2012 Honda Odyssey: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2012 Honda Odyssey: 5 recalls, 245 owner complaints and up to 22 mpg combined.
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Recalls
5 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Suspension Vehicle recall #11V602000 · 2011 · 9 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Honda contacted all nine owners by phone on December 19, 2011, and repaired the vehicles as necessary free of charge.
Airbags Vehicle recall #13V016000 · 2013 · 748,481 vehicles
What's wrong: One or more rivets that attach the airbag module to the airbag cover May be missing.
Why it matters: 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 fix: 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.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #13V143000 · 2013 · 204,169 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Seats Vehicle recall #16V933000 · 2016 · 633,753 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: An unlocked second row outboard seat increases the risk of injury to the seat occupant during a crash.
The fix: 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 .
Seats Vehicle recall #17V725000 · 2017 · 806,936 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If the seat tips forward during braking, it can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 6 mention a fire, 22 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Brakes (58): the most common themes are noise or vibration (28).
- Engine (39): the most common themes are warning light on (13), noise or vibration (7), stalls / loses power (7).
- Electrical (37): the most common themes are electrical failure (16), door / lock issues (14), warning light on (5).
- Body & structure (25): the most common themes are door / lock issues (20), noise or vibration (3).
The 2012 Honda Odyssey has 245 owner complaints, ranking #18 of 34 Odyssey model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 376). Complaints peaked in 2017 (32 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 40,376 miles. Neighboring years: 2011 (235 complaints, 5 recalls), 2013 (210 complaints, 6 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 27 | 22 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 27 | 21 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2012 Honda Odyssey.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
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FAQ
Does the 2012 Honda Odyssey have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recalls for the 2012 Honda Odyssey. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2012 Honda Odyssey problems?
Owners have filed 245 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are brakes (58), engine (39), electrical (37).
What gas mileage does the 2012 Honda Odyssey get?
EPA ratings run up to 22 mpg combined (3.5 L, Automatic 6-spd), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2012 Honda Odyssey repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.