MYRModel Year Report

2012 Honda Pilot

▲ Better than typical
2012 Honda Pilot
RENDERED 2026-11-01T16:55:05.327Z

This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
172
Recalls
9

Campaigns on file for 2012

Investigations
0

None on file

Top problem
Engine

20% of complaints

Complaints per year

2003: 720 complaints 2003 2004: 544 complaints 2005: 679 complaints 2006: 267 complaints 2006 2007: 211 complaints 2008: 133 complaints 2009: 134 complaints 2009 2010: 111 complaints 2011: 293 complaints 2012: 172 complaints 2012 172 2013: 272 complaints 2014: 116 complaints 2015: 109 complaints 2015 2016: 1,719 complaints 2017: 937 complaints 2018: 441 complaints 2018 2019: 919 complaints 2020: 492 complaints 2021: 448 complaints 2021 2022: 170 complaints 2023: 148 complaints 2024: 117 complaints 2024 2025: 214 complaints 2026: 27 complaints
2003: 720 complaints 2003 2004: 544 complaints 2005: 679 complaints 2005 2006: 267 complaints 2007: 211 complaints 2007 2008: 133 complaints 2009: 134 complaints 2009 2010: 111 complaints 2011: 293 complaints 2012: 172 complaints 2012 172 2013: 272 complaints 2014: 116 complaints 2015: 109 complaints 2015 2016: 1,719 complaints 2017: 937 complaints 2017 2018: 441 complaints 2019: 919 complaints 2019 2020: 492 complaints 2021: 448 complaints 2021 2022: 170 complaints 2023: 148 complaints 2023 2024: 117 complaints 2025: 214 complaints 2025 2026: 27 complaints
2003: 720 complaints 2003 2004: 544 complaints 2004 2005: 679 complaints 2005 2006: 267 complaints 2006 2007: 211 complaints 2007 2008: 133 complaints 2008 2009: 134 complaints 2009 2010: 111 complaints 2010 2011: 293 complaints 2011 2012: 172 complaints 2012 172 2013: 272 complaints 2013 2014: 116 complaints 2014 2015: 109 complaints 2015 2016: 1,719 complaints 2016 2017: 937 complaints 2017 2018: 441 complaints 2018 2019: 919 complaints 2019 2020: 492 complaints 2020 2021: 448 complaints 2021 2022: 170 complaints 2022 2023: 148 complaints 2023 2024: 117 complaints 2024 2025: 214 complaints 2025 2026: 27 complaints 2026

2012: 172 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
2003720
2004544
2005679
2006267
2007211
2008133
2009134
2010111
2011293
2012172
2013272
2014116
2015109
20161,719
2017937
2018441
2019919
2020492
2021448
2022170
2023148
2024117
2025214
202627

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Engine

20% · 35 reports
FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

On April 9, 2026, my daughter came in from school and parked her Honda Pilot at about 5:10PM. At about 7:03PM, my wife and I were sitting outside and heard a loud POP, it sounded like a car backfiring.

NHTSA ODI report, 2026-04-12

Also filed under Electrical system and fuel/propulsion system

Service brakes

16% · 28 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

My car suddenly accelerated for no known reason and the brakes would not stop the car. This has happened 2 time in one week. First time it was moving at a very slow rate as I was coming to a stop at a stop light.

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-11-05

Also filed under Fuel/propulsion system

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while entering a parking spot, the contact attempted to decelerate but the brakes failed to respond. The contact then crashed into the rear of another vehicle. There were no injuries.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-12-09

Electrical system

13% · 22 reports

Most commonly citing speedometer/odometer and alternator/generator/regulator.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

My wife pulled the vehicle into our driveway and exited the car just a she noticed white smoke coming out from under the hood. She called me out of the house to look and I saw there was a fire in the engine compartment.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-11-01

Power train

12% · 20 reports
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-02-27

Air bags

12% · 20 reports
CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Takata recall I was driving an hit a deer on driver side, my driver side airbag did not deploy but the passager side did I mentioned this to the insurance agent that came out to determand the damage he said the light for the airbag said it was...

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-12-14

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while he was at stop the vehicle was crashed into from the rear by another vehicle traveling 60 MPH.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-11-12

Safety timeline

9 recalls · 0 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2012-03-13Fuel system, gasoline12V063000 Honda is recalling certain model year 2012 Pilot and Acura mdx vehicles. The vent shut float (Vsf) valve case in the fuel tank assembly does not meet the design specifications.

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners and dealers will inspect the vsf assembly date and, if necessary, replace the fuel tank assembly, free of charge. The safety recall began on March 13, 2012. Owners may…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. R
    2013-03-14Air bags13V016000 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…

    Remedy: 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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2017-02-22Air bags17V030000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Acura TSX, 2011-2012 Acura TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Acura ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2012 Honda Accord Crosstour and Honda Insight, 2009-2012 Honda Fit, 2009-2012 Pilot, 2007-2011...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The manufacturer has mailed an interim notification, and will send a second notification when parts are available.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2017-10-30Air bags17V545000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2008-2012 Accord, 2010-2012 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2012 Fit and Pilot, 2010-2012 Insight, and 2009-2012 Acura TSX vehicles that received replacement passenger...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2018-02-16Air bags18V042000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX, ZDX, Honda Accord Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot vehicles, 2011-13 Acura TSX Sportswagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord,, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid and CR-V...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 16, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2018-06-22Air bags18V268000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2018-11-06Air bags18V661000 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...

    Remedy: 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2019-07-05Air bags19V378000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour,...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2019-08-12Air bags19V502000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour,...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2012 Honda Pilot — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Engine: 35 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 28 reports on file for this year.
  • Electrical system: 22 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 12V063000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 13V016000 · Air bags
  • Recall 17V030000 · Air bags
  • Recall 17V545000 · Air bags
  • Recall 18V042000 · Air bags
  • Recall 18V268000 · Air bags
  • Recall 18V661000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V378000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V502000 · Air bags
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2012 Honda Pilot reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2012 Honda Pilot is rated "better than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Honda Pilot?
The most-reported component is engine, accounting for 20% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2012 Honda Pilot have?
9 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.