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 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 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 10 of 345

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 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 19 of 345
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.          
     
        
        Page 63 of 345

62
Safe Driving
Exhaust Gas Hazard
Carbon Monoxide Gas 
The engine exhaust from this vehicle contains carbon monoxide, a colorless,  
odorless, and highly toxic gas. As long as you properly maintain your vehicle, carbon  
monoxide gas will not get into the interior. ■Have the exhaust system inspected for leaks whenever
• The exhaust system is making an unusual noise.
• The exhaust system may have been damaged.
• The vehicle is raised for an oil change.
When you operate a vehicle with the trunk open, airflow can pull exhaust gas into  
the interior and create a hazardous condition. If you must drive with the trunk open,  
open all the windows and set the heating and cooling *
 system as shown below.
1. Select the fresh air mode.
2. Select the   mode.
3. Set the fan speed to high.
4. Set the temperature control to a comfortable setting.
Adjust the heating and cooling *
 system in the same manner if you sit in your parked 
vehicle with the engine running.
1Carbon Monoxide Gas 
An enclosed area such as a garage can quickly fill up  with carbon monoxide gas.
Do not run the engine with the garage door closed.  
Even when the garage door is open, drive out of the  
garage immediately after starting the engine.
3WARNING
Carbon monoxide gas is toxic. 
Breathing it can cause unconsciousness and  
even kill you. 
Avoid any enclosed areas or activities that  
expose you to carbon monoxide.
* Not available on all models 
     
        
        Page 72 of 345

71
uuIndicatorsu
Continued
Instrument Panel
IndicatorNameOn/BlinkingExplanationMessage*
Trunk Open  
Indicator
●
Comes on for a few seconds if you turn  
the ignition switch to ON 
(w , then goes 
off.
● Comes on if the trunk is not completely  
closed.
●Goes off when the trunk is closed.
EPS (Electric  
Power  
Steering 
System)  
Indicator● Comes on when you turn the ignition  
switch to ON 
(w , and goes off when the 
engine starts.
● Comes on if there is a problem with the  
EPS (Electric Power Steering System).
●
Stays on constantly or does not  
come on at all  - Have the vehicle 
checked by a dealer. 2If the EPS Indicator Comes On  
P. 315
Daytime  
Running  
Lights 
Indicator *●
Comes on for a few seconds when you  
turn the ignition switch to ON 
(w , then 
goes off.
● Comes on if there is a problem with the  
DRL system.
●
Have your vehicle checked by a dealer.
2Daytime Running Lights  P. 120
—
TPMS  
Indicator
●
Comes on for a few seconds when you  
turn the ignition switch to ON 
(w .
● Comes on if there is a problem with the  
TPMS, or when a compact spare tire is  
temporarily installed.
●Stays on constantly or does not  
come on at all  - Have the vehicle 
checked by a dealer. If the vehicle is 
fitted with a compact spare, get your 
regular tire repaired or replaced and put  
back on your vehicle as soon as you can.
—
U.S. 
models  onlyModels with 
information 
display
* Not available on all models