general problems of the 2012 Honda Odyssey

Vcm problems burn oil and misfire code.

Dear NHTSA advisor, thank you for regarding my request for warranty coverage for the critical misfire and overheating defect with my 2012 Odyssey Honda engine 3. 5l engine. Odyssey, as described in Honda’s service technical bulletin 13-081. I must reiterate the severity of my situation: the part required for repair is quoted at $7,500. 00—and that does not include labor. This amount far exceeds the current market value of my vehicle, effectively making it impossible to afford repairs without Honda’s intervention, it’s asafety defect & known manufacturer issue. The misfiring and overheating problems represent major safety risks for my family and anyone who operates the vehicle. This is not routine maintenance, but a substantial defect that Honda has addressed in its own technical bulletin. I have adhered diligently to Honda’s maintenance schedule throughout my ownership. Attached to this correspondence is a pdf containing the complete service technical bulletin 13-081. I am prepared to provide any additional documentation upon request. Warranty extension: mil comes on with dtcs p0301 thru p0304 technical service bulletin reference numbers): 13-081, date of issue: October 08, 2020 Honda: 2011-13 Odyssey superceded bulletin(s): 13-081, date of issue: June 18, 2019 Aug 5, 2025 license: odometer: note: supersedes 13-081, dated June 18, 2019, to revise the information below. Affected vehicles affected vehicles year model trim level VIN range 2011-13 Odyssey all check the in VIN status for eligibility. Revision summary under customer notification, outdated information was removed. Corrective action 2011 models: complete diagnosis procedure and if necessary, update pcm software (procedure a) , replace affected spark plugs then clean pistons and replace the piston rings (procedure b) • 2012-13 models: complete diagnosis procedure, replace affected spark plugs then clean the pistons and replace the pistons rings (procedure b). No need for software update as 2012-13.

For several years now, we have misfire issue or code p0304. We continue to change spark plugs cylinders. Both usually last a year or so then they need replaced again. I research the problem, no recall or the like. I did see his report on-line, wondering if it applies to us, warranty extension: mil comes on with dtcs p0301 thru p0304. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Vehicle loses acceleration power intermittently. No response when pressing accelerator or when speeding up with cruise control. Pressing the gas harder does not help but the vehicle starts working normally a few seconds later. Dangerous on busy roads. I don't think it is a weak fuel pump because it accelerated quickly after an event.

The front valve cover is exposed to extreme temperatures from the catalytic converter mounted next to it. There is nothing to protect the rubber components inside from the catalytic converter's excessive heat which is causing them to fail. The steel components inside the cylinder (e. G. , the seal ring) are insulated by these rubber components. When these rubber insulators fail, the steel components are exposed and make contact with the aluminum valve cover resulting in the galvanic corrosion of the aluminum. The most common result I have seen is the deformation of the area where the seal ring is seated (along with holes and cracks). Some people have also suggested possible defects in the casting of the aluminum as a contributing factor (the aluminum is also very thin in that area). Some have suggested the possibility of the uninsulated spark plug arcing, but it seems unlikely to generate enough heat to compromise the aluminum's integrity. The way people have described how the aluminum crumbles seems more indicative of corrosion. There are countless testimonies online of similar defects in Odysseys, pilots, accords, and crosstours with the same engine. I have included a photograph of my damaged valve cover and those of others I have found online.

Misfiring, I have had to change the spark plugs and coils multiple times. I have contact Honda in green bay WI and appleton WI, they have told me the recall has expired. We just bought this car this year from a none Honda dealership used. Had this problems days after getting it.

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power inadvertently in the middle of the roadway. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was unable to veer to the side of the roadway. The contact stated that he shifted into park (p) and was able to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had been occurring approximately twice per day while driving. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 23v751000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The dealer stated that oil was leaking into the spark plugs. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 87,000.

Misfire in cylinder 1 caused van to lose power on freeway almost causing an accident. From 2011-2013 there was a settlement that gave an 8 year extended warranty, but why is it only 8 years when not everyone’s driving is the same? my van was brought to the Honda dealer check engine light came on, then it flashes.

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light would suddenly illuminate and the vehicle would not properly accelerate and would drive very rough. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that cylinder number one was faulty. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the oil pressure switches were faulty and needed to be replaced. The oil pressure switches were replaced; however, failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 78,000.

