MyCarTSB

2012 Honda Pilot Engine Problems

24 owner-reported engine complaints from NHTSA data

24
Complaints
Jan 2014Dec 2012
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (24)

highENGINE
Filed: Apr 2023

Your car's check engine light is turning on due to misfires detected in cylinders 1 through 4, which means the engine isn't firing properly in those cylinders. Both the Honda dealer and an independent mechanic confirmed this issue. The fix will likely involve inspecting and replacing ignition components like spark plugs or ignition coils, and possibly checking fuel injectors.

NHTSA #: 11515128
mediumENGINE
Filed: Nov 2022

burning to much oil and engine light turn and just put 2 quarts and iwas looking at complaints anf few people have the same issue i really take care of my truck

NHTSA #: 11493394
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jul 2022

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while at a stop light, the engine shuddered and the vehicle was unable to accelerate. The check engine, battery, traction control, and Variable Torque Management 4-WD system (VTM-4) warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and diagnosed with piston and piston ring failure mentioned in Honda bulletin 13-082. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.

NHTSA #: 11474060
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jul 2021

Excessive oil consumption which led to engine misfire while driving and trying to merge onto the freeway. This cause a significant loss of power and poor performance by the vehicle. Fortunately the roadway was not busy, but this issue could have caused an accident. Took the vehicle to local mechanic, Affordable Automotive (Chico, CA). They ran a diagnostic and it revealed a P0301 and P0175 code. They removed the spark plugs which showed excessive fouling and they replaced them. The specific cylinder effected was Cylinder 1. I have contacted Honda and filed a claim (Case #12234271). They opened a case and initially had good communication, but have since stopped responding and have not provided me with a conclusion. Honda initially responded on May 21, 2021.

NHTSA #: 11424526
mediumENGINE
Filed: Nov 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE JERKED WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER DUE TO THE DISTANCE OF THE NEAREST DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND SUGGESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 137,000.

NHTSA #: 11375909
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jan 2019

VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. ALSO HAD SPARK PLUG FAILURE.

NHTSA #: 11170480
mediumENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jul 2017

EXCESSIVE OIL USAGE - FOULING PLUGS - REDUCED GAS MILEAGE - VCM FAULT DTC 3400 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB #11-033)

NHTSA #: 11003562
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jun 2016

39000 MILES AND EGR VALVE MALFUNCTION. JUST BOUGHT THIS 2012 HONDA PILOT. THE DEALER COVERED REPAIR AS I JUST BOUGHT IT. IS THIS GOING TO BE A REOCCURRING PROBLEM? THE DEALER ONLY REPLACED THE EGR VALVE AND DID NOT CLEAN CARBON BUILD UP. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THEY SHOULD HAVE.

NHTSA #: 10872569
mediumENGINE
Filed: May 2014

SUV VIBRATES ABNORMALLY AT 30-45 MPH. CAN FEEL IT IN THE SEAT OF YOUR PANTS, FLOOR AND CENTER COUNSEL. HAD A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND WHEEL BALANCING DONE, NO HELP. WAS TOLD IT IS NORMAL, NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DISTRACTING AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA #: 10588060
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jan 2014

MY VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN I AM DRIVING. IT DOES NOT BEHAVE THIS WAY ALL THE TIME. HOWEVER, WHEN THE VEHICLE VIBRATES, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH IT WANTS TO SHUT OFF. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FREQUENTLY SINCE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE. IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN I SLOW DOWN TO MAKE A TURN OR WHILE I AM CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. WHEN THIS HAPPEN, THE ECO LIGHT ON MY DASH GOES ON AND ON... THE VIBRATION SEEMS LIKE I AM DRIVING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLE, AND FAILED TO SHIFT TO THE APPROPRIATE GEAR. I AM NOT SURE IF IT IS THE VCM IN MY VEHICLE BEING FAULTY. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THEY MECHANIC TELLS ME IT IS NORMAL. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. I AM AFRAID MY VEHICLE MAY STALL IN TRAFFIC AND CAUSE ACCIDENT. THE OTHER ISSUE I AM HAVING IS I OCCASIONALLY SMELL A STRONG GASOLINE FUMES IN MY VEHICLE CABIN WHEN I AM DRIVING. IT SEEMS THE GASOLINE FUME IS ENTERING MY VEHICLE FROM THE ENGINE. CAN'T TELL WHERE IT IS COMING FROM. PERHAPS THROUGH THE AC VENT. *TR

