Is the 2012 Honda Odyssey a bad year?
246 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Odyssey years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2012 Honda Odyssey are in line with other Odyssey years. Brakes stands out for this year: see below.
6th quietest of 20 Odyssey years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2012 Odyssey owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 22,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 60 (24%) | 15k–37k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Engine | 44 (18%) | 15k–86k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 24 (10%) | 1k–57k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Steering | 21 (9%) | 18k–44k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Speed control | 13 (5%) | 5k–55k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 10 (4%) | 13k–94k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 37 (15%) | 42k–130k miles · ahead | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Body structure | 25 (10%) | 45k–90k miles · ahead | — |
| Seats | 14 (6%) | 28k–78k miles · ahead | — |
| Fuel system | 11 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 9 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 8 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 22,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 246 complaints: 14 mention a crash · 6 mention a fire · 19 report an injury · 6 say the car was towed.
10 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I was driving my 2 year old Honda odyssey W/15,000 miles on a 35 MPH state road in the evening.
After stopping the car has tried to accelerate on its own while the brake was applied. Six times since purchase, four times this year.
The vehicle has been diagnosed as missing on 5 of 6 cylinders. Driving performance is greatly impaired. The vehicle misses while stationary idling and while operating in motion.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 22,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2012 Honda Odyssey: 5
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. If the seat tips forward during braking, it can increase the risk of injury.
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. An unlocked second row outboard seat increases the risk of injury to the seat occupant during a crash.
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. 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.
One or more rivets that attach the airbag module to the airbag cover may be missing. The absence of more than one rivet could alter the performance of the driver's airbag during deployment. This could potentially increase the risk of injury during a crash.
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. If the nut loosens, the front hub assembly would only be attached by one bolt, allowing the wheel assembly to shift to an extreme inward angle, resulting in a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Honda: 84
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2012 Honda Odyssey. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The front rocker arm oil control valve is leaking
The piston rings on certain cylinders may rotate and align which can lead to spark plug fouling
Judder from the Torque Converter Lock-Up Clutch
If the engine is overheating and there s engine oil mixed in the coolant reservoir, chances are the cylinder head may be cracked
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Inadvertent Deployment of Air Bags
Neighbouring years
2011 Odyssey: 235 complaints, keep it · 2013 Odyssey: 211 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Honda Odyssey year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Odyssey years side by side
Other Honda models: Honda Accord · Honda Accord Hybrid · Honda CR-V · Honda CR-V Hybrid · Honda Civic · Honda Civic Hybrid · Honda Civic Si · Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid · Honda Crosstour · Honda Element · Honda Fit · Honda GL1800 · Honda HR-V · Honda Insight · Honda Passport · Honda Pilot · Honda Prologue · Honda Ridgeline · Honda VTX1300. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2012 Honda Odyssey a bad year?
246 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Odyssey years. At 22,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Honda Odyssey?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: brakes (60), engine (44), transmission and drivetrain (24), steering (21), speed control (13).
How many recalls does the 2012 Honda Odyssey have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Seats (NHTSA 17V-725), Seats (NHTSA 16V-933), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 13V-143), Air bags (NHTSA 13V-016) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.