2012 Honda Odyssey
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Service brakes is the leading concern among 245 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 17th highest complaint count among 26 Odyssey model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 14 involved a crash and 6 involved a fire. 22 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Seats, mid/rear assemblyNov 17, 2017
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.
If the seat tips forward during braking, it can increase the risk of injury.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install a bracket to the second row outboard floor strikers, free of charge. The recall began April 2, 2018. Owners may contact American Honda Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is S0G.
Campaign 17V725000 on NHTSA.gov
Seats, mid/rear assemblyDec 27, 2016
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.
An unlocked second row outboard seat increases the risk of injury to the seat occupant during a crash.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional bracket and spring to both second row outboard seats, free of charge. Interim letter has been mailed, and a second notification will be sent . Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KD5.
Campaign 16V933000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmissionApr 15, 2013
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."
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.
Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda or Acura dealer. The dealer will install an updated brake shift interlock blocking mechanism free of charge. The recall began on May 13, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's campaign recall numbers are S96, S97, and S98.
Campaign 13V143000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bagsJan 18, 2013
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.
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.
Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda dealer. The dealer will inspect the driver's airbag module and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 14, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
Campaign 13V016000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, frontDec 22, 2011
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.
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.
HONDA CONTACTED ALL NINE OWNERS BY PHONE ON DECEMBER 19, 2011, AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
Campaign 11V602000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: service brakes
60 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Nov 30, 2013, crash
AT AROUND 5:20PM ON 11/15/13, I WAS ON SANTOMAS EXPWY @ MONROE AND THE TRAFFIC LIGHT HAD JUST TURNED GREEN. VEHICLES HAD STARTED MOVING INCLUDING MINE. SUDDENLY ONE OF THE CARS AHEAD OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY (NOT SURE WHY). THE CARD IN FRONT OF ME WAS SUCCESSFUL IN STOPPING. BUT, MY CAR (HONDA ODYSSEY TOURING 2012) DID NOT STOP. I APPLIED BRAKES, BUT THE BRAKES WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL IN MAKING THE CAR STOP. I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO APPLY OTHER BRAKES. I TRIED TO TURN THE VEHICLE TO GET A WIDTH FOR STOPPING, BUT THE BRAKES STILL DID NOT WORK AND MY CAR HIT THE BACK OF THE CAR IN FRONT WHICH THEN CREATED A CHAIN REACTION TO TWO MORE CARS AHEAD. THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN ANY OF THE CARS AFFECTED AND JUST THE DRIVER. *TR
Service brakes, Nov 5, 2013
I HAVE 22K MILES ON MY ODYSSEY. A FEW MONTHS AGO I STARTED FEELING SHAKING UPON BRAKING WITH STEERING WHEELS ALSO SHAKING BADLY. FINALLY TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO AFTER A DRIVE TEST SAID "FRONT BRAKE VIBRATION - RECOMMEND BRAKE PADS AND RESURFACE ROTORS". HOWEVER THE HONDA COURTESY INSPECTION REPORT SAYS 8MM LEFT IN BRAKE PADS WHICH IS MORE THAN 60% LIFE. I STRONGLY FEEL THIS IS TOO SOON FOR ROTORS OR BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENT AND SOMETHING OUGHT TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT HERE WHICH SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Service brakes, Oct 24, 2013
THIS IS THE SECOND HONDA ODYSSEY. THE FIRST WAS A 2005 THAT I OWNED FOR 7 YEARS AND DID NOT NEED THE ROTORS RESURFACED UNTIL THE VAN HAD 70000 MILES ON IT. I NOW OWN A 2012 AND WITH ONLY 20000 MILES ON IT THEY NEED TO BE RESURFACED. HONDA IS NOT COVERING STATING THAT IT IS DRIVING HABITS, HOWEVER I DRIVE THE SAME AS I DID WITH MY 2005 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHEN I GOOGLE A 2012 HONDA ODYSSEY THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR 2012 ODYSSEY HAVING TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM. IF THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS FAILING THAT IT IS OPENING HONDA UP FOR LAWSUITS, ESPECIALLY WHEN ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. HONDA USED TO BE A VERY DIFFERENT COMPANY. *TR
Service brakes, Jul 22, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD REACH HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE STILL HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS OCCURRING BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS NOT A FAULT OF THE VEHICLE ITSELF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000. *TR
Service brakes, May 23, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND FELT A VIBRATION IN HER FOOT. THE VEHICLE DID NOT DECELERATE PROPERLY AND THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN STOPPING TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS WOULD NEED TO BE RESURFACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,855.
