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. 
     
        
        Page 3 of 345
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)            
     
        
        Page 5 of 345
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)              
     
        
        Page 6 of 345
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          
     
        
        Page 7 of 345
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)   
     
        
        Page 9 of 345
8
Quick Reference GuideSafe Driving (P 23)
Airbags (P 35)
● Your vehicle is fitted with airbags to help protect you and  
your passengers during a moderate-to-severe collision.
Child Safety  (P 50)
● All children 12 and younger should be seated in the rear seat.
● Smaller children should be properly restrained in a forward-facing child seat.
● Infants must be properly restrained in a rear-facing child seat.
Exhaust Gas Hazard  (P 62)
● Your vehicle emits dangerous exhaust gases that contain carbon  
monoxide. Do not run the engine in confined spaces where carbon  
monoxide gas can accumulate.
Before Driving Checklist  (P 27)
● Before driving, check that the front seats, head restraints,  
steering wheel, and mirrors have been properly adjusted. Seat Belts 
(P 28)
● Fasten your seat belt and sit upright well  
back in the seat.
● Check that your passengers are wearing  
their seat belts correctly.
Fasten your lap belt as  
low as possible.  
     
        
        Page 12 of 345

11
Quick Reference Guide
Steering Wheel (P 124)
● To adjust, pull the adjustment lever  
towards you, adjust to the desired  
position, then lock the lever back in place.
Unlocking the Front  Doors from the Inside  
(P 103) ● Pull either front door inner handle to  
unlock and open it at the same time.Trunk  (P 109)
● To unlock and open the trunk:
• Pull the trunk release.
• Press the trunk release button *
.
• Turn the key in the cylinder on the trunk *
.
Power Door Mirrors *
 
(P 125) ● With the ignition switch in ON 
(w, move 
the selector switch to L or R.
● Push the appropriate edge of the  
adjustment switch to adjust the mirror.
Trunk Release
Selector Switch
Adjustment Switch
Power Windows  (P 114)
● With the ignition switch in ON 
(w, open 
and close the power windows.
● If the power window lock button is in the  
OFF position, each passenger's window  
can be opened and closed with its own 
switch.
● If the power window lock button is in the  
ON position (indicator is on), each 
passenger's window switch is disabled.
Power Window Lock Button
Window  
Switch Indicator
*
 Not available on all models              
     
        
        Page 13 of 345

12
Quick Reference Guide
Heating and Cooling*
 System  (P 140)
● Rotate the fan control dial to adjust the fan speed and airflow.
● Press the Mode buttons (  /   /   /  ) to select the vents air flows from.
● Rotate the temperature control dial to adjust the temperature.
● Use the   button for maximum cool setting.
● Rotate the fan control dial to OFF to turn the system off.
● Press the   button to defrost the windshield.
Fan Control  Dial
(Rear Window Defogger/ Heated Mirror *
) Button
 (Windshield 
Defroster) Button
A/C (Air Conditioning) Button *
Air flows from floor and  
windshield defroster vents.
Air flows from floor vents.
Air flows from floor and 
dashboard vents.
Air flows from dashboard 
vents.
 Button
 Button
 Button
*
(Recirculation) Button
Temperature  
Control Dial Button
 Button
Clock 
(P 98)
a Press the CLOCK knob to access the  
clock adjustment mode screen.
b Turn the CLOCK knob to adjust the 
hours.
c Press the CLOCK knob. The display 
switches to minute adjustment.
d Turn the CLOCK knob to adjust the 
minutes.
e Press the CLOCK knob to complete clock adjustment.
The navigation system receives signals from  
GPS satellites, updating the clock  
automatically.
Models without navigation system
Models with navigation system