2012 Honda Odyssey Problems, Recalls & Reliability
325 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2012 Honda Odyssey, alongside 5 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 27/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Brakes & stability leads the reports, typically around 22,000 miles.
Typical
Where 2012 sits among all Odyssey years
What owners report
“Noticed vibration of steering wheel around 27500 miles and was told there was warped front rotors at the front”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Odyssey
“Van started to chug when driving. Check engine light flashed and it was towed to dealership. Piston rings are bad after 130,000 miles.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Odyssey
“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Honda Odyssey. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 80,000. It was later discovered, after checking the Carfax report that the…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Odyssey
“The back side track doors pop open while driving. They set the lights off anytime you brake or take turns.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Odyssey
“Cable on passenger side sliding door snapped and door shut without latching on the arm of the person getting in.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Odyssey
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 229 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 42,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 16,000 and 72,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (5)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The second row outboard seats can slide sideways to one of two positions. If a seat is placed between either of the two positions when attaching the seat to the vehicle…
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install a bracket to the second row outboard floor strikers, free of charge. The recall began April 2, 2018. Owners may contact American Honda Customer…
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Odyssey vehicles manufactured August 17, 2010, to October 1, 2015. The affected vehicles have second row outboard seats that have a release lever that allows the seats to move for…
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional bracket and spring to both second row outboard seats, free of charge. Interim letter has been mailed, and a second notification will…
Honda is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 CR-V, Odyssey, and model year 2013 Acura RDX vehicles. During sub-freezing temperatures, the brake-shift interlock blocking mechanism may become slow and allow the gear selector to be moved from the Park…
Fix: Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda or Acura dealer. The dealer will install an updated brake shift interlock blocking mechanism free of charge. The recall…
Honda is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Pilot and 2011-2013 Odyssey passenger vehicles manufactured from March 13, 2008, through December 21, 2012. One or more rivets that attach the airbag module to the airbag cover may be missing.
Fix: Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda dealer. The dealer will inspect the driver's airbag module and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began…
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012, ODYSSEY VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 31, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 30, 2011. THE RETENTION NUT FOR THE FRONT RIGHT LOWER SUSPENSION DAMPER BOLT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER TORQUE, POTENTIALLY…
Fix: HONDA CONTACTED ALL NINE OWNERS BY PHONE ON DECEMBER 19, 2011, AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
Federal defect investigations
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2012 Honda Odyssey reliable?
The 2012 Honda Odyssey drew 325 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 27/100, scored against the model's worst year (2018).
What are the most common 2012 Honda Odyssey problems?
The top reported problems for the 2012 Honda Odyssey are brakes & stability (60 complaints), engine (45), and electrical (40).
At what mileage do 2012 Honda Odyssey problems show up?
Owners most often report 2012 Honda Odyssey problems around 42,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 16,000 and 72,000 miles.
Does the 2012 Honda Odyssey have recalls?
5 recall campaigns apply to the 2012 Honda Odyssey. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.