10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
47,593 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Honda Odyssey electrical problems

electrical problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2012 Honda Odyssey:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2012 Honda Odyssey Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #23

Feb 062023

Odyssey

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The power door was not shutting correctly. A 5 year old was getting into the car when the door decided to shut. It hit her, and then reopened. When it reopened, the door went off the tracks and fell on my husband. Now the door is completely off the tracks and the body of the car is messed up.

- Rockford, MI, USA

problem #22

Jun 012016

Odyssey

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that she had experienced an intermittent driver side sliding door failure. The contact stated that upon pulling the driver side slinging door handle, the door would not slide back as needed. The contact took the vehicle to Honda of escondido (1700 auto park way N, escondido, ca 92029) where they failed to duplicate the failure. The dealer was able to replace all the cable wires in the defective door however, the failure persisted. The contact brought the vehicle back to the dealer ten months later where they performed a latch adjustment on the defective door; despite the repair, the failure still persisted. Since the last repair, the failure became more frequent and the dealer had recently suggested that the cables be replaced yet again. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

- San Marcos, CA, USA

problem #21

Jul 282020

Odyssey

  • miles
I scanned my vehicle with a foxwell 624elite and found the following: 1. anti lock brake traction vehicle (fault I2) ABS/tcs/vsa 2. battery voltage high 62_1 permanent dtc 3. battery voltage low61_1 permanent dtc 4. bode electrical integrated control system (fault I1) 5. rear communication failure permanent dtc B2965

- Clarksville, TN, USA

problem #20

Apr 132020

Odyssey

  • 128,438 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Van caught fire while driving

- Belleville, IL, USA

problem #19

Jun 012017

Odyssey

  • miles
When stationary, the van's power sliding doors were struggling to close; it would frequently start, and then pop back open. We took it to the Honda dealership, who said they couldn't find any problems except that the tracks were dirty, but offered no suggestions on how to fix this (also we could see no debris to validate this claim). We continued to use doors with difficulty until there was a loud pop on the driver's side, and suddenly a cable was hanging out. Motor could still be heard, but would no longer operate door with buttons, so we closed it manually for several months. One day while opening or closing manually, the whole door came off of the track and could not get it back on ourselves. We had to have someone ride in the back, holding the door closed enough to get to a shop, where they put it back on the track for $400. This did not restore it to motorized functioning, but allowed us to use it manually, though a significant amount of exterior damage to our vehicle was caused in the process of putting it back into place. We continued to use the door manually until we could afford to have the motor replaced on the broken door. Within 24 hours of replacement, the initial issues reappeared on that door, and the passenger sliding door is also having frequent difficulties. They now both struggle with both opening and closing. We recently had to leave the vehicle standing open in a parking lot while we went into a business after trying half a dozen times to use the power close while pushing on the door manually. We purchased this vehicle specifically for the convenience of power doors for our growing family, but I'm truly concerned that I'm going to be stranded in the heat with 4 small children because we can't get the door to close. Dealership is now quoting us $3K to do additional repairs while claiming they're not totally sure what the issue is.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #18

May 302019

Odyssey

  • 130,000 miles
I was driving/exiting a parking garage onto a street into traffic. Suddenly, the panel lights and and cabin lights started flashing and the radio and ac cut off, and immediately after, the car cut off and I coasted, through cars moving at speed, to the side of the road. The car was in motion on a city street. At the Honda dealership they took a few days to contact me, then told me I need to pay $800 for a battery cable before they diagnose any issues with the alternator.

- Bowie, MD, USA

problem #17

Mar 182019

Odyssey

  • 100,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This vehicle had issue on electrical system. This vehicle is about 100K miles and had been chaning 3 batteries and it mean that 4ht baterry installed on this vehicle. Lucas Honda dealer changed three times plus original battery. As per spoken to lucas Honda customer service for the battery problem. Customer said; "there is normal". I did not bring this vehicle for third times because I think I will hear same as it "normal". I have young kid and I hope this vehicle will not break down on interstate or mountain, or middle of traffic. I would like your advice so the issue should be fix.

