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 
     
        
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2
Quick Reference Guide
Quick Reference Guide
Visual Index
❙System Indicators (P 66)
❙Gauges (P 78)
❙Information Display *
 (P 80)
❙Navigation System *
 
()  See Navigation System Manual
❙Audio System *
 (P 144)
❙Hazard Warning Button
❙Heating and Cooling *
 System 
(P 140)
❙Rear Window Defogger  (P 123) 
❙Seat Heater Switches *
 (P 139)
❙Ignition Switch  (P 117)
❙Steering Wheel Adjustments  
(P 124)
❙ (Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA ®
) 
System OFF) Button *
 (P 223)
❙ECON Button *
 (P 123)
❙Multi-Information Display *
 (P 82)
❙Heated Mirror Button *
 (P 123)  
❙ (Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA ®
) 
System OFF) Button *
 (P 223)            
     
        
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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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18
Quick Reference GuideHandling the Unexpected (P 297)
Flat Tire  (P 299)
● Park in a safe location and replace the  
flat tire with the compact spare tire in the  
trunk.
Indicators Come On  
(P 313) ● Identify the indicator and consult the  
owner's manual.
Engine Won't Start  
(P 306) ●If the battery is dead, jump start using a  
booster battery.
Blown Fuse  (P 318)
● Check for a blown fuse if an electrical  
device does not operate.Overheating  (P 311)
● Park in a safe location. If you do not see  
steam under the hood, open the hood,  
and let the engine cool down.
Emergency Towing  
(P 321) ● Call a professional towing service if you  
need to tow your vehicle.          
     
        
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23
Safe Driving
You can find many safety recommendations throughout this  chapter, and throughout this manual.
For Safe Driving
Important Safety Precautions ............. 24 
Your Vehicle's Safety Features............ 26
Seat Belts
About Your Seat Belts ........................ 28 
Fastening a Seat Belt .......................... 31 
Seat Belt Inspection............................ 34
Airbags Airbag System Components ............... 35
Types of Airbags ................................ 38 
Front Airbags (SRS) ............................ 38 
Side Airbags....................................... 42 Side Curtain Airbags .......................... 45
Airbag System Indicators.................... 46 
Airbag Care ....................................... 49
Child Safety
Protecting Child Passengers ............... 50Safety of Infants and Small Children ....... 52 
Safety of Larger Children ................... 60
Exhaust Gas Hazard Carbon Monoxide Gas ....................... 62
Safety Labels
Label Locations .................................. 63  
     
        
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46
uuAirbagsuAirbag System Indicators
Safe Driving
Airbag System Indicators 
If a problem occurs in the airbag system, the SRS indicator will come on and a  
message appears on the multi-information display*
.
■ When the ignition switch is turned to ON 
(w
The indicator comes on for a few seconds,  
then goes off. This tells you the system is 
working properly.
If the indicator comes on at any other time, or does not come on at all, have the 
system checked by a dealer as soon as possible. If you don't, your airbags and seat 
belt tensioners may not work properly when they are needed.
■SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) Indicator
1SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) Indicator
3WARNING
Ignoring the SRS indicator can result in  
serious injury or death  if the airbag systems 
or tensioners do not work properly. 
Have your vehicle checked by a dealer as  
soon as possible if the SRS indicator alerts 
you to a possible problem.
*
* Not available on all models   
     
        
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Continued47
uuAirbagsuAirbag System Indicators
Safe Driving■When the passenger airbag off  
indicator comes on
The indicator comes on to alert you that the 
passenger's front airbag has been turned off.
This occurs when the weight sensors detect  
65 lbs (29 kg) or less, the weight of an infant  
or small child, on the seat.
Infants and small children should always ride properly restrained in a back seat. 2 Child Safety  P. 50
Objects placed on the seat can also cause the indicator to come on. 
If the front passenger seat is empty, the passenger's front airbag will not deploy and  
the indicator will not come on.
■Passenger Airbag Off Indicator1Passenger Airbag Off Indicator 
If the indicator comes on with no front passenger and  
no objects on the passenger’s seat, or with an adult  
riding there, something may be interfering with the weight sensors. Such as: • An object hanging on the seat or in the seat-back  pocket.
• A child seat or other object pressing against the 
rear of the seat-back.
• A rear passenger pushing or pulling on the back of  
the front passenger's seat.
• The front seat or seat-back is forced back against  
an object on the seat or floor behind it.
• An object placed under the front passenger's seat.
If none of these conditions exist, have your vehicle  
checked by a dealer as soon as possible. 
The passenger airbag off indicator may come on and  
goes off repeatedly if the total weight on the seat is  
near the airbag cutoff threshold.
U.S. Canada  
     
        
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uuAirbagsuAirbag System Indicators
48
Safe Driving■ When the side airbag off indicator comes on
This indicator comes  on if the passenger's side airbag has been turned off because 
the passenger is too small to be sitting in the front seat, is slouching or not sitting  
upright, or has leaned into the airbag's deployment path. 
Unless the passenger is a smaller statured adult or a child, the indicator should go  
off when the passenger returns to a proper upright sitting position.
■Side Airbag Off Indicator1Side Airbag Off Indicator 
When you turn the ignition switch to ON 
(w , the 
indicator should come on for a few seconds and then  
go out. If it doesn't come on, stays on, or comes on 
while driving without a passenger in the front seat,  
have the system checked by a dealer as soon as  
possible.
*
CanadaU.S.
* Not available on all models