2012 Honda Civic Steering Problems
Owners have filed 74 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the 2012 Honda Civic, 16% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 60,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “check power steering” (28% of reports).
- 74steering complaints
- 60,000median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 25%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Check power steering: mentioned in 21 of 74 complaints (28%)
- Turn wheel: mentioned in 5 of 74 complaints (7%)
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 59 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 74 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 1 an injury.
Honda Civic steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Civic | 7 | 23% | — |
| 2025 Civic | 30 | 40% | 20,450 |
| 2024 Civic | 61 | 49% | 10,900 |
| 2023 Civic | 192 | 75% | 10,000 |
| 2022 Civic | 731 | 83% | 26,264 |
| 2021 Civic | 65 | 45% | 36,000 |
| 2020 Civic | 30 | 13% | 30,388 |
| 2019 Civic | 110 | 25% | 57,219 |
| 2018 Civic | 314 | 42% | 50,564 |
| 2017 Civic | 174 | 29% | 46,000 |
| 2016 Civic | 445 | 41% | 39,000 |
| 2015 Civic | 21 | 6% | 12,125 |
| 2014 Civic | 15 | 5% | 46,000 |
| 2013 Civic | 38 | 12% | 25,000 |
| 2012 Civic | 74 | 16% | 60,000 |
| 2011 Civic | 4 | 2% | 82,500 |
| 2010 Civic | 19 | 5% | 41,000 |
| 2009 Civic | 13 | 3% | 58,000 |
| 2008 Civic | 24 | 3% | 40,000 |
| 2007 Civic | 26 | 2% | 48,791 |
| 2006 Civic | 44 | 3% | 44,456 |
| 2005 Civic | 6 | 2% | 30,750 |
| 2004 Civic | 6 | 2% | 60,380 |
| 2003 Civic | 15 | 3% | 66,000 |
| 2002 Civic | 23 | 3% | 65,000 |
| 2001 Civic | 20 | 2% | 145,000 |
| 2000 Civic | 6 | 2% | 80,122 |
| 1999 Civic | 2 | 1% | 210,000 |
| 1998 Civic | 7 | 2% | 93,321 |
| 1997 Civic | 5 | 1% | 1,003 |
| 1996 Civic | 6 | 2% | 74,300 |
| 1995 Civic | 9 | 5% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Steering:column
Problem: Honda is recalling certain model year 2012 Civic passenger vehicles, manufactured from October 26, 2012, through October 30, 2012. These vehicles were assembled with the incorrect steering column assembly.
Risk: The steering column may not have proper energy absorbing characteristics, which could increase the risk of injury during a vehicle crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the steering column, as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on December 10, 2012. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Component or system failure: The vehicle experienced failures involving the engine/ignition system, emissions system, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), and power steering. On July 14, 2025, warning messages appeared for âCheck Emissions System,â âCheck VSA System,â and âCheck Power Steering…
Esp code1.33-06 while driving car I suddenly lose of power steering making it difficult to control vehicle
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2012 Honda Civics have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 74 owner complaints about steering for the 2012 Honda Civic (16% of the 456 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Honda Civic steering?
Yes: 1 safety recall list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do steering problems start?
The median reported mileage is 60,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about steering problems on the 2012 Honda Civic?
The most frequent phrase is “check power steering”, in 21 of 74 complaints, followed by “turn wheel” (5).
Other 2012 Honda Civic problems
- Air Bags problems (149)
- Electrical System problems (60)
See all 2012 Honda Civic problems or steering problems across all Civic years.