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Honda

2012 Honda PILOT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Honda PILOT has 228 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 366. The most common issue is engine problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: 2012 honda pilot - does not start consistently. consistently has a rough start, and often stalls. within days of owning my brand new 2012 honda pilot, the car stalled when i attempted to start it in my garage. i immediately brought the car into the dealership. the dealer's service department cou. There are 9 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.

5 fire reports 18 crash reports 22 injuries

228

Total Complaints

9

Recalls Issued

4/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ENGINE

45 complaints
20%
  • 2012 HONDA PILOT - DOES NOT START CONSISTENTLY. CONSISTENTLY HAS A ROUGH START, AND OFTEN STALLS. WITHIN DAYS OF OWNING MY BRAND NEW 2012 HONDA PILOT, THE CAR STALLED WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START IT IN MY GARAGE. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT COU
  • THE PILOT CRANKS, BUT THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO START. HONDA RECOGNIZES PROBLEM, BUT OFFERS NO SOLUTION OR TIME FRAME FOR A FIX. CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW, BUT HONDA WILL NOT PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE SAFE VEHICLE. *JS
  • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA PILOT. WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAMSHAFT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 5,000.
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

2012 HONDA PILOT - DOES NOT START CONSISTENTLY. CONSISTENTLY HAS A ROUGH START, AND OFTEN STALLS. WITHIN DAYS OF OWNING MY BRAND NEW 2012 HONDA PILOT, THE CAR STALLED WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START IT IN MY GARAGE. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT COU

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2012 Honda PILOT

Based on 170 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 33K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage
0-30K
80
30-60K
45
60-100K
21
100-150K
17
150-200K
5
200K+
2

ENGINE

In line with typicalmedian 13K mi · 32 reports
0-30K
21
30-60K
6
60-100K
1
100-150K
3
150-200K
1
200K+
0

BRAKES

In line with typicalmedian 35K mi · 26 reports
0-30K
11
30-60K
9
60-100K
4
100-150K
2
150-200K
0
200K+
0

SPEED CONTROL

In line with typicalmedian 36K mi · 16 reports
0-30K
7
30-60K
4
60-100K
3
100-150K
1
150-200K
1
200K+
0

TRANSMISSION

In line with typicalmedian 5K mi · 15 reports
0-30K
13
30-60K
2
60-100K
0
100-150K
0
150-200K
0
200K+
0

FUEL SYSTEM

In line with typicalmedian 41K mi · 14 reports
0-30K
6
30-60K
5
60-100K
0
100-150K
2
150-200K
1
200K+
0

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 30K mi · 13 reports
0-30K
6
30-60K
2
60-100K
1
100-150K
2
150-200K
0
200K+
2

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (9)

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE27/09/2018

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, California, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Acura TSX, TSX Wagon and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Insight, Fit and Pilot vehicles, 2011-2012 Honda Accord and 2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Lastly, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot, 2011-2013 TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord and 2010-2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M2J and S2K.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2012 Honda PILOT

Live EIA prices
Per year
$2,401
Per month
$200
Per mile
20.0¢
MPG
20
City driving (worst-case MPG)
$2,667/yr
Highway driving (best-case MPG)
$1,920/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today
Current
$4.00
5-year low
$2.78
5-year high
$5.01
Since 2021
+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2012 Honda PILOT

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.
Full coverage / year
$1,585
Full coverage / month
$132
Liability only / year
$626
vs US avg
-5%
How this estimate is calculated
US base full-coverage premium$1674
× state (US)1.00x
× vehicle class (suv-midsize)1.05x
× theft risk1.00x
× safety rating0.98x
× vehicle age0.92x
= Full coverage estimate$1585

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Honda PILOT Service Intervals

Oil change
8K mi / 12 mo
Tire rotation
8K mi
Brake fluid
36 months
Transmission fluid
30K mi
Engine coolant
60K mi
Spark plugs
100K mi
Cabin air filter
15K mi
Engine air filter
30K mi
Differential (AWD/4WD)
30K mi

Maintenance Minder shows exact intervals based on your driving. CVT-equipped models (Civic, HR-V, Accord Hybrid) need CVT fluid service, not conventional ATF.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Honda New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)
3 yr / 36K mi
Powertrain
5 yr / 60K mi
Hybrid/EV battery
8 yr / 100K mi
Corrosion (rust perforation)
5 yr / unlimited mi
Roadside assistance
3 yr / 36K mi

These are the terms for a new Honda. If you're buying a used 2012 PILOT, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Honda dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)
$500
BRAKES(~50K mi)
$500
ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)
$500
TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)
$500
AIR BAGS(~50K mi)
$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 228 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • ENGINE: 2012 HONDA PILOT - DOES NOT START CONSISTENTLY. CONSISTENTLY HAS A ROUGH START, AND OFTEN STALLS. WITHIN DAYS OF OWNING MY BRAND NEW 2012 HONDA PILOT, THE CAR STALLED WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START IT IN MY GARAGE. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT COU

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD DEPRESS TOO FAR DOWNWARD BEFORE THE BRAKES ACTUALLY ENGAGED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER,

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE GRINDING NOISE WAS DUE TO THE STARTER ENGAGING. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO R

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45-70 MPH HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO SHUTTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT WHAT HE WAS FEELING WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE DIAGNOSIS THE OWNE

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • RECALLS: Verify all 9 recalls have been completed — free at any Honda dealer
  • General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

NHTSA Safety Rating

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

At a Glance

Complaints
228
Recalls
9
Fire reports
5
Crash reports
18
Injury reports
22
Segment avg
366

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2012 Honda PILOT