Is the 2012 Honda Pilot a bad year?
173 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Pilot years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2012 Honda Pilot are in line with other Pilot years.
6th quietest of 17 Pilot 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 Pilot 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 19,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 45 (26%) | 2k–43k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Brakes | 28 (16%) | 18k–53k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 20 (12%) | 0k–36k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Speed control | 17 (10%) | 2k–44k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 16 (9%) | 11k–57k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Visibility and wipers | 5 (3%) | 5k–76k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 22 (13%) | 26k–124k miles · ahead | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 21 (12%) | 41k–98k miles · ahead | — |
| Suspension | 14 (8%) | 24k–75k miles · ahead | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Steering | 11 (6%) | 25k–83k miles · ahead | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Body structure | 9 (5%) | 37k–85k miles · ahead | — |
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 19,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 173 complaints: 18 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 9 report an injury · 8 say the car was towed.
9 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
From a dead stop or slow roll, the engine fails to respond immediately to the accelerator pedal.
Driving back from illinois to texas and started to feel vibration when the engine's vcm would activate.
The check engine light and VTM4 light come on after over an hour of driving. Sometimes the whole inside of the car smells has while driving and the fuel consumption is not efficient.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 19,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2012 Honda Pilot: 9
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. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement. 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.
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)… An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement. An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
These vehicles are equipped with certain 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)… An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
One dealership may have incorrectly installed the replacement air bag inflators. In the event of a crash, an incorrectly installed passenger frontal air bag inflator may deploy the air bag improperly, increasing the risk of injury.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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 vent shut float (Vsf) valve case in the fuel tank assembly does not meet the design specifications. As a result, fuel may leak from the tank, increasing the risk of fire.
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: 33
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2012 Honda Pilot. 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
If the engine is overheating and there s engine oil mixed in the coolant reservoir, chances are the cylinder head may be cracked
While driving under steady cruise (Between 30 and 65 MPH) or light acceleration, does the engine intermittently rattle or runs rough with the MIL blinking
Neighbouring years
2011 Pilot: 293 complaints, keep it · 2013 Pilot: 273 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Honda Pilot year
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 Pilot 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 Odyssey · Honda Passport · Honda Prologue · Honda Ridgeline · Honda VTX1300. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2012 Honda Pilot a bad year?
173 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Pilot years. At 19,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Honda Pilot?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (45), brakes (28), transmission and drivetrain (20), speed control (17), fuel system (16).
How many recalls does the 2012 Honda Pilot have?
9 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 19V-502), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-378), Air bags (NHTSA 18V-661), Air bags (NHTSA 18V-268) 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.