2012 Honda Odyssey recalls and problems

The 2012 Honda Odyssey has 5 safety recalls and 246 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Honda dealer.

Recalls
5
Complaints
246
Crashes / fires
14 / 6
Injuries / deaths
22 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2012 Honda Odyssey vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2012 Honda Odyssey recalls

Recall 17V-725: Seats

Reported Nov 17, 2017 · 806,936 vehicles affected · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Problem: 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.

Risk: If the seat tips forward during braking, it can increase the risk of injury.

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. Owners may contact American Honda Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is S0G.

Recall 16V-933: Seats

Reported Dec 27, 2016 · 633,753 vehicles affected · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Problem: 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.

Risk: An unlocked second row outboard seat increases the risk of injury to the seat occupant during a crash.

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 . Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KD5.

Recall 13V-143: Power Train

Reported Apr 15, 2013 · 204,169 vehicles affected · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Problem: 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."

Risk: 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.

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. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's campaign recall numbers are S96, S97, and S98.

Recall 13V-016: Air Bags

Reported Jan 18, 2013 · 748,481 vehicles affected · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

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. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.

Recall 11V-602: Suspension

Reported Dec 22, 2011 · 9 vehicles affected · HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.)

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

2012 Honda Odyssey problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Service Brakes58
Engine39
Electrical System37
Structure25
Power Train24
Unknown or Other24
Steering21
Seats14
Vehicle Speed Control13
Fuel/Propulsion System11
Air Bags10
Seat Belts9

Most reported parts

  • Structure › Body — 21
  • Structure › Body › Door — 3
  • Electrical System › Instrument Panel › Speedometer/Odometer — 3
  • Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 2
  • Air Bags › Frontal — 1
  • Seat Belts › Front — 1
  • Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel — 1
  • Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 40,752 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2012 Honda Odyssey complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Electrical System · reported Sep 20, 2026
My vehicle electrical system has been acting up since I got vehicle and I don't know where to take vehicle for recent recalls to fix it.
Electrical System · at 180,000 miles · reported Sep 11, 2026
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked or while driving at undisclosed speeds, the clock on the vehicle was flashing, causing a distraction to the driver while driving. The contact stated that the flashing of the clock was controlled by satellite GPS, and the system could not be reset. The dealer was contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
Electrical System · reported Aug 11, 2026
I own a Honda Odyssey equipped with the Auto Idle Stop (automatic engine start-stop) system. The feature has not operated properly and behaves inconsistently. In addition to frequently failing to engage when the vehicle is stopped, I have experienced several instances where the engine shut off as part of the Auto Idle Stop function and then failed to restart promptly when I attempted to proceed. On several occasions, while stopped at red lights on major roads and highways, the vehicle stalled and took a considerable amount of time to restart. During these incidents, I was unable to move the…
Power Train · reported May 16, 2026
piston rings wore out prematurely on our 2012 honda odyssey. this was caused by the vcm system. its a known issue on hondas. it only had 88,600 miles at the time. we were driving our 2012 honda odyssey in december 2023. the check engine light began to flash. it starting running rough. we had it towed to a honda dealer for inspection. they pulled codes p303 and p304. they said the rings were worn and spark plugs fouled. they said this is a common issue because of the vcm. they peformed a rering job and with all parts and labor the cost came to $4000. we are very disgusted that this issue was…
Electrical System · reported May 1, 2026
The 2012 Honda odyssey alternator caught on fire after the battery light came on which luckily I, the driver, was able to put out. The next day I towed the vehicle to Boyd Honda Auto in Oxford, NC, where they confirmed with diagnostic that the alternator was overworking and that there was a seeping spool valve. This seeping spool valve is a manufacturer’s defect.

Other Honda Odyssey years

Compare all Honda Odyssey years · All Honda models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Honda Odyssey have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2012 Honda Odyssey: 17V-725 (seats), 16V-933 (seats), 13V-143 (power train), 13V-016 (air bags), 11V-602 (suspension). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2012 Honda Odyssey?

Owners report service brakes problems most often (58 reports), followed by engine (39). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 40,752 miles.

Are Honda recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Honda dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.