Used 2012 Honda Pilot Consumer Reviews
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Seven year mark - we are just getting started!
SG, 07/21/2021
2012 Honda Pilot EX 4dr SUV 4WD (3.5L 6cyl 5A)
164 of 165 people found this review helpful
I've had my Pilot now for seven years. The car has been the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned, and I've owned 2 Hyundai's, 3 Chevies, 2 Jaguars, 2 BMWs and 1 Acura SUV. This vehicle, hands down, is the best SUV for my needs. Let's review step by step. 1. PRO: Spacious, huge SUV. I think, the only SUV with more space out there may be the Suburban. This one has a third row seat for up to 8 passenger transport, and you'll still have some space left in the back for some bags. 2. PRO: Gas Mileage/Economy. Mine, with a healthy mix of a smaller city/highway driving, has 19.7 mpg average on display. Highway easily gets 23 mpg, and if you fill your tank literally to the brim, you will be able to go around 400 miles on one gas tank. I've seen as much as 425 and as little as 375 highway. That's ridiculously good. 3. PRO: Utility/Towing. Yes, this vehicle is perfectly capable of towing a small trailer filled with firewood, mulch or lawn equipment. I'm quite sure I've towed around 1 ton before. You need to be gentle with heavy loads, and absolutely follow the maintenance schedule and have your timing belt service every 100,000 miles! 4. PRO: All-Terrain Capability. Absolute champion! I recall being in a freak snow storm, where roads went from nothing on them to 2.5 feet of snow. Seemingly, my vehicle was one of the very few that actually got places with no problem, just hit that wonderful 4x4 differential button, and off you go. This thing is a beast when it comes to terrible driving conditions on the road. I would not recommend doing any crazy off-roading on it, that's not what it's built for. However, on-road driving is just excellent, regardless of how crappy your tires are. 5. PRO: Reliability. Aside from recommended maintenance, you will have a vehicle that's "turn the key and go". Yes, your key fob will most likely fall apart after 7 years. Hopefully you'll get two of them to start. But overall, I have had absolutely no problems. Windshield wipers, tires, brakes and fluids will be all the things to worry about, other than that not much else. I'll share a few things under "cons", but those are not "must-fix" items. 6. PRO: Comfort. Yep, even with cheap cloth seats this thing floats from Pennsylvania to Oklahoma like a boat, with minimal driving fatigue to speak of. Driver and passenger seats are exceptional, the third row not so much - it's for occasional use only, you'll have your third row folded for extra space in the back most of the time. The vehicle is heavy, so you won't be feeling bumps on the road like in a smaller sized car or a huge pickup with stiff suspension. Also, at 145,000 miles original suspension (shocks/struts) are still just fine. I'll touch on the sway bars in a bit. 7. PRO: Value. I purchased this with 38,000 miles back in 2014, and with all the dealer "extras" it was right around $27,000. Good luck finding such SUV these days close to that price. On top of that, today's trade-in value is well above $8,000 (not that I'm planning to give up my Pilot). 1. CON: You "may" experience some issues with engine mounts. Mine are basically done for, which causes some internal vibration from the engine and more noise - while idling. You don't experience those things while moving. According to a reputable mechanic of mine, it's not a critical issue and the engine "won't go anywhere". It's a comfort/noise issue, which I don't care about, it sort of feels like a performance vehicle this way. 2. CON: Sway bars going bad. Yes, unfortunately SUVs are top heavy and need those pesky sway bars as a part of suspension package. Those things can go bad anywhere around 90k mile marker to 120k mile marker. Basically you'll hear this joint clunking sound either going slowly over bumps or making turns. Repair per each is around $200 give or take. Again, not a crucial component, but something that gets on your nerves, so you'll probably get it done. I have. 3. CON: Economy mode can act finicky. This car, from what I understand, has the "HEMY"-like ability to shut off half of the cylinders in economy mode when your RPMs are just over 1000. Your transmission may show signs of jerkiness once in a while. This is no big deal, and is not something that gets worse. Just FYI. 4. CON: Acceleration of a huge SUV. Yes, it's just that. Huge SUV that's good on gas, so don't expect to race this thing with a 6-bucket engine. Just enjoy the car for what it is. When you really need to pass something, just put the pedal to the metal, and it will get the job done. I hope you find this review enjoyable and helpful! Good luck on the road, and keep it rubber side down!
