2012 Toyota RAV4 Reliability
The 2012 Toyota RAV4 has 266 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about visibility / wipers and speed control / throttle. Compared with other RAV4 model years, it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the RAV4's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
266
NHTSA owner complaints
5
Recall campaigns
39
Complaints citing a crash
4
Complaints citing a fire
2012 Toyota RAV4 complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 model year, filed between 2012 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility / wipers | 60 | 23% |
| Speed control / throttle | 50 | 19% |
| Service brakes | 39 | 15% |
| Electrical system | 31 | 12% |
| Seat belts | 31 | 12% |
| Unknown or other | 26 | 10% |
| Engine | 23 | 9% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 22 | 8% |
2012 Toyota RAV4 recalls
5 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2012 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13V014000 | Jan 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… |
| 13V123000 | Apr 9, 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… |
| 14V054000 | Feb 12, 2014 | Service brakes — 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… |
| 15V577000 | Sep 18, 2015 | 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… |
| 16V096000 | Feb 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… |
How the 2012 compares with nearby RAV4 years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year RAV4 analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 400 | 14 | Suspension | Caution |
| 2011 | 287 | 11 | Speed control / throttle | Caution |
| 2012 (this page) | 266 | 5 | Visibility / wipers | Solid |
| 2013 | 261 | 5 | Electrical system | Solid |
| 2014 | 207 | 7 | Electrical system | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2012 Toyota RAV4
- Visibility: test the wipers at every speed, washers, defrosters and the climate system (fogging is a common complaint).
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 5 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2012 Toyota RAV4 can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2012 Toyota RAV4 reliability FAQ
Is the 2012 Toyota RAV4 reliable?
The 2012 Toyota RAV4 has 266 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about visibility / wipers and speed control / throttle. Compared with other RAV4 model years, it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the RAV4's typical year.
What are the most common 2012 Toyota RAV4 problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Toyota RAV4 are visibility / wipers (60), speed control / throttle (50), service brakes (39), electrical system (31). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2012 Toyota RAV4 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2012 Toyota RAV4, including 13V014000 (air bags — frontal / sensor/control module-inactive) and 13V123000 (equipment — other / labels). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2012 Toyota RAV4 compare with the 2011 and 2013 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2011 has 287 complaints and 11 recalls (caution); the 2013 has 261 complaints and 5 recalls (solid). The 2012 has 266 complaints and 5 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2012 Toyota RAV4?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Toyota RAV4 research
Other Toyota RAV4 model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2012 RAV4, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.