAPPENED AGAIN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I NOTICED THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES AND SPEEDS UP WITHOUT STEPPING THE GAS PEDAL. FORTUNATELY THE BRAKES RESPONDED TO SLOW DOWN. I CAME OUT OF THE HIGHWAY, AND I HAD TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT BUT STILL IT WAS A CONSTANT FIGHT ACCELERATION BY ITSELF AND STEPPING ON THE BRAKE UNTIL THE CAR WILL OPERATE NORMALLY.

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

I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR TRIED TO ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS FIRM ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I HAD TO "STAND" ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND I IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE ENGINE REACHED A VERY HIGH RPM UNTIL I JIGGLED THE ACCELERATION PEDAL. THEN THE ENGINE ACTED NORMALLY. THE ECO WAS NOT ENGAGED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED. MILEAGE IS 40,078 MILES.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MPH AND MAKING A U-TURN, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: May 2017
Aug 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 2015
Jul 2016

DRIVING UP TO A DRIVE-IN BANK THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I STOPPED THE CAR A FEW FEET BEYOND THE TELLER WINDOW BY A HEAVY APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND BACKED UP TO THE WINDOW. IN REVERSE THE ENGINE WAS STILL RACING. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE. UPON FINISHING MY BANKING TRANSACTION I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE. THE ENGINE SLOWED TO A NORMAL IDLE I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE FOUR DAYS LATER; THE DEALER FOUND NOTHING ABNORMAL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 2016
Jul 2016

DRIVING UP TO A DRIVE-IN BANK THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I STOPPED THE CAR A FEW FEET BEYOND THE TELLER WINDOW BY A HEAVY APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND BACKED UP TO THE WINDOW. IN REVERSE THE ENGINE WAS STILL RACING. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE. UPON FINISHING MY BANKING TRANSACTION I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE. THE ENGINE SLOWED TO A NORMAL IDLE I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE FOUR DAYS LATER; THE DEALER FOUND NOTHING ABNORMAL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 2016
Nov 2015

I HAVE PROBLEM WITH MY 2012 CIVIC RPM , ESPECIALLY WHILE CLAMPING HILL, IT WILL SUDDENLY LOSE POWER BEFORE PICKING UP . THE RPM WILL GO UP TO 4000. WHILE GOING DOWN THE HILL IT JUST ACCELERATE EVEN IF I STEP ON BRAKE. WHEN I START THE CAR IN THE MORNING , IT ACCELERATE ITSELF. I CONSIDER THIS MODEL OF HONDA AS DANGEROUS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Nov 2015
Apr 2015 Crash

SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION : WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVING LANE ON I-5 SOUTH AT ABOUT 60MPH AND I WAS AT PASSENGER'S SEAT, MY WIFE YELLED "THE CAR IS GETTING FASTER AND FASTER." AND I TOLD HER TO STEP ON THE BRAKE. SHE SAID SHE WAS ALREADY PEDDLING THE BRAKE BUT IT DID NOT WORK, AND THE CAR WAS APPROACHING TO A BIG TRUCK IN FRONT OF US WITH FRIGHTENING SPEED. SINCE THERE WERE MANY CARS IN FRONT, BEHIND AND ON THE PASSING LANE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, WE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ELSE BUT STEERING THE CAR TO THE RIGHT SIDE OFF THE DRIVING LANE IN ORDER TO AVOID FATAL ACCIDENT. THERE WAS SPACE COVERED WITH ROUGH GRASSES, BUSHES AND SOFT FENCES THERE. THE VEHICLE KEPT MOVING ALONG, CRASHING THE OBJECTS WITH HIGH SPEED OF ABOUT MORE THAN 85 MPH. FINALLY THE CAR STOPPED AFTER GOING ALONG MORE THAN 50 YARDS. AS SOON AS THE CAR STOPPED, WE BARELY OPENED THE DOORS AND ESCAPED FROM THE TERRIBLY DAMAGED CAR. THE CAR'S FRONT SIDE WAS FACING BACKWARD, AND I HEARD AFTERWARD THAT MY WIFE USED THE HAND BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. AIR BAGS OF DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEAT, AND SIDE AIRBAG WERE DEPLOYED. OTHER THREE CARS STOPPED AT THE SCENE OFF THE LANE, AND ADVISED US TO REMOVE VALUABLES INSIDE THE CAR, BECAUSE IT MAY CATCH FIRE. THEY CALLED 911, AND FIRE FIGHTERS AND THE POLICE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE. I REPORTED THE ACCIDENT TO MY INSURANCE, DMV, AND HONDA USA. MY WIFE'S RIGHT KNEE GOT BRUISE, AND I HAVE LIGHT PAIN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY NECK AND CHEST. MY WIFE IS PANIC, AND AFRAID OF DRIVING. I AM ALSO VERY MUCH SHOCKED. I KNOW HONDA WOULD NOT EASILY ADMIT THE DEFECT OF THE CAR, EVEN THOUGH IT WILL INVESTIGATE THE CAR. BUT I SWEAR TO GOD THAT THE SUA TOOK PLACE. NOW I BELIEVE THAT SUA OCCURS WITHOUT DRIVER'S MALOPERATION OF THE CAR, BECAUSE THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO MISOPERATION OF THE CAR. I PLEASE REQUEST NHTSA CONSIDER THIS INCIDENT VERY SERIOUSLY. THANKS *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2015
Mar 2014 Crash Injury