NHTSA #: 10559320
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jan 2014

I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH A STRANGE ENGINE VIBRATION AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. I EMAILED HONDA 3 TIMES AND NEVER RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE. I FINALLY CALLED HONDA AND WAS TOLD I HAVE TO CONTACT A LOCAL DEALER. I HAVE BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN TO HONDA 3 TIMES AND IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. THE SECOND TIME I DROPPED IT OFF I WAS TOLD THEY "DID SOME ADJUSTMENTS", BUT THEY DID NOT INDICATE WHAT THEY DID AND IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE LAST TIME I BROUGHT IT IN AND TOOK THE MAIN MECHANIC ON THE FREEWAY TO SHOW HIM THE NOISE. HE ACKNOWLEDGED THE NOISE AND SAID THAT IT WAS VIBRATION FROM THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS ARE MANAGED ELECTRONICALLY SO THEY CAN NOT FIX IT. HE TOLD ME THAT I WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL HONDA HOPEFULLY COMES OUT WITH A SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA #: 10558078
mediumENGINE
Filed: Nov 2013

2012 HONDA PILOT TOURING- VEHICLE IS HAVING VIBRATIONS COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHILE GOING IN AND OUT OF VCM - VARIABLE CYLINDER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. HAPPENS REGULARLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS.THE VIBRATION/SHUTTERING IS BOTH FELT AND HEARD. THE DEALER HAS SAID THIS IS NORMAL WITH THIS ENGINE AND VCM TECHNOLOGY. I HAD A 2005 PILOT WITHOUT THE VCM SYSTEM AND WAS VERY HAPPY, I BOUGHT THIS ONE WITHOUT A TEST DRIVE. HAD I KNOWN THIS PROBLEM EXISTED, I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED IT. *TR

NHTSA #: 10553119
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Aug 2013

EVERY SINCE I PURCHASED THIS NEW CAR - THE A/C IS SO SO LOUD!!! YOU CAN HEAR IT CLICK ON AND IT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE ITS GOING TO BLOW UP!!! I TOOK MY NEW CAR FOR ITS 1ST OIL CHG ON 7/14/2012 AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK IT OUT. THEY DID AND SAID THAT NOISE IS NORMAL. ITS SO LOUD - I SHUT IT OFF AT TIMES - BECAUSE ITS COMPETING WITH THE RADIO WITH VOLUME!! THIS IS NOT NORMAL. *TR

NHTSA #: 10534603
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Jun 2013

2012 HONDA PILOT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUDDEN VIBRATION AT ANY SPEED. *SMD THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THAT HONDA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIND A FIX. THE CONSUMER STATED SEVERAL MONTHS HAVE GONE BY, WITH NO RESULTS.

NHTSA #: 10520306
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jun 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST ACCELERATION POWER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TEST RESULT DID NOT IDENTIFY A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER CHANGED THE MAIN COMPUTER BUT THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE STALLING ISSUE. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,800.

NHTSA #: 10516033
mediumENGINE
Filed: May 2013

AT VARIOUS TIMES AT SLOWER SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 SECONDS. THIS SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN TURNING OR BEGINNING TO TRAVEL UPHILL. I TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THE DEALER MECHANIC COULD NOT REPLICATE THIS OCCURRENCE. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY TWO OR 3 DAYS. I BELIEVE IT IS DANGEROUS WHEN TRAVELING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION OF MERGING LANES. THERE ARE SEVERAL POSTS ON A HONDA OWNER'S WEBSITE WITH OTHERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM BUT HONDA CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA #: 10513859
mediumENGINE
Filed: Apr 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING TO STANDARDS AND THE VIBRATION WAS NORMAL FOR THE ECO MODE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO EXTEND THE CONTACT'S WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,200. KMJ *TR

