2012 Honda Odyssey: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
244 NHTSA owner complaints · 5 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The fourth-generation Odyssey (2011–2017) is one of the best minivans in the dataset, scoring in the 70s and 80s. The fifth generation launched for 2018 with a ten-speed automatic and a new infotainment system, and the record collapsed: nearly a thousand complaints for each of 2018 and 2019, most of them transmission shudder and hesitation, sliding-door failures, and the rear-seat entertainment system. Read the full note on the model page. 2012 specifically: a year the record favours — 244 complaints, score 85/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Honda Odyssey and Pilot: the transmission years to avoid, including 2012 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 244 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 17.43
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
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.
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle and while driving at an undisclosed speed, the radio screen displayed "0:00", and the navigation system was inoperable. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.
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.
Recalls: 5 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 13V143000 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 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. |
| 17V725000 | Seats:Mid/Rear Assembly | 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. |
| 13V016000 | Air Bags | 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. |
| 11V602000 | Suspension:Front | 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. |
| 16V933000 | Seats:Mid/Rear Assembly | 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. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a minivan of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 21 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,950
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Service Brakes60 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Engine39 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Electrical System36 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Structure25 complaints · typical job: Body, subframe or corrosion repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,070–$2,920
- Power Train24 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Unknown Or Other23 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
Other Honda Odyssey years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Honda Odyssey?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Service Brakes (60 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2012 Honda Odyssey a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 85/100, computed from 244 NHTSA complaints and 5 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2012 Honda Odyssey's most common problem?
60 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2012 Honda Odyssey sit in the Service Brakes group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $580–$1,140 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2012 Honda Odyssey cost to run per year?
About $5,701 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $28,505 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2012 Honda Odyssey have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for the 2012 Honda Odyssey, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 15/04/2013. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other minivans of about the same age.
What will a 2012 Honda Odyssey really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 244 complaints, 5 recalls on record
- 244 NHTSA complaints on record (17.4/yr of exposure) — better than a typical year of this model (28.0/yr)
- 5 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems