2012 Honda Pilot Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

35Engine complaints

20.6%Of all 170 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE35 · 20.6%

SERVICE BRAKES25 · 14.7%

POWER TRAIN20 · 11.8%

AIR BAGS20 · 11.8%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM17 · 10%

Share of the 170 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Honda Pilot overview page.

What owners report

“THE GASKET ON THE SPOOL VALVE ON OLDER HONDA PILOTS IS KNOWN TO FAIL. THE FAILURE RESULTS IN OIL LEAKING ONTO THE ALTERNATOR WHICH FILL…”NHTSA complaint 11102563 — filed 06/19/2018

“EXCESSIVE OIL USAGE - FOULING PLUGS - REDUCED GAS MILEAGE - VCM FAULT DTC 3400 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB #11-033)”NHTSA complaint 11003562 — filed 07/07/2017

“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…”NHTSA complaint 10872569 — filed 06/05/2016

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Honda Pilot have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2012 Honda Pilot: 35 of 170 complaints on file (20.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Honda Pilot have in total?

170 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 17 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, 19 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.