- Green Cove Springs, FL, USA

problem #16

Jan 222019

Odyssey

  • 70,000 miles
Driver-side and passenger-side doors electric powered door cable snapped while doors were opening trapping occupants in the backseat. Doors could not open fully to allow egress out of the vehicle. Unable to open doors manually do to wire stuck in pulley system. Vehicle was stationary.

- Gibsonia, PA, USA

problem #15

May 022018

Odyssey

  • 75,150 miles
In a store parking lot, the minivan was shut off and parked, my husband took the keys and locked me in the minivan, not knowing I would have no way out of the minivan. I waited in the minivan perhaps 10 minutes. Then, I tried to leave through the passenger door. The door would not unlock, both manually moving the unlock switch nor hitting the unlock button. Instead the car alarm went off. I then tried to lower the power window on the passenger door, but it did not work. I then tried to exit the driver door. It was locked. The manual switch and automatic door unlock button would not work. I tried to open the driver window through the power control button and it did not open. I tried to open the power sunroof. It did not open. I hit the open trunk button, it did not open. I tried the side sliding doors and they did not unlock. I made sure the child safety lock was off and retried all of the aforementioned items and nothing unlocked. I was trapped in my minivan on a warm day. I was sweating. I checked the owners manual and tried everything in it, but none of it worked. The minivan car alarm remained on for a few minutes and no one would help walking by, probably because of the car alarm. After another few minutes, someone came to the minivan and I asked them for help as best I could. They gave a description of my minivan/plate to the nearby store and they found my husband over the store intercom. He came out and unlocked me with the keys. I was trapped in the minivan for around 20 minutes altogether. If no one would have luckily walked by, I would have been trapped longer. I am scared my kids could get trapped in the minivan or I could get trapped again.

- Prior Lake, MN, USA

problem #14

Aug 152012

Odyssey

  • 13,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Odyssey. On several occasions, the vehicle failed to start without warning. The vehicle was taken to sussex Honda at (973) 579-3500 (located at 57 hampton house rd, newton, NJ 07860) where it was diagnosed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle battery was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to phillipsburg easton Honda (400 county road 519, phillipsburg, NJ 08865) where no diagnostic failure codes were found and the failure could not be duplicated. The dealer stated that the vehicle was not being driven enough. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where the battery was replaced a second time; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and the contact was provided case number: 06703538. The approximate failure mileage was 13,000.

- Belvidere, NJ, USA

problem #13

Nov 012017

Odyssey

  • 80,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driver's side heated seat no longer functions. Online forums suggest that it is a continuity issue in the seat. The heating wire has broken somewhere no longer creating a closed circuit. Local Honda dealer acknowledges the issue but wants to charge $600+ to fix.

- Valparaiso, IN, USA

problem #12

Dec 282017

Odyssey

  • 60,000 miles
After stopping the car has tried to accelerate on its own while the brake was applied. Six times since purchase, four times this year. I have reported the problem twice to Honda service as it occured twice on the way there for an oil change. The car was definitely stopped at busy intersectionsa and turning it off did not stop the problem immediately. It required two or three on and offs in busy traffice. Have tried to videotape problem but traffic has spooked my ability and concern that engine would blow, so loud is the rearing up. Only affirmation is my wife as an eyewitness once, and two repair bills that show report of problem in 2017. One in may and one in November. Service says computer should confirm problems and that it is Honda, not Honda dealers ultimate problem.