CONTACT OWNED A 2012 HONDA CIVIC WITH 2363 MILES AT TIME OF INCIDENT. BEFORE REACHING A DOWNTOWN INTERSECTION IN THE EARLY EVENING ONE DAY LAST MONTH, CONTACT WAS GOING TO TURN RIGHT SOUTHBOUND TOWARDS HOME NEARBY. THE CAR SUDDENLY MADE A LOUD REVVING NOISE AND SHOT STRAIGHT FORWARD AT TERRIFYING SPEED. CONTACT STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND STEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE CAR DID NOT STOP AND SEEMED TO HAVE A MIND OF ITS OWN. CONTACT COULD NOT SEE WHERE IT WENT BUT HEARD IT HITTING HARD AT OBJECTS UNTIL IT FINALLY STOPPED. CONTACT DID NOT KNOW HOW LONG HAD ELAPSED BEFORE SHE SAW THROUGH A HAZE WISPS OF SMOKE COMING OUT IN FRONT OF THE CAR AND NOTICED THE AIRBAG WAS DEPLOYED. FEARING THE CAR MIGHT CATCH FIRE, CONTACT PUSHED OPEN THE DOOR AND FOUND THE CAR HAD STOPPED IN THE SOUTHBOUND LANE RIGHT NEXT TO THE RAISED CONCRETE MEDIUM THAT SEPARATED NORTH AND SOUTHBOUND LANES. CONTACT SAW A BLACK CAR ON THE NORTHBOUND LANE NEXT TO THE RAISED MEDIUM WITH WHITE SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. POLICE OFFICERS AND PARAMEDICS WERE AT THE SCENE. CONTACT AND THE OTHER DRIVER BOTH SUSTAINED INJURIES. CONTACT'S CAR WAS LATER DECLARED "A TOTAL LOSS" BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. CONTACT WAS PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY SOUND BEFORE AND AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT AND HAD A TOTALLY UNBLEMISHED DRIVING RECORD IN OVER 50 YEARS. CONTACT IS UNWAVERING IN THE BELIEF THAT THE INCIDENT WAS DUE TO THE VEHICLE'S SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. CONTACT HAD STRESSED THIS MALFUNCTION TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND ALSO REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE AMERICAN HONDA MOTORS. WHICH CONTACT BELIEVED HAD SENT REPRESENTATIVES TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AT THE COLLISION SHOP.. *TR *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Feb 2014
Mar 2014

TL* THE CONTACT 2012 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ENGINE RPM INCREASED EXCESSIVELY AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,500.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2014
Aug 2013

MY 2012 HONDA CIVIC HAS INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THESE OCCURRENCES ONLY OCCUR ON THE FREEWAY AND SEEM TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN I AM NEAR SKY HARBOR AIRPORT. THE WILL SUDDENLY GO FROM 2 RPM TO 7 RPM IN A MANNER NOT ACHIEVABLE BY APPLYING THE GAS PEDAL OR ANY OTHER METHOD. ONCE THE CAR REACHES 7 RPM IT WILL IMMEDIATELY GO BACK DOWN TO 2 RPM AND THIS CYCLE WILL OCCUR TWO MORE TIMES BEFORE THE CAR WILL OPERATE NORMALLY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2013
May 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE IN A TIMELY MANNER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Dec 2012
Feb 2013 Crash Injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A GARAGE, HE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THEN REVERSE WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO A FENCE, A WALL AND A BUILDING. THE CONTACT HAD TO POWER THE ENGINE OFF IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING ANY FURTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT ANKLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 2013
Jan 2013

