Page 2 of 345

Contents
Child Safety P. 50 Exhaust Gas Hazard P. 62 Safety Labels P. 63
Opening and Closing the Trunk P. 109 Security System P. 112 Opening and Closing the Windows P. 114 
Operating the Switches Around the Steering Wheel P. 117 Adjusting the Mirrors P. 125 
Interior Lights/Interior Convenience Items P. 134 Heating and Cooling*
 P. 140
Audio Error Messages *
 P. 172 General Information on the Audio System *
 P. 174
When Driving P. 211 Braking P. 229 Parking Your Vehicle P. 233 
Accessories and Modifications P. 238
Maintenance Under the Hood P. 251 Replacing Light Bulbs P. 268 
Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 280 Battery P. 289 Remote Transmitter Care *
 P. 290
Cleaning P. 292
Engine Does Not Start P. 306 Jump Starting P. 307 Shift Lever Does Not Move P. 310 
Fuses P. 318 Emergency Towing P. 321
Devices that Emit Radio Waves P. 329 Reporting Safety Defects P. 330 
Authorized Manuals P. 335 Customer Service Information P. 336
Quick Reference GuideP. 2
Safe DrivingP. 23
Instrument PanelP. 65
ControlsP. 97
FeaturesP. 143
DrivingP. 201
MaintenanceP. 239
Handling the UnexpectedP. 297
InformationP. 323
IndexP. 337
2012 Civic 4D Online Reference Owner's Manual
Note: All page numbers referenced in this document are hyperlinked. 
     
        
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5
Quick Reference Guide
❙Seat Belt to Secure a Child Seat (P 59)
❙Seat Belt (Installing a Child Seat)  (P 57)
❙Sun Visors
❙Vanity Mirrors
❙Moonroof Switch*
 (P 116)
❙Map Lights *
 (P 134)
❙USB Adapter Cable *
 
(P 145)
❙Accessory Power  
Socket *
 (P 137)
❙Front Seat  (P 126)
❙Seat Belts (P 28)
❙Side Airbags  (P 42)
❙Rear Seat (P 132)
❙LATCH to Secure a Child Seat  (P 55)
❙Ceiling Light (P 134)
❙Side Curtain Airbags  (P 45)
❙Coat Hook (P 138)
❙Grab Handle
* Not available on all models          
     
        
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9
Quick Reference GuideInstrument Panel (P 65)
U. S.
Canada
U. S.
Canada
System Indicators
Malfunction  
Indicator Lamp Low Oil Pressure  
Indicator 
Charging System  
Indicator 
Anti-lock Brake  System (ABS)  
Indicator 
Vehicle Stability  
Assist (VSA ®
) System 
Indicator 
VSA ®
 OFF Indicator
Low Tire Pressure  
Indicator*
/
Low Tire Pressure/
TPMS Indicator * Electric Power 
Steering (EPS) 
Indicator
Lights Reminders Lights On Indicator 
High Beam IndicatorFog Light Indicator *
Immobilizer System  
Indicator Seat Belt Reminder  
Indicator
System Indicators
Cruise Control  
Indicator *
System Message 
Indicator *
Parking Brake 
and Brake System  
Indicator Supplemental 
Restraint System 
Indicator 
Side Airbag Off  
Indicator
Door Open Indicator Cruise Main Indicator*
Tachometer Instant Fuel  
Economy Gauge
*
Speedometer
Fuel Gauge
Security Alarm 
System Indicator * Shift Lever Position Indicator
*Low Fuel Indicator
Gauges 
(P 78)/Information Display *
 (P 80) /
Multi-Information Display *
 (P 82) /System Indicators  (P 66)
Trunk Open Indicator
ECON Mode Indicator *
TPMS Indicator * Turn Signal and  
Hazard Warning 
Indicators
High Temperature 
Indicator
Low Temperature 
Indicator
Maintenance Minder  
Indicator *
Daytime Running 
Lights Indicator *
Washer Level 
Indicator *
i-VTEC  
Indicator 
REV  
Indicator2.4  engine models
Ambient Meter
*
*
 Not available on all models  
     
        
        Page 21 of 345

20
Quick Reference Guide
Why do the doors lock  
after I unlocked the doors  
using a remote  transmitter?If you do not open the doors within 30 seconds, the doors are 
relocked automatically for security.
Why does the beeper 
sound when I open the driver's door? The beeper sounds when: ●
The key is left in the ignition switch.
● The exterior lights are left on.
Why does the beeper  
sound when I start driving? The beeper sounds when: ●
Driver and/or front passenger are not wearing their seat belts.
● The parking brake lever is not fully released.
Why do I hear a screeching  
sound when I apply the  
brake pedal? The brake pads may need to be replaced. Have your vehicle  
inspected by a dealer.
Is it possible to use  
unleaded gasoline with a  Pump Octane Number  
(PON) of 87 or higher on 
this vehicle? Unleaded gasoline with a PON of 91 or higher is recommended. 
If premium unleaded gasoline with a PON of 91 or higher is not 
available, you can temporarily use the gasoline with a PON of  87 or higher.  
This will result in decreased engine 
performance, and can cause 
occasional metallic knocking noise in the engine.
Models with remote transmitter
2.4  engine models 
     
