2012 HONDA PILOT Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Honda Pilot. This model year has 170 NHTSA complaints β top issue: Engine Problems.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car β accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2012 Honda Pilot Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Brake System
Electrical Faults
Considering a 2012 Honda Pilot?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car β accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Honda Pilot. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 45 | β | 1 | β | |
| Brake System | 28 | 4 | β | β | |
| Electrical Faults | 22 | β | 3 | β | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 20 | 7 | β | β | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 20 | β | β | β | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 17 | 4 | β | β | |
| Suspension Failures | 14 | 1 | β | β | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 11 | 2 | 1 | β | |
| Steering Defects | 11 | 2 | β | β | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 8 | 1 | β | β | |
| Structural Problems | 8 | β | β | β | |
| Fuel System | 6 | β | β | β | |
| Gasoline | 6 | β | β | β | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 4 | β | β | β | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 3 | 1 | β | β | |
| Hydraulic | 3 | β | β | β | |
| Wheel Issues | 3 | β | β | β | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 2 | β | β | β | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 | β | β | β | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 1 | β | β | β | |
| Tire Issues | 1 | β | β | β | |
| Visibility | 1 | β | β | β | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 1 | β | β | β |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Honda Pilot. Type a keyword (e.g. βtransmissionβ, βstallingβ, βbrakesβ) to filter.
Showing 170 most recent complaints
On April 9, 2026, my daughter came in from school and parked her Honda Pilot at about 5:10PM. At about 7:03PM, my wife and I were sitting outside and heard a loud POP, it sounded like a car backfiring. I went to investigate and saw a little smoke and a small orange glowing piece β¦
One day my pilot 2012 suddenly started turning on and off the passenger airbag then out of the blue the airbag system light when on. Scanned it an it reads the passenger weight sensor is not communicating the part is no longer available to purchase and it is in backorder with datβ¦
The check transmission light comes and goes. Ive had the transmission flushed with no issues. It pulls codes for the torque converter as its supposedly getting stuck per mechanic or is over heating and throwing the code. It does not drive rough and I believe it is a faulty code tβ¦
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Honda Pilot. The contact then discovered a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 67,450. The contact stated that at the time of retrieving a Carfax report, it was discoverβ¦
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Honda Pilot. After contacting the seller on Facebook Market Place the contact purchased the vehicle and later discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the odometer mileagβ¦
My 2012 Honda Pilot is experiencing the same engine defect that Honda acknowledged in later model years (2013β2015) and issued recalls/extended warranty coverage for. The defect involves the Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system causing excessive oil consumption, spark plug fβ¦
Odometer Fraud. The contact has never owned or purchased these vehicles. The vehicles never purchased in any type of sale. The contact stated that the state of New York has asked for additional paper for the vehicle's registration. The vehicle was not a private sale or dealer salβ¦
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 112,000, and at theβ¦
Check engine light came on followed by shaking of the vehicle. The code was checked indicating a cylinder 1 misfire. This has been an ongoing issue of cylinders misfiring. The spark plugs and coils have been replaced multiple times and the issue is still persisting.
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Pilot. The contact stated during the past 3 seasons of winter, the vehicle would fail to come to a stop while depressing the brake pedal. No warning lights illuminated. The failure would occur during winter cold climate temperatures. The vehicle was β¦
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while the vehicle was getting a State Inspection, the inspector observed that the parking brake cable had seized and failed to operate as intended. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the parkiβ¦
See attached document for complaint
The vehicle's paint is literally peeling away from every horizontal and connected vertical surface. Without paint on metal, rust is happening, weakening the metal structure of the vehicle. have reached out to Honda USA and they informed they had no responsibility for the paint, β¦
While driving the vehicle at around 45 MPH it suffered a complete loss of power for 3-5 seconds. The dashboard lights illuminated and then the vehicle restarted without having to restart via the ignition and all of the dash lights turned off. This has happened intermittently on tβ¦
The driver's seat belt has ripped. I contacted Airport Honda where I purchased the vehicle in Spring, 2014. The Service Manger contacted Honda Corporate. They REFUSE to repair the seat belt. Making this a hazard for me to drive the vehicle.
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered. Additionally, the contact stated that unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, the contact was unaβ¦
Unusual amount of oil consumption. Faulty cylinder 3. Gaskets cause the oil to leak into the spark plugs causing the engine light to come on with loss of power. Changed cylinder 3 spark plug at least 10 times or more since purchasing the vehicle in 2021. Oil also drips onto theβ¦
Paint peeling. I brought it to a body shop and they stated it was a manufacturing defect. I am looking for other ways to follow up with Honda Directly. it is getting increasingly worse.
MIL comes on with DTCsP0301 through P0304 Car is available for inspection. Dealer confirmed along with independent service center. Service Bulletin 13-082
I was driving on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in the left-hand lane alongside the concrete barrier. The road curved to the right and when I tried to gently steer to the right the steering wheel got stuck and locked. I wasnβt able to steer to the right and so the car hit the barrier.β¦
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2012 Honda Pilot.
Recalls for 2012 Honda Pilot
9 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2012 Honda Pilot. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2012 Honda Pilot β FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2012 Honda Pilot reliable?βΎ
Severe Issues. The 2012 Honda Pilot has 170 NHTSA owner complaints, 17 crash-related, and 9 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Engine Problems (45 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Honda Pilot?βΎ
#1: Engine Problems (45 complaints). #2: Brake System (28 complaints). #3: Electrical Faults (22 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Honda Pilot?βΎ
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2012 Honda Pilot?βΎ
The 2012 Honda Pilot has 17 crash-related complaints and 3 fire reports out of 170 total NHTSA complaints. 19 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2012 Honda Pilot have any recalls?βΎ
Yes β 9 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2012 Honda Pilot. The largest issue: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2012 Honda Pilot?βΎ
The 2012 Honda Pilot has severe issues β review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Engine Problems issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Honda Pilot reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2012 Honda Pilot
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car β accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.