NHTSA #: 10505910
mediumENGINE
Filed: Dec 2012

ENGINE HAS A FINE VIBRATION AROUND 35-45 MILES THAT DISAPPEARS WITH EITHER ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION. THE VIBRATION CAN BE FELT NOT ONLY BY THE DRIVER BUT ALSO THE PASSENGERS, ENOUGH TO SHAKE A BOBBLEHEAD ON THE CONSOLE. IT SEEMS THAT IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSMISSION AS IF THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING AND STALLING. AS SOON AS IT SHIFTS OR THE SPEED CHANGES IT DISAPPEARS. ANOTHER ISSUE IS A OCCASIONAL VERY HARD DOWNSHIFTING BY THE TRANSMISSION, HARD ENOUGH TO MOVE EVERYONE IN THE VEHICLE. THE SYMPTOMS WERE PRESENT THEY DAY THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED AND CHECKED BY THE DEALER AND REPORTED NO ISSUES. NOW THE VEHICLE IS ABOUT 11,000 MILES AND STILL WITH THE SAME ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA #: 10487564
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Oct 2012

2012 HONDA PILOT MAKING AN ANNOYING HUMMING VIBRATION NOISE WHEN THE A/C OR ITS COMPRESSION STARTS. I'VE BRING IT IN FOR DEALERS TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES, THEY HAVE CHANGE THE AC COMPRESSOR BUT PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY, I HAVE CONTACT HONDA CUSTOMER RELATIONS BUT ITS BEEN ALMOST A YEAR BUT NO SOLUTIONS TO MY ISSUES, ALL THEY TELL ME IS TO WAIT FOR THE PROBLEM IS BEING WORK ON, THEN I ASK FOR TIME FRAME THEY SAY IT MIGHT BE SOONER BUT NO MORE THEN ANOTHER YEAR. PLEASE HELP I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO, THE LAST TIME I BRING THE CAR IN DEALER SAY THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT THEN TELL ME TO GO HOME AND WAIT FOR HONDA HOTLINE TO TELL THEM WHAT TO DO, NOW I HAVE TO DEAL WITH AC AND HEAT EVERYTIME I DRIVE THE CAR PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA #: 10480757
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN
Filed: Oct 2012

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2012 HONDA PILOT TO REPLACE A 2010 PILOT THAT HAD SOME UNCHARACTERISTIC ISSUES. WEEKS AFTER DRIVING IT OFF THE LOT, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A NOISE WHEN THE AC FAN KICKED ON. I TOOK THE PILOT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS JUST THE SOUND THE FAN MAKES WHEN IT KICKS ON. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE, THEY KNOW THIS SOUND IS ANYTHING BUT NORMAL. IT IS A QUITE LOUD WHINING NOISE THAT CHANGES IT'S PITCH WHILE YOU ARE SITTING IDOL WITH THE AC ON. A SECOND ISSUE I HAVE SEEN IS THE VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING AT A CONSTANT SPEED. THE PILOT DRIVES WELL WHEN INCREASING OR DECREASING SPEED, BUT A CONSTANT SPEED CAUSES A VIBRATION SIMILAR TO THAT OF A MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLE RUNNING IN TOO HIGH OF GEAR. THIS ISSUE IS TERRIBLY ANNOYING AND THE ONLY WAY TO AVOID IS TO CONSTANTLY CHANGE YOUR SPEED. BOTH OF THE ISSUES CAN BE FOUND IN REPORTS ONLINE WITH A CONSISTENT ANSWER: HONDA KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUES BUT HAS NO CURRENT FIX. I WISH I HAD NEVER BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE. TWO PILOTS AT THIS POINT AND NO LUCK. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THESE ISSUES AND SUPPORT FROM HONDA. *TR

