2012 Honda Odyssey Reliability
The 2012 Honda Odyssey has 245 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and engine. Compared with other Odyssey model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Odyssey's typical year, while the 2011 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
245
NHTSA owner complaints
5
Recall campaigns
14
Complaints citing a crash
6
Complaints citing a fire
2012 Honda Odyssey complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 model year, filed between 2011 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 60 | 24% |
| Engine | 39 | 16% |
| Electrical system | 37 | 15% |
| Body structure | 25 | 10% |
| Unknown or other | 24 | 10% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 24 | 10% |
| Steering | 21 | 9% |
| Seats | 14 | 6% |
2012 Honda Odyssey recalls
5 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2012 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11V602000 | Dec 22, 2011 | Suspension — front | 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… |
| 13V016000 | Jan 18, 2013 | Air bags | 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. |
| 13V143000 | Apr 15, 2013 | Powertrain / transmission — 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… |
| 16V933000 | Dec 27, 2016 | 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… |
| 17V725000 | Nov 17, 2017 | 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… |
How the 2012 compares with nearby Odyssey years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Odyssey analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 255 | 2 | Body structure | Caution |
| 2011 | 235 | 5 | Electrical system | Solid |
| 2012 (this page) | 245 | 5 | Service brakes | Caution |
| 2013 | 211 | 6 | Engine | Caution |
| 2014 | 310 | 5 | Powertrain / transmission | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2012 Honda Odyssey on the used market
- 133 of 755 2012 Honda Odyssey listings in CarWhere's lifespan study showed 200,000 miles or more.
What to check on a used 2012 Honda Odyssey
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 5 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2012 Honda Odyssey can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2012 Honda Odyssey reliability FAQ
Is the 2012 Honda Odyssey reliable?
The 2012 Honda Odyssey has 245 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and engine. Compared with other Odyssey model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Odyssey's typical year, while the 2011 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2012 Honda Odyssey problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Honda Odyssey are service brakes (60), engine (39), electrical system (37), body structure (25). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2012 Honda Odyssey have recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2012 Honda Odyssey, including 11V602000 (suspension — front) and 13V016000 (air bags). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2012 Honda Odyssey compare with the 2011 and 2013 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2011 has 235 complaints and 5 recalls (solid); the 2013 has 211 complaints and 6 recalls (caution). The 2012 has 245 complaints and 5 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2012 Honda Odyssey?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Honda Odyssey research
Other Honda Odyssey model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2012 Odyssey, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.