        
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31
uuSeat BeltsuFastening a Seat Belt
Continued
Safe Driving
Fastening a Seat Belt 
After adjusting a front seat to the proper position, and while sitting upright and well  
back in the seat:2 Adjusting the Seats  P. 126
1.Pull the seat belt out slowly.
2. Insert the latch plate into the buckle, then  
tug on the belt to make sure the buckle is  secure.
uMake sure that the belt is not twisted or  
caught on anything.
1Fastening a Seat Belt 
No one should sit in a seat with an inoperative seat  
belt or one that does not appear to be working  
correctly. Using a seat belt that is not working 
properly may not protect the occupant in a crash.  
Have a dealer check the belt as soon as possible. 
Never insert any foreign objects into the buckle or  
retractor mechanism.
Pull out slowly.
Correct  Seated Posture.
Latch  
Plate
Buckle   
     
        
        Page 33 of 345

uuSeat BeltsuFastening a Seat Belt
32
Safe Driving
3. Position the lap part of the belt as low as  
possible across your hips, then pull up on  
the shoulder part of the belt so the lap part  
fits snugly. This lets your strong pelvic 
bones take the force of a crash and reduces  
the chance of internal injuries.
4. If necessary, pull up on the belt again to  
remove any slack, then check that the belt  
rests across the center of your chest and  
over your shoulder. This spreads the forces 
of a crash over the strongest bones in your  
upper body.
The front seats have adjustable shoulder anchors to accommodate taller and shorter  
occupants. 1.Move the anchor up and down while  holding the release button.
2. Position the anchor so that the belt rests 
across the center of your chest and over 
your shoulder.1Fastening a Seat Belt 
To release the belt, push the red PRESS button then  
guide the belt by hand until it has retracted  completely. 
When exiting the vehicle, be sure the belt is out of  
the way and will not get caught by closing the door.
3WARNING
Improperly positioning the seat belts can  
cause serious injury or death in a crash. 
Make sure all seat belts are properly  
positioned before driving.Lap belt  as low as 
possible
■Adjusting the Shoulder Anchor1Adjusting the Shoulder Anchor 
The shoulder anchor height can be adjusted to four  
levels. If the belt contacts your neck, lower the height  
one level at a time. 
After an adjustment, make sure that the shoulder  
anchor position is secure.
Push   
     
        
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51
uuChild SafetyuProtecting Child Passengers
Safe Driving
•Any child who is too small to wear a seat belt correctly must be restrained in an  
approved child seat that is properly secured to the vehicle using either the lap belt  
portion of the lap/shoulder belt or the lower anchors of the LATCH system.
• Never hold a child on your lap because it is impossible to protect them in the 
event of a collision.
• Never put a seat belt over yourself and a child. During a crash, the belt would 
likely press deep into the child and cause serious or fatal injuries.
• Never let two children use the same seat belt. Both children could be very  
seriously injured in a crash.
• Do not allow children to operate the doors, windows or seat adjustments.
• Do not leave children in the vehicle unattended, especially in hot weather when  
the inside of the vehicle can get hot enough to kill them. They could also activate  
vehicle controls causing it to move unexpectedly.1Protecting Child Passengers 
To deactivate a lockable retractor, release the buckle  
and allow the seat belt to wind up all the way. 
To remind you of the passenger's front airbag  
hazards and child safety, your vehicle has warning 
labels on the dashboard (U.S. models) and on the  
front visors. Please read and follow the instructions  
on these labels.
2 Safety Labels  P. 63
3WARNING
Allowing a child to play with a seat belt or  
wrap one around their neck can result in 
serious injury or death. 
Instruct children not to play with any seat  
belt and make sure any unused seat belt a  
child can reach is buckled, fully retracted,  
and locked. 
     
        
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52
uuChild SafetyuSafety of Infants and Small Children
Safe Driving
Safety of Infants and Small Children 
An infant must be properly restrained in a rear-facing, reclining child seat until the  
infant reaches the seat maker's weight or height limit for the seat, and the infant is  at least one year old.■Positioning a rear-facing child seat
Child seats must be placed and secured in a 
rear seating position.
When properly installed, a rear-facing child seat may prevent the driver or a front  
passenger from moving their seat all the way back, or from locking their seat-back  
in the desired position. 
It can also interfere with proper operation of the passenger's advanced front airbag  system. 2 Airbags  P. 35
If this occurs, we recommend that you install the child seat directly behind the front  
passenger's seat, move the seat as far forward as needed, and leave it unoccupied.  
Or, you may wish to get a smaller rear-facing child seat.
■Protecting Infants1Protecting Infants 
Rear-facing child seats should never be installed in a  
forward facing position. 
Always refer to the child seat manufacturer’s  
instructions before installation.
3WARNING
Placing a rear-facing child seat in the front  
seat can result in serious injury or death  
during a crash. 
Always place a rear-facing child seat in the  
rear seat, not the front.