- Tequesta, FL, USA

problem #11

Jul 182017

Odyssey

  • 63,300 miles
I just had to have the passenger sliding door motor replaced on my Odyssey. The door would not close. When attempting to close, they door would shut about 3/4 of the way and then stop. Service department at the dealer advised that the motor was bad and had to be replaced. My concern is that the Odyssey was designed with a switch where you can disable the motorized feature and open/close the door manually. However, when my motor went bad, I was unable to manually open and close the door. Service department advised that the cable system runs through the motor so when it went bad, the cables would no longer function allowing manual operation. This seems like a design flaw that can pose a safety issue as my door was stuck in the open position unable to close. This occurred after arriving home and while the vehicle was parked.

- Midlothian, IL, USA

problem #10

Jun 042017

Odyssey

  • 63,000 miles
The positive battery cable became disconnected from the battery terminal post while driving at full highway speed (75 mph)!! this resulted in complete electrical failure. I was able to pull off the road, but the door locks were locked and inoperable. Without power I was unable to unlock the doors or roll down the windows. Without power I had no air conditioning. I was trapped in the car on a hot day. The battery cable mismatch (clamp too big to tighten completely on post) is a known Odyssey problem that has been discussed on online forums. Door auto-locking problems in a variety of Honda models have also been documented. Putting the two together is a deadly mix. Without a cell phone to call my husband and 911, I and my three small dogs would have died in the hot car. This is a fatal design flaw.

- Los Altos Hills, CA, USA

problem #9

May 212016

Odyssey

  • 60,000 miles
The battery cuts out when I drive through a puddle of water more than 2" high. The dashboard battery light comes on & the steering locks. This very dangerous when I am making a right turn & have to drive through that puddle that collects on the corner. This is very common in rainy South Florida. When I'm in the turn & the battery cuts ot & the steering locks up, I have no choice but to drive straight & pray that another car is not right next to me, that I'll end up slamming into. Several mechanics have explianed to me that, apparently, a battery cable is mounted too low on the car. Please advise.

- Boca Raton, FL, USA

problem #8

Jan 012013

Odyssey

  • 15,000 miles
The front brake rotors are undersized and will warp with use causing vibration during braking. The homelink stays on even after the car is turned off with key removed causing thief to open your garage door when they break into the car and having access to homes because the homelink stays on constantly.

- Fullerton, CA, USA

problem #7

Dec 282015

Odyssey

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that the rear passenger side sliding door opened, but would not close all the way. It remained in the middle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the door motor and rollers had to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

- Newmarket, MD, USA

problem #6

Nov 232015

Odyssey

  • 51,460 miles
We had something plugged into the ac outlet in the third row. Car was running but parked in a lot. Child pulled cord and the whole cover of the unit was pulled off. Exposed protected wires but also a screw that was "live". child received full body electric shock touching the screw. Cover was easily replaced, but children sit in the third row.

- Midlothian, VA, USA

problem #5

Nov 112014

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 40,000 miles
Tpm(tire pressure monitor) light indicating low pressure when there is no error. Dealer (san marco, Texas) claims the issue is due to cell phone charger interference with tpm system. Dealer claims Honda is aware of the issue and sent out a service bulletin to limit the cell phone charger to less than twenty minutes to prevent the tpm fault code and dash light from being set. In my professional option, Honda America has what is known as a 'conductive electro-magnetic interference" issue with their system. Based on what has been communicated, I believe there is an elementary design flaw with their system that allows either the transmitted energy or internal generated signals of cell phone to be coupled into their system using the battery lines.

- New Braunfels, TX, USA

problem #4

Aug 292012

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 4,192 miles
Ongoing electrical problems. Possible short in the electrical system. Multiple ongoing problems from: (1) wife has new pacemaker, she received a shock while resting her feet/legs on the dashboard (Aug. 2013), (2) dashboard light(s) keep changing in brightness: We have taken it into the dealership several times, the staff plays dumb, looks at us like we are dumb, (3) documented window malfunction in August 2012, due to electrical, (4) electrical gadgets seem to work when they want to, (5) yesterday (8/21/2013) had the ipad plugged in to the glove box power, but the ipad indicated that it was not charging. Concern: Health and safety.

- Hemet, CA, USA

Read the next 3 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?