NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
This page covers 9 recalls, 170 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2012 Honda Pilot.
20 mpg combined
11.8 L/100km
Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The 2012 Honda Pilot draws complaints spread across the engine, electrical system, and airbags. On the airbag side, multiple owners report the passenger seat occupant sensor failing or losing communication with the airbag system, triggering a warning light, and several note that replacement parts have become difficult or impossible to source, leaving the system non-functional. Engine complaints cover a range of symptoms including unexpected stalling, rough running, and in a few cases smoke or fire-like observations near the engine bay. Electrical complaints tend to involve warning lights, power-related faults, and intermittent system behavior. Transmission issues appear in a smaller but consistent cluster, with owners describing a torque converter fault code that triggers the transmission warning light without necessarily causing noticeable drivability problems. A handful of complaints in the set involve odometer discrepancy discoveries after private-party purchases, which fall outside mechanical systems entirely but show up in the complaint record.
170
Total Complaints
17
Crash-Related
3
Fire-Related
9
With Injuries
By System
The 2012 Honda Pilot has 9 recalls, the most serious involving the Takata passenger-side airbag inflator, which can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.
The airbag concerns make up the bulk of this vehicle's recall history. The Takata inflator issue was filed across multiple campaigns, but the core danger is the same: the passenger frontal airbag inflator can explode and scatter sharp metal fragments toward occupants. Separate from that defect, one or more rivets attaching the driver's airbag module to its cover may be missing, which can cause the airbag to deploy incorrectly in a crash. There are also recalls covering vehicles where a replacement passenger airbag inflator may have been installed incorrectly at a dealership, meaning the airbag could fail to deploy properly or deploy in an unexpected way during a collision. Prior repair attempts on the inflator issue did not fully resolve the problem for all affected vehicles, which is why multiple campaigns exist.
On the fuel system side, a valve inside the fuel tank assembly can allow fuel to leak from the tank, raising the risk of fire.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during a previous replacement, potentially affecting its ability to deploy properly.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the inflator installation and replace the passenger front air bag module assembly if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement, potentially affecting its ability to deploy properly in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the passenger air bag and replace the module assembly if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation from long-term exposure to high humidity, temperature, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Replacement passenger front air bag inflators may have been incorrectly installed at one dealership, potentially affecting proper deployment.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag module assembly at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may rupture during a crash due to propellant degradation from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator at no cost when parts become available.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
One or more rivets fastening the airbag module to its cover may be missing, potentially affecting airbag deployment.
What the fix does
Honda dealers will inspect the driver's airbag module and replace it if necessary at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The vent shut float valve case in the fuel tank does not meet design specifications, which can affect fuel system operation.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the vent shut float assembly and replace the fuel tank assembly if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.