NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 245 owner complaints for the 2012 Honda Odyssey.
Recalled components: seats, powertrain, air bags, and suspension. Most-described problem: shaking, shuddering or vibration (51 complaints, 21%). Most-reported area: brakes (59 complaints, 24%; median mileage when it happened: 22,000).
Fewer complaints than a typical Odyssey year
The 2012 drew 70 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 70 for a typical Odyssey year. Best years are picked only from 2016 on, since counts for older years say less: owners filed fewer complaints in the early 2010s.
Years to avoid: 2018 and 2019. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
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.
Risk: If the seat tips forward during braking, it can increase the risk of injury.
The fix and full notice
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.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Honda Odyssey vehicles.
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.
Risk: An unlocked second row outboard seat increases the risk of injury to the seat occupant during a crash.
The fix and full notice
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 recall is KD5.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Odyssey vehicles manufactured August 17, 2010, to October 1, 2015.
NHTSA listing: ODYSSEY. Honda campaign KD5.
Powertrain
Apr 15, 2013
automatic transmission
Fails federal standard 114 (theft and rollaway protection)
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 Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk: If the gear selector is moved from the park position without pressing the brake pedal it can allow the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
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 are S96, S97, and S98.
Honda is recalling certain model year 2012-2013CR-V, Odyssey, and model year 2013 Acura RDX vehicles.
One or more rivets that attach the airbag module to the airbag cover may be missing.
Risk: The absence of more than one rivet could alter the performance of the driver's airbag during deployment. This could potentially increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix and full notice
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.
Honda's recall campaign number is S75.
Honda is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Pilot and 2011-2013 Odyssey passenger vehicles manufactured from March 13, 2008, through December 21, 2012.
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.
Risk: If the nut loosens, the front hub assembly would only be attached by one bolt, allowing the wheel assembly to shift to an extreme inward angle, resulting in a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
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.
or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .
Honda is recalling certain model year 2012, odyssey vehicles manufactured from october 31, 2011, through november 30, 2011.
NHTSA listing: ODYSSEY. Honda campaign S13.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2012 Honda Odyssey.
What owners report
Owners have filed 245 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Odyssey. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Shaking, shuddering or vibration51 · 21%
Median 22,000 miles at failure, from 45 reports with mileage
Median 22,000 miles at failure, from 48 reports with mileage
Engine39 · 16%
Median 62,500 miles at failure, from 26 reports with mileage
Electrical system37 · 15%
Most named: instrument panel, speedometer/odometer (3) · Median 66,600 miles at failure, from 26 reports with mileage
Body structure25 · 10%
Most named: body (21); body, door (3) · Median 70,000 miles at failure, from 15 reports with mileage
Powertrain24 · 10%
Median 22,000 miles at failure, from 18 reports with mileage
Steering21 · 9%
Median 27,500 miles at failure, from 17 reports with mileage
Seats14 · 6%
Unknown or other23 · 9%
Median 63,000 miles at failure, from 15 reports with mileage
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Honda Odyssey recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2012 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2018 Odyssey drew the most (176) and the 2012 drew 70.
Owner complaints
2012: 245 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Honda Odyssey
Model year
Complaints
2010
255
2011
233
2012
245
2013
210
2014
308
2015
206
2016
270
2017
39
2018
992
2019
975
2020
474
2021
142
2022
135
2023
99
2024
108
2025
390
2026
38
Safety recalls
2012: 5 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Honda Odyssey
Model year
Recalls
2010
1
2011
5
2012
5
2013
6
2014
5
2015
6
2016
6
2017
2
2018
16
2019
20
2020
14
2021
8
2022
9
2023
5
2024
3
2025
2
2026
2
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 245 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Honda Odyssey, the problems described most are shaking, shuddering or vibration (51), misfires or rough running (14), and the check engine light coming on (12). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2012 Honda Odyssey safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2012 Honda Odyssey earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2012 Honda Odyssey?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2012 Honda Odyssey.
How do I check if my Odyssey has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Honda dealers for vehicles up to 15 years old from first sale.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Oct 2, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: ODYSSEY.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.