NHTSA #: 10478590
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Apr 2012

I PURCHASED MY 2012 HONDA PILOT ON TUESDAY MARCH 27, 2012 WITH 113 MILES ON IT. WITHIN 2 DAYS I EXPERIENCED FOR THE FIRST TIME WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE IT TIMES OUT AFTER 7-10 SECONDS AND I HAVE TO TRY AGAIN. NOW, 8 DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASE IT HAS HAPPENED 6 TIMES. I DID RESEARCH ON THE NEW MODEL AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE SINCE THE FALL OF 2011. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN I WOULD HAVE NEVER SIGNED ON THE DOTTED LINE AND I WANT THE ISSUE RECTIFIED. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY AND THEY SAID IT WAS A NEW ISSUE THAT HAS NO FIX CURRENTLY. AFTER A THE 3RD INCIDENT I FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH HONDA IN CALIFORNIA AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING. NO OFFER TO TAKE THE CAR BACK, NO OFFER FOR A SAFER VEHICLE THAT WORKS PROPERLY. I JUST WANT A WORKING CAR-- I AM PAYING MONEY FOR A VEHICLE THAT IS KNOWN TO BE FAULTY AND NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. I WAS TOLD I WAS THE 5TH PERSON IN THE DEALERSHIPS DISTRICT TO HAVE THIS ISSUE BUT STILL I HAVE THIS FAULTY VEHICLE THAT IS UNRELIABLE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10454165
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Apr 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA PILOT. WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAMSHAFT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 5,000.

NHTSA #: 10453864
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Mar 2012

THE PILOT CRANKS, BUT THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO START. HONDA RECOGNIZES PROBLEM, BUT OFFERS NO SOLUTION OR TIME FRAME FOR A FIX. CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW, BUT HONDA WILL NOT PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE SAFE VEHICLE. *JS

NHTSA #: 10453499
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Filed: Mar 2012

2012 HONDA PILOT - DOES NOT START CONSISTENTLY. CONSISTENTLY HAS A ROUGH START, AND OFTEN STALLS. WITHIN DAYS OF OWNING MY BRAND NEW 2012 HONDA PILOT, THE CAR STALLED WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START IT IN MY GARAGE. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR THE DAY, THEN REPORTED TO ME THAT HONDA OF AMERICA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND TRYING TO FIX IT. THEY PROMISED TO KEEP ME POSTED ON THE STATUS OF THE HONDA OF AMERICA ENGINEERS PROGRESS ON THE ISSUE. SIX WEEKS WENT BY, AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED WITH INTERMITTENT CALLS FROM MY LOCAL SERVICE MANAGER. I WAS TOLD NOT TO BOTHER TO BRING IT IN FOR SERVICE EACH TIME IT STALLED BECAUSE THEY WERE WAITING FOR A RECALL/FIX FROM CORPORATE. AFTER SIX WEEKS, MULTIPLE STALLS, WHICH WERE ALL REPORTED TO MY DEALER AS REQUESTED, I WAS THEN ADVISED, BY MY DEALER TO CONTACT HONDA OF AMERICA MYSELF GET SOME RESULTS. I SPOKE WITH HONDA OF AMERCIA'S NICE, BUT USELESS CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE FOR TWO WEEKS, AND GOT FED UP WITH HER INABILITY TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN AGREE THAT MY PROBLEM WAS UNACCEPTABLE. THEN I CALLED THE GM OF THE DEALERSHIP, EXPLAINED MY FRUSTRATION & CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAND NEW HONDA PILOT. HE CLAIMED TO NOT HAVE HEARD OF MY PROBLEM BEFORE, AND QUICKLY AGREED TO FULFILLED MY REQUEST TO TRADE MY VEHICLE IN FOR A DIFFERENT CAR, SAME MODEL - 2012 HONDA PILOT IN THE HOPES THAT MY CAR WAS A LEMON. WITHIN LESS THAN 24 HOURS OF OWNING THIS SECOND 2012 HONDA PILOT, MY NEW CAR STALLED. I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN ON YOUTUBE AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2012 HONDA PILOTS, AND HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED WITH SOME 2011 HONDA PILOTS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A NEW CAR TO BE SO UNRELIABLE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10452727

Other 2012 Honda Pilot Issues