What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2012 Toyota RAV4

Typical pattern

5.6% of complaints about the 2012 Toyota RAV4 came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2012 vehicle — around the middle of the 201 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is visibility / wipers (53 complaints), typically at 4.3 yr or about 33,251 miles.

Complaints
356
Median age at failure
4.3 yr
Median mileage
27,000 n=237
Crash / fire / tow
18.5% of reports
Safety recalls
5

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Visibility / wipers
53 reports · 33,251 mi
4.3 yr
1.9%
Speed control
49 reports · 10,600 mi
2.5 yr
24.5%
Service brakes
34 reports · 16,350 mi
2.8 yr
32.4%
Electrical system
30 reports · 33,000 mi
4.5 yr
16.7%
Seat belts
30 reports · 25,000 mi
4.5 yr
6.7%
Other
26 reports · 38,000 mi
7.1 yr
3.8%
Engine
22 reports · 34,000 mi
6.3 yr
9.1%
Air bags
21 reports · 30,000 mi
3.8 yr
71.4%
Power train
19 reports · 23,302 mi
3.3 yr
21.1%
Structure
15 reports · 34,049 mi
5.4 yr
33.3%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

16V096000 2016-02-19
Seat belts:rear/other

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.

A cut seat belt may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.

15V577000 2015-09-18
Visibility / wipers

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.

Over time, the dripping water may cause corrosion and wear at the joint, potentially resulting in the separation of the wiper linkage. Once this occurs, the wipers would not function, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

14V054000 2014-02-12
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module

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.

If this occurs, these systems could become inoperative, reducing the directional control assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.

13V123000 2013-04-09
Equipment:other:labels

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 ad

An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.

13V014000 2013-01-16
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive

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 se

If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

In owners’ own words

Speed control 1,009 mi 5 mo in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, THERE WAS A RAPID INCREASE IN THE ENGINE RPMS AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARD. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV. ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL OPENED THE DOORS AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,009.
Speed control 7,000 mi 1.3 yr in service crash / fire / tow
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE AND THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE RPMS INCREASED GREATLY. THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND TO DECELERATION ATTEMPTS AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PROCEEDING VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT AN INVESTIGATOR WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.
Speed control 305 mi 6 mo in service
ABRUPT SPEED CHANGES IN NORMAL SPEED AND CRUISE CONTROL, RADIO AND CLOCK FLASHING OCCASIONALLY, LOW TIRE PRESSURE CONSTANTLY, DAMAGE IN AIR CONDITIONING. *TR
Electrical system 305 mi 6 mo in service
ABRUPT SPEED CHANGES IN NORMAL SPEED AND CRUISE CONTROL, RADIO AND CLOCK FLASHING OCCASIONALLY, LOW TIRE PRESSURE CONSTANTLY, DAMAGE IN AIR CONDITIONING. *TR

Other RAV4 model years

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