Is the 2012 Honda Pilot a good car?
An honest AI verdict — reliability, common problems, and real cost to own.
The 2012 Honda Pilot is a solid choice for a family SUV if you're looking for dependability and space. However, make sure any transmission issues have been addressed before purchase.
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Pros
- Spacious interior
- Reliable engine
- Good safety ratings
Cons
- Average fuel economy
- Some common transmission issues
- Lackluster interior materials
Ownership at a glance
Common problems to watch for
- Alternator failure
- Torque converter shudder
- Oil consumption
CarsJudge exclusive data
Active recalls (9)
The 2012 Honda Pilot has 9 NHTSA recalls on record. Most recent: Air Bags (campaign 13V016000). All recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer.
- Air Bags — Frontal — Passenger Side — Inflator Module — Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Acura TSX, 2011-2012 Acura TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Acura ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2012 Honda Accord Crosstour and Honda Insight, 2009-2012 Honda Fit, …
- Air Bags — Frontal — Passenger Side — Inflator Module — Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX, ZDX, Honda Accord Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot vehicles, 2011-13 Acura TSX Sportswagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord,, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civi…
- Fuel System, Gasoline — Storage — Tank Assembly — HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 PILOT AND ACURA MDX VEHICLES. THE VENT SHUT FLOAT (VSF) VALVE CASE IN THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY DOES NOT MEET THE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS.…
- Air Bags — Honda is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Pilot and 2011-2013 Odyssey passenger vehicles manufactured from March 13, 2008, through December 21, 2012. One or more rivets that attach the airbag module to the airbag …
Real owner data from the CarsJudge fleet
1 2012 Honda Pilot owner tracks this exact car in CarsJudge.
Recall data: NHTSA. Owner costs & MPG: anonymized aggregates from CarsJudge users who track this vehicle. Updated 2026-07-05.
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This AI-generated assessment is general guidance only, not a substitute for a professional inspection. Always inspect a used vehicle before purchase.