2012 Honda Odyssey Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
53/100
#8 most-complained of 16 Odyssey years
The 2012 Honda Odyssey has a Complaint Index of 53, ranking 8th worst out of 16 model years, and earns a Caution verdict. Brakes are the top problem area with 60 complaints (24% share) and a median failure mileage of 22,000 miles. Five recalls affect this year.
- Complaints
- 245
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes / fires
- 14 / 6
- Injuries / deaths
- 22 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 21.5
- 18.5 city / 27 hwy
Top 2012 Honda Odyssey problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes60 (24%)
- Engine53 (22%)
- Electrical System44 (18%)
- Structure & Body40 (16%)
- Other25 (10%)
- Transmission & Powertrain24 (10%)
- Steering21 (9%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires16 (7%)
- Fuel System11 (4%)
- Airbags10 (4%)
What owners report
- Owners report sudden unintended acceleration while braking, causing the vehicle to lurch forward or backward unexpectedly.
- Some describe the engine catching fire, including one case where an explosion was heard from the engine compartment while the vehicle was parked.
- Several owners report the vehicle shifting oddly and revving to high RPMs before shifting, without engine overheating.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in a crash despite the airbag warning light activating.
- One owner reported the alternator catching fire after a burning smell and a battery warning light appeared.
- A seat belt reportedly failed to retract properly after a rear-end collision, allowing the driver's head to strike the steering wheel.
2012 Honda Odyssey recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 17V725000Nov 17, 2017Structure & Body806,936 vehicles
Seats:mid/rear assembly
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 floor, the seat will not latch properly to the seat striker, allowing the seat to tip forward unexpectedly during braking.
Risk: If the seat tips forward during braking, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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 Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is S0G.
- NHTSA 16V933000Dec 27, 2016Structure & Body633,753 vehicles
Seats:mid/rear assembly
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 easier access to the third row of seats. This release lever may remain in the unlocked position allowing the seats to move unexpectedly.
Risk: An unlocked second row outboard seat increases the risk of injury to the seat occupant during a crash.
Remedy: 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 be sent . Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KD5.
- NHTSA 13V143000Apr 15, 2013Transmission & Powertrain204,169 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission
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 position without pressing the brake pedal. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk: If the gear selector is moved from the park position without pressing the brake pedal it can allow the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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 began on May 13, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's campaign recall numbers are S96, S97, and S98.
2012 Honda Odyssey fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18.5 MPG
- Highway
- 27 MPG
- Combined
- 21.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,025
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2012 compared with other Odyssey years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Honda Odyssey reliable?
- Compared to other Odyssey model years, the 2012 has a Caution verdict with a Complaint Index of 53, ranking 8th worst out of 16 years tracked. Brakes and engine problems are the most common owner complaints.
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Honda Odyssey?
- Brakes lead complaints with 60 reports (24% share) and a median failure mileage of 22,000 miles, followed by engine issues (53 complaints, median mileage 51,000) and electrical system problems (44 complaints, median mileage 60,000).
- Does the 2012 Honda Odyssey have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2012 Odyssey, covering structure & body seat brackets, transmission/powertrain brake-shift interlock issues, airbag rivet attachment, and a suspension damper bolt nut. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2012 Odyssey compare to other years?
- The 2012 model, with a Complaint Index of 53, is worse than the 2011 (20), 2013 (27), and 2015 (13) model years, but far better than the 2018 (87), 2019 (93), and 2025 (100) model years, which carry Avoid verdicts.