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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 
     
        
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Visual Index
4Quick Reference Guide
❙Door Mirror Controls *
 (P 125)
❙Passenger's Front Airbag  
(P 38)
❙Parking Brake  (P 229)
❙Glove Box (P 135)
❙Rearview Mirror  (P 125)
❙Accessory Power Socket  
(P 137)
❙Shift Lever 
Automatic Transmission  
(P 214) 
Manual Transmission 
(P 217)
❙Hood Release Handle  (P 253)
❙Fuel Fill Door Release Handle  (P 235)
❙Driver’s Pocket
❙Trunk Release (P 109)
❙Power Door Lock Master Switch *
 (P 104)
❙Power Window Switches  (P 114)
❙Auxiliary Input Jack*
 (P 145)
❙Interior Fuse Box  (P 319)
❙Driver's Front Airbag  (P 38)              
     
        
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Visual Index
6Quick Reference Guide
❙Maintenance Under the Hood  (P 251)
❙Windshield Wipers (P 121, 278)
❙Tires (P 280, 299)
❙Fog Lights *
 (P 120, 272)
❙Door Lock/Unlock Control  (P 101)
❙Power Door Mirrors*
 (P 125)
❙Headlights  (P 118, 268)
❙Front Turn Signal/Parking/Side Marker Lights  (P 118, 273)
❙How to Refuel (P 235)
❙High-Mount Brake Light *
 (P 277)
❙Emergency Trunk Release Lever  
(P 111)
❙Opening/Closing the Trunk  (P 109)
❙Back-Up Lights (P 275)
❙Brake/Taillights  (P 275)
❙Rear Turn Signal Lights  (P 275)
❙Rear Side Marker Lights  (P 275)   
     
        
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7
Quick Reference GuideEco Assist System*
 (P 123)
Ambient Meter ● Changes color to reflect your driving  
style. 
Green: Fuel efficient driving 
Blue green: Moderate acceleration/
deceleration 
Blue: Aggressive acceleration/ 
deceleration
● The ambient meter color changes in 
accordance with your brake or 
accelerator pedal operation.
ECON Button  (P 123)
Helps maximize fuel economy. 
ECON Mode Indicator  (P 75)
Comes on when the ECON button is pressed. This message is displayed for a few seconds  
when the ECON button is pressed.
Models with multi-information display
*
 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  
     
        
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16
Quick Reference Guide
VSA®
 OFF Button  (P 224)
● The vehicle stability assist (VSA ®
) system 
helps stabilize the vehicle during  
cornering, and helps maintain traction  
while accelerating on loose or slippery 
road surfaces.
● VSA ®
 comes on automatically every time 
you start the engine.
● To turn VSA ®
 on or off, press and hold 
the button until you hear a beep.
Cruise Control *
 (P 220)
● Cruise control allows you to maintain a 
set speed without keeping your foot on  
the accelerator pedal.
● To use cruise control, press the CRUISE  
button, then press   once you have  
received the desired speed (above 25 mph  or 40 km/h).
Tire Pressure Monitoring  System (TPMS)  (P 225)
● TPMS monitors tire pressure.
● TPMS is turned on automatically every  
time you start the engine.
–/SET
U.S. models only
Refueling  (P 234)
a Push the fuel fill door  
release handle.
b Turn the fuel fill cap  
slowly to remove the  cap.
c Place the cap in the 
holder on the fuel fill  
door.
d After refueling, screw 
the cap back on until it  
clicks at least once.
Fuel recommendation:
Unleaded gasoline with a pump octane number 87 or  
higher required 
Premium unleaded gasoline with a pump octane number  
91 or higher recommended
Fuel tank capacity: 13.2 US gal (50 L)
1.8  engine models
2.4  engine models        
     
        
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68
uuIndicatorsu
Instrument Panel
IndicatorNameOn/BlinkingExplanationMessage*
Transmission  
Indicator
*
●
Comes on for a few seconds when  
you turn the ignition switch to ON 
(w , then goes off.
● Blinks if the transmission system has  a problem.
●Blinks while driving  - Avoid sudden 
starts and acceleration and have the  vehicle checked by a dealer  
immediately.
Seat Belt  
Reminder 
Indicator
● Comes on and the beeper sounds if  
you are not wearing a seat belt when  
you turn the ignition switch to ON 
(w . If the front passenger is not 
wearing a seat belt, the indicator  
comes on about six seconds later.
● Blinks while driving if either you or  the front passenger has not fastened  
a seat belt. The beeper sounds and 
the indicator blinks at regular  intervals.
●
The beeper stops and the indicator goes  
off when you and the front passenger  fasten their seat belts.
● Stays on after you or the front  
passenger has fastened the seat  
belt  - A detection error may have 
occurred in the sens or. Have the vehicle 
checked by a dealer. 2Seat Belt Reminder  P. 29
Low Fuel  
Indicator
●
Comes on when the fuel reserve is  
running low (approximately 1.9 U.S. gal./7.5 Liter left).
● Blinks if there is a problem with the 
fuel gauge.●Comes on  - Refuel your vehicle as soon 
as possible.
● Blinks  - Have the vehicle checked by a 
dealer.
* Not available on all models     
     
        
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76
uuIndicatorsuMulti-Information Display Warning and Information Messages *
Instrument Panel
Multi-Information Display Warning and Information Messages *
The following messages appear only on the multi-information display. Press the   (display/information) button to see the message  
again with the system message indicator on.
MessageConditionExplanation
● Appears when the fuel fill cap is loose or is not  
installed.
2 Check/Tighten Fuel Cap Message  P. 314
●
Appears if there is a problem with the DRL system.●Have your vehicle checked by a dealer.
2Daytime Running Lights  P. 120
●
Appears when washer fluid gets low.●Refill washer fluid.
2Refilling Window Washer Fluid  P. 267Canadian models
* Not available on all models