FaultScore

2012 Honda Civic window and wiper problems

13 of the 620 complaints about the 2012 Honda Civic are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 7,500 miles.

A

13

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Visibility 3 23.1%
Visibility/Wiper 3 23.1%
Windshield Wiper/Washer 2 15.4%
Power Window Devices AND Controls 1 7.7%
Sun/Moon Roof Assembly 1 7.7%
Glass, Side/Rear 1 7.7%
Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System 1 7.7%
Heater Core 1 7.7%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers across every Honda Civic year

1996 35 3.3%
1997 34 3.2%
1998 26 2.5%
1999 16 1.5%
2001 33 3.2%
2002 21 2.0%
2003 13 1.2%
2006 239 22.8%
2007 214 20.4%
2008 133 12.7%
2009 29 2.8%
2010 54 5.2%
2011 21 2.0%
2012 13 1.2%
2013 14 1.3%
2016 67 6.4%
2017 34 3.2%
2018 17 1.6%
2019 10 1.0%
2020 13 1.2%
2022 11 1.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 100,000 miles Hampton, VA

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC GLASS COVER ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS MELTING AND CAUSED THE WINDOW TO BECOME BLURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS BEGINNING TO FAIL IN THE SAME MANNER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWAY OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #11021083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 39,000 miles Columbia, MD

VISIBILITY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED, A RINGING NOISE WAS HEARD THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

NHTSA complaint #10995001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Hyde Park, NY

VISIBILITY/WIPER

FRONT SEAT ERGONOMICS ARE BAD! CURVES YOUR BACK FORWARD AND HEAD DOWN. THE HEADREST IS TILTED TOO FAR FORWARD AND DOWN. IT HAS RUINED MY BACK. VISIBILITY FRONT AND BACK IS MINIMAL. CAN'T SEE HOOD OR CAR CORNERS. DISTANCE TO OBJECTS, OTHER CARS ETC. IS A GUESSING GAME. WHEN FOOT IS RESTING ON BRAKE AND YOU STEP ON GAS, ENGINE DROPS TO IDLE. DEALER SAYS THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE. IT'S DANGEROUS!!!!!

NHTSA complaint #10854192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,000 miles SAN Jose, CA

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

WHILE DRIVING DOWN 101S AT ABOUT 60MPH ON A CLEAR EVENING I HEARD A LOUD POP NOISE - THE NEXT DAY I REALIZED MY SUNROOF GLASS 'EXPLODED'. FORTUNATELY WHEN IT HAPPENED THE SUNSHADE WAS PULLED SHUT SO NO GLASS FELL INTO MY CAR. I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE GLASS TO BREAK BUT I AM POSITIVE IT WASN'T A FLYING OBJECT THAT HIT IT.

NHTSA complaint #10573902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 7,500 miles Salisbury, MD

VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WIPE THE WINDSHIELD. THE WIPERS SMEAR THE WATER AND DECREASE THE VISIBILITY. AT NIGHT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN CAR LIGHTS REFLECT AND OBSTRUCT THE DRIVERS VISION. I HAVE HAD THE WIPERS REPLACED TWICE AND NO SOLUTION. THE DEALER HAS NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. CAN YOU HELP ?

NHTSA complaint #10515572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20,000 miles ST Louis, MO

VISIBILITY

WHEN EXITING A SPEED RAMP OFF OF THE HIGHWAY THE RPM'S SPEED UP CAUSING A HORRIBLE SOUND IN THE ENGINE AND THE FEELING THAT YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SLOW DOWN IN TIME TO EXIT THE RAMP. ADDITIONALLY, MORE THAN A NUMEROUS TIMES THE CAR IS VERY UNSTEADY GOING OVER 55MPH IF IT ENCOUNTERS ANY TYPE OF "BUMP" IN THE HIGHWAY UPON MERGING INTO ANOTHER LANE IT IS UNSTEADY AND THE WHOLE CAR "JERKS",(FEELS LIKE IT COULD ROLLOVER EASILY)YOU NEED TO HAVE A FIRM HOLD ON THE STEERING WHEEL OR YOU COULD LOSE CONTROL. GLARE ON WINDSHIELD AT NIGHT PRESENTS A SAFETY CONCERN WITH NIGHT DRIVING. THE HEADRESTS ARE A HINDER TO BEING ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY SEE YOUR BLIND SPOT AND THE CAR WITH ITS HORRIBLE STEERING CONTROL PRESENTS ANOTHER AREA OF CONCERN, YOU WILL BE IN THE OTHER LANE TRYING TO LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER MORE THAN ONCE!

NHTSA complaint #10507359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,000 miles DE Soto, IA

VISIBILITY

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ON A VERY COLD MORNING, I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE, NO ONE WAS EVEN AROUND ME AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEAR A LOAD POP, I LOOKED OVER & MY PASSENGERS SIDE, 'VENT WINDOW' HAD SHATTERED INTO A MILLION PIECES. IT DID STAY IN TACT BUT HONDA DEALER SAYS SOMETHING MUST HAVE HIT IT. I PERSONALLY THINK THE VENT BLOWING THE WARM AIR ON THE COLD WINDOW EFFECTED IT. THIS MAY BE A LITTLE WINDOW BUT IT'S NOT CHEAP TO FIX. I AM WONDERING IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS...

