2012 Honda Pilot Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 10about this part
- Share
- 6%of 172 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 400miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 10 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2012 Honda Pilot, 6% of the 172 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 400 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Every since I purchased this new car - the A/C is so so loud!!! You can hear it click on and it almost sounds like its going to blow up!!! I took my new car for its 1st oil chg on 7/14/2012 and asked them to check it out. They did and said that noise is normal. Its so loud - I shut it off at times - because its competing with the radio with volume!! This is not normal.”
NHTSA complaint #10534603, filed 2013-08, 34 miles“2012 Honda Pilot making an annoying humming vibration noise when the A/C or its compression starts. I've bring it in for dealers total of four times, they have change the AC compressor but problem did not go away, I have contact Honda customer relations but its been almost a year but no solutions to my issues, all they tell me is to wait for the problem is being work on, then I ask for time frame they say it might be sooner but no more then another year. …”
NHTSA complaint #10480757, filed 2012-10, 5,000 miles“Driving back from illinois to texas and started to feel vibration when the engine's vcm would activate. I was going about 65mph and slowly eased off of the gas, when I slowly pushed on the gas to speed up again I felt a vibration on the floor board that would not stop until I gave it more gas. This has been going on ever since. Even yesterday when I drove to san antonio and today when I drove back to houston, I have taken the car to the dealership 4 times in 2013.it has not been fixed even though the head mechanic did a ride along and agreed there was vibration. …”
NHTSA complaint #10559225, filed 2014-01, 3,000 miles“2012 Honda Pilot - does not start consistently. Consistently has a rough start, and often stalls. Within days of owning my brand new 2012 Honda Pilot, the car stalled when I attempted to start it in my garage. I immediately brought the car into the dealership. The dealer's service department could not find a problem. They kept the car for the day, then reported to me that Honda of america is aware of the problem and trying to fix it. They promised to keep me posted on the status of the Honda of america engineers progress on the issue. …”
NHTSA complaint #10452727, filed 2012-03, 63 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10478590, filed 2012-10, 300 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10216874Jul 19, 2022"Service bulletin - American Honda is announcing a powertrain warranty extension as a result of a settlement of a class action captioned, Soto et al.v. American Honda Motor Co…
- 10172366Mar 5, 2020Service Bulletin - The front rocker arm oil control valve is leaking.
- 10142438Jun 13, 2018Service bulletin - American Honda is announcing a powertrain warranty extension as a result of a settlement of a class action captioned, Soto et al.v. American Honda Motor Co…
- 10136437May 4, 2018Service bulletin - The piston rings on certain cylinders may rotate and align, which can lead to spark plug fouling. This can set DTCs P0301 No. 1 cylinder misfire detected…
- 10129412Jan 31, 2018Service bulletin - American Honda is announcing a powertrain warranty extension as a result of a settlement of a class action captioned, Soto et al.v. American Honda Motor Co…
- 10106925Feb 2, 2017Techline summary article - if the engine is overheating and theres engine oil mixed in the coolant reservoir, chances are the cylinder head may be cracked. A crack may form…
- 10127645Aug 30, 2014Service bulletin - American Honda is announcing a powertrain warranty extension as a result of a settlement of a class action captioned, Soto et al .v. Amrican Honda Motor Co…
- 10128544Jul 30, 2014Service bulletin - American Honda is announcing a powertrain warranty extension as a result of a settlement of a class action captioned, Soto et al .v. American Honda Motor Co…
- 10128573Jul 24, 2014Service bulletin - American Honda is announcing a powertrain warranty extension as a result of a settlement of a class action captioned, Soto et al .v. American Honda Motor Co…
- 10129532Feb 26, 2014Service bulletin - The piston rings on certain cylinders may rotate and align which can lead to spark plug fouling. This can set DTCs P0301 through P0304 and cause the MIL to…
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 1% |
| 2021 | 5 | 1% |
| 2020 | 3 | 1% |
| 2019 | 10 | 1% |
| 2018 | 8 | 2% |
| 2017 | 13 | 1% |
| 2016 | 45 | 3% |
| 2015 | 2 | 2% |
| 2014 | 3 | 3% |
| 2013 | 5 | 2% |
| 2012 | 10 | 6% |
| 2011 | 5 | 2% |
| 2009 | 4 | 3% |
| 2008 | 7 | 5% |
| 2007 | 10 | 5% |
| 2006 | 10 | 4% |
| 2005 | 43 | 6% |
| 2004 | 28 | 5% |
| 2003 | 37 | 5% |
Other parts of the 2012 Honda Pilot
35 complaintsBrakes
29 complaintsElectrical system
22 complaintsAir bags
20 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
20 complaintsVehicle speed control
17 complaintsFuel system
16 complaintsSuspension
14 complaintsSteering
11 complaintsOther or unknown
9 complaintsBody and structure
9 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Honda Pilot
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology