2012 Honda Odyssey Electrical System
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Honda Odyssey. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 80,000. It was later discovered, after checking the Carfax report that the mileage was 285,000.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 130,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 230,000. Local authorities had been notified.
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.
Drivers side heated seat switch turns on then off shortly after.
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
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, several unknown 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.
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.
TL* 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. *TR
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. *TR
THE SPEEDOMETER AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS ON THE DASH BOARD ARE VERY EASY TO SEE AT NIGHT. HOWEVER, IN DAYLIGHT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE OTHER INSTRUMENTS, PARTICULARLY IF WEARING POLAROID SUNGLASSES. THE NUMBERS ON THE SPEEDOMETER ARE GREY ON GREY. THAT AND THE LED LIGHTING MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW FAST THE VEHICLE IS GOING. IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE MOTORISTS HAVE TO SPEND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF EXTRA TIME LOOKING AT THE SPEEDOMETER IN ORDER TO SEE HOW FAST THE VEHICLE IS GOING. WHILE THE MOTORISTS ARE LOOKING AT THE SPEEDOMETER, THEY CAN'T SEE THE ROAD AND THEY CAN'T SEE POTENTIAL TRAFFIC CONFLICTS. EARLIER MODELS OF HONDA ODYSSEY DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. HONDA KNOWS HOW TO MAKE THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENTS CLEARLY VISIBLE IN DAYLIGHT. NO NEW TECHNOLOGY HAS TO BE DEVELOPED TO MITIGATE THIS SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR
TL* 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 05/31/12*LJ
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Quick Summary
The 2012 Honda Odyssey has 16 Electrical System complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.