NHTSA complaint #10496388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 4,000 miles Syracuse, NY

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DEFROSTER AND REAR DEFROSTER WERE ACTIVATED DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELDS WERE ICY AND WOULD NOT COMPLETELY CLEAR UNTIL TWENTY MINUTES LATER. THE HEATING ELEMENT WITHIN THE DEFROSTER AND REAR DEFROSTER WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY UNLESS ACTIVATED FOR AT LEAST TWENTY MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. UPDATED 04/09/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MOST DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE, WAS THE NON-FUNCTIONING WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER. THE DASHBOARD AIR COMPRESSION SYSTEM WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, ONLY THE BOTTOM SIX INCHES OF THE WINDSHIELD WAS CLEANED OFF DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. IN THE SUMMER TIME WHEN IT RAINED, THE WINDOWS WOULD FOG UP FROM THE HIGH HUMIDITY, BECAUSE THE DEFROSTER WOULD CLEAR THE WINDOWS. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE DOOR LOCKS DID NOT WORK AND THE HEATING SYSTEM WOULD TAKE 10-15 MINUTES TO ACTIVATE, DEPENDING ON HOW COLD IT WAS. ALSO, IN THE WINTER TIME, THE POWER WINDOWS DID NOT WORK. THE WINDOW WOULD REMAIN IN ITS POSITION,. HOWEVER, THE MOTOR COULD BE HEARD RUNNING.. THE FROZEN ICE WITHIN THE PANEL PREVENTED THE WINDOW FROM MOVING UP OR DOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10482103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 4,000 miles Syracuse, NY

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DEFROSTER AND REAR DEFROSTER WERE ACTIVATED DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELDS WERE ICY AND WOULD NOT COMPLETELY CLEAR UNTIL TWENTY MINUTES LATER. THE HEATING ELEMENT WITHIN THE DEFROSTER AND REAR DEFROSTER WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY UNLESS ACTIVATED FOR AT LEAST TWENTY MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. UPDATED 04/09/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MOST DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE, WAS THE NON-FUNCTIONING WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER. THE DASHBOARD AIR COMPRESSION SYSTEM WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, ONLY THE BOTTOM SIX INCHES OF THE WINDSHIELD WAS CLEANED OFF DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. IN THE SUMMER TIME WHEN IT RAINED, THE WINDOWS WOULD FOG UP FROM THE HIGH HUMIDITY, BECAUSE THE DEFROSTER WOULD CLEAR THE WINDOWS. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE DOOR LOCKS DID NOT WORK AND THE HEATING SYSTEM WOULD TAKE 10-15 MINUTES TO ACTIVATE, DEPENDING ON HOW COLD IT WAS. ALSO, IN THE WINTER TIME, THE POWER WINDOWS DID NOT WORK. THE WINDOW WOULD REMAIN IN ITS POSITION,. HOWEVER, THE MOTOR COULD BE HEARD RUNNING.. THE FROZEN ICE WITHIN THE PANEL PREVENTED THE WINDOW FROM MOVING UP OR DOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10482103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 4,000 miles Syracuse, NY

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DEFROSTER AND REAR DEFROSTER WERE ACTIVATED DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELDS WERE ICY AND WOULD NOT COMPLETELY CLEAR UNTIL TWENTY MINUTES LATER. THE HEATING ELEMENT WITHIN THE DEFROSTER AND REAR DEFROSTER WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY UNLESS ACTIVATED FOR AT LEAST TWENTY MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. UPDATED 04/09/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MOST DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE, WAS THE NON-FUNCTIONING WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER. THE DASHBOARD AIR COMPRESSION SYSTEM WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, ONLY THE BOTTOM SIX INCHES OF THE WINDSHIELD WAS CLEANED OFF DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. IN THE SUMMER TIME WHEN IT RAINED, THE WINDOWS WOULD FOG UP FROM THE HIGH HUMIDITY, BECAUSE THE DEFROSTER WOULD CLEAR THE WINDOWS. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE DOOR LOCKS DID NOT WORK AND THE HEATING SYSTEM WOULD TAKE 10-15 MINUTES TO ACTIVATE, DEPENDING ON HOW COLD IT WAS. ALSO, IN THE WINTER TIME, THE POWER WINDOWS DID NOT WORK. THE WINDOW WOULD REMAIN IN ITS POSITION,. HOWEVER, THE MOTOR COULD BE HEARD RUNNING.. THE FROZEN ICE WITHIN THE PANEL PREVENTED THE WINDOW FROM MOVING UP OR DOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10482103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bluemont, VA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

2012 HONDA CIVIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE VEHICLE AND CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM GEAR SHIFT. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD LEAVE LINES AND SMEARS ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE WIPERS WERE REPLACED FOUR TIMES. THERE WAS A BUZZING NOISE COMING FROM THE HEATER, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON FOR AN HOUR. THE DIMMER LIGHTS DIDN'T CHANGE FROM HIGH TO LOW, THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RELEASE WHEN SHE MOVED FORWARD, INSTEAD IT LOCKED UP AND THERE WAS A SMELL OF CARBON MONOXIDE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE RUBBER SLIDES IN EACH WINDOW DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY, BECAUSE OF THE MOISTURE ON THE WINDOWS.

NHTSA complaint #10476163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bluemont, VA

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

2012 HONDA CIVIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE VEHICLE AND CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM GEAR SHIFT. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD LEAVE LINES AND SMEARS ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE WIPERS WERE REPLACED FOUR TIMES. THERE WAS A BUZZING NOISE COMING FROM THE HEATER, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON FOR AN HOUR. THE DIMMER LIGHTS DIDN'T CHANGE FROM HIGH TO LOW, THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RELEASE WHEN SHE MOVED FORWARD, INSTEAD IT LOCKED UP AND THERE WAS A SMELL OF CARBON MONOXIDE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE RUBBER SLIDES IN EACH WINDOW DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY, BECAUSE OF THE MOISTURE ON THE WINDOWS.

NHTSA complaint #10476163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bluemont, VA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

2012 HONDA CIVIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION NOISE. *TGW THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE WIPER BLADES WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #10460496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2012 Honda Civic problems

← Full 2012 Honda Civic report