2012 Honda Pilot Fuel System Problems

My 2012 Honda Pilot is experiencing the same engine defect that Honda acknowledged in later model years (2013–2015) and issued recalls/extended warranty coverage for. The defect involves the Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system causing excessive oil consumption, spark plug fouling, cylinder misfire, rough idle, fuel odor, and drivability issues that create an unsafe driving condition. I brought the vehicle to a Honda dealership in 2023 due to rough idle and a strong fuel smell — symptoms consistent with Technical Service Bulletin 13-082 for misfire and piston ring failure in 2009–2013 Honda Pilots. The dealer did not repair the issue or disclose that this matched a known defect. The vehicle now exhibits severe engine performance issues that pose a safety risk, including hesitation, engine shuddering, loss of power during acceleration, and strong fuel odor that may indicate improper combustion. Honda has issued recalls and warranty extensions for the identical defect on 2013 and newer Honda Pilot models with the same 3.5L V6 VCM engine but refuses to repair or acknowledge the defect for my 2012 Pilot, even though it uses the same engine architecture and has the same symptoms. This discrepancy indicates a potential gap in recall coverage that leaves owners of 2012 Pilots with a known safety-related defect unprotected. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate why the 2012 Pilot was excluded, despite identical engine design and failure patterns.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT START-UP. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE HE DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE MECHANIC THEN REPLACED THE VAPOR CANISTER VENT VALVE AS WELL AS THE GAS CAP AND THE PURGE VALVE. DESPITE THE REPAIRS, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MECHANIC LINKED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V063000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT CALLED BETTEN BAKER HONDA (2501 HENRY ST, MUSKEGON, MI 49441) WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND WAS GIVEN THE SAME INFORMATION AS THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,185.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING AND HESITATING WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED ROUSH HONDA (100 W. SCHROCK RD, WESTERVILLE, OH 43081, (614) 882-1535) AND MADE THE DEALER AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V063000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

GAS TANK LEAKS AFTER FILLING. STRONG ODOR OF GAS.

SOMETIMES WHEN STARTING OUT AND MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURN AFTER BEING STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE WILL HESITATE AND BOG DOWN FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE IT "KICKS IN" AND THEN THERE IS A "SURGE OF POWER". THIS IS VERY ANNOYING AT THE LEAST AND ALSO VERY DANGEROUS AS ONE COULD EASILY GET REARENDED OR WORSE YET GET CAUGHT IN THE INTERSECTION IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 3 OCCASIONS AND EACH TIME I WAS BARELY ABLE TO ACCELERATE ENOUGH TO CLEAR THE INTERSECTION. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS TO HONDA DEALERS OF THIS EXISTING PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE FAILED TO TAKE ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION OR ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. SOMEONE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE KILLED BEFORE THIS GETS THEIR ATTENTION. SEE LINK BELOW OF COMPLAINTS. HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2012/HONDA/PILOT/VEHICLE_SPEED_CONTROL/PROBLEM.ASPX. *TR

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND VTM4 LIGHT COME ON AFTER OVER AN HOUR OF DRIVING. SOMETIMES THE WHOLE INSIDE OF THE CAR SMELLS HAS WHILE DRIVING AND THE FUEL CONSUMPTION IS NOT EFFICIENT. IN ADDITION WHEN THE CAR SITS IN THE GARAGE FOR A FEW DAYS, MAYBE 2-3, AND I START DRIVING, THE WHEELS MAKE SOME DEEP BRUSHING NOISE. THIS GETS WORST WHEN I BRAKE. SOMETIMES IT SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING UNDER THE HOOD OR AROUND THE ENGINE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REFUELING, FUEL SPEWED FROM THE FILLER NECK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 12V063000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM BRICKELL HONDA IN MIAMI WITH 7,000 MILES. I HAD TRADED MY 2010 HONDA PILOT SO I WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS VEHICLE IN GENERAL. IMMEDIATELY, I FELT A HESITATION WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS MY IMAGINATION. HOWEVER, AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A WEEK IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THIS WAS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AS IT CONTINUALLY HESITATED WHEN ACCELERATING IN TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND EXPRESSED MY SAFETY CONCERNS. THEY DROVE THE CAR AND TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEIR "MASTER MECHANIC" EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS A NEW FEATURE WITH THE PILOT'S TO SAVE GAS! I SAID, WELL THIS IS VERY FRIGHTENING WHEN YOU PRESS THE GAS AND THE GAR DOES NOT MOVE! THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AS THAT IS THE WAY THE CAR WAS MADE TO RUN?! I HAVE SINCE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS IDENTICAL TO MINE WITH THE 2012 HONDA PILOT. FRANKLY, I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO BUT I WANTED TO BE SURE OTHER OWNERS KNEW OF THIS ISSUE. *TR