The variable cylinder management (vcm) system continues to burn my spark plugs on the rear of the engine where the vcm activates and deactivates. Spark plugs and cylinder fills with oil deposits when cylinders are deactivated. Also burning in excess of one quart of oil per 1,000 miles. Not safe to continue to drive because engine failure could cause other systems like, power brakes, abs, power steering wheel, etc to fail. Also unsafe unreliable to have my family to take long trips where road side assistance might not be available due to no cell telephone signal in certain areas of texas isolated roads. Thank understand Honda has had recalls on these engines and vcm systems in the past but their fixes don’t appear to work. I am one of many Honda owners that are left out to spend thousands of dollars in new engines because of original and extended warranties expiring. Honda should extend these engine warranties and take ownership and responsibility for their engineering / manufacturing mistakes. A simple switch to turn off the vcm should fix this problem. Other car brands have this feature that allows vehicle owners to turn it off. This is the fourth time this vehicle gets either a p303, p302 or p301 code for damaged spark plugs and excess oil in the cylinder.

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while driving 35-45 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that there was blue smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe and the vehicle was shuddering. The contact continued driving the vehicle to her residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact they could not provide any assistance as she was the second vehicle owner. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 141,000.

Van caught fire while driving.

Cylinder number 3 has misfired multiple times in last 14,000 miles. Spark plug 3 had a lot of carbon. We changed all spark plugs and the pc valve in July 2018. It misfired few times in 2019 but then worked ok after restarting till Feb 2020. It misfired multiple times and we now changed all spark plugs again and ignition coil of cylinder 3.

Tl the contact owns a 2012 Honda Odyssey. While the vehicle was parked and unoccupied in the driveway, a loud explosion was heard from the engine compartment. Moments later, the engine caught fire. The orange county fire department arrived to extinguish the fire and provided phone number 321-313-0541 in lieu of a report number. The vehicle was towed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

Second report of same. Honda looked at problem but claimed cant fix without computer report. Engine accelerated dangerously while idling five times after each turn off in a pharmacy drive in line. Happened March 9,, 9:30 am 7th serious incident trying to film but have not yet succeeded due to panic and proximity of camera which wife always moves. Car was stationary.

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.

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that the check engine warning indicator illuminated. Heritage Honda westminster (580 baltimore blvd, westminster, MD) was contacted and diagnosed that the engine assembly was defective and the short block and pistons needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was returned to heritage Honda westminster where it was diagnosed that the catalytic converter malfunctioned and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 171,332.

As my wife was driving down the highway the vehicle stopped accelerating fluctuating rpms and acceleration for rest of drive home. After getting home even in parking at idle when I turn on the air conditioning the vehicle vibrates. In park when I turn up the rpms it sputters after about 3k rpm. 100k 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.

I was in my driveway, stopped, getting ready to pull in to the garage. I had stopped with my foot on the brake pedal, and then I pressed the button to open the garage door and waited for the garage door to go up. While the garage door was starting to go up and the brake pedal was still pressed, the car suddenly, unintentionally, unexpectedly accelerated by itself into the garage door causing the windshield to break on the garage door and the garage door to break off of its tracks. It is unknown the component or system that caused the sudden unexpected acceleration. It could have been the engine, fuel/propulsion system, or speed control. But something caused a sudden unexpected acceleration while the brake pedal was applied.

I was driving the car and the power to the engine started diminishing suddenly while on the freeway. Quickly I could barely accelerate. Apparently the eco driving mode had shit off a few cycling era of the engine making the car impossible to drive and also prohibitively dangerous. . . .

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.

Our brand new 2012 Honda Odyssey touring elite judders between 25-40 mph between shifts. The judder can be anywhere from mild and very transient to rough bucking that lasts for over 2 seconds before it smooths out. Under mild or heavy acceleration, I have not not noticed the judder. It seems to only happen under moderate acceleration. It also seems to occur more violently while going uphill. It happens at least 90% of the time during the shift between 2nd and 3rd gears under moderate (typical) acceleration. This judder results in a loss of expected acceleration and decreased control of the vehicle. While researching this problem, it became obvious that I am not the only person experiencing this issue and feel that Honda must recall these vehicles to permanently repair the underlying issue. This issue affects more than just the 2012 model year.

Hesitation or stutter when attempting to accelerate. Started with minimal problems at first and has become progressively worse. Now hear clicking jerking and will not accelerate and emission light goes off and on. Dealer says nothing wrong they can find.