Service brakes, May 16, 2013
THE MINI VAN STARTED TO VIBRATE (THE STEERING WHEEL) WHEN I WAS BRAKING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS (65 MPH) AND DOWN HILL. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FRONT ROTORS WAS BAD. THE DEALER RECOMMEND THAT A BRAKE JOB WAS NEEDED. THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, AND ANY BRAKING MATTERS SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE UNTIL 50,000 MILES. I ASKED WHY THE ROTORS WENT BAD SO QUICKLY AND THE BOTH SPEAKING WITH THE DEALER AND THE CAR COMPANY, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAR IS "HEAVY". I NEVER TOWED ANYTHING OR HAD NO MORE THAN 6 AVERAGE PASSENGER IN MY CAR. IF THAT WAS THE CASE THE HONDA DID NOT ADEQUATELY PUT IN THE RIGHT SIZE ROTORS. FURTHER MORE, AS AN ENGINEER, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT A NEW BRAKE JOB WILL DO TO CORRECT THE ROTORS FROM BEING WARPED IF HONDA INSTALLED AN UNDER RATED ROTOR SIZE OR THICKNESS. NOT SURE IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Service brakes, May 12, 2013
BRAKES VIBRATE AFTER A FEW STOPS OR WHEN THE WEATHER IS VERY HOT. MORE NOTICEABLE ON NORMAL FREEWAY DRIVING. *TR
Service brakes, Apr 6, 2013
THE VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY DURING HIGHWAY SPEED BRAKING WHEN GOING DOWNHILL. TOOK IT TO DEALER, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO VERIFY THE PROBLEM, BUT CLAIMED THAT THIS IS WEAR AND TEAR. THE BRAKES HAVE 8MM ON BOTH FRONT BRAKES. *TR
Service brakes, Mar 7, 2013
MY CAR STARTED TO VIBRATE A LITTLE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND DOWN HILL AROUND 18,000 MILES. I DROVE IT AND FINALLY AT 22,000 MILES I TOOK IT TO A HONDA DEALER TO CHECK IT OUT. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND THAT I NEEDED A BRAKE JOB. I FEEL THAT THE ROTORS ARE EITHER NOT THE PROPER SIZE OR THICKNESS FOR THE CAR. I'VE CHECKED ON LINE AND MANY SAME CAR OWNERS ARE SEEING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I FEEL THAT THE WARRANTY THE SHOULD HONOR REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR IF THE ROTORS ARE WARPING SO QUICKLY. *TR
Power train, Service brakes, Jan 6, 2013
I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW '12 ODYSSEY EXL-NAV (5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) AND FROM THE DAY I PICKED IT UP, I NOTICED A SHUDDERING WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS AT A SHIFT POINT, ESPECIALLY FROM 2ND TO 3RD AND 3RD TO 4TH. I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE I SEE A REGISTERED COMPLIANT FOR ODYSSEY TOURING AND TOURING ELITE MODELS WITH 6-SPEED TRANSMISSIONS BUT NOT FOR THE EX OR EXLS WITH 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION [NHTSA REFERENCE #10046880;TSB REFERENCE #SB-12-064]; HOWEVER I HAVE THE SAME TRANSMISSION ISSUE. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP AT A HONDA DEALER TWICE NOW TO RESOLVE ISSUE AND LAST TIME THEY MENTIONED THERE HAD BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED FOR THIS ISSUE AND THEY UPLOADED A NEW SOFTWARE CONTROL MODULE. HOWEVER, I STILL HAVE THE ISSUE AND AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A DESIGN-FLAW ISSUE THAT HONDA MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FIX. PLEASE EXPAND THE NHTSA ISSUE TO INCLUDE THE 5-SPEED TRANSMISSIONS AS WELL AND ADVISE IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN DO. ALSO, WITH THE BRAND NEW VEHICLE, THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND PULSED WHEN BREAKING AND HAD TO BE RESURFACED WITHIN A MONTH OF DELIVERY. THAT ISSUE IS NOW RESOLVED. *TR