2012 Honda Civic Steering Problems

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 “Check Emissions System,” “Check VSA System,” and “Check Power Steering System.” Diagnostics identified engine misfire code P0304 (Cylinder #4). On August 11, 2025, an authorized Honda dealership confirmed a seized spark plug and cylinder head damage, indicating an internal engine defect. The vehicle is currently with the selling dealership and available for inspection. Safety risk: Simultaneous failure warnings for emissions, VSA, and power steering created an unsafe driving condition. Impaired stability control and power steering increase the risk of loss of vehicle control during turning or emergency maneuvers. Confirmation of problem: Yes. Independent diagnostics confirmed the misfire. The selling dealer attempted repairs between July 22–25, 2025, but the same warnings returned. On August 8, 2025, the dealer admitted it lacked tools and software to diagnose or repair CNG vehicles. Honda later confirmed internal engine damage. Inspections: The vehicle was inspected by the selling dealer and an authorized Honda dealership. A third-party warranty administrator authorized a tear-down inspection. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by Honda Motor Co. or NHTSA. Prior warnings and recall concern: Warnings first appeared on July 14, 2025, about two weeks after purchase, and recurred despite repairs. The 2012 Honda Civic CNG has multiple recalls involving engine, fuel, and emissions systems, and these failures are consistent with known defect patterns, warranting further investigation.

NHTSA ID

11708419

Incident

Jul 14, 2025

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

NHTSA ID

11658556

Incident

May 2, 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.

NHTSA ID

11656345

Incident

Apr 7, 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.

NHTSA ID

11621855

Incident

May 4, 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.

NHTSA ID

11619161

Incident

Oct 10, 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.

NHTSA ID

11598809

Incident

Jun 27, 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.

NHTSA ID

11586543

Incident

May 2, 2024

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.

NHTSA ID

11510934

Incident

Jan 4, 2023

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.

NHTSA ID

11455344

Incident

Mar 5, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID

11438416

Incident

Oct 25, 2021

Mileage

72,500 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11433245

Incident

Aug 15, 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.

NHTSA ID

11430184

Incident

Aug 23, 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.

NHTSA ID

11422868

Incident

Jun 29, 2021

WE ALMOST GOT KILLED TRYING TO TURN THE WHEEL TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE STEERING WHEEL ISSUE WAS ALREADY LOOKED AT BY MY MECHANIC. HE SAID IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR AND REPLACED THAT INSTEAD. I WAS CHARGED FOR THE ALTERNATOR! I TOOK IT BACK AFTER WE WERE ALMOST KILLED. HE FIXED THE STEERING ISSUE BUT NOW THE CAR DOESN'T STEER RIGHT AWAY AFTER THE CAR IS TURNED ON! WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW? IT STAYS LOCKED AND YOU CAN ONLY GO FRONTWARDS AND BACK!! WE HAVE TO KEEP GOING BACK AND FORTH TILL IT UNLOCKS! WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE OF THIS CAR? I DON'T DRIVE FAR. IT ONLY HAS 81491 MILES ON IT. ON THE MECHANIC'S BILL STEERING ISSUE ELECTRONIC STEERING MOTOR- REMOVE & REPLACE- ALL APPLICABLE MODELS. DID YOU RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE? WHEN DO I GET MY MONEY BACK FROM HONDA FOR THEIR MISTAKES? I AM 68 YEARS OLD DISABLED WOMAN WHO NEEDS HELP WITH THIS BILL. HONDA SHOULD PAY THE BILL FOR ME. I HAVE TO LIVE ON 954.00 A MONTH LIVE IN STATE HOUSING. PLEASE HELP ME!! [XXX] CELL: [XXX] THANK YOU INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11399216

Incident

Dec 17, 2020

Mileage

81,491 mi

CHECK VSA CHECK POWER STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION DURING DRIVING! VEHICLE BREAKING ON ITS ON RANDOMLY! I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A FATAL ACCIDENT! VEHICLE IS NOT FUNCTIONAL DUE TO THESE ELECTRICAL ERRORS!

NHTSA ID

11397155

Incident

Feb 19, 2021

Mileage

91,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11396369

Incident

Feb 8, 2021

Mileage

127,370 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11394827

Incident

Feb 4, 2021

Mileage

62,500 mi

WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURNS (90 DEGREE TURNS) WITH THE VEHICLE GOING ~10 MPH THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTTURNS AND STAYS ON FOR SOME TIME BEFORE IT DISAPPEARS. HOWEVER, THE FREQUENCY OF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS HAVE INCREASED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND WAS TOLD THE ISSUE IS COMING FROM A CABLE REEL AND THE DRIVER INFLATION MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED TOO. ACCORDING TO THE HONDA TECHNICIAN- IF THE ISSUE/PARTS REMAIN UNFIXED, THE AIRBAG WILL FAIL TO DEPLOY IN A FORWARD MOVEMENT CRASH.

NHTSA ID

11394634

Incident

Jan 15, 2021

Mileage

130,000 mi

WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON. IT TOOK TWO OF US TO TURN THE WHEEL TO MAKE A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN. WE WERE BOTH AFRAID FOR OUR LIVES! WE DID NOT KNOW IF WE WERE GOING TO MAKE IT HOME BUT WE DID. I AM PETRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN! I HAVE TO USE THE CAR BECAUSE I LIVE SO FAR AWAY FROM STORES TO SHOP ETC. PLEASE HELP ME SOON SO I CAN USE THE CAR AGAIN!!!

NHTSA ID

11387310

Incident

Jan 8, 2021

Mileage

81,452 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11378004

Incident

Dec 2, 2020

Mileage

45,000 mi

ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILURE WITH CHECK POWER STEERING SYSTEM WARNING.

NHTSA ID

11376462

Incident

Nov 10, 2020

Mileage

107,170 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11351178

Incident

Aug 24, 2020

Mileage

115,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11319743

Incident

Mar 23, 2020

Mileage

77,800 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11310510

Incident

Feb 20, 2020

Mileage

89,687 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11289756

Incident

Dec 17, 2019

Mileage

120,000 mi