I'VE HAD MY 2012 CIVIC FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE FOLLOWING ISSUE RIGHT AWAY: WHILE MAINTAINING SPEED AT 1500 RPMS, THEY SUDDENLY JUMP TO 2500 RPMS, PAUSE AT THE HIGHER RPM FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN COME BACK DOWN. I CANNOT RECREATE IT AT WILL, IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING ON FLAT AND STRAIGHT ROADS (AS THIS IS MY USUAL DRIVE TO WORK AND HOME), APPLYING THE BREAK DOES NOT BRING THE RPMS BACK DOWN EITHER. I HAVE DRIVEN A DECENT AMOUNT OF CARS IN MY LIFETIME INCLUDING A 2003 CIVIC IN THE SAME TRIM AS MY CURRENT CIVIC AND NONE HAVE ACTED THIS WAY. I REALIZE A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE THAT '03 CIVIC MODEL, BUT NO CAR SHOULD ACT LIKE IT HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN, WHICH IS EXACTLY HOW IT FEELS EVERY TIME THIS OCCURS AND LEAVES ME WITH A VERY UNSETTLING FEELING WHILE DRIVING IT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: May 2012
Jan 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 11/12/13*CN

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2013
Nov 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE ON THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO AN INCREASE TO AN ACCEPTABLE SPEED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 800.

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

MY HONDA CIVIC EX-L 2012 FAILED TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED OR IDLING POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY FIVE TIMES IN THE THREE WEEKS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE (CURRENT ODOMETER READING AS OF THIS WRITING IS 650 MILES). I HAVE NOTICED IT MOST OFTEN WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED OR IDLING POSITION TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. HOWEVER THE LEFT HAND TURN MAY BE MORE NOTICEABLE AS I AM TURNING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC/CROSSING LANES AND THE FAILURE TO ACCELERATE, AND THE COLLISION RISK THE FAILURE IMPOSES, ARE MOST ALARMING. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED A LACK OF GAS PEDAL 'RESPONSIVENESS' WHEN STOPPED OR IDLING AND ATTEMPTING TO ROLL FORWARD SLIGHTLY AS ONE WOULD ATTEMPT TO DO IN A LINE OF VEHICLES. OF NOTE, MY HUSBAND HAS A HONDA CIVIC LX 2012 WHICH HE HAS OWNED FOR FIVE MONTHS. THE SAME FAILURE TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED OR IDLING POSITION HAS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING HIS VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES. HE HAS NOT NOTICED IT, BUT ALMOST ALL OF HIS MILEAGE IS HIGHWAY DRIVING. I INTEND TO BRING MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THIS WEEK TO HAVE THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD INVESTIGATED. *TR

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

SUDDEN HIGH RPM WHEN EXCITING HIGHWAY RAMP,ENGINES RPM,S GO UP TO 4 OR 5,WHEN APPLYING BRAKE. *TR

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

WHILE TRYING TO SLOW ON A HIGHWAY CURVE BY PUSHING THE BRAKE, I WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE CAR CONTINUED TO SPEED UP AS I PUSHED THE BRAKE. I PULLED MY FOOT BACK AND REAPPLIED THE BRAKE WITH NO AFFECT, THE CAR WAS CONTINUING TO SPEED UP. I DO NOT KNOW IF I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE OR JUST SLAMMED THE BRAKE. THE BRAKE TOOK HOLD THE CAR JERKED. I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE. FOR A BRIEF PERIOD I DID NOT HAVE CONTROL OF THE CAR.. THIS WAS NOT MY FIRST UNEXPLAINED ACCELERATION INCIDENT. THE OTHER 2 TIMES I WAS SLOWING INTO A REDLIGHT BY JUST REMOVING MY FOOT FROM THE GAS. THE CAR SLOWED AS I EXPECTED IT TO DO THEN IT JUST BEGAN TO SLOWLY SPEED UP. I WAS NOT GOING DOWN HILL. THE BRAKES WORKED AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATED THOSE INCIDENTS. *TR

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

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Honda Civic has 19 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL complaints on file. 4 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.