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2012 Honda Odyssey Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2012 Honda Odyssey carries 5 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering mid/rear assembly. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Front brake rotor warping and vibration when braking.” Honda vehicles use the Maintenance Minder system — your dashboard displays a Code A (oil change) or Code B (oil change plus inspections) along with sub-codes 1-6 for additional services. Intervals adjust based on how you drive. The schedule below reflects Honda's underlying targets.

5 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

Campaign #17V725000 · Nov 17, 2017

Issue: 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. If a seat is placed between either of the two positions when attaching the seat to the vehicle floor, the seat will not latch properly to the seat striker, allowing the seat to tip forward unexpectedly during braking.

Risk: If the seat tips forward during braking, it can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install a bracket to the second row outboard floor strikers, free of charge. The recall began April 2, 2018. Owners may contact American Honda Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is S0G.

SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

Campaign #16V933000 · Dec 27, 2016

Issue: 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. This release lever may remain in the unlocked position allowing the seats to move unexpectedly.

Risk: An unlocked second row outboard seat increases the risk of injury to the seat occupant during a crash.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional bracket and spring to both second row outboard seats, free of charge. Interim letter has been mailed, and a second notification will be sent . Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KD5.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

Campaign #11V602000 · Dec 22, 2011

Issue: 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.

Risk: IF THE NUT LOOSENS, THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY WOULD ONLY BE ATTACHED BY ONE BOLT, ALLOWING THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO SHIFT TO AN EXTREME INWARD ANGLE, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Fix: HONDA CONTACTED ALL NINE OWNERS BY PHONE ON DECEMBER 19, 2011, AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Campaign #13V143000 · Apr 15, 2013

Issue: 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. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Risk: If the gear selector is moved from the park position without pressing the brake pedal it can allow the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda or Acura dealer. The dealer will install an updated brake shift interlock blocking mechanism free of charge. The recall began on May 13, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's campaign recall numbers are S96, S97, and S98.

AIR BAGS

Campaign #13V016000 · Jan 18, 2013

Issue: 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.

Risk: The absence of more than one rivet could alter the performance of the driver's airbag during deployment. This could potentially increase the risk of injury during a crash.

Fix: Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda dealer. The dealer will inspect the driver's airbag module and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 14, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.

Recall data refreshed Sep 6, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2012 Honda Odyssey.

1 active NHTSA investigation

Source: NHTSA

  • Inadvertent Deployment of Air Bags

    Action #DP26005 · opened Jul 13, 2026

    The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a Petition dated May 30, 2026. The Petition is requesting an investigation into inadvertent air bag deployment in model year (MY) 2011-2017 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The Petition contends that air bags can deploy absent a sufficien…

    View on NHTSA →

Reported to NHTSA

Front brake rotor warping and vibration when braking

SERVICE BRAKES

37 NHTSA complaints · 2014-01 → 2021-09

“VEHICLE SHUDDERED WHILE BRAKING AT 30-70 MPH ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING DOWNHILL, ALSO CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE BACK AND FORTH. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TODAY AND THEY FOUND WARPED ROTORS WHICH SEEMS UNUSUAL IN THIS LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10561095
“VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING.. HAD TAKEN IT TO THE HONDA SERVICE TWICE, THEY SAID THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND FIXED IT TWICE AND STILL THE ISSUE IS REPEATING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10874012
“VERY VIOLENT VIBRATION WHEN BRAKES APPLIED EVEN AT RELATIVELY SLOW SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY GOING DOWNHILL. VEHICLE BECOMES HARD TO CONTROL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11041746

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Sliding door cable snapping and track detachment

STRUCTURE

20 NHTSA complaints · 2015-12 → 2024-03

“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 report, NHTSA ODI #11579282
“MY 2012 HONDA ODYSSEY WAS STATIONARY IN MY 2 CAR GARAGE THE MORNING OF JAN 10TH 2018. I WAS WITH MY 3 TODDLERS, GETTING READY TO PACK THEM UP IN THE VAN WHEN I PRESSED THE DRIVERS SIDE SLIDING DOOR BUTTON ON MY KEY FOB”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11110463
“THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR HAS CAME OFF THE TRACK TWICE CAUSING THE DOOR TO HANG FROM THE TOP ROLLER AND FALL OFF THE TRACK CAUSING SEVERE BODY DAMAGE. IT HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE MONTHS AGO AND TODAY JUNE 23, 2020, IT FELL OFF AGAIN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11330436

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

VCM-related piston ring wear and spark plug fouling

ENGINE

23 NHTSA complaints · 2015-01 → 2026-05

“VAN STARTED TO CHUG WHEN DRIVING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED AND IT WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. PISTON RINGS ARE BAD AFTER 130,000 MILES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11372684
“The Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) System continues to burn my spark plugs on the rear of the engine where the VCM activates and deactivates. Spark plugs and cylinder fills with oil deposits when cylinders are deactivated”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11419578
“THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK AND THE VSA CAME ON AS WELL. THIS HAPPENED AFTER I PULLED INTO OUR DRIVEWAY THANK GOODNESS BECAUSE THE ENGINE STARTED TO SHAKE THE CAR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11308670

