2012 Honda Civic: engine stalls while driving

Filed Jan 20, 2026 · Transmission · 211,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated or stalled while depressing the accelerator pedal. The “Check Emission Systems" message was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact then received notification from the Manufacturer for Honda Service Bulletin: 19-106. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where a PCM update was performed. Recently, the contact stated that the "Check Emission Systems" message returned, and the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The dealer was notified of the failure and provided the cost for a diagnostic test. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was provided with a case number. The contact was also informed that dealers were independently owned and could not be forced to repair the vehicle under the service bulletin. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 211,000.

Filed Aug 20, 2025 · Transmission · GA

While driving, my 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid suddenly loses power and steering ability. The vehicle stalls and the steering wheel locks up, making it impossible to safely maneuver. This has happened multiple times, including in traffic, creating a serious risk of collision. When the failure occurs, warning lights illuminate on the dashboard, including the IMA light, anti-lock brake light, and others. In some cases, all dash lights flash before the car stalls. When scanned with an OBD tool, the vehicle shows power inverter-related fault codes. The symptoms are consistent with the IMA motor power inverter defect described in Honda Recall H98 (2012–2015 Civic Hybrid inverter recall). However, my VIN does not currently show as part of that recall. Despite this, the vehicle is clearly experiencing the same safety defect. This defect causes sudden loss of propulsion and steering assist, placing myself, passengers, and other drivers at serious risk. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.

Filed May 2, 2024 · Electrical · GA

Owns a 2012 HONDA Civic Hybrid. While driving ~30MPH, the IMA/braking/engine/charging/ABS lights illuminated. The car still driving but the hybrid system fails. Also, when starting the engine it switches to using the starter instead of the EV motor. The 12V battery will not charge and die soon, which increases the risk of a stall on the road, thus leading to a crash. The vehicle was taken to a Honda Dealer which suggests a Model Power Inverter failure. There is a Technical Service Bulletin: 20-030 (Warranty Extension: 2012-15 Civic Hybrid IMA Motor Power Inverter) related to the failing parts, however, the vehicle was not covered under the TSB. The vehicle was not prepared. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000 miles.

Filed Sep 30, 2019 · Electrical · 16,000 miles · MD

My elderly mother has had multiple issues with the electrical system on her 2012 honda civic 4-door lx sedan. She keeps getting the 'check charging system' warning lamp on dash. In the past few months two new start batteries have had to be replaced, and a check of the alternator charging system last time indicated the alternator was good. Here's the underlying issue...the cabling from battery to multiple locations throughout the vehicle has been non-stopped chewed on by rodents! Has honda produced these model cars with some sort of electrical cable insulation material that rodents are attracted too? Honda should replace any and or all damaged electrical cables! This is terrible what my mom is going through and the dealer (waldorf maryland honda) just wants to stall and try to 'patch' up some of the chewed cables, all while doing a horrific job with some sort of electrical tape!!!! Come on now honda is this how you treat customers???? Elderly customers that don't know anything about cars? Shame on you!

Filed Dec 25, 2015 · Engine · 28,000 miles · TX

Vehicle frequently stalls when turning left after coming to a stop, very dangerous when oncoming traffic, read numerous other complaints online, honda needs to fix this problem before someone hurt/killed (if not already, and how would we know because of their negligence to fix this problem despite all the complaints?), and no it is not due to "left foot braking"

Filed Sep 1, 2015 · Electrical · 28,000 miles · NY

The car stalled in traffic due to rodent damaged wires and would not restart. The damaged wires were hidden, out of sight, in the engine compartment, under the air filter housing. The damage seemed to be where the wires were exposed near a connector (not covered by black plastic protective sheath). The engine room wiring harness p/n# 32200-tr0-a00 was replaced by honda to fix the problem. My vehicle speed is just a best guess as I was riding the brake pedal in traffic and noticed that my dash was lit up with error codes and the engine went silent. I am posting this here because the internet is full of rodent damaged wire cases and some people are saying that the cause is the material being used in today's automobile wire insulation. There are comments that soy and plant based, environmentally friendly materials are being used instead of petroleum based plastics, which might attract rodents (or maybe just easier to chew through?). Car manufacturers should be held accountable if they have switched to something that attracts rodents or is much easier to damage by rodents. Car manufacturers should design rodent proof wiring and not leave wires exposed and unprotected near connectors. If rodent damage causes a car to stall at the wrong time or loses an important electrical system component, such as lights at night, or electric steering, it could be very dangerous. Many other car components were replaced prior to honda finding the actual cause of my car's problem. People should be aware that rodent damage is covered by your auto insurance, "comprehensive" coverage, which most people think of as collision and "comp.", but is subject to your comp's deductible. Rodent damaged wires can be very expensive to repair if they have to replace an entire wiring harness instead of just splicing some damaged wires (in my case was $approx $1,700 total).

