--- title: "How to Reset Oil Life on a 2012-2015 Honda Civic" description: "Reset the oil life or maintenance reminder on the 2012-2015 Honda Civic in 4 steps, using only the controls already in the car. No scan tool needed." url: "https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2012-2015/oil-reset" updated: "2026-08-20" --- # How to Reset the Oil Life Indicator on a 2012-2015 Honda Civic Reset the oil life or maintenance reminder on the 2012-2015 Honda Civic in 4 steps, using only the controls already in the car. No scan tool needed. ## Reset procedure, 2012-2015 Honda Civic (High confidence) 1. Turn the ignition to ON (engine off). 2. Press the SEL/RESET button (instrument panel stem or steering wheel) repeatedly until engine oil life is displayed. 3. Press and hold SEL/RESET for about 10 seconds until the oil life indicator blinks. 4. Release, then press and hold SEL/RESET again for about 5 seconds, oil life resets to 100% and due maintenance codes clear. Note: If a Maintenance Minder code other than the oil item is shown, this procedure resets all displayed due items. ## Which Honda Civic model years does this cover? These oil life reset specifications apply to every Honda Civic built from 2012 through 2015, the 9th generation (FB/FG), compact sedan and coupe. Nothing in this specification changes between those model years. - [2012 Civic](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2012) - [2013 Civic](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2013) - [2014 Civic](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2014) - [2015 Civic](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2015) ## What changed during the 2012-2015 Honda Civic | Years | What changed | | --- | --- | | 2012 | Generation launch. A hybrid (1.5L IMA) and a natural-gas 1.8L were also sold 2012-2015 in small numbers, not covered in detail here. | | 2013 | Emergency refresh after poor reviews: new fascias, upgraded interior, standard rearview camera | | 2014 | CVT replaces the 5-speed automatic on 1.8L models; Touring-like EX-L Navi tops the range; Si gains 5 hp (205) | ## 2012-2015 Honda Civic oil life reset: common questions ### How do you reset the oil life on a 2012-2015 Honda Civic? 4 steps, using only the controls in the car, the full sequence is above. ### Do you need a scan tool to reset the oil light on a 2012-2015 Honda Civic? No. The procedure above uses the vehicle's own controls. A scan tool is only necessary if the reset does not take, which usually points at a different fault. ### Why won't the oil light reset on a 2012-2015 Honda Civic? Almost always a timing problem in the sequence, a step held too briefly, or the ignition in the wrong position. Repeat it exactly, with the engine off and the key in accessory rather than run, unless the steps say otherwise. If a Maintenance Minder code other than the oil item is shown, this procedure resets all displayed due items. ## Sources - [AMSOIL product application guide, 2012 Civic 1.8L R18Z1 (oil capacity/viscosity)](https://www.amsoil.com/lookup/auto-and-light-truck/2012/honda/civic/1-8l-4-cyl-engine-code-r18z1-6/) - [AMSOIL product application guide, 2014 Civic 2.4L K24Z7](https://www.amsoil.com/lookup/auto-and-light-truck/2014/honda/civic/2-4l-4-cyl-engine-code-k24z7-7/) - [Honda parts, 17220-R1A-A01 engine air filter, 2012-2015 Civic](https://honda.oempartsonline.com/oem-parts/honda-engine-air-filter-17220r1aa01) - [Honda parts, 12290-R1A-A01 / 12290-R1Z-A01 spark plugs](https://honda.oempartsonline.com/oem-parts/honda-spark-plug-12290r1za01) - [TirePressure.org, 2013 Honda Civic placard pressures by trim](https://tirepressure.org/honda/civic/2013) - [fueleconomy.gov, 2013 Honda Civic EPA ratings](https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymodel/2013_Honda_Civic.shtml) - [Honda News, 2013 Civic Sedan specifications (fuel tank, curb weight)](https://hondanews.com/en-US/releases/release-152f07edcfbf4ebeadde2b4f7ab8c01e-2013-honda-civic-sedan-specifications) - [AutoZone, 2013 Civic headlight bulb fitment (9006 low / 9005 high)](https://www.autozone.com/collision-body-parts-and-hardware/headlight/honda/civic/2013) - [9thGenCivic forum, ATF DW-1 drain & fill volume; Si spark plug spec](https://www.9thgencivic.com/threads/automatic-transmission-fluid-change.116481/) ## Other Honda Civic generations - [2022-2025 Honda Civic oil life reset](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2022-2025/oil-reset) - [2016-2021 Honda Civic oil life reset](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2016-2021/oil-reset) Or [compare all generations](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/oil-reset). ## More for the 2012-2015 Honda Civic - [Oil & filter](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2012-2015/oil) - [Battery](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2012-2015/battery) - [Tires & wheels](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2012-2015/tires) - [Wiper blades](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2012-2015/wipers) - [Air & cabin filters](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2012-2015/filters) - [Bulbs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2012-2015/bulbs) - [Brakes](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2012-2015/brakes) - [Fluids](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2012-2015/fluids) - [Service schedule](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2012-2015/service-schedule) - [Problems & reliability](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2012-2015/common-problems) - [Key fob battery](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2012-2015/key-fob-battery) - [Specs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/civic/2012-2015/specs) Specifications vary with engine option, production date, and market.