2012 Honda Accord MPG
EPA ratings for the 2012 Honda Accord run from 18–23 mpg in town to 26–33 on the highway, or 21–27 combined, depending on which of its 7 versions you look at.
The most efficient pairs the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with a manual transmission and front-wheel drive, at 27 mpg combined. At the other end, the 3.5-liter 6-cylinder engine with a manual transmission and front-wheel drive manages 21 mpg combined, 6 mpg less. That is 1 mpg better than the best gasoline 2011 version (26 mpg).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accord | 2.4 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 | 33 | 27 | Regular · 329 g CO₂/mi |
| Accord Coupe | 2.4 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 | 31 | 26 | Regular · 342 g CO₂/mi |
| Accord Coupe | 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 32 | 26 | Regular · 342 g CO₂/mi |
| Accord | 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 33 | 26 | Regular · 342 g CO₂/mi |
| Accord Coupe | 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S5) | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 29 | 23 | Regular · 386 g CO₂/mi |
| Accord | 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 30 | 23 | Regular · 386 g CO₂/mi |
| Accord Coupe | 3.5 L 6-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 26 | 21 | Regular · 423 g CO₂/mi |
2012 Honda Accord fuel cost per year
Driving 15,000 miles a year on regular gasoline at the September 2026 U.S. average of $4.36 a gallon, the 2012 Honda Accord costs about $2,420 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (27 mpg combined), or roughly 16 cents a mile.
The thirstiest priced version (21 mpg combined) comes to about $3,110 a year, $690 more.
This is an estimate from EPA combined mpg and the EIA national average price; your cost depends on how and where you drive and on local prices.
2012 Honda Accord specs
The EPA lists 2 engine choices for the 2012 Honda Accord: 2.4 L 4-cyl and 3.5 L 6-cyl. It came with automatic and manual transmissions, with front-wheel drive. For fuel-economy purposes it sits in the EPA's "Compact Cars" class.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L | 4 | Manual 5-spd; Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 4 |
| 3.5 L | 6 | Automatic (S5); Automatic 5-spd; Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 3 |
2012 Honda Accord problems
As of October 2026, NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) holds 373 owner complaints about the 2012 Honda Accord.
Seats are the most-reported area (13% of component mentions), followed by air bags (11%) and steering (10%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 25 complaints a year: more than the 2011 (18 a year) and fewer than the 2013 (101 a year).
That ranks 16th of 17 Honda Accord model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 373, 46 mention a crash, 4 a fire and 32 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 65 | 13% |
| Air bags | 56 | 11% |
| Steering | 51 | 10% |
| Engine | 43 | 8% |
| Service brakes | 36 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 33 | 6% |
| Power train | 27 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 27 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 26 | 5% |
| Suspension | 24 | 5% |
| Structure | 22 | 4% |
| Wheels | 17 | 3% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 12 | 2% |
| Tires | 12 | 2% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 9 | 2% |
| Visibility/wiper | 9 | 2% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 7 | 1% |
| Seat belts | 7 | 1% |
| Visibility | 6 | 1% |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | <1% |
| Gasoline fuel system | 5 | <1% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 3 | <1% |
| Hydraulic service brakes | 2 | <1% |
| Equipment | 1 | <1% |
| Equipment adaptive/mobility | 1 | <1% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | <1% |
| Air service brakes | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
The trunk release mechanisms of my Honda Accord EXL coupe failed, both manual cable and electrical trunk release. …
AIR BAGS FAILED. IT IS AVAILABLE. LUKILY I'M SAFE. I DON'NT KNOW. NO ONE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, EXCEPT THE POLICE AT THE INCIDENT LOCATION. NO WARNING LAMPS OBSERVED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT.
ABS, Traction Control and Brake lights on. Diagnosed by 2 mechanics told ABS module is bad, which affects braking and is hazardous. Also told this should not be happening with so little mileage on vehicle 50K. …
2012 Honda Accord recalls
The 2012 Honda Accord has been the subject of 8 recall campaigns.
The most recent, campaign 19V502000 from June 2019, concerns air bags.
All 8 campaigns concern air bags.
12V030000 · February 1, 2012 · Air bags
Problem: THE DRIVER-SIDE OR PASSENGER-SIDE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG INFLATOR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED ACCORDING TO CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG MAY FAIL TO DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: HONDA WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG AS NEEDED FREE OF CHARGE.
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Accord years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19V502000 | June 27, 2019 | Air bags | 2008–2012 |
| 19V378000 | May 16, 2019 | Air bags | 2008–2012 |
| 18V661000 | September 27, 2018 | Air bags | 2010–2012 |
| 18V268000 | April 26, 2018 | Air bags | 2008–2012 |
| 18V042000 | January 9, 2018 | Air bags | 2009–2012 |
| 17V545000 | August 31, 2017 | Air bags | 2008–2012 |
| 17V030000 | January 10, 2017 | Air bags | 2008–2012 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 2 versions of the 2012 Honda Accord; the best overall score is 5 out of 5 stars.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-door FWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | ★★★★★ |
| 4-door FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
Crash-test photos: NHTSA (public domain). NHTSA can reuse a test for later model years of the same design.
Compared with other years
Complaints per year on sale divide each model year's NHTSA complaints by the years since it went on sale, so older and newer Honda Accords can be compared fairly. Among other 2012 models in the EPA's compact cars class, the 2012 Toyota Corolla (29 mpg), 2012 Honda Civic (32 mpg) and 2012 Volkswagen Jetta (32 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 25 | 727 | 40 | 11 |
| 2010 | 25 | 581 | 34 | 13 |
| 2011 | 26 | 296 | 18 | 9 |
| 2012 | 27 | 373 | 25 | 8 |
| 2013 | 30 | 1,427 | 101 | 5 |
| 2014 | 47 | 1,006 | 77 | 5 |
| 2015 | 47 | 640 | 53 | 6 |
Every Honda Accord model year compared →
Similar 2012 models
FAQ
Is the 2012 Accord a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2012 Honda Accord has 25 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (16th most of 17 model years), 8 recall campaigns, a best overall crash rating of 5 stars and up to 27 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2012 Accord problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are seats (65), air bags (56) and steering (51). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2012 Accord have?
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns. To see whether a recall is still open on a specific car, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Accord get?
The EPA rates the versions at 21–27 mpg combined (18–23 city, 26–33 highway).
How much does it cost to fuel a 2012 Accord per year?
About $2,420 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, up to about $3,110 for the thirstiest version, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average regular gasoline price of $4.36 a gallon (EIA).