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Alternator and battery failure causing stall or fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

21 NHTSA complaints · 2014-04 → 2026-08

“The 2012 Honda odyssey alternator caught on fire after the battery light came on which luckily I, the driver, was able to put out”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11735013
“THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE BATTERY TERMINAL POST WHILE DRIVING AT FULL HIGHWAY SPEED (75 MPH)!! THIS RESULTED IN COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10993345
“THE BATTERY CUTS OUT WHEN I DRIVE THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER MORE THAN 2" HIGH. THE DASHBOARD BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON & THE STEERING LOCKS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10871412

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Second-row seat latch failing to hold seat in place

SEATS

10 NHTSA complaints · 2014-11 → 2020-01

“2ND ROW SEAT FLIPPED FORWARD DURING MODERATELY HARD BRAKING, INJURING MY CHILD WITH A BUSTED LIP AND SCRATCHES. SHE WAS 6 YRS OLD AND SECURED IN A 5 PT HARNESS CHILD SAFETY SEAT THAT WAS SECURED INTO THIS 2ND ROW SEAT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11047365
“MY 2012 HONDA ODYSSEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE 2ND (BACK) ROW LEVER OR LATCH - I COULDN'T GET IT TO PROPERLY LATCH. IT CAUSED THE SEAT TO BE LOOSE AND IT WOULD GO BACKWARDS SOMETIMES WHEN I STOPPED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10938947
“2ND ROW SEAT SWUNG FORWARD SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND BRAKED AT A STOPLIGHT. I BELIEVE THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE CURRENT RECALL OF HONDA ODYSSEYS. MY DAUGHTER RAMMED HER CHIN AGAINST THE FRONT SEAT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10967534

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Unintended acceleration during low-speed maneuvers

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES

8 NHTSA complaints · 2014-03 → 2020-01

“MY WIFE'S 2012 ODYSSEY TOURING WAS PARKED ON THE RAMP TO OUR GARAGE, WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. I RELEASED THE BRAKE AND APPLIED SLIGHT PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR WITH THE CAR IN REVERSE GEAR: IT LURCHED BACKWARD AND THE BRAKE COULD NOT STOP IT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11297899
“I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY, STOPPED, GETTING READY TO PULL IN TO THE GARAGE. I HAD STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THEN I PRESSED THE BUTTON TO OPEN THE GARAGE DOOR AND WAITED FOR THE GARAGE DOOR TO GO UP”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10925655
“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)”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10566719

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 11, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 11, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Code A)

Every 7,500 mi

Replace 0W-20 full-synthetic oil and filter. The Maintenance Minder triggers Code A between 7,500 and 10,000 miles depending on driving conditions.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation (Sub-code 1)

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate tires front-to-back to even out wear. Honda triggers Sub-code 1 alongside every other oil change.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection (Code B)

Every 15,000 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake. Code B includes a multi-point inspection of brakes, suspension, and fluids.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid (Sub-code 5)

Every 45,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 3 years regardless of mileage to prevent moisture absorption and corrosion of ABS components.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission / CVT Fluid (Sub-code 3)

Every 30,000 mi

Replace ATF or CVT fluid. Honda CVT models (Civic, HR-V, Accord LX) use Honda HCF-2 — do not substitute. The Maintenance Minder triggers earlier under heavy stop-and-go.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Rear Differential Fluid (AWD models, Sub-code 5)

Every 30,000 mi

AWD CR-V, Pilot, Passport, Ridgeline: replace rear diff fluid every 30,000 miles, sooner if towing.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Engine Air Filter (Sub-code 4)

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Honda uses a long-life cellulose element on most port-injected engines.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Spark Plugs (Sub-code 6)

Every 105,000 mi

Honda uses iridium-tipped plugs rated for 100,000+ miles. Replace at 105,000 miles or whenever Sub-code 6 displays.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Coolant (Sub-code 5)

Every 60,000 mi

Honda Long-Life Type 2 (blue) coolant: first change at 120,000 miles, then every 60,000 miles. Do not mix with other coolant types.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter (Sub-code 3)

Every 15,000 mi

Replace the cabin air filter — accessible behind the glove box on most Hondas. Honda recommends 15,000 miles in dusty conditions, longer in clean climates.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Valve Clearance Adjustment (Sub-code 6)

Every 105,000 mi

Inspect and adjust valve clearances at 105,000 miles. Critical on K-series and L-series engines to prevent valve recession.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$495–$535

Shop

~$345–$375

DIY

Pro only

Mechanical-bucket valvetrains (many Honda 4-cyls, older Toyotas) need this. Hydraulic lifters don't. Shop work — feeler-gauge precision required.

Timing Chain — No Replacement

On condition / lifetime

Modern Honda engines (K-series, L-series, R-series, plus all Earth Dreams 1.5T and 2.0T) use a timing chain designed to last the life of the engine. No scheduled replacement.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Pro only

Timing chains are normally lifetime. Listen for rattle on cold start — that's the actionable signal. Replacement is major work, quote separately.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

38 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

14

complaints mentioning a crash

6

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2012 Honda Odyssey reflects Honda's published service intervals and the Maintenance Minder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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