2012 Toyota Corolla problems and recalls

83% of owner complaints on the 2012 Toyota Corolla related to the Air Bags (370 of 445).

445
Complaints
5
Recalls
41
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
28
Injuries
83.5
Severity index

Severity index 83.5 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 83.5p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 33 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 75% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Air BagsAir Bags: 370 complaints (83.1%)370 83%SteeringSteering: 18 complaints (4.0%)18 4%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 16 complaints (3.6%)16 4%StructureStructure: 14 complaints (3.1%)14 3%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 13 complaints (2.9%)13 3%Service BrakesService Brakes: 11 complaints (2.5%)11 2%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 10 complaints (2.2%)10 2%Power TrainPower Train: 8 complaints (1.8%)8 2%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
AIR BAGS37083.1%
STEERING184.0%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL163.6%
STRUCTURE143.1%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM132.9%
SERVICE BRAKES112.5%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER102.2%
POWER TRAIN81.8%

Complaints filed per year

01603202012: 152013: 152014: 192015: 132016: 72017: 3132018: 142019: 92020: 122021: 82022: 32023: 132024: 22025: 12026: 1 (partial year)121314151617313181920212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
201215
201315
201419
201513
20167
2017313
201814
20199
202012
20218
20223
202313
20242
20251
2026 (year to date)1
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (16 against 23).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
19V00500009/01/2019AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 2014-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, and 2014-2017 Lexus GX460 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Ge
19V74100017/10/2019AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350,
17V00600009/01/2017AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota 4Runner, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, Yaris, Scion xB, Lexus ES350, GX460, IS-F, IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, and Lexus LFA vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California
13V01400016/01/2013AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVESoutheast 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 ye
20V02400017/01/2020AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULEToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployme

Other Toyota Corolla model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 15 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.