10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
49,734 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Honda Odyssey engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Honda Odyssey Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #35

Apr 132024

Odyssey

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The front valve cover is exposed to extreme temperatures from the catalytic converter mounted next to it. There is nothing to protect the rubber components inside from the catalytic converter's excessive heat which is causing them to fail. The steel components inside the cylinder (e.g., the seal ring) are insulated by these rubber components. When these rubber insulators fail, the steel components are exposed and make contact with the aluminum valve cover resulting in the galvanic corrosion of the aluminum. The most common result I have seen is the deformation of the area where the seal ring is seated (along with holes and cracks). Some people have also suggested possible defects in the casting of the aluminum as a contributing factor (the aluminum is also very thin in that area). Some have suggested the possibility of the uninsulated spark plug arcing, but it seems unlikely to generate enough heat to compromise the aluminum's integrity. The way people have described how the aluminum crumbles seems more indicative of corrosion. There are countless testimonies online of similar defects in Odysseys, Pilots, Accords, and Crosstours with the same engine. I have included a photograph of my damaged valve cover and those of others I have found online.

- Gardena, CA, USA

problem #34

May 012023

Odyssey

  • miles
Misfiring, I have had to change the spark plugs and coils multiple times. I have contact Honda in Green Bay wi and Appleton wi, they have told me the recall has expired. We just bought this car this year from a none Honda dealership used. Had this problems days after getting it.

- Marinette, WI, USA

problem #33

May 162022

Odyssey

  • 87,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The dealer stated that oil was leaking onto the spark plugs. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 87,000.

- Sergeant Bluff, IA, USA

problem #32

Nov 142021

Odyssey

  • 78,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light would suddenly illuminate and the vehicle would not properly accelerate and would drive very rough. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that cylinder number one was faulty. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the oil pressure switches were faulty and needed to be replaced. The oil pressure switches were replaced; however, failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 78,000.

- Southold, NY, USA

problem #31

Dec 062021

Odyssey

  • miles
Misfire in cylinder 1 Caused van to lose power on freeway almost causing an accident. From 2011-2013 there was a settlement that gave an 8 year extended warranty, but why is it only 8 years when not everyone-??s driving is the same? My van was brought to the Honda dealer Check engine light came on, then it flashes

- Waipahu, HI, USA

problem #30

May 052021

Odyssey

  • 141,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while driving 35-45 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that there was blue smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe and the vehicle was shuddering. The contact continued driving the vehicle to her residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact they could not provide any assistance as she was the second vehicle owner. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 141,000.

- Roxboro, NC, USA

problem #29

Jun 012021

Odyssey

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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. Also burning in excess of one quart of oil per 1,000 miles. Not safe to continue to drive because engine failure could cause other systems like, power brakes, ABS, power steering wheel, etc to fail. Also unsafe unreliable to have my family to take long trips where road side assistance might not be available due to no cell telephone signal in certain areas of Texas isolated roads. Thank understand Honda has had recalls on these engines and VCM systems in the past but their fixes don-??t appear to work. I am one of many Honda owners that are left out to spend thousands of dollars in new engines because of original and extended warranties expiring. Honda should extend these engine warranties and take ownership and responsibility for their engineering / manufacturing mistakes. A simple switch to turn off the VCM should fix this problem. Other car brands have this feature that allows vehicle owners to turn it off. This is the fourth time this vehicle gets either a p303, P302 or P301 code for damaged spark plugs and excess oil in the cylinder.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #28

Oct 302020

Odyssey

  • 130,000 miles
Van started to chug when driving. Check engine light flashed and it was towed to dealership. Piston rings are bad after 130,000 miles.

- Quantico, VA, USA

problem #27

Oct 222020

Odyssey

  • 155,757 miles
Was driving normal started missing and sputtering really bad jerking violenty check engine light started flashing barely was able to get safely off the road. Got back home ight goes off and drives normal few days later same thing happened again.

- Angleton, TX, USA

problem #26

Apr 132020

Odyssey

  • 128,438 miles
Van caught fire while driving

- Belleville, IL, USA

problem #25

Feb 172020

Odyssey

  • 100 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Cylinder number 3 has misfired multiple times in last 14,000 miles. Spark plug 3 had a lot of carbon. We changed all spark plugs and the pc valve in July 2018. It misfired few times in 2019 but then worked ok after restarting till Feb 2020. It misfired multiple times and we now changed all spark plugs again and ignition coil of cylinder 3

- Glen Allen, VA, USA

problem #24

Jan 242020

Odyssey

  • 75,000 miles
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. We took the van in our local dealership and it had a P0302 code. Engine misfire. This was caused by oil getting into the spark plug. Piston and ring job was recommended. The 2012 Honda had a tsb 11-033 for this issue. We are being denied our claim. I am including a picture of our spark plug that shows where there was a lot of oil when it was fired upon along with talks I have had with Honda.