Filed Jul 4, 2015 · Acceleration, Engine · 28,000 miles · NY

Climbing up hill the car lost speed and did not shift gears. Then it stalled. I believe this vehicle was recalled and not fixed by the dealership or it should have been recalled by honda and was not. It exhibits the same drive shaft problems as recalled honda civics. While driving you only need to tap the shift by mistake with your elbow and the car goes into neutral. It is a dangerous car to drive.

Filed Apr 17, 2015 · Fuel system · 20,000 miles · CA

On approximately 10 occasions, after refueling the honda civic gx (natural gas) vehicle, the car would start up and travel no more than 100 yards from the filling station. The gas gauge reads empty even though the tank is full. There are pressure regulators and safety valves that open up with a thunk sound when the car is started after filling. In each case when the car has stalled, the valves/regulators do not open up with the thunk sound. This has been happening for the last 1.5 years with the 2012 civic gx. There is no pattern to when this occurs or doesn't, but, it usually happens in a cluster of times and then goes away for 5-6 months. Reading online forums, this seems to happen to vehicles that are much older and honda's only solution is to replace the valves and regulators. As my vehicle is still under warranty, they have been reluctant to do anything. From corporate honda, they are blaming the drivers for leaving the key in the ignition in the acc position. I know that for 9 out of the 10 incidents, the key was not in the ignition. The stalling of the car has posed a dangerous situation when I was pulling out into traffic only to have the car stall due to lack of gas in the fuel line (safety valve is located in the rear of the vehicle) as it sucks what it can from the fuel line to the valves. It usually takes about 40-45 minutes for the system to reset and allow the car to run. It will run fine until some future refueling. This does not appear to be easily repeatable.

Filed Apr 11, 2015 · Acceleration, Engine · 25,000 miles · NY

The car loses power when going up hills and has stalled twice. If I lightly bump the shift while driving it goes into neutral. I must use the emergency brake when parked even on a flat surface or the car will roll.

Filed May 27, 2014 · Brakes, Engine · 19,822 miles · MI

I was driving on an exit ramp from a highway, car was coasting, and as I was approaching the stop sign, I applied the brakes softly, the car started slowing down further due to braking and then suddenly came to a brutal stop with tires screeching. Engine was stalled, automatic gear had shifted in neutral by itself, and there was a burning smell in the car. Fortunately there was no car behind me, otherwise it would have not been possible to prevent being rear-ended. The 25 MPH speed is approximate as I was decelerating. A similar situation on a highway when traffic slows down could have dramatic consequences, causing a pile-up and possibly multiple deaths and injuries. I will drive the car very carefully to the dealership today. The car was purchased certified pre-owned yesterday.

Filed Sep 4, 2013 · Fuel system · 14,000 miles · SC

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 honda civic. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the contact smelled gasoline fuel as the vehicle stalled. Upon further inspection, the contact discovered that all of the fuels leaked out of the vehicle. The fire department was called to secure the fuel leak and the vehicle was towed to a dealer. The dealer stated that a rodent had chewed through the fuel line and caused the fuel leak. The dealer repaired the fuel line. The failure mileage was 14,000.

Filed Jun 1, 2013 · Engine · 15 miles · NC

While turning left at a stop light (from a stationary position), the car stalls after 2 or 3 seconds in oncoming traffic. This has happened multiple times. The dealer's service department says they can find no history of such situations in their database and took no action. The problem occurs very frequently, particularly after idling for an extended period at long stop lights.