2012 Honda Odyssey Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Honda Odyssey.

20112013
Complaints
321
Crashes
22
Fires
7
Injuries
31
Fatalities
Recalls
5

Worst 2012 Honda Odyssey Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#158 complaints

Brakes

Avg mileage:29,883 mi
Crash-related:3
#239 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:66,950 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:3
#326 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:54,732 mi
Fires:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Honda Odyssey.

Brakes
58
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
29,883
Engine Problems
39
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Avg Miles
66,950
Electrical Faults
26
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
54,732
Steering Defects
21
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
35,233
Body Structure
21
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
68,553
Transmission / Drivetrain
20
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
35,350
Seat-Related Issues
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
49,760
Unintended Acceleration
13
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
32,025
Fuel System
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
50,021
Airbags
9
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
Avg Miles
88,186
Seat Belt Issues
8
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
47,880
Headlight/Taillight Failures
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
3,438
Wheel Issues
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
25,400
Engine & Cooling
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
23,680
Suspension Failures
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
21,319
Tire Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
41,356
Wipers & Visibility
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
35,022
Structure:Body:Door
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Instrument Panel:Speedometer/Odometer
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Automatic Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Frontal
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Instrument Cluster
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Power Train:Driveline:Chain/Belt
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belts:Front
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Honda Odyssey. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2012 Honda Odyssey

5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~2,393,348 vehicles.

17V725000Seats:mid/rear Assembly
~806,936 affected

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.

16V933000Seats:mid/rear Assembly
~633,753 affected

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.

13V143000Automatic Transmission
~204,169 affected

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."

13V016000Airbags
~748,481 affected

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.

11V602000Suspension:front
~9 affected

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 ALLOWING THE NUT TO LOOSEN.

Other Honda Odyssey Years

2012 Honda Odyssey — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2012 Honda Odyssey reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2012 Honda Odyssey has 321 NHTSA complaints, 22 crash-related, and 5 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Brakes with 58 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2012 Honda Odyssey?
Top reported problems: Brakes (58 complaints, avg 29,883 mi); Engine Problems (39 complaints, avg 66,950 mi); Electrical Faults (26 complaints, avg 54,732 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Honda Odyssey?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 44,882 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2012 Honda Odyssey?
NHTSA complaints for the 2012 Honda Odyssey include 22 crash-related reports, 7 fire reports, 31 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2012 Honda Odyssey have any recalls?
Yes — 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,393,348 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2012 Honda Odyssey?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Honda Odyssey reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2012 Honda Odyssey

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