Recall 12V256 affects 50,190 2012 Honda Civic vehicles because the driver-side driveshaft can separate. Repair is free at any franchised Honda dealer.
Honda is recalling 50,190 2012 Civic vehicles because the driver's side driveshaft was not fully seated during assembly, leaving the retaining clip unset. If the driveshaft separates, the Civic can lose drive power or roll away after Park is selected without the parking brake set, increasing crash or pedestrian injury risk; the Honda dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The driver's side driveshaft on the 2012 Honda Civic is the rotating shaft that carries power from the transmission to the front wheel. It has to sit fully in place, with a retaining clip locked in its groove, so the shaft stays connected while the car accelerates, turns, and hits road vibration.
On affected Civics, the assembly step that seats the driveshaft and sets that retaining clip was not completed. That leaves the shaft connection unsecured. With normal driving loads, the driveshaft can separate from its mounting point instead of staying locked to the powertrain.
There is no warning sign before failure. The first sign can be a sudden loss of drive power or an unusual noise from the driver-side driveline area if the shaft separates.
Who's affected?
| 2012 Honda Civic | driveline |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 50,190 |
Not every 2012 Honda Civic is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific car is included.
What's the safety risk?
A driveshaft problem can cause loss of drive power. It can also let the Civic roll away after the gear selector is placed in Park if the parking brake is not set, increasing the risk of a crash or pedestrian injury. Set the parking brake every time you park, and schedule the recall repair. Repair will be free at any franchised Honda dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2012 Honda Civic is included in this recall.
- Check for Honda's owner notice, mailed June 21, 2012, before calling the dealer.
- Contact a franchised Honda dealer and reference recall number 12V256 to confirm the free driveshaft inspection for your VIN.
- Schedule the driver's-side driveshaft inspection and replacement if Honda confirms the recall applies; this fixes the retaining-clip issue that can let the driveshaft separate.
- Set the parking brake every time you park until the inspection is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Honda technician inspects the driver's side driveshaft to confirm whether it was seated correctly during assembly and whether the retaining clip was set. If the inspection shows the driveshaft needs replacement, the technician installs a new driveshaft. Honda says the repair is free of charge. The current remedy status was not provided, so the dealer repair is free once available.
Timeline
| June 4, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 21, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V256?
Recall 12V256 covers 50,190 2012 Honda Civic vehicles with a driver-side driveshaft retaining-clip issue. If the driveshaft separates, the vehicle can lose drive power or roll away when parked without the parking brake set. Honda dealers inspect the driveshaft and replace it as needed for free.
What should I do if my 2012 Honda Civic is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Civic is included in recall 12V256. If it is, contact a franchised Honda dealer to schedule the driveshaft inspection. Reference recall number 12V256 when you call. Honda customer service is also available at 1-800-999-1009.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Honda's recall remedy says dealers inspect the driver-side driveshaft and install a new driveshaft as needed free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk in recall 12V256 is loss of drive power while driving, plus rollaway risk when the gear selector is in park and the parking brake is not set. That increases crash or pedestrian injury risk. Set the parking brake and arrange the free dealer inspection.
What if I bought my Honda Civic used?
The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to honor the recall regardless of ownership history. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific 2012 Honda Civic is included, then call a franchised Honda dealer with recall number 12V256.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V256000 |
|---|---|
| Honda customer service | 1-800-999-1009 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V256 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V256000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →