2012 Honda ODYSSEY

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Honda ODYSSEY has 325 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (18% of all complaints), specifically: i bought a brand new '12 odyssey exl-nav (5-speed automatic transmission) and from the day i picked it up, i noticed a shuddering when the transmission was at a shift point, especially from 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to 4th. i am submitting this complaint because i see a registered compliant for odyssey to. ⚠️ 8 fire reports filed.

8 fire reports 10 crash reports 27 injuries

325

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

60 complaints

18%

• I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW '12 ODYSSEY EXL-NAV (5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) AND FROM THE DAY I PICKED IT UP, I NOTICED A SHUDDERING WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS AT A SHIFT POINT, ESPECIALLY FROM 2ND TO 3RD AND 3RD TO 4TH. I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE I SEE A REGISTERED COMPLIANT FOR ODYSSEY TO
• MY CAR STARTED TO VIBRATE A LITTLE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND DOWN HILL AROUND 18,000 MILES. I DROVE IT AND FINALLY AT 22,000 MILES I TOOK IT TO A HONDA DEALER TO CHECK IT OUT. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND THAT I NEEDED A BRAKE JOB. I FEEL THAT THE ROTORS ARE EITHER
• THE VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY DURING HIGHWAY SPEED BRAKING WHEN GOING DOWNHILL. TOOK IT TO DEALER, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO VERIFY THE PROBLEM, BUT CLAIMED THAT THIS IS WEAR AND TEAR. THE BRAKES HAVE 8MM ON BOTH FRONT BRAKES. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW '12 ODYSSEY EXL-NAV (5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) AND FROM THE DAY I PICKED IT UP, I NOTICED A SHUDDERING WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS AT A SHIFT POINT, ESPECIALLY FROM 2ND TO 3RD AND 3RD TO 4TH. I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE I SEE A REGISTERED COMPLIANT FOR ODYSSEY TO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

45 complaints

14%

• OUR BRAND NEW 2012 HONDA ODYSSEY TOURING ELITE JUDDERS BETWEEN 25-40 MPH BETWEEN SHIFTS. THE JUDDER CAN BE ANYWHERE FROM MILD AND VERY TRANSIENT TO ROUGH BUCKING THAT LASTS FOR OVER 2 SECONDS BEFORE IT SMOOTHS OUT. UNDER MILD OR HEAVY ACCELERATION, I HAVE NOT NOT NOTICED THE JUDDER. IT SEEMS TO O
• HESITATION OR STUTTER WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. STARTED WITH MINIMAL PROBLEMS AT FIRST AND HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. NOW HEAR CLICKING JERKING AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE AND EMISSION LIGHT GOES OFF AND ON. DEALER SAYS NOTHING WRONG THEY CAN FIND. *TR
• PULLING ONTO FREEWAY AND DASH LIGHTS FLASHED THEN MOTOR QUIT COMPLETELY. COASTED TO STOP ON SHOULDER WITH VERY LITTLE BRAKE POWER LEFT. VEHICLE WOULD NOT EVEN TURN ON - COMPLETE VEHICLE FAILURE. HAD IT TOWED ONCE AGAIN TO DEALER SAID A FAULTY OR SHORTED GROUND WIRE. HAVE NOT PICKED UP YET SO WILL DE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“OUR BRAND NEW 2012 HONDA ODYSSEY TOURING ELITE JUDDERS BETWEEN 25-40 MPH BETWEEN SHIFTS. THE JUDDER CAN BE ANYWHERE FROM MILD AND VERY TRANSIENT TO ROUGH BUCKING THAT LASTS FOR OVER 2 SECONDS BEFORE IT SMOOTHS OUT. UNDER MILD OR HEAVY ACCELERATION, I HAVE NOT NOT NOTICED THE JUDDER. IT SEEMS TO O”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

33 complaints

10%

• PULLING ONTO FREEWAY AND DASH LIGHTS FLASHED THEN MOTOR QUIT COMPLETELY. COASTED TO STOP ON SHOULDER WITH VERY LITTLE BRAKE POWER LEFT. VEHICLE WOULD NOT EVEN TURN ON - COMPLETE VEHICLE FAILURE. HAD IT TOWED ONCE AGAIN TO DEALER SAID A FAULTY OR SHORTED GROUND WIRE. HAVE NOT PICKED UP YET SO WILL DE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA ODYSSEY EXL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL WAS NOT SUFFICIENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS
• THE SPEEDOMETER AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS ON THE DASH BOARD ARE VERY EASY TO SEE AT NIGHT. HOWEVER, IN DAYLIGHT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE OTHER INSTRUMENTS, PARTICULARLY IF WEARING POLAROID SUNGLASSES. THE NUMBERS ON THE SPEEDOMETER ARE GREY ON GREY. THAT AND THE LED LIGHTIN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports

“PULLING ONTO FREEWAY AND DASH LIGHTS FLASHED THEN MOTOR QUIT COMPLETELY. COASTED TO STOP ON SHOULDER WITH VERY LITTLE BRAKE POWER LEFT. VEHICLE WOULD NOT EVEN TURN ON - COMPLETE VEHICLE FAILURE. HAD IT TOWED ONCE AGAIN TO DEALER SAID A FAULTY OR SHORTED GROUND WIRE. HAVE NOT PICKED UP YET SO WILL DE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

25 complaints

• WIND NOISE ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD IS SIGNIFICANT AND ALSO AIR LEAK ON DRIVER SIDE WINDOW; DEALER PUT IN NEW DOOR SEAL, BUT THIS DID NOT HELP. THEY SAID THEY KNOW OF THE COMPLAINTS AND HAD NO FIX FOR IT. IN DEC OF 2012, ONE YEAR AFTER I FIRST STARTED TO COMPLAIN, THEN CONTACTED CORPORATE HONDA DIRECT
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR OPENED, BUT WOULD NOT CLOSE ALL THE WAY. IT REMAINED IN THE MIDDLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR MOTOR AND ROLLERS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REP
• PAINT BEGAN PEELING IN TWO SMALL SPOTS ON ROOF DURING A DRIVE, AND CURRENTLY THE ENTIRE FRONT PART OF THE ROOF IS PAINT-FREE. PAINT HAS RECENTLY BEGUN PEELING IN A SMALL SPOT BEHIND THE DRIVER-SIDE SLIDING DOOR. I'M TRYING TO AVOID THE $1,000+ REPAIR COST BY DOING IT MYSELF, BUT AS I PREP THE AREA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“WIND NOISE ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD IS SIGNIFICANT AND ALSO AIR LEAK ON DRIVER SIDE WINDOW; DEALER PUT IN NEW DOOR SEAL, BUT THIS DID NOT HELP. THEY SAID THEY KNOW OF THE COMPLAINTS AND HAD NO FIX FOR IT. IN DEC OF 2012, ONE YEAR AFTER I FIRST STARTED TO COMPLAIN, THEN CONTACTED CORPORATE HONDA DIRECT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

24 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD EMIT A SHUTTERING SOUND WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPA
• 2012 HONDA ODYSSEY HAS A SHUTTERING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THIS SEEMS MOST PREVALENT AROUND 40+ MILES PER HOUR, HOWEVER, IT CAN HAPPEN AT VARYING SPEEDS. I HAVE SET AN APPOINTMENT WITH HONDA DEALER (LEHIGH VALLEY HONDA FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 31. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE CONSULTANT THAT THIS IS A K
• OUR BRAND NEW 2012 HONDA ODYSSEY TOURING ELITE JUDDERS BETWEEN 25-40 MPH BETWEEN SHIFTS. THE JUDDER CAN BE ANYWHERE FROM MILD AND VERY TRANSIENT TO ROUGH BUCKING THAT LASTS FOR OVER 2 SECONDS BEFORE IT SMOOTHS OUT. UNDER MILD OR HEAVY ACCELERATION, I HAVE NOT NOT NOTICED THE JUDDER. IT SEEMS TO O

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD EMIT A SHUTTERING SOUND WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 325 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW '12 ODYSSEY EXL-NAV (5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) AND FROM THE DAY I PICKED IT UP, I NOTICED A SHUDDERING WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS AT A SHIFT POINT, ESPECIALLY FROM 2ND TO 3RD AND 3RD TO 4TH. I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE I SEE A REGISTERED COMPLIANT FOR ODYSSEY TO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: OUR BRAND NEW 2012 HONDA ODYSSEY TOURING ELITE JUDDERS BETWEEN 25-40 MPH BETWEEN SHIFTS. THE JUDDER CAN BE ANYWHERE FROM MILD AND VERY TRANSIENT TO ROUGH BUCKING THAT LASTS FOR OVER 2 SECONDS BEFORE IT SMOOTHS OUT. UNDER MILD OR HEAVY ACCELERATION, I HAVE NOT NOT NOTICED THE JUDDER. IT SEEMS TO O
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: PULLING ONTO FREEWAY AND DASH LIGHTS FLASHED THEN MOTOR QUIT COMPLETELY. COASTED TO STOP ON SHOULDER WITH VERY LITTLE BRAKE POWER LEFT. VEHICLE WOULD NOT EVEN TURN ON - COMPLETE VEHICLE FAILURE. HAD IT TOWED ONCE AGAIN TO DEALER SAID A FAULTY OR SHORTED GROUND WIRE. HAVE NOT PICKED UP YET SO WILL DE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: WIND NOISE ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD IS SIGNIFICANT AND ALSO AIR LEAK ON DRIVER SIDE WINDOW; DEALER PUT IN NEW DOOR SEAL, BUT THIS DID NOT HELP. THEY SAID THEY KNOW OF THE COMPLAINTS AND HAD NO FIX FOR IT. IN DEC OF 2012, ONE YEAR AFTER I FIRST STARTED TO COMPLAIN, THEN CONTACTED CORPORATE HONDA DIRECT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)