Model year guide

2012 Honda Odyssey

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2012 Honda Odyssey is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 1,014 on record.

2012 Honda Odyssey — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2012 Honda Odyssey at a glance

Safety recalls5
Owner complaints241
Overall safety5 / 5 ★
Combined22 mpg
Typical price$19,461

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2012 Honda Odyssey recalls 5

Seats:mid/rear Assembly NHTSA Campaign #17V725000 · 17/11/2017

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.

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 NHTSA Campaign #16V933000 · 27/12/2016

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.

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 reca…

Suspension:front NHTSA Campaign #11V602000 · 22/12/2011

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.

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 NHTSA Campaign #13V143000 · 15/04/2013

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 Protectio…

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 …

Air Bags NHTSA Campaign #13V016000 · 18/01/2013

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.

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.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2012 Honda Odyssey common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 241 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Tires
Check tread depth, the DOT age date, and that all four tires match with even wear. Look for bulges or cracks.

2012 Honda Odyssey safety ratings

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2012 Honda Odyssey VAN FWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2012 Honda Odyssey MPG & running costs

Combined22 mpg
City19 mpg
Highway27 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,875

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2012 Honda Odyssey worth?

Low
$14,600
Typical price
$19,461
High
$24,700

From 1,011 comparable 2012 Honda Odyssey listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2012 Honda Odyssey costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$14,375
Depreciation (5 yrs)$12,550
Total$26,925
Per mile$0.36

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($19,461) with the same model 5 model-years older ($6,924), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2012 Honda Odyssey trims & engines on record

Trims
EX · EX-L · LX · Touring · EXL/EXL-NAVI/EXL-RES · Touring Elite · Touring/Touring-TE
Engines
3.5L 6-cyl 248 hp

2012 Honda Odyssey vehicles on record

Other Honda Odyssey model years

2012 Honda Odyssey — frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Honda Odyssey have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 2012 Honda Odyssey. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Honda Odyssey?

Based on 241 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are electrical system, engine, power train.

What is the 2012 Honda Odyssey safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2012 Honda Odyssey an overall crash-test rating of 5 out of 5 stars (frontal 5★, side 5★, rollover 4★).

What gas mileage does the 2012 Honda Odyssey get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2012 Honda Odyssey at about 22 mpg combined (19 city / 27 highway).

How much is a 2012 Honda Odyssey worth?

Comparable 2012 Honda Odyssey listings run roughly $14,600–$24,700, typically around $19,461 (from 1,011 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.