2012 Honda Pilot — Full Specifications
As an Amazon Associate and CJ Affiliate and AWIN publisher we earn from qualifying purchases. Links below are affiliate links.
Running gear matters most — before anything else, UK: check tyre prices at TirendoUS: check wheel & tyre prices at WheelHero for this car's fitment.
The 2012 Honda Pilot is an SUV powered by a 3.5L 6-cyl regular gasoline engine. It returns around 24 mpg (UK) / 20 mpg (US EPA) combined. Owners often keep a Honda Pilot workshop manual to hand for servicing and repairs.
Compared with the 2011 Honda Pilot: Fuel economy is essentially unchanged at around 24 mpg (UK) combined. The engine line-up listed by EPA is unchanged. It carries the same 4★ overall NHTSA rating.
Full Specifications
| Engine | 3.5L 6-cyl |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Automatic 5-spd |
| Fuel Type | Regular Gasoline |
| Powertrain | Conventional |
| Drive | All-Wheel Drive |
| Body Style | SUV |
| Fuel Economy (UK) | 24 combined / 20 urban / 29 extra-urban mpg |
| Fuel Economy (US EPA) | 20 combined / 17 city / 24 highway mpg |
| CO₂ Emissions | 276 g/km |
| EPA Est. Annual Fuel Cost | $3,350 (15,000 mi/yr, US prices) |
Engine & Transmission Options
EPA lists 2 configurations for the 2012 Honda Pilot, all with the 3.5L 6-cyl engine. The headline figures at the top of this page describe the most fuel-efficient configuration.
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG (UK) | MPG (US) | CO₂ g/km | Fuel cost / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 24 | 20 (17/24) | 276 | $3,350 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 | 20 (18/25) | 276 | $3,350 |
MPG (US) shows combined, with city/highway in brackets. Highlighted row = the configuration used for the headline figures. Source: US EPA fueleconomy.gov.
Owner Essentials for the 2012 Honda Pilot
Running Costs: 2012 Honda Pilot
Covering around 8,000 miles a year in a 2012 Honda Pilot at 24 mpg combined, expect roughly 1,515 litres of fuel annually — multiply by your local price per litre for a cost estimate. For US owners, the EPA estimates about $3,350 a year in fuel for the most efficient configuration (15,000 miles, national average prices). Work out exact fuel costs with the fuel cost calculator on 247Calculators.
Convert between MPG and L/100km with the unit converters on 247QuickTools. Not sure what tyre size fits? 247TyreCheck explains tyre sizing.
Planning a road trip? Grab a road trip packing list. Only need this car occasionally? See our buy vs rent comparison.
2012 Honda Pilot Safety Ratings (NHTSA)
Recalls & Owner Complaints (NHTSA)
NHTSA lists 9 safety recall campaigns that include the 2012 Honda Pilot (as of 6 October 2026). Most affected areas: Air bags (8), Fuel system (1). A campaign often covers several model years or models, so check your own VIN to see whether your car is affected.
- Air bags — campaign 19V502000, reported 27 June 2019. Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Air bags — campaign 19V378000, reported 16 May 2019. Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Air bags — campaign 18V661000, reported 27 September 2018. Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Air bags — campaign 18V268000, reported 26 April 2018. Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Showing the 4 most recent of 9 campaigns.
Owners have filed 171 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Honda Pilot. The most-reported areas are Engine (35), Service brakes (25), Electrical system (22). Complaints include 17 reported crashes, 3 reported fires, 19 reported injuries. That is close to the median of 205 complaints across the 17 Honda Pilot model years in our data.
Used-buyer checklist for the 2012 Honda Pilot
Based on where NHTSA recalls and owner complaints cluster for this model year, these are the areas worth checking before you buy:
- Air bags (8 recall campaigns · 20 owner complaints) — Confirm any air bag inflator or module recalls were completed — enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Engine (35 owner complaints) — Listen for unusual noise on a cold start, check for warning lights and ask for the service records.
- Brakes (25 owner complaints) — Brake firmly from speed and look for pulling, vibration or a soft pedal; ask for brake service history.
- Electrical system (22 owner complaints) — Test every switch, window, light and warning lamp on a test drive, and ask about battery or alternator replacements.
Source: US NHTSA recall and consumer-complaint databases, retrieved 6 October 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects. Check any vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, and see our guide to checking a used car for recalls.
How It Compares
How does the Honda Pilot compare to similar SUVs? For context, SUVs in our database average around 27 mpg (UK) combined — this model's 24 mpg figure is 3 mpg below that average. Its 276 g/km CO₂ figure is 23 g/km higher than the 253 g/km average for SUVs on this site. This comparison is based on 1824 SUVs in our dataset.
Honda models in our database average about 35 mpg (UK) combined on their most efficient configuration; the 2012 Honda Pilot's 24 mpg is 11 mpg below that make average. Its 276 g/km CO₂ figure is 79 g/km higher than the 197 g/km Honda average.
Of the 17 Honda Pilot model years we cover, the 2012 ranks 12th for combined fuel economy on its best configuration (24 mpg UK combined, against a high of 28 mpg). See every Honda Pilot year side by side.
Last updated: · Data: US EPA (fueleconomy.gov) and NHTSA safety ratings 18 July 2026; NHTSA recalls and complaints 6 October 2026; Wikidata & curated EU catalogue 18 July 2026; European generation and engine data from Wikipedia 7 October 2026
Vehicle data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Always verify with your vehicle handbook or a qualified mechanic. This is a reference tool, not professional advice.
Recommended Accessories for the 2012 Honda Pilot
Frequently Asked Questions
What engine does the 2012 Honda Pilot have?
It's fitted with a 3.5L 6-cyl regular gasoline engine, paired with a automatic 5-spd transmission.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Honda Pilot?
The most efficient configuration returns around 24 mpg (UK) combined, or 20 mpg on the US EPA cycle.
How much does the 2012 Honda Pilot cost to fuel per year?
The US EPA estimates about $3,350 a year in fuel for the most efficient configuration, based on 15,000 miles of mixed driving and national average fuel prices. Your own cost will depend on mileage and local prices.
Does the 2012 Honda Pilot have a good safety rating?
It holds an overall NHTSA rating of 4 stars, with 4 stars for frontal crash protection.
Does the 2012 Honda Pilot have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 9 safety recall campaigns that include the 2012 Honda Pilot (as of 6 October 2026). Most affected areas: Air bags (8), Fuel system (1). A campaign often covers several model years or models, so check your own VIN to see whether your car is affected.
What are the most common problems reported for the 2012 Honda Pilot?
Among the 171 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported areas are Engine (35 complaints), Service brakes (25 complaints), Electrical system (22 complaints). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects, and raw counts rise with how many cars were sold.
Is the Honda Pilot's fuel economy good for an SUV?
It returns around 24 mpg (UK) combined, against a same-body-style average of roughly 27 mpg among the SUVs we track.