2012 Honda Pilot problems and recalls

Owners have filed 171 complaints on the 2012 Honda Pilot, and NHTSA has issued 9 recalls. The most cited component is the Engine (35 complaints).

171
Complaints
9
Recalls
17
Crash reports
3
Fire reports
19
Injuries
110.3
Severity index

Severity index 110.3 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 110.3p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 9 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 93% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 35 complaints (20.5%)35 20%Service BrakesService Brakes: 28 complaints (16.4%)28 16%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 22 complaints (12.9%)22 13%Air BagsAir Bags: 20 complaints (11.7%)20 12%Power TrainPower Train: 20 complaints (11.7%)20 12%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 17 complaints (9.9%)17 10%SuspensionSuspension: 14 complaints (8.2%)14 8%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 11 complaints (6.4%)11 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE3520.5%
SERVICE BRAKES2816.4%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2212.9%
AIR BAGS2011.7%
POWER TRAIN2011.7%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL179.9%
SUSPENSION148.2%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM116.4%

Complaints filed per year

012242012: 222013: 202014: 242015: 172016: 122017: 172018: 102019: 92020: 82021: 32022: 72023: 92024: 42025: 42026: 5 (partial year)12131424151617181920212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
201222
201320
201424
201517
201612
201717
201810
20199
20208
20213
20227
20239
20244
20254
2026 (year to date)5
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (17 against 18).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
18V66100027/09/2018AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEHonda (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, L
18V26800026/04/2018AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEHonda (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 2012 Ridgeline vehicles. The f
19V50200027/06/2019AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEHonda (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, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2
19V37800016/05/2019AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEHonda (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, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-20
17V54500031/08/2017AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEHonda (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 frontal air bag inflators. One de
17V03000010/01/2017AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEHonda (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 Honda CR-V, 2012 Honda FCX Clarit
18V04200009/01/2018AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEHonda (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 vehicles and 2013 Honda FCX Cla
12V06300017/02/2012FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLYHONDA 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.
13V01600018/01/2013AIR BAGSHonda 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.

Other Honda Pilot model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 14 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-29. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.