Toyota · RAV4 · 2012
2012 Toyota RAV4
5
Recalls
264
Complaints
4/5
Safety Rating
The 2012 Toyota RAV4 has 5 recalls and 264 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: visibility/wiper (41 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated May 4, 2026
Research Context
The 2012 Toyota RAV4 page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is visibility/wiper with 41 reported complaints.
Best Research Moves
- Use the complaint log to see whether the 2012 Toyota RAV4 reports cluster around one repeated symptom or spread across multiple systems.
- Compare the recall list with the complaint mix to see whether the most reported issues overlap with formal NHTSA safety campaigns.
- This page is primarily a complaints-and-recalls research surface, so compare nearby model years before treating the complaint total as a standalone verdict.
Key Takeaways
- The 2012 Toyota RAV4 currently shows 5 NHTSA recalls listed on this page and 264 owner-reported complaints.
- This page currently shows no linked NHTSA investigations.
- This page reflects complaint volume, recall history, and NHTSA test data, but it does not diagnose causes or rank reliability by itself.
- Safety data currently shows 4/5 overall NHTSA safety rating.
- The most frequently reported complaint categories on this page are visibility/wiper (41), vehicle speed control (31), seat belts (20).
- Vehicle
- 2012 Toyota RAV4
- Recalls
- 5
- Complaints
- 264
- Safety Rating
- 4/5
How to Interpret This Page
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
NHTSA Crash Test Performance
Frontal Crash Test
Side Crash Test
Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
18.5% rollover risk in single-vehicle crash
Safety Features
ESC: StandardForward Collision Warning: NoLane Departure Warning: No
Recall Notices
NHTSANHTSA ID: 16V096000February 19, 2016
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.
Remedy Status
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a protector over both rear seat cushion frames, free of charge. The recall began on June 24, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0F.
NHTSA ID: 15V577000September 18, 2015
VISIBILITY/WIPER
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.
Remedy Status
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water diverter channel. In addition, a new wiper linkage with a wiper motor crank arm will be installed. The wiper linkage will have a protective cover over the wiper linkage joint to minimize water splash and a retainer ring to prevent the wiper arm from separating from the wiper motor. The recall began on November 7, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service number at 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA ID: 14V054000February 12, 2014
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.
Remedy Status
Toyota will notify owners, and Toyota and Lexus dealers will update the software for the Skid Control electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA ID: 13V123000April 09, 2013
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 added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Remedy Status
Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
NHTSA ID: 13V014000January 16, 2013
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 seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
Remedy Status
Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Owner Complaints
264 totalENGINE
Nov 30, 2025
The small pipe that's part of the Upper Radiator Coolant Hose Connector Adapter broke off and drained coolant from the vehicle. This small pipe had deteriorated and become brittle leading to the failure.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Sep 3, 2025
The windshield pump is not working front and back The wipers turn but no liquid comes out though the tank is full It does not make the sound it normally does when it pumps the windshield liquid Dealer wants almost $200 just to look at it and verify the problem
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
May 29, 2025
Unknown
STEERING,POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES
Apr 17, 2025
While at the end of a car wash with the car in neutral, the car accelerated by itself. It reached 60 mph for over a half mile, and was unresponsive to steering and brakes. The left front wheel was severely damaged. Fortunately, there were no accidents.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Mar 10, 2025
Over the last several years, I have experienced a minimum of four, possibly one or two more, incidents of this vehicle accelerating at a high rate while I have had my foot on the brake. In all of these cases, I was braking to come to a stop - braking quickly and hard in a couple...
Preview excerpt
POWER TRAIN
Sep 24, 2024
No accident but dealer mechanic says I need a new transmission as torque converter is the problem. . Car has 107500 miles and has had routine maintenance. I have since learned that there were dealer service bulletins on this issue and some owners got repairs. My vehicle, a 2012 ...
Preview excerpt
AIR BAGS
2 injuriesAug 11, 2024
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at 65 MPH, the air bags deployed without warning or impact. The driver sustained burns to the neck, skeletal injuries, and bruises. The passenger sustained skeletal injuries, cuts, bruises, an...
Preview excerpt
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CRASH1 injuryJan 22, 2024
Over the last 4 years I have had 2 prior occurrence where I've lost power turning or stopping, causing the engine to stall. Both times the vehicle was taken to our mechanic and he replaced the connectors to the battery. On January 18th, 2024, while turning off of a rural highway ...
Preview excerpt
ENGINE,POWER TRAIN,TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
Aug 7, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine, traction control, and 4WD drive warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring for approximately two months. The dealer was ...
Preview excerpt
SERVICE BRAKES
Aug 5, 2023
after stepping on the breaks the car the vehicle revs and moves forward
Showing 10 recent complaints from 264 total
View Full Complaint LogCompare Related Vehicles
Why Compare These Pages
The strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2012 Toyota models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
More Toyota RAV4 Years
2013 Toyota RAV4Compare this year against 2012 for complaint and recall shifts.2r1i253c2011 Toyota RAV4Compare this year against 2012 for complaint and recall shifts.11r1i286c2014 Toyota RAV4Compare this year against 2012 for complaint and recall shifts.4r1i192c2010 Toyota RAV4Compare this year against 2012 for complaint and recall shifts.14r1i400c2015 Toyota RAV4Compare this year against 2012 for complaint and recall shifts.4r1i299c2009 Toyota RAV4Compare this year against 2012 for complaint and recall shifts.15r3i324c
More 2012 Toyota Models
2012 Toyota PriusAnother 2012 Toyota option for same-year comparison.6r3i676c2012 Toyota CamryAnother 2012 Toyota option for same-year comparison.2r642c2012 Toyota CorollaAnother 2012 Toyota option for same-year comparison.5r2i445c2012 Toyota TacomaAnother 2012 Toyota option for same-year comparison.7r1i294c2012 Toyota SiennaAnother 2012 Toyota option for same-year comparison.9r1i246c2012 Toyota HighlanderAnother 2012 Toyota option for same-year comparison.2r2i190c
Frequently Asked Questions
How many recalls does the 2012 Toyota RAV4 have?
The 2012 Toyota RAV4 has 5 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
How many complaints have been filed for the 2012 Toyota RAV4?
NHTSA has received 264 owner-reported complaints for the 2012 Toyota RAV4.
What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2012 Toyota RAV4?
The 2012 Toyota RAV4 received an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Toyota RAV4?
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2012 Toyota RAV4 are visibility/wiper (41 reports), vehicle speed control (31 reports), seat belts (20 reports).
Does the 2012 Toyota RAV4 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA has 5 recalls on record for the 2012 Toyota RAV4. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check Another Vehicle
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.