2012 HONDA PILOT Fuelpropulsion 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...

AS I PROCEED TO ACCELERATE ONTO A HIGHWAY OR ROAD MY VEHICLE IS VERY HESITANT NO MATTER HOW FAR YOU PUSH DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL IT WILL NOT GO AND THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT LURCHES ACCELERATING THE SPEED VERY FAST AS IF IT'S TRYING TO CATCH UP. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST I HAVE THREE ACCIDENTS NOW. I HAVE TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS WHEN ENTERING AN INTERSECTION OR PULLING ONTO A FREEWAY AS MY VEHICLE DECLINES TO ACCELERATE AS IT NEEDS TO CAUSING PEOPLE TO RUN INTO ME ALMOST. IT IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT DELAY FOR THE VEHICLE TO CATCH UP ON ITS OWN AND COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS FOR ANYONE. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COLUMNS WHERE CUSTOMERS WITH HONDA PILOTS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME ORDEAL AND YET IT'S HARD TO TAKE TO A DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING ON AND THEN GET IN THE CAR...

MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FOR NO KNOWN REASON AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 TIME IN ONE WEEK. FIRST TIME IT WAS MOVING AT A VERY SLOW RATE AS I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP LIGHT. THE SECOND TIME I WAS SITTING IN LINE AT A DRIVE THRU, WAITING TO MOVE FORWARD, WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND WHEN I PUSHED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY GARAGE AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS BUT I AM NOT SURE IF I SHOULD KEEP THIS CAR, AFTER I REPAIR THE DAMAGE OR GET ANOTHER CAR? PLEASE CHECK CARCOMPLAINTS.COM

EXCESSIVE OIL USAGE - FOULING PLUGS - REDUCED GAS MILEAGE - VCM FAULT DTC 3400 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB #11-033)

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

ON APRIL 30 2014 MY WIFE [XXX] ENTERED THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA CAMPUS IN THE 2012 HONDA PILOT. SHE APPROACHED THE GUARD BOOTH AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS CAN BE VERIFIED AS THE GUARD STOPPED HER AND THEY HAD A BRIEF CONVERSATION ABOUT WHERE TO PARK. [XXX] THEN ACCELERATED OUT OF THE GUARD BOOTH WHILE MAKING AN IMMEDIATE LOW SPEED RIGHT TURN DOWN A RAMP INTO A PARKING GARAGE. FROM THIS POINT THE HONDA PILOT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE DOWN THE RAMP AS SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND FAILED TO BRAKE. IT JUMPED A SMALL MEDIAN AND EVENTUALLY HIT A CONCRETE BLOCK WALL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RAMP. [XXX] MAINTAINS THAT SHE WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES DURING THE DESCENT DOWN THE RAMP UP THE MOMENT OF IMPACT AND THE CAR WAS STILL CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE AND BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. I...

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.

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...