2012 Honda Odyssey Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 22,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

My break petal went soft - as in goes all the way to the floor - it has been looked at by 2 different mechanics - no warning lights, no sounds, just all of a sudden no breaks - it has all new break pads, master cylinder, rotors, etc… the break petal is as soft as can be. I can not stop suddenly.Owner complaint, filed 2022

My 2012 Honda Odyssey brake suddenly failed today. I felt the brake paddle was very soft and had to push all the way to the floor and the vehicle would slowly stop. I had to push very fast repeatedly to feel enough pressure on the paddle to stop the vehicle quickly. There is no indications on the instrument panel indicating the failure…Owner complaint, filed 2022

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 60,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

For several years now, we have misfire issue or code P0304. We continue to change spark plugs cylinders. Both usually last a year or so then they need replaced again. I research the problem, no recall or the like. I did see his report on-line, wondering if it applies to us, Warranty Extension: MIL Comes On with DTCs P0301 thru P0304. Any…Owner complaint, filed 2025

The front valve cover is exposed to extreme temperatures from the catalytic converter mounted next to it. There is nothing to protect the rubber components inside from the catalytic converter's excessive heat which is causing them to fail. The steel components inside the cylinder (e.g., the seal ring) are insulated by these rubber…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 67,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

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.…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 180,000 miles

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…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 70,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (21).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

A few weeks ago a cable for the sliding door on the passenger side snapped. We were able to use it manually until this weekend when the whole door fell right off when sliding it closed.Owner complaint, filed 2024

Sliding doors on both sides will not close reliably. When closing the sliding doors, the door slides along the track smoothly initially but when it is close to shutting anywhere from 2 feet to a couple inches (usually within inches of closing) the moving door studders its motion, or hesitates and then the door opens again. This has been…Owner complaint, filed 2022

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 22,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

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.…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was jerking. The check emissions and check VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) warning lights illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. The…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 85,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 48,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

In two different occations, while driving the vehicle in a motion the driver side seat suddenly go down and the mount plastic cover get disassemble. It is a security problem. It can cause an accident due to mechanical problem with the seat. It is a safety risk.Owner complaint, filed 2020

While driving on a city street, a car pulled out in front of me so I had to quickly hit my breaks to avoid a car accident with the other car but in the process the 2nd row passenger seat that is directly behind the driver seat automatically flipped down then flew forward ramming the back of my seat and my back very hard. Luckily my son…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 50,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 28,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

When turning left or right theres a noise coming from the steering column. It only happens at slow speeds. It feels like something is going to fall off.Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 68,000 miles

The contact owns a 2012 honda odyssey. While the vehicle was reversing or in drive, there was an abnormal noise and the econo drive warning indicator flashed. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics, but the failure could not be replicated or diagnosed. In addition, the vehicle was taken to a dealer (garden state honda…Owner complaint, filed 2017

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 13,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2012 honda odyssey. The contact stated that the front driver's side windshield was cracked at the top of the windshield. The contact stated that an unknown dealer was contacted however, referred the contact to a third party to get the windshield replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The [VIN] was made aware of the…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 40,000 miles

I was washing the windshield on the passenger side. I lifted up the w/s wiper element [VIN] and the wiper arm dislodged and smacked and cracked the windshield upon impact. The wipers (both sides) operated normally and we had just returned from a very rainy vacation. There were no signs of any abnormal operations nor installations. I…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 56,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 24,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

Car suddenly stalled while driving without warning (luckily in parking lot). Would not re-start and had to be towed to mechanic. Was found to be defective right wiring harness. No damage visible to wiring harness. ~70,000 miles on vehicle.Owner complaint, filed 2016, at 70,000 miles

I was turning right into a parking space with foot on brake (there was no need for acceleration to get into the parking spot)- when suddenly the car sped up really fast on its own (like the gas pedal was being applied- only my foot was on the brake the entire time). The car went crashing into the median- catching the undercarriage…Owner complaint, filed 2014, at 23,690 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 48,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

My VIN does not appear for a piston ring recall on 2011-2013 honda odysseys. Specifically, the piston rings in certain cylinders rotate and align, leading to engine oil consumption and spark plug fouling. I would like my VIN added to this recall.Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 131,063 miles

When at a stop with foot on the brake, the engine starts revving. The tach went up to 6000 rpm and car tried to push forward on city streets. This happened at least 8 times in feb/march 2019. On march 9, I called the dealer, brilliance honda of crystal lake. They said I could come in monday 3/11. They test drove the vehicle and said they…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 77,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 31,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

Mastercraft Stratus As size 235/65R17 While driving on highway tire pressure light illuminated then immediately proceeded to tire shop to check tire . Then found left rear tire had a ball and saw the sidewall bead protruding. I had a shop dismount the tire and they mentioned they have seen this before where the inside of the bead started…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Purchased a whole set of michelin primacy mxv4 tires on 10/13/2016, with odometer 54993. During the service on 04/18/2018, with odometer 79700, I was informed two front tires measure below 2/32nds of an inch, and the tires need to be replaced.Owner complaint, filed 2018

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 76,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2012 honda odyssey. The contact stated while leaving a parking place, another vehicle impacted the frontal driver side tire. The contact stated the front passenger air bag did deploy, but the the front driver air bag did not deploy. The contact stated no one sustained any injuries or seek medical attention. A police…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 215,000 miles

I was in a front end collision. Moderate accident, going approx 35 MPH hitting another car with enough force to spin the car that I hit. My front airbags did not deploy. The car was not able to be driven off the scene. I was driving straight and hit the other car with the front of my car in her passenger door. I was on a city street.Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 96,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

My minivan has 38000 miles and start with a small noise went I make a right turn and getting worst, I took it to the mechanic and they don't know where the noise is coming from.the point is this vehicle we don't use a lot and we have mostly hi way miles, we have not even finish pay for it and we feel like we driving an old car. I read…Owner complaint, filed 2017

The rear tire went flat rather suddenly. Honda does not make the camber adjustable (unlike other [VIN]), which leads to inner tire wear. This affects the handling and ability to break. We did not have an accident this time, but I am not comfortable that this won't be the case in the future. Honda does this so that the customers have no…Owner complaint, filed 2016, at 44,126 miles