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)            
     
        
        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)              
     
        
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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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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    
     
        
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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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38
uuAirbagsuTypes of Airbags
Safe Driving
Types of Airbags 
Your vehicle is equipped with three types of airbags: •Front airbags:  Airbags in front of the driver's and front passenger's seats.
• Side airbags:  Airbags in the driver's and front passenger's seat-backs.
• Side curtain airbags:  Airbags above the side windows.
Each is discussed in the following pages.
Front Airbags (SRS) 
The front SRS airbags inflate in a moderate to severe frontal collision to help protect  
the head and chest of the driver and/or front passenger. 
SRS  (Supplemental Restraint System) indicates that the airbags are designed to 
supplement seat belts, not replace them. Seat belts are the occupant's primary  restraint system. 
The front airbags are housed in the center of the steering wheel for the driver, and  
in the dashboard for the front passenger. Both airbags are marked SRS AIRBAG.
■Housing Locations
1Types of Airbags 
The airbags can inflate whenever the ignition switch  
is in ON 
(w .
1Front Airbags (SRS) 
Dual-Stage, Multiple-Threshold Front Airbags  (SRS) 
Your vehicle is equipped with dual-stage, multiple-
threshold front airbags (SRS). 
During a frontal crash severe enough to cause one or  
both front airbags to deploy, the airbags can inflate 
at different rates, depending on the severity of the  
crash, whether or not the seat belts are latched, and/ 
or other factors. Frontal airbags are designed to  
supplement the seat belts to help reduce the  
likelihood of head and chest injuries in frontal  crashes. 
     
        
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45
uuAirbagsuSide Curtain Airbags
Safe Driving
Side Curtain Airbags 
The side curtain airbags help protect the heads of the driver and passengers in outer  
seating positions during a moderate-to-severe side impact.The side curtain airbags are located in the 
ceiling above the side windows on both sides 
of the vehicle. 
The side curtain airbag is designed to deploy  
in a moderate-to-severe side impact.
■ When side curtain airbags deploy in a frontal collision
One or both side curtain airbags may inflate in a moderate to severe angled frontal  
collision. 
In this case, the side curtain airbags will deploy slightly after the front airbags.
■Housing Locations
1Side Curtain Airbags 
The side curtain airbags are most effective when an  
occupant is wearing their seat belt properly and  
sitting upright, well back in their seat. 
Do not attach any objects to the side windows or roof  
pillars as they can interfere with the proper operation  
of the side curtain airbags.
Side Curtain Airbag Storage
■Operation
Deployed Side Curtain Airbag