Page 1 of 345

Contents
This owner’s manual should be considered a permanent part of the  
vehicle and should remain with the vehicle when it is sold.
This owner’s manual covers all models of the Civic 4-Door. You may 
find descriptions of equipment and features that are not on your 
particular model. 
Images throughout this owner’s manual (including the front cover)  
represent features and equipment that are available on some, but  
not all, models. Your particular model may not have some of these  features. 
This owner’s manual is for vehicles sold in the United States and  Canada. 
The information and specifications included in this publication were  
in effect at the time of approval for printing. Honda Motor Co., Ltd.  
reserves the right, however, to discontinue or change specifications  
or design at any time without notice and without incurring any  
obligation.2 Safe Driving  P. 23
For Safe Driving P. 24 Seat Belts P. 28 Airbags P. 35
2Instrument Panel  P. 65
Indicators P. 66 Gauges and Displays P. 78
2Controls  P. 97
Setting the Clock P. 98 Locking and Unlocking the Doors P. 99 
Opening and Closing the Moonroof *
 P. 116
Adjusting the Seats P. 126
2 Features  P. 143
Audio System *
 P. 144 Audio System Basic Operation *
 P. 147
Bluetooth ®
 HandsFreeLink ®*
 P. 177
2 Driving  P. 201
Before Driving P. 202 Towing a Trailer P. 207 
Refueling P. 234 Fuel Economy P. 237
2Maintenance  P. 239
Before Performing Maintenance P. 240 Maintenance Minder™ P. 243 
Checking and Maintaining Wiper Blades P. 278 
Heating and Cooling *
 System Maintenance P. 291
2 Handling the Unexpected  P. 297
Tools P. 298 If a Tire Goes Flat P. 299 
Overheating P. 311 Indicator, Coming On/Blinking P. 313
2Information  P. 323
Specifications P. 324 Identification Numbers P. 328 
Emissions Testing P. 331 Warranty Coverages P. 333
Main Menu2012 Civic 4D Online Reference Owner's Manual 
     
        
        Page 4 of 345
3
Quick Reference Guide
❙Headlights/Turn Signals (P 118)
❙Fog Lights*
 (P 120)
❙Wipers/Washers  (P 121)
❙Cruise Control Buttons *
 (P 220)
❙Km/Mile Change Knob  (P 78)
❙CLOCK Knob*
 (P 98)
❙MENU Button *
 (P 86)
❙ /   /   /   Buttons *
 (P 86)+–
❙Navigation System Voice Control Buttons *
 
()  See Navigation System Manual
❙Bluetooth ®
 HandsFreeLink ®
 System 
Voice Control Buttons *
 (P 177)
❙ (SEL/RESET) Knob  (P 80, 82)
❙SOURCE Button*
 (P 86)
❙ (Display/Information) Button *
 (P 82)
❙Horn (Press an area around  .)
❙Brightness Control  (P 122)
* Not available on all models            
     
        
        Page 144 of 345

143
Features
This chapter describes how to operate technology features on models without the navigation system.
Audio System *
About Your Audio System ................ 144 
USB Adapter Cable *
........................ 145
Auxiliary Input Jack .......................... 145 Audio System Theft Protection *
....... 146
Audio System Basic Operation *
..... 147
Adjusting the Sound ........................ 148 
Playing the AM/FM Radio ................. 149 
Playing a CD .................................... 151
Models with information display
Audio System Basic Operation *
..... 155
Audio Remote Controls *
.................. 156
Adjusting the Sound ........................ 157 
Playing the AM/FM Radio ................. 158 
Playing a CD .................................... 161 
Playing an iPod ®
............................... 164
Playing a USB Flash Drive ................. 167 Playing  Bluetooth ®
 Audio................. 170
Models with multi-information displayAudio Error Messages *
CD Player......................................... 172 iPod ®
/USB Flash Drive ...................... 173
General Information on the Audio  System *
Recommended CDs ......................... 174
Compatible iPod® and USB Flash Drives .... 176
Bluetooth ®
 HandsFreeLink ®*
Using HFL ........................................ 177 
HFL Menus ...................................... 179
* Not available on all models  
     
        
        Page 145 of 345

144
Features
Audio System*
About Your Audio System 
On models with navigation system, see the Navigation System Manual for operation  
of the audio system, 
Bluetooth®
HandsFreeLink ®
, and voice commands for these 
features. 
The audio system features AM/FM radio. It can also play CDs and WMA/MP3 files.  
You can operate the audio system from the buttons and switches on the panel. 
The audio system features AM/FM radio. It can also play audio CDs, WMA/MP3/AAC  files, iPods ®
, USB flash drives, and  Bluetooth®
 devices *
.
You can operate the audio system from the buttons and switches on the panel, or 
the remote controls on the steering wheel.
1About Your Audio System 
Video CDs, DVDs, and 3-inch (8-cm) mini CDs are not  
supported. 
iPod ®
 is a registered trademark owned by Apple Inc.
MP3 and AAC are standard audio compression  
formats. WMA is an audio compression format  
developed by Microsoft Corporation.
Models with information display
Models with multi-information display
Remote Control iPod
®
USB Flash  
Drive
* Not available on all models   
     
        
        Page 157 of 345
156
uuAudio System Basic Operation*uAudio Remote Controls
*
Features
Audio Remote Controls *
Allows you to operate the audio system while driving. SOURCE Button 
Cycles through the audio modes as follows: 
FM1 FM2 AM CD AUX
  (Volume) Buttons
Press :  Increases the volume.
Press :  Decreases the volume.
  Buttons
• When listening to the radio 
Press :  Selects the next preset radio station.
Press :  Selects the previous preset radio station.
• When listening to a CD, iPod ®
, USB flash drive, or  Bluetooth®
 Audio *
Press :  Skips to the next song.
Press :  Goes back to the beginning of the current or previous song.
1Audio Remote Controls 
The CD mode appears only when a CD is loaded. 
When in the AUX mode, the following are operable  
from the remote controls: •iPod ®
/USB flash drive connected to the USB 
adapter cable
• Bluetooth ®
 Audio (with some phones only)
 Button
SOURCE Button
 Button
 Button+
 Button–
+–
+
–
* Not available on all models   
     
        
        Page 171 of 345

170
uuAudio System Basic Operation*uPlaying 
Bluetooth ®
 Audio
Features
Playing  Bluetooth ®
 Audio
Your audio system allows you to listen to music from your  Bluetooth®
-compatible 
phone. 
This function is available when the phone is paired and linked to the vehicle's 
Bluetooth ®
 HandsFreeLink ®
 (HFL) system.
2 Phone Setup  P. 183
Models with Bluetooth®
HandsFreeLink ®
1Playing 
Bluetooth ®
 Audio
Not all  Bluetooth -enabled phones with streaming 
audio capabilities are compatible with the system.  
You can find an approved phone by visiting 
www.handsfreelink.honda.com , or by calling the 
HandsFreeLink ®
 consumer support at (888) 528 -
7876. In Canada, visit  www.handsfreelink.ca, or call 
(888) 528 -7876. 
In some states, it may be illegal to perform some data  
device functions while driving. 
If more than one phone is paired to the HFL system,  
there will be a delay before the system begins to play.
123456
Genre AAA
File AAA
Artist AAA
 (Power) Button
Press to turn the  
audio system ON and OFF.
SETUP Button 
Press to display  
menu items. Selector Knob 
Turn to adjust the  
volume. 
Press to display the  
device’s name.
AUX Button 
Press to select  
Bluetooth ®
 Audio.
SEEK/SKIP Buttons 
Press   or   to  
change files.
Bluetooth Indicator 
Comes on when  
your phone is 
connected to HFL.     
     
        
        Page 172 of 345

171
uuAudio System Basic Operation*uPlaying 
Bluetooth ®
 Audio
Features
1. Make sure that your phone is paired and  
linked to HFL.
2. Press the AUX button.
If the phone is not recognized, another HFL- 
compatible phone, which is not compatible  
for  Bluetooth ®
 Audio,  may be  already linked.
■ To pause or resume a file
1. Press the SETUP button.
2. Rotate  to select  Resume/Pause, then press  .
Each time you press  , the setting switches between Pause and Resume.
Press the   (pick-up) button on the steering  
wheel to receive a call when Bluetooth®
 Audio 
is playing. 2 Bluetooth ®
 HandsFreeLink ®
 P. 177
Press the   (hang-up/back) button to end 
the call and return to  Bluetooth®
 Audio.
■To Play  Bluetooth ®
 Audio Files1To Play  Bluetooth ®
 Audio Files
To play the audio files, you may need to operate your  
phone. If so, follow the phone maker's operating  instructions. 
The pause function may not be available on some  
phones. 
If any audio device is connected to the auxiliary input  
jack, you may need to press the AUX button  
repeatedly to select the  Bluetooth®
 Audio system.
Switching to another mode pauses the music playing  
from your phone.
Sound Settings
■Switching to HFL1Switching to HFL 
If you receive a call while  Bluetooth®
 Audio is in the 
pause mode, it will resume play after ending the call.
 Button
 Button     
     
        
        Page 178 of 345

177
Continued
Features
Bluetooth ®
 HandsFreeLink ®*
For models with the navigation system, see Navigation System Manual for how to  operate the 
Bluetooth®
 HandsFreeLink ®
.
Bluetooth ®
 HandsFreeLink ®
 (HFL) allows you to place and receive phone calls using 
your vehicle's audio system, without handling your cell phone.
Using HFL
 (Pick-up) button:  Press to go directly to the  Phone screen or to answer an 
incoming call.
 (Hang-up/back) button:  Press to end a call or to cancel a command.
 (TALK) button:  Press to call a number with a stored voice tag.
PHONE button:  Press to go directly to the  Phone screen.
Selector knob:  Rotate   to select an item on the screen, then press  .
■HFL Buttons
1Bluetooth®
 HandsFreeLink ®
To use HFL, you need a  Bluetooth-compatible cell 
phone. For a list of compatible phones, pairing  
procedures, and special feature capabilities:
• U.S.: Visit  www.handsfreelink.honda.com , or call 
(888) 528-7876.
• Canada: Visit  www.handsfreelink.ca , or call (888) 
528 -7876.
Voice control tips • Aim the vents away from the ceiling and close the  
windows, as noise coming from them may interfere  
with the microphone.
• Press and release the   button when you want to  
call a number using a stored voice tag. Speak  
clearly and naturally after a beep.
• If the microphone picks up voices other than yours,  
the command may be misinterpreted.
• To change the volume level, use the audio system's  
volume knob or the remote audio controls on the  
steering wheel.Models with navigation system
Models without navigation system
TALK Button
Volume up
Microphone
Hang-up/Back Button
Pick-up  
Button
Volume  
down
Selector  Knob
PHONE 
Button
* Not available on all models