Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Honda Pilot owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The check transmission light comes and goes. Ive had the transmission flushed with no issues. It pulls codes for the torque converter as its supposedly getting stuck per mechanic or is over heating and throwing the code. It does not drive rough and I believe it is a faulty code that needs to be addressed and updated and cleared. Ive had it cleared out once and it stayed off for a whole month. The light and blinking D doesn't come on all the time or in patterns so that also tells me it isn't a transmission issue or it would be on more frequently and consistently. To where when mine comes on and then I shut my car off for an hour it stays off for quite some time. This really needs to be addressed instead of causing car owners unnecessary costs for diagnostic purposes through a Honda dealer which costs 100.00 or more or even them putting in a complete new transmission.
While driving the vehicle at around 45 MPH it suffered a complete loss of power for 3-5 seconds. The dashboard lights illuminated and then the vehicle restarted without having to restart via the ignition and all of the dash lights turned off. This has happened intermittently on two prior occasions. No electrical issues were evident, new battery and charging system appears to be functioning normally. The contact stated that the dealer found that the issue was a faulty positive battery terminal connector. It was replaced.
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered. Additionally, the contact stated that unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, the contact was unaware of the diagnostic result. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Vehicle developed a vibration around 45000 miles in rear and thought tires needed rebalancing. That didn't help and after vibrating on a 1600 mile trip had dealer replace tires with original brand and size after discussing problem with them. $1000 later I took the car back to dealer and complained about vibration. They rebalanced tires on hi tech balancer. 275 miles on new tires and still vibration is there. Went back today because of vibration and they did software update and replaced right rear tire. Service manager and then general both rode with me I vehicle and they agreed the vibration is still apparent. They think it's inherent with the Honda Pilot. It obviously is not something that is normal. Who what's to drive a car vibrating all the time.
I brought my rain because of a woo king sound in 2014, 2015 hondarepaired partially under warranty compliance bushings. While still under warranty the car needed tie rods replaced/tightened I paid for this has been an ongoing problem for the past three years posing a safety issue for me and my children. I've recently emailed and called Honda they are refusing to cover this because of the mileage deapitwthis has been an ongoing problem since the car was still under warranty. The front end is still wobbly after repairs which I believe is a defect in this model.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician was unable to find a failure. The transmission fluid and oil were changed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 10. Updated 6/3/15 updated 06/09/15
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Honda Pilot. While driving 15 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to accelerate before going into a higher speed. The failure recurred intermittently. The dealer was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 4,839.
Recently purchased a used 2012 Honda Pilot touring. After driving for a few days, I tuned into a considerable vibration in my seat mostly at highway cruising speeds. I believe it is the same shudder that others have reported. I have brought to the dealer on 2 occasions so far and they have balanced, rotated, and even put new wheels from another vehicle on it. I swear I continue to feel it and Honda techs including the master tech say it drives normal. It drives me insane and I continuously adjust speeds to avoid it from happening which is dangerous on the highway. It also pulls considerably to the left even when the road slopes right. This is very dangerous as if someone ever drifted while driving, it is straight into oncoming traffic! I also wonder about longevity of the transmission, torque converter etc. …
Problem: while trying to accelerate, there is a resistance/hesitation that is felt in the gas pedal and the engine has trouble increasing RPM's. This is an intermittent issue. Case I: while in a parking lot, trying to pick up a little speed. Gas pedal has resistance and engine won't pick up speed. I keep my foot steady on the accelerator and then Pilot picks up speed in a unexpected rush. High level of danger due to people present in the area; as there was an unexpected amount of speed. Case ii: road type: three lane road in each direction of traffic. While in the legal u-turn lane, I observe that there is enough distance to make a u-turn. From a stop I try to pick up speed (I was aiming for 5K RPM's, I know how far to press the gas pedal to get that response). A great resistance and lack of response from the gas pedal was felt. …
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. …
Transmission complaints in other Pilot years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2012 Honda Pilot?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2012 Honda Pilot, 12% of the model year's 171 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2012 Honda Pilot transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2012 Honda Pilot, though it has 9 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2012 Honda Pilot transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 5,000 miles, and 87% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.