Worst 2012 Toyota RAV4 Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Wipers & Visibility
Unintended Acceleration
Brakes
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Toyota RAV4.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wipers & Visibility | 53 | — | — | 42,746 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 49 | 12 | — | 29,687 mi | |
| Brakes | 34 | 11 | 1 | 25,668 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 30 | 2 | 3 | 44,987 mi | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 30 | 1 | — | 42,423 mi | |
| Airbags | 22 | 14 | — | 47,520 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 22 | 2 | — | 47,695 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 19 | 3 | — | 36,383 mi | |
| Body Structure | 12 | 4 | 1 | 41,403 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 9 | 2 | — | 40,753 mi | |
| Fuel System | 8 | 1 | — | 51,123 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 7 | 1 | 1 | 50,883 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 6 | — | — | 64,167 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 4 | 2 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Side/Rear Glass | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Rear Window Wiper/Washer:Motor | 1 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Toyota RAV4. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2012 Toyota RAV4
5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,819,082 vehicles.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured July 28, 2005, to December 19, 2012, and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. In the event of a frontal collision, the rear seat belts for the outboard seats may be cut by the seat cushion frame.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 27, 2008, to December 19, 2012 and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. In the affected vehicles, water may drip onto the joint that connects the wiper linkage to the wiper motor.
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Toyota Tacoma and Lexus RX350 vehicles and certain model year 2012 Toyota Rav4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the brake system contains a brake actuator that adjusts the fluid pressure of each wheel cylinder. An electrical component within the actuator may experience an increased resistance resulting in the illumination of various warning lights, including those for the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system, Antilock Brake System (ABS), and Traction Control system.
Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
Other Toyota RAV4 Years
2012 Toyota RAV4 — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2012 Toyota RAV4 reliable?
What are common problems with the 2012 Toyota RAV4?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Toyota RAV4?
How safe is the 2012 Toyota RAV4?
Does the 2012 Toyota RAV4 have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2012 Toyota RAV4?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Toyota RAV4 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2012 Toyota RAV4
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