Honda as a brand has built a massive reputation for itself when it comes to reliability and its vehicles clearly portray the necessary quality to bag such a title. The Honda Odyssey is their midsize van that has been selling high volumes since its inception. In 2012, Honda was able to sell over 135,000 vans and it is generally said that a high-volume vehicle tends to carry higher complaints. That isn’t the case with the 2012 Honda Odyssey and the van carries just 2012 complaints on NHTSA along with 5 recalls. The Honda Odyssey majorly deals with a power passenger door issue but Honda did manage to act quickly and resolve the issue. Other vans in the market that stand strong against Honda are the Toyota Sienna, the Chrysler Town & Country, and the Nissan Quest.
User complaints and problems
Electrical Problems
- Seat heater – The users reported that the driver seat heater failed to work and when the dealers were contacted, they weren’t able to identify the cause. The car was then taken to an independent mechanic, who claimed that the heating wire was broken, failing to create a closed circuit.
- Door – The rear electric power door was said to not function when the switch was engaged and trapped the occupants inside. The door could partially be opened manually and when the issue was diagnosed, the mechanics found the power door cable to have snapped, requiring a replacement.
Mechanical Problems
- Engine – The users noticed the engine having a missing issue while driving which deteriorated the drive quality and performance. It was also said that the check engine light flashed and the vehicle was taken for diagnostics, which revealed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced.
- Propulsion system – The vehicle was said to consume way too much oil and the spark plugs were found to be fouled as well. It was said that the piston rings in certain cylinders had an issue for which there was a recall rolled out. Unfortunately, certain VIN numbers were not included in the recall.
- Transmission – The car was found to lose power all of a sudden and the gears shifted in a delayed pattern. The vehicle was taken to the dealers and it was said that the car performed as intended.
- Brakes – The brake pedal was said to vibrate when engaged and it was recommended to get the brake rotors resurfaced.
Exterior Problems
- Headlights – The users found the headlights to be very weak and found driving at night to be a challenge. The mechanics tried adjusting the headlights, which was said to make no difference.
2012 Honda Odyssey recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
17TH November 2017 |
17V725000 |
Second-row seats may tip forward when braking. |
Unstable seats can move while braking, increasing the risk of injury. |
Dealers will install a bracket to the second-row outboard. |
|
2. |
27th December 2016 |
16V933000 |
Second-row outboard seats may stay unlocked. |
The release lever in the second row may stay unlocked, leading it to move unexpectedly. |
Dealers will install an additional bracket and spring to second-row outboard seats. |
|
3. |
15TH April 2013 |
13V143000 |
Brake shift interlock. |
If the gear selector is moved from the park position without depressing the brakes, it can allow the vehicle to roll away. |
Dealers will install an updated brake shift interlock. |
|
4. |
18th January 2013 |
13V016000 |
Driver’s airbag module may be missing rivets. |
The absence of more than one rivet can alter the performance of the driver’s airbag during deployment. |
The airbag module will be replaced. |
|
5. |
22nd December 2011 |
11V602000 |
Front suspension damper bolt. |
If the nut loosens, the front hub assembly would only be attached by one bolt, making the wheel shift to an extremely inward angle. |
All the affected vehicles were tracked down and a repair was performed. |
Should you buy the 2012 Honda Odyssey?
There is no doubt regarding the reliability this minivan offers and it has been proven to be people’s choice with its ever-growing sales figures. The 2012 Honda Odyssey manages to keep the complaints to a bare minimum and all the 5 recalls Toyota announced covered issues that could have otherwise made this van a hassle to live with. There are other reliable options in the market as well with Toyota being the toughest competitor but Honda as an overall package is the better van with user-friendly driver dynamics. There really aren’t many concerns and areas to pay special attention to but we suggest getting the suspension dampers checked for any missing bolts, otherwise, the Odyssey is a total bang for the buck.