- Elmira, NY, USA

problem #23

Jan 012019

Odyssey

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Odyssey. While the vehicle was parked and unoccupied in the driveway, a loud explosion was heard from the engine compartment. Moments later, the engine caught fire. The orange county fire department arrived to extinguish the fire and provided phone number 321-313-0541 in lieu of a report number. The vehicle was towed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #22

May 152018

Odyssey

  • 51,000 miles
Frequent check engine sign coming on, mechanic said excessive oil consumption, oil buring off, although Honda has reached a settlement with owners of Odyssey from 2008-2013 regarding this issue, when I called with the complaint they are saying my 2012 Odyssey is not on the list of cars with this problem. But my car is having the same problem as other owners were having.

- Itasca, IL, USA

problem #21

Mar 092018

Odyssey

  • 62,000 miles
Second report of same. Honda looked at problem but claimed cant fix without computer report. Engine accelerated dangerously while idling five times after each turn off in a pharmacy drive in line. Happened March 9, , 9:30 am 7th serious incident trying to film but have not yet succeeded due to panic and proximity of camera which wife always moves. Car was stationary.

- Tequesta, FL, USA

problem #20

Dec 282017

Odyssey

  • 60,000 miles
After stopping the car has tried to accelerate on its own while the brake was applied. Six times since purchase, four times this year. I have reported the problem twice to Honda service as it occured twice on the way there for an oil change. The car was definitely stopped at busy intersectionsa and turning it off did not stop the problem immediately. It required two or three on and offs in busy traffice. Have tried to videotape problem but traffic has spooked my ability and concern that engine would blow, so loud is the rearing up. Only affirmation is my wife as an eyewitness once, and two repair bills that show report of problem in 2017. One in may and one in November. Service says computer should confirm problems and that it is Honda, not Honda dealers ultimate problem.

- Tequesta, FL, USA

problem #19

Oct 072017

Odyssey

  • 81,000 miles
I stopped at a T-intersection and turned right. As soon as I made the turn, the vehicle suddenly began shifting oddly. It was going to very high rpms before it would shift. I immediately checked the temperature gauge, but the engine was not overheating. We were on a mountain road so I began looking for a place to pull over. I checked my rear view mirror and saw the car behind me flashing their lights and honking their horn. At that point I noticed smoke in the rear view. I immediately stopped the car and as soon as I did, the front of the vehicle went up in flames. My pregnant wife and I got our three little children out of the car extremely quickly and they got back down the road a ways to get away from the burning vehicle. I began throwing car seats and other things out of the car as quickly as possible, but within two minutes after I stopped the car, the flames were to big to be anywhere near it. The car burned extremely fast and the fire was extremely hot, completely destroying the car.

- Monterey, CA, USA

problem #18

Aug 282017

Odyssey

  • 171,332 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that the check engine warning indicator illuminated. Heritage Honda westminster (580 baltimore blvd, westminster, md) was contacted and diagnosed that the engine assembly was defective and the short block and pistons needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was returned to heritage Honda westminster where it was diagnosed that the catalytic converter malfunctioned and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 171,332.

- Westminster, MD, USA

problem #17

Jul 182017

Odyssey

  • 51,879 miles
My wife was driving out 2012 Honda Odyssey on a highway and the check engine light started flashing. She pulled over, turned off the car and restarted it. After a short period, the light flashed again. She had a aaa tow the vehicle back to our mechanic, who indicated that some of the spark plugs had fouled, and he notified us of the "excessive oil consumption" issue related to these vehicles, a know issue to Honda. The mechanic indicated that the excess oil consumption will be an ongoing problem. The oil gauge on the vehicle indicated falsely indicated that the oil level was fine, so there is no warning that the engines are about to fail. This is a dangerous condition, and puts families at risk for as long as they own vehicles with this problem.

- Perkasie, PA, USA

problem #16

Jul 092017

Odyssey

  • miles
As my wife was driving down the highway the vehicle stopped accelerating fluctuating rpms and acceleration for rest of drive home. After getting home even in parking at idle when I turn on the air conditioning the vehicle vibrates. In park when I turn up the rpms it sputters after about 3K RPM. 100K miles

- Fort Bragg, NC, USA

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