general problems of the 2012 Honda Odyssey

23 problems related to electrical system have been reported for the 2012 Honda Odyssey. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2012 Honda Odyssey based on all problems reported for the 2012 Odyssey.

1 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 04/18/2024

While driving on Thursday, 18 April 2024, the check charge system alert and warning light came on in my 2012 Odyssey. I was able to get to a garage that was a few miles away, but the electrical system gave out about 1/4 mile from the garage. I was able to shift into neutral and coast into the parking lot. The dash lights were all off and the electrical system had stopped working. When I tried to exit the vehicle, I could not open the driver door. The lock was frozen in place and wouldn’t budge. I was able to pull the handle, but it did not unlatch or open the door. The power lock buttons did not work either. I tried all the other doors and it was the same situation. I was literally trapped inside my minivan. Someone tried opening it from the outside and that did not work as the doors had auto locked due to driving. The hood release mechanism worked fine, so I was able to pop the hood and a the mechanic jump started my battery and I was then able to unlock and open my car door. This is a serious safety concern as it suggests that an electric system shutdown due to fire, immersion in water, or other emergency situation would render any occupants stuck inside the vehicle. The mechanic evaluated the situation and said my alternator was broken and needed to be replaced. He did that successfully and I was back on the road in about 2 hours. It’s been running fine since then. I think this is a serious issue that Honda needs to address.

2 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 01/17/2024

Drivers side heated seat switch turns on then off shortly after.

3 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 10/03/2023

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at 30 mph, all warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the alternator. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 132,000.

4 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 09/21/2023

Prior to the problem, the radio cut off, various lights (battery, abs, etc) lit up and check system warning light appeared. The car remained running for approximately 10 miles although stepping on the accelerator did not always result in increased speed. Touching the brake caused the rpm gauge & speedometer to immediately drop to zero and removing my foot from the brake immediately resulted in both gauges resuming correct reading. Eventually, the car ceased to function and I removed the key. Then I tried to exit the vehicle. None of the doors would open and I remained in the car until my wife arrived with a spare set of keys which opened the door. A mechanic later determined the alternator needed replacement. Had I not had a mobile phone to call someone, I might still be there. Had the weather been either extremely hot or cold the consequences could have been life threatening.

5 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 02/06/2023

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.

6 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 07/28/2020

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.

7 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 04/13/2020

Van caught fire while driving.

8 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 03/18/2019

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.

9 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 01/22/2019

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.

10 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 05/02/2018

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.

11 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 12/28/2017

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.

12 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 11/01/2017

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.

13 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 07/18/2017

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.

14 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 06/01/2017

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.

15 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 06/01/2016

Tl 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.

16 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 12/28/2015

Tl-the contact owns a 2012 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that the rear passenger side sliding door open but it will not close all the way. It will stay in the middle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The diagnosis was that the door motor and rollers had to be replaced. The vehicle is been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000. Bp.

17 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 11/23/2015

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.

18 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 11/11/2014

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.

19 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 08/08/2013

Wife came home parked in garage 1. 5 - 2. 5 hours later opened garage door, garage filled with smoke, found Honda Odyssey had self ignited and self extinguished itself due to lack of oxygen. Incident area at rear cargo light possibly either rear cargo light or rear hatch door only electrical items in that area that I am aware of - just a guess - fire department called to scene to witness note and provide a report. Had a window been cracked most likely my house would have burned down. This was a very scary incident that deserves the highest level of follow up. I work in the risk management / loss control area professionally and this has certainly scared me. Anything I can do to help I am willing to do so.

20 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 01/01/2013

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.

21 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 08/29/2012

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.

22 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 04/02/2012

Pulling onto freeway and dash lights flashed then motor quit completely. Coasted to stop on shoulder with very little brake power left. Vehicle would not even turn on - complete vehicle failure. Had it towed once again to dealer said a faulty or shorted ground wire. Have not picked up yet so will determine if fixed. This is the second major failure with this vehicle. Honda dealer nor corporate customer service shows any concern or interest in our situation. My wife is very afraid to drive or depend on this car.

23 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 11/15/2011

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Odyssey exl. The contact was driving 40 mph when the instrumental panel was not sufficiently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 500 and the current mileage was 2,220. Updated 05/31/lj.


Other Electrical System related problems of the 2012 Honda Odyssey


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Odyssey Service Bulletins
Odyssey Safety Recalls
Odyssey Defect Investigations