28000 MI ESTIMATE. COMPLAINT REPORT JUSTIFICATION- RESEARCH INDICATES HONDA IS RECALLING VEHICLES FOR FUEL SYSTEM ERRORS INCLUDING POTENTIAL FIRES. VEHICLE: HONDA PILOT 2012 "CHECK FUEL CAP" INDICATOR LIGHT HAS BEEN REPORTED PREVIOUSLY TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP: FIRST TEXAS HONDA, 3400 STECK, AUSTIN, TX, I REPORTED THE "CHECK FUEL CAP" INDICATOR LIGHT DURING PRIOR SERVICE APPOINTMENTS FOR STANDARD SERVICES SUCH AS TIRE ROTATE, OIL CHNG ETC. DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT ATTENDING STAFF RECOMMENDED THAT I GET A NEW FUEL CAP. 12-8-2012 - I TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR NEW FUEL CAP. HEAD SERVICE MANAGER RECOMMENDED AUDIT OF FUEL SYSTEM SAYING THAT THE "CHECK FUEL CAP" INDICATOR DOES NOT PERTAIN JUST TO THE CAP BUT TO THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM. APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED FOR 12-14-2012. 12-14-2012 - VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. 12-15-2012 - RECEIVED A CALL THAT THE GAS CAP WAS NOT ON PROPERLY AND CAP TETHER WAS WRAPPED AROUND CAP. I DISPUTED LEAVING THE CAP IN LOOSE CONDITION AND STATED THAT IT HAD TO HAVE BEEN LEFT LOOSE BY A TECHNICIAN. 12-15-2012 - PICKED UP VEHICLE. INVOICE ODOMETER IN: 31646. SERVICE INVOICE C51253 WRITTEN UP AS: (1) CONCERN 51 CUSTOMER STATES LOOSE FUEL CAP LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF. PER CHECK FOR FUEL LEAKING. (2) CAUSE GAS CAP LOOSE, REPLACED GAS CAP PER JEFF SMITH. (3) CORRECTION - PERFORMED EVAL FUNCTION TEXT, VEHICLE IS OPERATING PROPERLY. (4) COMMENT - 67D PER JEFF S __/ RICHARD TR__SEE HARD COPY 12-15-12 PART NO HON 17670-TR0-A11. QUESTIONS SEE RICHARD TR__. COMPLAINT JUSTIFICATION RESULT: PICKED UP VEHICLE AFTER 5:00 PM PRIOR TO DEALERSHIP 6:00 PM CLOSING. RETURNED HOME. ODOMETER IN: 31677. "CHECK FUEL CAP" INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON AT 31677. DUE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC, I DO NOT KNOW MILEAGE WHEN INDICATOR CAME ON. 12-16-2012 - 10:15 AM COLD STARTED VEHICLE AT ODOMETER IN: 31677. "CHECK FUEL CAP" INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON IMMEDIATELY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, HE SMELLED AN ODOR OF GASOLINE FUEL AND NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,700... UPDATED 08-07-12 *BF