2012 Honda Pilot Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2012 Honda Pilot has a complaint index of 30 and ranks 15th out of 21 model years, earning a Caution verdict that's capped because of 9 recall campaigns. Engine complaints are the top problem area, with 56 complaints and a median failure mileage of 20,800.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 30/100
- #15 of 21 Pilot years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 171
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 9
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 17
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 19
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 17.5 city / 24.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 19 / 0
Top 2012 Honda Pilot problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine56 (33%)
- Brakes31 (18%)
- Electrical System23 (13%)
- Airbags20 (12%)
- Transmission & Powertrain20 (12%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires17 (10%)
- Fuel System16 (9%)
- Steering11 (6%)
- Structure & Body10 (6%)
- Other9 (5%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Some owners report sudden unintended acceleration at low speed while parking or in slow traffic, leading to collisions.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in rear-end crashes at highway speeds, resulting in injuries to occupants.
- Owners describe brakes that failed to respond when decelerating or backing into a parking spot.
- Power steering reportedly failed suddenly at low speed, causing a loss of control and a crash.
- One owner reported an engine compartment fire that started while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, destroying the vehicle.
- Replacement passenger airbag inflators were reported as difficult to obtain quickly after a crash under the recall program.
2012 Honda Pilot recalls
9 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V502000Jun 27, 2019Airbags9,555 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are F5F and Q5E.
- NHTSA 19V378000May 16, 2019Airbags19,138 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M4O, P4R, T4Q, and W4P.
- NHTSA 18V661000Sep 27, 2018Airbags1,355,406 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, California, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Acura TSX, TSX Wagon and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Insight, Fit and Pilot vehicles, 2011-2012 Honda Accord and 2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Lastly, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot, 2011-2013 TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord and 2010-2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M2J and S2K.
2012 Honda Pilot fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17.5 MPG
- Highway
- 24.5 MPG
- Combined
- 20 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,250
- 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 Pilot years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Honda Pilot reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2012 Pilot a complaint index of 30 and a rank of 15th out of 21 Pilot model years, resulting in a Caution verdict.
- Why is the 2012 Honda Pilot only rated Caution instead of Good?
- Its complaint index alone might suggest a better verdict, but the verdict is capped to Caution because the 2012 Pilot has 9 recall campaigns requiring a dealer visit.
- What is the biggest problem area for the 2012 Honda Pilot?
- Engine complaints are the top problem area, accounting for 56 of 171 total complaints (33% share), with a median mileage at failure of 20,800.
- Does the 2012 Honda Pilot have an airbag recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists multiple airbag-related recall campaigns affecting the 2012 Pilot, including inflator replacement recalls issued between 2013 and 2019.
- How does the 2012 Pilot compare to other Pilot years?
- The 2012 Pilot's complaint index of 30 is better than years like 2016 (100) and 2006 (90), which are rated Avoid, but worse than 2014 and 2015, which are rated Best.