The Lemon Index2012 Honda Odyssey.
The 2012 Honda Odyssey is better than average by owner complaints: 92 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 67, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about brakes, it has 5 recalls, and it gets 21 to 22 mpg combined. The best Honda Odyssey year is 2017.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 245 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Honda Odyssey year. 2012 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 15K to 72K miles on the car (186 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- brakes complaints mostly came at 15K–36K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 26K–87K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 33K–130K miles
Recalls 5
- seats 2017
The second row outboard seats can slide sideways to one of two positions.
- seats 2016
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.
- transmission & drivetrain 2013
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.
Show all 5 recalls
- airbags 2013
One or more rivets that attach the airbag module to the airbag cover may be missing.
- suspension 2011
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012, ODYSSEY VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 31, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 30, 2011.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Honda told dealers about
Honda sent dealers 133 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- After shifting into 2nd, 3rd, or 4th gear, vehicle would surge or judder or would have hesitation
- The engine shuts off, power on, but in accessory; never use conventional wheel & tire assemblies
- Service bulletin - a judder from the torque converter lock-up clutch may be felt while driving…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedInadvertent deployment of air bags2026
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Odyssey VAN FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2900–3050 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Car vibrates and shakes when on highway and decelerating from about 65 mph to even just 50 mph, continuous problem.
2012 Honda Odyssey owner · NHTSA complaint 10633452
More owner reports
Whenever you press the brakes the steering wheel shakes a lot.
NHTSA complaint 10627686
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.
NHTSA complaint 10507363
Quick answers
Is the 2012 Honda Odyssey reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.5× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 67; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Honda Odyssey year by this measure is 2017.
What are the most common 2012 Honda Odyssey problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are brakes (36%), transmission & drivetrain (15%) and steering (12%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2012 Honda Odyssey have?
5 safety recalls (latest: seats). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Honda Odyssey get?
21 to 22 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2012 Honda Odyssey safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2012 Honda Odyssey problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 15,000 and 72,000 miles. The middle report was at 40,400 miles, from 186 complaints.
Does the 2012 Honda Odyssey have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 15% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2012 Honda Odyssey cost in fuel a year?
About $2900 to $3050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2012 Honda Odyssey have?
3.5L 6-cyl.
What Honda Odyssey year is better than the 2012?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2017, 2013 and 2010.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works