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. 
     
        
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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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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.  
     
        
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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              
     
        
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17
Quick Reference GuideMaintenance (P 239)
Under the Hood (P 251)
● Check engine oil, engine coolant, and windshield washer  
fluid. Add when necessary.
● Check brake fluid and clutch fluid.
● Check the battery regularly.
a Pull the hood release handle under the corner of the  
dashboard.
b Locate the hood latch lever, pull the lever up, and lift up 
the hood.
c When finished, close the hood and make sure it is firmly 
locked in place.
Lights  (P 268)
● Inspect all lights regularly.
Wiper Blades 
(P 278)
● Replace blades if they leave streaks  
across the windshield.
Tires  (P 280)
● Inspect tires and wheels regularly.
● Check tire pressures regularly.
● Install snow tires for winter 
driving.
* Not available on all models       
     
        
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19
Quick Reference GuideWhat to Do IfThe ignition switch does  not turn from 
(0 to (q . 
Why? ●
The steering wheel  may be locked.
● Try to turn the steering wheel left and right  
while turning the ignition key.
The ignition switch does  not turn from 
(q  to (0  and 
I cannot remove the key.  
Why? The shift lever should be moved to 
(P
.
Why does the brake pedal  pulsate slightly when  
applying the brakes? This can occur when the ABS activates, and does not indicate a  
problem. Apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal. Never  
pump the brake pedal.
The rear door cannot be  
opened from inside the  
vehicle. Why? Check if the childproof lock is in the  
LOCK position. If so, open the rear  door with the outside door handle. 
To cancel this function, push the lever  
to the UNLOCK position.     
     
        
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36
uuAirbagsuAirbag System Components
Safe Driving
The front, front side, and side curtain  
airbags are deployed according to the  
direction and severity of impact. The airbag  
system includes:
aTwo SRS (Supplemental Restraint System)  
front airbags. The driver's airbag is stored 
in the center of the steering wheel; the  
front passenger's airbag is stored in the  
dashboard. Both are marked "SRS AIRBAG."
bTwo side airbags, one for the driver and  
one for a front passenger. The airbags are  
stored in the outer edges of the seat- 
backs. Both are marked "SIDE AIRBAG."
cTwo side curtain airbags, one for each  
side of the vehicle. The airbags are stored 
in the ceiling, above the side windows.  
The front and rear pillars are marked  "SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG."
dAn electronic control unit that continually  
monitors and records information about  
the sensors, the airbag activators, the  
seat belt tensioners, and driver and front 
passenger seat belt use when the ignition  switch is in ON 
(w.
eAutomatic front seat belt tensioners. The  
driver's and front passenger's seat belts  
incorporate sensors that detect whether 
or not they are fastened.
fA driver's seat position sensor. If the seat  
is too far forward, the airbag will inflate  
with less force.
gWeight sensors in the front passenger's  
seat. The front passenger's airbag will be  
turned off if the weight on the seat is 65 
lbs (29 kg) or less (the weight of an infant  
or small child).
hImpact sensors that can detect a  
moderate to severe front or side collision.
iAn indicator on the dashboard that alerts  
you that the front passenger's front  
airbag has been turned off.
jSensors that can detect if a child or small  
statured adult is in the deployment path  
of the front passenger's side airbag.
kAn indicator on the instrument panel that  
alerts you to a possible problem with your 
airbag system or seat belt tensioners.
lAn indicator on the instrument panel that  
alerts you that the front passenger's side  
airbag has been turned off. 
     
        
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37
uuAirbagsuAirbag System Components
Safe DrivingAirbags can pose serious hazards. To do their job, airbags must inflate with  
tremendous force. So, while airbags help save lives, they can cause minor injuries,  
sometimes even fatal ones if occupants are not wearing their seat belts properly and  
sitting correctly. 
What you should do: Always wear your seat belt properly, and sit upright and as 
far back from the steering wheel as possible while allowing full control of the  
vehicle. A front passenger should move their seat as far back from the dashboard as  
possible. 
Remember, however, that no safety system can prevent all injuries or deaths that  
can occur in a severe crash, even when seat belts are properly worn and the airbags  
deploy. 
Do not place hard or sharp objects between yourself and a front airbag.  
Carrying hard or sharp objects  on your lap, or driving with a pipe or other sharp 
object in your mouth, can result in injuries if your front airbag inflates.
Do not attach or place objects on the front airbag covers.  Objects on the 
covers marked ”SRS AIRBAG” could interfere with the proper operation of the  
airbags or be propelled inside the vehicle and hurt someone if the airbags inflate.
■Important facts about your airbags1Important facts about your airbags 
Do not attempt to deactivate your airbags. Together,  
airbags and seat belts provide the best protection. 
When driving, keep hands and arms out of the  
deployment path of the front airbag by holding each  
side of the steering wheel. Do not cross an arm over  
the airbag cover.