2012 Honda Pilot Reliability ReportKeepScore 83/100 · top failure points · buy or avoid
Quick Facts · 2012 Honda Pilot
- Scores 4 points below the strongest nearby year — the 2013 Honda Pilot earns a 87.
- The system most likely to surface first: engine - variable cylinder management (vcm) (major severity).
- Has 9 NHTSA recalls on record — the most notable involves the air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module.
2012 Honda Pilot: Buy or Avoid?
The 2012 Honda Pilot remains a practical and fundamentally robust SUV, but it's not without its specific quirks that demand attention. While generally durable, a well-documented Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system flaw can lead to costly engine issues if neglected, pushing it into the 'proceed with caution' category for buyers unfamiliar with its maintenance demands.
Biggest Strengths
- Robust overall build quality
- Spacious and practical interior
- Strong resale value for a well-maintained example
2012 Honda Pilot — Known Trouble Spots
The systems that break first on the 2012 Honda Pilot. Mileage windows, repair costs, and fix-before-you-buy notes are in the full report.
Safety Recalls on the 2012 Honda Pilot
9 recalls on record from NHTSA. Check your VIN atnhtsa.gov to see if the repair was performed.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, California, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Acura TSX, TSX Wagon and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Insight, Fit and Pilot vehicles, 2011-2012 Honda Accord and 2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Lastly, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot, 2011-2013 TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord and 2010-2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012 Ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
What breaks on the 2012 Honda Pilot?
Full reliability breakdown — engine, transmission, rust, electrical. With repair costs and mileage danger zones.
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Honda Pilot — Year-by-Year Comparison
Compare KeepScores across nearby years of the Honda Pilot. Click any year for its full report.
Competing 2012s Worth a Look
Similar class, similar year range — ranked by KeepScore.
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