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2012 Honda Pilot 1 month Ownership Review
Richard Prigge, 04/20/2016
updated 10/21/2016
2012 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV 4WD (3.5L 6cyl 5A)
60 of 60 people found this review helpful
This vehicle has to be one of the most practical vehicles made today. While some midsized SUVs like the Toyota Highlander and Ford Explorer may have comparable or even more cargo space on paper, the Pilot uses the space much better. A full 4x8 sheet of plywood can lay flat in the Pilot when all back seats are folded down. All the other midsized SUVs have wheel wells that limit the cargo width. The designers have really thought out the interior well. There are cargo areas all over the place. There are tie-down hooks scattered around the cabin. The rear window opens separate from the hatch, which comes in handy from time to time. If you are looking for a family hauler that is packed full of practicality, just the right amount of technology, decent towing capacity STANDARD, and ability to get through the snow and mud, you should definitely consider this vehicle.
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Transmission/ECO Managment Shuttering Vibration
rcookster, 11/13/2012
2012 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 5A)
80 of 83 people found this review helpful
Have had my 2012 Pilot 2 months. When driving at constant speed the ECO Variable Management system seems to keep transmission from downshifting appropriately and you can feel a vibration/rough driving until you accelerate or cancel the cruise control. First service had it checked. Tech said it seemed to be a problem but did not throw a code. He called Honda Tech line. Told that they have complaints about this, but it was just characteristic of the 2012 Pilot. Today I went to the Dealer and drove another 2012 Pilot. Yep, it did it too.Thought I would work out a trade of my new 2012 for a 2013, but..you guessed it, the 2013 did it too! Beware -Honda definitely has an engineering issue here!!
Do All Transporter
Tom R, 02/25/2016
updated 02/27/2020
2012 Honda Pilot LX 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 5A)
77 of 80 people found this review helpful
I needed a vehicle that comfortably holds 6, can tow a trailer, got 20+ MPG, serves as my office, good for customers - to ride in and does not give wrong impression (I.e., not too nice for a salesman), completely reliable, can haul some equipment around easily, super comfortable for long road trips and looks fantastic. Answer: Honda Pilot. 8/24/16 - had the pilot for about 41/2 years now. 170,000 miles on her. One complaint: front end shimmy while braking. This is in many reviews. New brake rotors help - for a while. Going to put Akibono rotors/pads on next as the OEM set just doesn't have the ability to stay unwarped. 2-27-20 Update: At 290,000 miles, she feels like she could go a million more. The Akibono rotor/pad set up was a great choice. They lasted 120k miles. Recently, the lumbar support for the seat failed. Twice. Word to the wise: once it goes, there’s no fixing it with the OEM parts. I ended up putting a makeshift pad in the back and zip-tying that in place. As long as she doesn’t get wrecked, she should be good!
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Still going strong after 167,000 miles
James D, 04/20/2018
updated 04/26/2021
2012 Honda Pilot EX 4dr SUV 4WD (3.5L 6cyl 5A)
41 of 42 people found this review helpful
The car is a good all purpose vehicle. My daughter loved the car so much she convinced me to sell it to her. Not the most techie, nor the fastest, nor the most plush. The Pilot is part truck, part minivan, part car. Very practical from the daily commute to hauling a trailer and camping. I can load this with kids, lumber or garden supplies (or both!) If you want luxury, go get a Escalade, if you want a sports SUV, go get a Cayenne, if you want the everyperson versatile vehicle that you can rely on to not leave you stranded in ice, snow, rain or just broken down, buy this if you can find one! I miss that vehicle...but glad my daughter has it now.
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